A Hind Let Loose: Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ. With the True State Thereof in All Its PeriodsShields, Alexander
History
A Hind Let Loose: Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ. With the True State Thereof in All Its Periods
Shields, Alexander
Church of Scotland -- Controversial literature; Church of Scotland -- History; Covenanters; Scotland -- Church history
they have brought one soul to Christ, from darkness to light, and from
the power of Satan unto God: but many instances might be given of their
murdering souls, as indeed they cannot be free of it, who cannot warn
nor declare the whole counsel of God. Hence these who cannot but be
soul-murderers, may not be heard nor entertained as soul-physicians; but
the curates cannot but be soul-murderers. Again, we can expect no good
from them, but a great deal of hurt; seeing their ministry is not the
Lord's ordinance, which he will approve, and no performances can be
acceptable unto the Lord which are not, in manner as well as in matter,
agreeable to his will: hence the wickedness even of the Lord's lawful
priests, not only caused the people to abhor the offerings of the Lord,
but even the Lord himself to abhor his sanctuary, and to account their
incense an abomination, so that he could not away with the calling of
their assemblies, which yet upon the matter were duties. Should not we
then hate that which the Lord hates, and withdraw from that which he
hath forsaken? But the meetings of the curates for administration of
ordinances in their way, the Lord hates, and hath signally forsaken:
therefore we should hate and forsake them. This is confirmed by what Mr.
Durham says in that digression about hearing, Rev. 1. page 55. in
quarto, 'Seeing edification is God's gift, can it be expected but in his
way, or can that be accounted his way which he hath not warranted.'
VII. As we would not partake of their judgment in countenancing of their
administration of ordinances, so we would keep ourselves free from all
participation of their sin; for we must not be partakers with any in
sin, nor have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, that we
must reprove, and that we find the Lord reproves and condemns, Eph. v.
7, 11. and not only ministers in ordaining, but people in hearing, may
be in hazard of partaking of some mens sins, who enter into the
ministry, 1 Tim. v. 22. we must keep at the greatest distance from sin:
hence if we hear the curates without partaking of their sin, then we
must not hear them; but we cannot hear the curates without partaking of
their sin: therefore we must not hear them. The minor I prove. If
hearing of them be a tessera of our incorporation with them, a test of
our submission to them, a badge of our compliance with them, and sign of
our approbation of them, then we cannot hear them without partaking of
their sin; but hearing of them is such: the major cannot be denied, if
prelacy and conformity therewith be sin, as is in part proven above: for
if these be sins, then we must not incorporate with, nor submit to them,
nor comply with them, nor approve them. The minor I prove by parts. 1.
Hearing of curates is a tessera of our incorporation with them; for
communion in sacred things doth infer an incorporation of the
communicants or joiners in all cases, both in lawful and unlawful
communions, 1 Cor. x. 17.-20.
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