Concerning Scandal - Original Publisher’s Preface
There are, I suppose, few or none amongst us, or about us,
so great strangers to the observation of providential occurrences in Scotland,
as to be altogether without the knowledge of what has come to pass in these
days: How the holy, just and sovereign Lord, who sometime lifted us up, has now
cast us down; who crowned us with glory and honour, has stript us of our glory
and made the crown to fall from our head (though we have not said, ‘Woe
unto us, for we have sinned’); who sometime made us a praise in the earth,
has now made us a hissing, a by-word and a reproach to all that are round about
us; How he, who once by our unity and one-shoulder-service did make us
beautiful as Tirza, comely as Jerusalem, and terrible as an Army with Banners,
has now, alas! (which is one of the most embittering ingredients in our cup)
instead of giving us one heart and one way, in his anger, divided, sub-divided,
weakened, disjointed and broken us. So that Judah vexes Ephraim, and Ephraim
envys Judah, and every man’s hand almost is against his brother, and
through our lamentable and most unseasonable intestine jars and divisions we
bite and devour one another, and are likely to be consumed one of another.
Oh tell it not in Gath; publish it not in the streets of Askelon, lest the
daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised
triumph! That when God has cast us all down together we endeavour to keep down
and tread upon one another. That when he has been justly angry with our mother
her children are sinfully angry one with another, and when he has cast us all
into the furnace, we are even there struggling and wrestling one with another
to the increasing of the flame. And when brotherly love and loathness to give
or take offence, is in a special manner called for, love did never wax more
cold, nor offences more abound. Now, when our Church thus in a manner
distracted and drunk with the wine of astonishment, is in so sad a posture, and
but few of the sons she has brought forth guide her or take her by the hand,
they all almost fainting and lying at the head of every street, as it were so
many wild bulls in a net, full of the fury of the Lord and of the rebuke of our
God; then steps forth (the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him) one of her sons,
the Author of this excellent Treatise concerning Scandal (having made some
serious essays before to take his mother by the hand, though but with small
acceptance with many of his brethren, for which, it may be, the jealous God was
in part provoked to remove him), whereby, as by his latter will and testament,
especially to the Ministers of the Church of Scotland, he does again renew his
formerly fruitless and unsuccessful attempt.
In which treatise, as there
breathes a far more sweet and savoury spirit, than in most, if not all of the
papers published upon occasion of our late lamentable differences (which I hope
will by none be looked upon as any reflection), so there is throughout a most
strong and fragrant smell of more than ordinary piety, that it may be averred
of him, as once it was of Cyril of Jerusalem, in his last and best days,
he was a man of eminent sanctity It plainly also speaks forth special
acquaintance with the Scriptures (for, in all his discourses, as it is said of
Basil, he exquisitely mingles divine testimonies of Scripture, that they are
like precious stones, not sewed to, but bred in purple clothes) and intimacy
with the mind of God, as to what may be duty under the various dispensations of
his providence. So that it may be said of him, he was a man that had
understanding of the times, and knew what Israel ought to do. For he does with
admirable perspicacity take up, and with no less dexterity direct unto, what
ought to be done in this, and that, and the other case, as a most skillful
anatomist dissecting the whole complex body of duties in reference to ordinary
and extraordinary cases and emergents, never missing, as it were, one lith or
joint, and like a left-handed Benjamite, that in the greatest intricacies, and
gravest difficulties, can sling stones at an hair’s breadth and not miss.
It savours likewise all-along of a most sharp, strong and pregnant wit, in
supposing cases, proposing pertinent overtures and expedients, in disposing of
arguments, framing distinctions, anticipating objections, in cautious guarding
against mistakes and inconveniences, etc. So that it’s verified of him
what was once said of Origen, he had such pregnancy of wit that he could reach
anything; and of Joseph Scaliger; he was a man of stupendous wit. It discovers
withal so very great insight in church history and writings of the ancient
Fathers, wherewith it is everywhere most beautifully illuminated, that it may
well be said of him, as once of sweet Bucholtzer; that one would have thought
that all antiquity lay hid in his breast; and of famous Mr. Holland, Regius
Professor of Divinity in Oxfbrd, he was so familiarly acquainted with the
Fathers as if himself had been one of them.
As for his style and manner of
expressing himself, it savours very much of the primitive and gospel-simplicity
so that what is spoken to the commendation of Basil by a learned man, may fitly
be applied to the Author. The Reader will find in him a simple and natural form
of speech, flowing from his holy breast, much drained of all human passions.
And that which is said of Ambrose, he studied, not to tickle and please ears,
but to prick hearts, as likewise that which is said of another great man, his
words were not inflating, but inflaming. He shows himself here many ways to
have been indeed a great man, but I (having been his colleague in the ministry
and of his very intimate acquaintance for some years) knew him to be such more
particularly and several other ways. So that while I reflect upon, and call to
remembrance what I have seen in and heard from him, I am constrained to say, as
once Urbanus Regius (a man much more able indeed to discern) said of Luther;
upon occasion of a conference with him, "He was always to me a great man, but
now very great, for I saw and heard things when I was present with him, which
can hardly by any pen be communicated to those that were absent."
In a
word, as to the whole treatise, it may I think, without any hyperbole be said,
that it is universally most profitable and seasonably beautiful. For in the
first part of it concerning scandal in the general (excellently compended and
commended as all the rest are, by the stately-styling, profound and precious
prefacer, like minded in all these things with the blessed Author, whose sage
mind in them, and not the less because of this co-incidency, would be more laid
weight upon, lest we be put out of time to lament also the loss of such a
healer and pillar in this sorely sick and shaken church); in the first part I
say, the ancient, primitive, long-dead, buried, and almost-forgotten tenderness
in the matter of offence (a specially-adorning requisite to a Christian and
gospel-becoming conversation) is again revived and portrayed as risen from the
dead with a most amiable and comely countenance and taking aspect, so that it
forces the serious beholders to say, “Peace be upon as many as walk
according to this Rule.”
In the second part concerning scandals as
they are the object of church-censures, there is a very complete and compact
directory according to the Scripture-pattern for church officers, how to manage
the great ordinance of discipline in its exercise; which, if it were diligently
and conscientiously followed in the several steps of it (as it was most
convincingly so by the Author himself) would undoubtedly make that work both
much more easy and much more successful than it ordinarily used to be.
In
the third part concerning errors, wonderfully suited to this time of so great
infection, sickness and mortality, by the raging plague and botch of error,
exceedingly gathered to a head, ripened and made to break and run out, to the
infecting, in a manner, of the very air wherein the churches of these nations
breath, by the heat and warmness afforded to it from a lamentable liberty and
vast toleration; in this third part, I say, there is as it were a
physician’s shop, full of those choice preservatives against, and
sovereign remedies of, poisonible errors and heresies.
In the fourth part,
concerning scandalous divisions, he as another Irencus, with much meekness of
wisdom and singular moderation of spirit, without any the least reflection or
irritation, most tenderly, singly, unbiassedly, and impartially, and most
affectionately, as a man burnt with the offence that waits on divisions among
godly ministers especially, strongly endeavours an innocent and wholesome union
and composure. So that (as an eminent aged and experienced servant of Jesus
Christ, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all these churches, when he
first saw this piece in writ, said) it will be unwelcome to none but such as
are led with a bitter spirit. To which may well be added, that as it’s
reported of Nazianzus, he was of such authority in the Greek churches, that
whosoever durst oppose his testimony; was suspected to be a heretic. So may it
be said of the piously and prudently-peaceable, and healing-spirited Author,
that he deserves to be of such authority at least in the Scottish Church, that
whoever shall adventure to oppose (as it’s hoped none will) his wise,
harmless, holy and healing overtures, may be suspected to be no great friend to
the union and peace of this afflicted and rent church.
I will not,
Christian Reader, detain you any longer from perusing this notable tractate,
but shall only offer to your grave and serious consideration, these two things,
which I suppose will not a little commend the same unto you, especially as to
the last part of it.
1. One is, that the Author, when he was (but a very
little before his last sickness, and after his finishing the three first parts)
most unexpectedly surprised with a motion suggested to him anent the expediency
of handling somewhat of the scandal of divisions, it did so exceedingly
affright him, and had such astonishing influence upon him through the
apprehended difficulty and ticklishness of the subject (so tender was he) that
(as he did to some afterward profess) he sunk down in his seat; and yet being
convinced of the necessity of saying somewhat to it, the Lord having withal
helped him in the other parts, he durst not forbear. Whereupon this choice
discourse (for it was not divided in chapters till afterward) did follow, much
whereof I know and am persuaded did occur and was given unto him during the
dictation.
2. The other thing is, that sometimes before his death to some
friends, he did humbly and gravely call it his Testament to the Church of
Scotland, which Testament and Latter-will of a dead, but yet speaking faithful
servant of God, will, I hope, in due time be confirmed by all godly, judicious,
sober, peaceable and unprejudiced men, as containing in it a most excellent and
enriching legacy worthy to be put into the church’s treasury Now that it
may go forth with a rich blessing from the God of truth and peace, to all the
honest-hearted lovers of the truth in peaces for the advancement of truth and a
holy peace, is the desire of him, who desires to be thine to serve in the
gospel of peace,
J. C. (John Carstares].
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