Mat. XI. 6.] the ready way to blessedness. 81
moral incapacity, and so is a forerunner of eternal happiness : and here it is ascribed to not being offended in Christ when lie is suffi- ciently revealed to us, as it removeth the impediment of our faith, which is always some offence and disUke that we take at Christ and the ways of God.
The point that I shall insist on is this : —
That whosoever, being invited to embrace the gospel, is not offended in Christ, is in the ready way to true blessedness.
In the prosecution of this point I shall use this method : —
First, To show you what it is to be offended in Christ.
Secondly, Upon what occasions men were then offended.
Thirdly, Whether this sin were proper to that age only, or we may now be guilty.
Fourthly, I shall show you the kinds of this sin.
Fifthly; How it is true that those which escape this sin are in the ready way to salvation.
First, What it is to be offended in Christ.
1 answer — To be offended in Christ is to be offended because of Christ ; something in him which we dislike, which is a hindrance to our receiving and owning him in that quality wherein he appeared in the world, and offereth himself to us — namely, as our Lord and Saviour. XKavhaXov, in the natural sense of it, signifieth either any obstacle or hindrance laid in a man's way, by which the passenger is detained or stopped : peculiarly it is put for those sharp stakes which they were wont to stick in the ground in the ancient way of warring, to wound the feet and legs of their enemies in their pursuit of them, against which they used greaves of brass : most usually aKavhaXov signifieth a stone or block in the way, at which a man is apt to stumble and fall. So 1 Peter ii. 8, ' Unto them which believe, Christ is precious ; but a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence to them that stumble thereat.' A rock with respect to those that travel by sea, a stone of stumbling with respect to those that travel by land. So it is used here, ' Who are not scandalised at Christ.' In this expression there is something exi)ressed and something supposed.
1. It supposeth some offer and revelation made to us, that grace is brought home to us, and salvation offered to us. Jews and professing Christians are more properly said to be offended in Christ than hea- thens who never heard nor sought after him, 1 Cor. i. 23 : ' We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling-block, to the Greeks foolish- ness.' They stumble who, being invited to come to him, dislike and are displeased with something in him ; or being on their way, are upon some occasion and temptations laid aside and prejudiced, and either stumble or fall in the way undertaken by them, or have no heart to go forward, but either directly retire or faint.
2. It expresseth or implieth such an offence, that either they are kept off from Christ, or else drawn away from him.
[1.] Some are kept off by their carnal prejudices, or offence they take at somewhat of Christ, and so continue in their unbelief ; thus Christ is said to be a rock of offence to ' the disobedient,' 1 Peter ii. 8, that is, the impenitent and unbelieving world, who, out of indulgence to their lusts, slight an offered Saviour.
VOL. II. F
82 NOT TO BE OFFENDED IN CHRIST [MaT. XI. C.
[2.] Others are drawn from hira, as those that had carnal expecta- tion when they were disappointed : John vi. GG, ' From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.' This is the ofFence, when we are either discouraged from, or in the ways of godliness.
I now come to show you : —
Secondly, Upon what occasions were men then offended in Christ. They were displeased with his person, sufferings, doctrine.
1. His person. They were somewhat alarmed with his miracles, and the wisdom of his gracious speeches, but how to reconcile this with the meanness of his person they were at a loss. Sometimes his birth and breeding were a distaste to them : Mat, xiii. 55, 5G, 'Is not this the carpenter's son ? is not his mother called Mary ? and his brethren, James, Joses, Simon, Judas ? And his sisters, are they not all with us ? Whence then hath this man all these things ? And they were offended in him.' So Mark vi. 3, ' Is not this the carpenter, brought up in the same trade with Joseph ? ' Thus upon the consideration of his mean and known beginning they forsook him. Sometimes they quarrelled at his country, not where he was born, but bred. He was born in Bethlehem, but bred in Nazareth, which was in Galilee, and Galilee, as they conceived, was looked upon by God as a mean and despicable place : John vii. 52, ' Art thou of Galilee ? (speaking to Nicodemus), search and look, for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.' This was the common conceit, for Jonah was of that countr}'. So Joljn vii. 41, when some said, ' This is the Christ,' others said, ' Shall Christ come out of Galilee?' That country was under a reproach. Kay, a good man was possessed with this prejudice : John i. 4G, 'Can any good thing come out of Nazareth ? And Philip saith, Come and see.' Trial would make him of another mind. But many good people are led away with common prejudice, and so overlook things and per- sons of the chiefest regard, &c. Sometimes they were offended at the meanness of his followers : John vii. 48, ' Have any of the rulers and pharisees believed in him ? But this people, that knoweth not the law, are cursed ; ' that is, the rabble are ready to follow any false teacher, and such ones follow him.