VEK. 165.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 211
2. Offence may be given where none is taken, as when men counsel others to evil, or reproach the holy ways of God ; as when Peter dissuaded Christ from suffering : Mat. xvi. 23, ' Get thee behind me, Satan, for thou art a-KaSaXov, an offence to me.' It was scandalum ■in se, though not ratione eventus, — not that Christ was offended by it ; when the heart is guarded against evil counsel, or the infection of evil example. So for reproaches, they are a means of betraying the soul into sin, and prejudicing it against godliness ; but the godly are well fortified, they can see loveliness in such ways as are hated and dis- countenanced in the world. As David : Ps. cxix. 127, ' They have made void thy law, therefore I love thy commandments above gold, above fine gold ; ' and Moses, Heb. xi. 26, ' Esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt/ They are no more moved at the world's scorn than a man that is straight and upright would be at the mocks of cripples because he doth not limp and walk after their fashion ; they can see honour in disgrace, and beauty in God's despised ways.
3. Offences also may be both given and taken ; as when one pro- voketh, and another is provoked to evil, enticed by false doctrine, corrupt counsel, or evil example. False doctrine : Mat. xv. 14, ' The blind lead the blind, and both fall into the ditch ; ' not one, but both, the blind follower as well as the blind guide. Or by corrupt counsel, as Ahab was seduced by the false prophets, 1 Kings xxii., and Amnon by his friend Jonadab was drawn to incest, 2 Sam. xiii. 6 ; he as readily obeyeth the other's wicked counsel, as he was to give it. So for evil example ; it secretly tainteth us. The prophet complaineth, Isa. vi. 5, ' I am a man of polluted lips, and I dwell among people of polluted lips.' It is hard to avoid the contagion of iniquities with which we do daily and familiarly converse, as to live in an infected air without tairt, or to walk in the sun and not be insensibly tanned. We leaven one another by our coldness and deadness in religion. It is hard to be fresh in salt waters, to live among offences and not be offended.
Secondly, With respect to the object or matter of it. A scandal may be given, dicto aut facto — (1.) In word ; (2.) In deed.
1. In word, by evil counsel or carnal suggestion: Ps. i. 1, ' Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.' As carnal friends and parents that relish not the word of life themselves, out of prejudice against godliness and holy zeal, dissuade their children and servants from attending on the exercises of religion, as praying, hearing, meditation, lest they grow mopish and melancholy, and lest a zealous minding God's interest should hinder their prefer- ment, had rather see them lewd than holy ; but, Luke xiv. 26, ' If any man come to me, and hate not father and mother/ &c. Or by atheistical, or obscene and carnal discourse : 1 Cor. xv. 53, ' Evil com- munications corrupt good manners ; ' Eph. v. 4, ' Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient.'
2. In deed, and so three ways : —
[1.] When they do things that are simply unlawful, and so propa- gate their sin to others by their example : Prow xx. 24, ' Make no
212 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SEP.. CLXXX.
friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man shalt thou not go, lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.' The violences and furious passions of anger are so uncomely, that a man would think they should rather affright then allure to imitation ; but these things insensibly overcome us, and ere a man is aware, he is tainted.
[2.] By the abuse of Christian liberty to the wrong and hindrance of others in a way of godliness; as Horn. xiv. 13-15, ' Let no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way : I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean : but if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably : destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died ; ' 1 Cor. viii. 10, ' But take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to them that are weak.' We must not commit a sin, or omit a duty to avoid offence ; yet in indifferent things we may expect from others what is lawful to do, and forbear it, as conduceth to edification ; for we must have a care of offending little ones, and therefore must drive according to their pace, using our liberty as they are able to bear.
[3.] By persecution enforce others against their duty : Mat. xviii. 6, ' But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe on me, it were better a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the sea ;' better he did suffer all extremity. Offend- ing is persecuting, as receiving is countenancing, cherishing, treating them kindly and tenderly. So Mat. xiii. 21, ' When persecution ariseth by reason of the word, by and by they are offended;' Mat. xxiv. 9, 10. This opposing, hating, vexing the people of God is one way of offence, and very dangerous to those that practise it, however it succeedeth ; for though they be little ones, little in their own eyes, little in the esteem of the world, little in regard of outward interest, and so lie open and liable to offences, little in regard of their spiritual growth, and so apt to take offence, yet they are dear to the great God, who is their patron, and will take their quarrel into his own hands ; and it will be a thousand times better they had been the persecuted ones than to be the persecutors.