SERMON XXX.1
THE EVIL AND DANGER OF OFFENCES.
"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" — Matt, xviii. 7.
It is very evident that our Lord Jesus Christ lays very great weight upon this matter of offences. He represents them like a two-edged 1 This sermon was preached September 30, 1681.
THE EVIL AND DANGER OF OFFENCES. S-")3
sword, that cuts both ways: " Woe unto the world because of offences! woe to them by whom offences come I" He knits these two things together. It must needs be that there be offences ; God hath ap- pointed it, and it must be so. He doth not merely tell us, it will be; but, " it must be." God hath ordered that so it shall be.
I will speak a few things in reference to offences, that may be of use unto us, without looking into the depth of this great matter of offence and scandal ; than which, I must needs say, I never yet saw any thing less inquired into, though there is no subject more written upon and spoken to. We should consider for ourselves the time wherein we may be sure offences will abound. It is necessary, from this wonderful caution of Christ here given, "Woe, woe !- — it must be," that we should consider the times wherein it is likely offences will abound. And if all those times should prove to be upon us, certainly it is our duty to be wary.
First. The first is a time of persecution. Offences will abound in a time of persecution, to the ruin of many professors. So our Saviour tells us, Matt, xiii., " One received the seed of the word, and it sprang up ; but when persecution for the word arose, immediately he was of- fended." " Woe unto him, he is gone!"
Secondly. A time of the abounding of great sins is a time of giving and taking great offence. This the Holy Spirit speaks expressly, that " in the latter days there shall be perilous times." All perils arise from offences. And why? Men's lusts shall abound. When there is an abounding of lusts, there will be an abounding of offences, that make the times perilous.
Thirdly. When there is a decay of churches, when they grow cold, and are under decays, it is a time of the abounding of offences: " Ini- quity shall abound, and the love of many shall wax cold." That is a time when offences will abound ; such as all the churches of Christ seem to be under at this day. All the virgins, wise and foolish, are asleep. It is what I have told you often, and I wish I could say I have told you with weeping, that we are under woful decays, — falling from our first faith, love, and works.
Now, if all these times should be upon us : — a time of persecution, as it is now throughout the world (saith the apostle, " Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, or all that befalls you, brethren, in the world") ; a time of the abounding of great sin in men (I need not en- large upon this) ; and a time of great decays in all churches ; — if it be thus with us, certainly it is very proper for us to look upon this warn- ing of our Saviour, " Take heed of offences."
Offences are of two sorts : — I. Such as are taken only, and not given. II. Such as are given, and taken also: —
I. Such as are taken only, and not given. The great offence taken
vol. ix. 23
854 THE EVIL AND DANGER OF OFFENCES.
was at Jesus Christ himself. God appointed Christ to be the greatest offence in the world, Isa. viii. He had designed him to be a stumbling- block, and a rock of offence, — an insuperable offence. The poverty of Christ in the world and his cross were the rock of offence whereat both Jews and Gentiles stumbled and fell, and ruined themselves unto eternity. Now the apostle disputes, 1 Cor. i., that this was an offence taken, and not given. How does he prove it? Why, that wherein God puts forth his wisdom and his power is no offence given, but merely taken ; but in Christ crucified God put forth his power (let him be as poor in the world as he will, let him be crucified, there is the wisdom and the power of God in it) : and therefore, there can be no just offence.
This offence taken, and not given, is increased by the poverty of the church. "You see your calling, brethren; — not many great, not many wise, not many noble." In plain English, "You are a company of poor, weak, persecuted people." But saith the apostle, " This is no offence given ; ' God chooses the things that are not, to bring to nought things that are.' These things are an offence taken, and not given."
II. There are offences given and taken : —
1. Offences given: and they are men's public sins, and the miscar- riages of professors, that are under vows and obligations to honour- able obedience. Men may give offence by errors and miscarriages in churches, and by immoralities in their lives. This was in the sin of David. God would pass by every thing but offence given : " ' Because thou hast made my name to be blasphemed,' therefore I will deal so and so." What a talk did it occasion throughout the world ! " There is your holy man, your godly man, your David ! — a praying man ! do you hear what a noise there is concerning him?" — " Thou hast made my name to be blasphemed," saith God ; and this is a great provocation. So God speaks of the people of Israel : " These were my people ; by rea- son of you my name is profaned among the Gentiles." — " These are the people of the Lord ! see now, they are come into captivity ! what a vile people they are !" Such things are an offence given.