by their Example to do the like againſt their own Light and Conſcience ; and this afterwards cauſeth grief and trouble ; their Conſciences hereby are galled and wounded, 1 Cor. 8. 12. f This is the Second Reaſon why Chriſtians ſhould nor ule their Liberry re the offznce of others, It may occaſion their Ruine and De ſtruſtion. 9g. d. Hereby, as much as in you lies, you rake a courſe to Deſtroy rhew for whom Chriſt dyed. You will alienate and eſtrange them from the Chriſtian Religion, or you will araw chem into Sin, and induce them (as betore ) to at&t againſt rheic Conſciences , and fo hazard their Salvation- See a Parallel Place, r Cor. 8. 11, Here a Queſtion may ariſe, Wherher any can periſh for whom Chriſt dyed ? The Anſwer is They cannot ; and for this , the Scripture is expreſs in John 10. 28. See alſo Mar. 24. 24. John 6. 39. 1 Pet. I. 5. © How then 1s this Text ro be unde: ſtood ? The Apoſtle doth not ſpeak of thoſe for whim Chri? in. deed did dye , bur of ſuch, as in the judgmeart of Charicy are held ro he of that Number. We mult account all thoſe who confeſs the F3::7 of Chriſt, for ſuch as bs hath Redeemed by hig death.
Gd
16 Let not then your good be evil ſpoken of g.
g Here 1s another Argument agaiaſt Offences; Ir will caufe our good tro be blaſphemed , or wil ſpoken of, Some by God here, would underſtand the Chriftian Faich, or the Goſp:1 in general : Bur others do rather underſtand it of our Chriſtian L berry in par« ticular. 9g. d. Give none occaſion for this grear Priviledge of your Chriſt:an Liberty to be traduced ; uſe it fo, as thar neither the wezk Chriſtian , nor the Infidel, may reproach or accuis you as Licens.
me ſtrong and knowing Chriſtians; Counſelling them to take heed, | t by the abuſe of theic Chriſtian Liberty, they ſhould bz an fence to them that were weak, and more Ignorant. He entereth Ion this with an Elegant Tranſition , making uſe of the ſame ord in a different Senſe ; for he doth nor ſp:zak Contraries , ben he ayes, judge nor, but judge ; for the word in the forme) art of the Verſe, ſignifies, to condcran and cenſure; bur here in be following part, to deliberate or conſider 3; q. d. Inſtead of judg- g Others ler us look upon this a Rule for our fzlves, and our mn Deportment, that we put no ſtumbling block, &c. a.9.d. Take Ieed of offending your Brethren 1 any kind ; do not, by an un- F:onable Uſe of your Liberty , either drive them from their Liriſtian Profeſſion, or provoke them to imirare you, and ſo to In againſt their Conſciences. You have a Parallel Text, 1 Cor. 9. There he ſpeaks only of a ſtumbling block ; here he . adds noccaſion of Falling, cor as 'tis in the Original, a Scanaal. Though e two words do differ in their Erymologies, yet they have one al the ſame Signification. The latter word , as Stephanrs ob- ans, is peculiar to Holy Scripture; and feldom , if ever, uſed ay common Author. Ir fignitierh properly, the Bridge in a 9, which, by its falling down, catcheth a Creature 1n a ſnare, lo occalions its Ruine ; and from thence it is uſed to de. Mr ny thing which is an occation to others of fiumbling or 3; any thing whereby we ſo cftend another, as that he is nored from Good ; drawn into or confirmed in Evil. Scandal Oftence is either Paſſive or Ave: Paſſive Scandal 1s, when
That Chriſtians cular Adtions; hich 1s to devote ' Hetellstam it 00s 6f 647 Corte - we 2re 407 ole n in the Afras {; we ſp:ador is A.ppoirtaell r OL dying : Hz le Circumfecene q This 5b a'l time, and 0 nee or pouerl}, 8 diſpo! ; bs
in this wor,
d, and role f, th of the dead
briſt, by tus Neath
, think, the *7 E ny 1s Good , 1s by reaſon of Mans Corruprion , an occa- ied; 6 BEG Is falling to him. So Chriſt himſelf, and his Do&rine, was 4 inj0n over WG | Sandal to the Tews; wid, I Cor. 1. 23. 1 Pet. 2.8. Adive Scan- my chats *15, when any thing is done or ſaid, which gives occaſion of Off:nce -— £ Or C* Others, when it is an occalion of Grief, or of Sin to them, wer. 15. _ whether & g This Occaſion may be Admiaiſtred, Either by Evil Counſel, rather the Ex + 23. Rev.2. 14. Or by Evil Example, Iſa. 9. 16. Mar. 15. an Univerſal 9 4 r by the abuſe of Chriſtiaa Liberry in things indifferent, xecial Dowin:% : 8 9.
e purchaſed Z ”
4 I know, and am perſwaded by the Lord Jeſus b, tYere is *nothing + unclean of it ſelf c: but * to
M that eſteemech; any thing to be unclean, to him 3zt zs
. 1 rother : of - z veal} d
LEw
'C] or * . o . . .
6 he obviates an Obje&ion. Some might ſay they were ng io bs i " . . .
uy perſwaded,, That no Mcat was unclean in its elf 3 and
tious or Contentious, wid. 1 Cor. 10. 29, 39.
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink 5,
but righteouſneſs, and peace, and joy # in the Holy Ghoſt &.