Certain Observations, Section 18
SECTION XVIII.
BEcauſe it is ſo often in the mouths of men, that theſe things controverted, are things indifferent: therfore it will not bee amiſſe to ſet down ſome ſpeciall rules for diſcerning and uſing things indifferent.
A thing indifferent properly is a mean, twixt good and evill, and in it ſelfe neither good nor evill.
1 It is a mean ſeated twixt the extreams, having not the nature of either extrem: So that a thing commanded or forbidden by the Lord is not indifferent.
2 Twixt good and evill: therfore that which is a mean in reſpect of ſome other ſin is not indifferent; as fornication is leſſe …vill then adultery, yet evill and not indifferent, the like may be ſaid of degrees of goodneſſe.
3 In it ſelfe; that is, in its own nature: for in the particulars every action is good or evill. So that the goodneſſe or evill of a thing indifferent, is not from it ſelfe, but from the uſer: if he be pure or impure, from the circumſtances, from the manner of doing it: So that an action of the ſame kinde may be evill in one, in another commendab…e: The laws of man cannot make the th…ngs that are indifferent, ſimp…y good or evill; …o… t…en they ſhould change the very nature of things, which men cannot.
What things are indifferent.
THe things that are indifferent are ſuch as are left unto mans free cho ſe, for the exerc…ſe of wiſedom, fa…th, ſobriety, louelove, and the l…ke graces of God in h…m. Where by the way we may obſerue; why ſome things are left indifferent.
1 Becauſe in their own nature they are neither good nor ev…l, and therfore not to be commanded or fo…b…dden.
2 Becauſe the Lo…d would hauehave a…l his grac…s, and the powers of mens ſoules to be the more exerc…ſed: for the hardeſt th…ngs in Religion, are often about things in…fferent.
3 There ſ…ould be infinite rules given then, for theſe caſes are innumerable, and ſo the knowledg of things abſolutely needfull ſhould be hindred.
The particular kinds of things indifferent are.
1 Meats and drinks: it is true, there is nothing of it ſelfe unclean.
2 Garments are things indifferent.
3 Recreations.
4 The time of publique aſſembling together upon the Sabboth.
5 And laſtly, whatſoever a man may doe w…thout impiety towards God, or wrong to man.
In the uſe of things indifferent; firſt every man muſt learn the right uſe from the Word, 1 Tim. 4, for our own reaſon is very bl…nd here…n, and cuſtom exceeding corrupt, and this muſt the rather be rememb…d: Becauſe,
2 Man muſt giuegive account to Chriſt for his uſing things indifferent.
3 Every man muſt be fully perſwaded in h…s own conſcience, that the thing hee doth is lawfull n it ſelfe; this perſwaſion is a certain knowledg in his own heart and conſcience from the light of the Word, and the ſp…rit of God ſhining in him. This excluds doubting: 1 that is ſin. So is 2 depending upon others, or following others example: 3 When men are perſwaded, but by ſhews of reaſon, or of men, not by ſound grounds out of the Scripture.
4 Each man muſt be very wiſe in uſing this liberty. 1 Men muſt diſcern what is expedient and may further to edifie others. 2 Men muſt diſcern times and circumſtances.
5 Men muſt be very carefull in the uſe of things indifferent leſt they be brought in bondage to them in judgement.
6 A man muſt uſe them ſoberly.
7 A man muſt uſe them as things indifferent, without opinion of holineſſe, or merit, or neceſſity.
8 A mans end muſt be ever Gods glory, and his own good: this excluds al uſing of them to the honour of any Idoll.
9 Men muſt be very thankfull for the liberty purchaſed by Chriſt, though they ſhould not injoy the things in this life.
10 Men muſt not ſeek themſelues onelyonly in the uſe of things indifferent.
11 Men ſhould chooſe that way, that may moſt fit them for their ſerving of God in both their callings.
12 Men muſt ſtand faſt, and not looſe their right purchaſed ſo deer.
13 Men muſt be content to be reſtrained by the Magiſtrate, from the over common uſe of a thing indifferent, for the publique good. Theſe rules being given of God, no man can command aga…nſt them.
14 Men muſt not deſpiſe and judge one another, for the uſe or forbearing of things indifferent.
15 Men muſt uſe them in louelove.
16 Every man is bound to uſe a thing, or forbear it, as it may moſt benefit, and build up others.
Theſe things muſt be remembred; becauſe the minde of man is wanton naturally, and in things indifferent, takes more liberty far th…n …t ought.
Secondly, becauſe in all times many would abridge Gods children of their liberty.
Hence it may eaſily appear, that the grounds of one ſide, to u…ge theſe th…ngs upon us, are weak; and that the exceptions on our ſide, are not fooliſh and frivolous, as may appear both from their natur…, and uſe.
From their nature, becauſe theſe things now controverted are not ind…fferent.
1 Becauſe they are b…eaches of the ſecond commandement.
2 Are Idolothits.
3 Are againſt order, decency, & edification.
4 There is as great reaſon why the weak ſhould bee born withall, for not doing th…ſe, as the Iews for not beleeving Chriſtian liberty by Chriſt, from Moſes ceremon…es.
S…condly, their uſe is not according to the rules; For,
1 Men cannot proue theſe things indifferent from the Word.
2 Men would perſwade others, if it be ſin, it is the Magiſtrats ſin, none elſe.
3 Men would force others by commanding onelyonly, not perſwading: ſecondly, their perſwaſions are example and antiquity, which are no grounds for the conſcience to reſtion.
4 Men would hauehave us to yeeld to their diſcretion in appointing ſuch things, without any examination of expediencie.
5 Men are brought in bondage to them, to uſe them whether they profit or no.
6 Men imag…ne all good order is broken, if theſe be not uſed.
7 How can they be uſed, without ſhew of approving the ſuperſtition of Rome? 2 what good doth any man reap hereby?
8 Men ſeek themſelues, and out of an opinion of learning, take liberty to doe what they pleaſe, like the Corinthians.
9 Men ſtand not faſt, but make themſelues ſervants of men.
10 Men judge us as Schiſmaticks and Hereticks for not conforming.
11 Men ſin againſt Chriſt in offending their brethren, as afterwards ſhall appear.
12 Men are bound in conſcience rather to ſuffer any diſgrace, then to offend their brethren.
13 Though things ſhould be indifferent, yet the rules of uſing them are not from mans will, but from Gods wiſedom: wheras here they doe by theſe things offend God.
Obj. They that oppoſe theſe things controverted, are peeviſh and malicious.
Anſw. That is not true, ſince they are conſcionable in other things, and they ſubject themſelues to be taught by the Word, and are willing to be informed.
Of Scandall or Offence.
Offence is properly that which hinders one in any good courſe.
This is of our ſelues, when we continue ſome luſts of the fleſh unmortified, Mat. 5.
This is grievous to God, and fearfull to us: for it depriues men of heaven. So Herod and Iudas.
2 Offence is of prophane phariſaicall men; this is by preaching and confeſſing the truth, and leading an holy life: So many are now a dayes offended, that men ſhould preach the Word fa…thfully and zealouſly, and that men ſhould be forward to hear and pray, and perform good and neceſſary duties. This is not to be reſpected, our Saviour Chriſt bids, Let them alone.
Reaſ. 1. God muſt be obeyed.
2 The truth muſt be witneſſed.
3 None of Gods plants ſhould be offended.
4 This will diſcover all hipocrites, and lay them open.
A third offence is to temporary Profeſſors, this is by perſecution, Mat. 13, and Mat. 24.
This cannot be avoided, wicked men will ever be in the world, and enemies to the kingdom of Chriſt.
This is a ſign of perdition without repentance, to be offended and offend.
A fourth offence is, called properly, an offence given. This is either to t…e wicked, or to the ch…ldren of God; and to both, either by falſ doctrine, or want in manners.
1 Falſe doctrine, as Rom. 16.17.
2 Evi…l facts are ſuch as cauſe the Goſpell, and the name of God to be evill ſpoken of. This offends both the wicked, which are driven fu…ther off from Relig…on, & hardened …n their ſins: and the children of God, who are reproached, and her…by letted, this makes the …ghteous ſcarcely b… ſaved.
3 Diſſention of Teachers, either through falſe doctrine, o… unskilfull propounding of ſome points.
4 Abuſe of Chriſtian liberty, when men as Peter, diſſemble and deny that I berty they hauehave for fear of man, Gal. …. Or 2 o…t of their knowledg, uſing what in it ſelfe is lawfull, unſeaſonably and ind…ſcretly, without regard of others: This is that ſo much ſpoken aga…nſt, Rom. 14 1 Cor. 8, & 10.
This …s either, 1 when men blaſpheme a…d ſpeak evill of our liberty for our fooliſh uſing of it, Rom. 14.16.
2 When the weak brother is grieved, Rom 14.
3 When he is drawn to doe any thing, wherof he is not fully perſwaded; this is to ſinne againſt Chriſt, and beat the weak conſcience of others, and that …ither to his utter daſhing and caſting away: or 2 to his fall: or 3 to his weakning or diſcouraging from going ſo faſt in his journey: all theſe are noted, Rom. 14.15.
All theſe may be by the uſe of things indifferent, and they are aga…nſt louelove and charity: we ought to deny our ſelues, and ſeek the good of others.
2 Theſe are againſt Chriſt.
3 Againſt that w…ſ…dom which ought to be in us.
A fifth offence is by a ſhew of evill, which Chriſtians are bound to avo…de, 1 Theſſ 5, 2 Cor. 8, 1 Tim. 5.14, I will the yonger widdowes marry.
The retayning and uſing of the Ceremonies in cont…overſie…s offence g…v…n.
Firſt, in doctrine; men cannot defend them without Popiſh grounds, as very Pap…ſts ſee.
Secondly, this backſliding of ſome, hardneth many wick…d men, and caſteth reproach upon th… forward ſervants of God. It is a w…ck…d action in any to goe backward, and come neerer R…me again, wheras they ſhould fly out of her.
Thirdly, this cauſ…th ſuch diſſention of Teachers amongſt us.
Fourthly, men abuſe their liberty (ſuppoſe theſe were indifferent, which cannot be proved) in thus uſing them.
1 Many diſſemble, and profeſſe they dare not otherwiſe doe, then uſe theſe, and ſo deny that liberty Chriſt bath purchaſed.
2 Many a weak brother is exceed…ngly grieved hereby.
3 Many are drawn to doe that which they are not perſwaded of: 1 Som… to their daſhing, ſo as they turn from Chriſt to the world again, and prone bitter enemies to Chriſt: 2 Some fall fearfully: 3 All are h…ndred, and made leſſe zealous and carefull in the work of the Miniſtery, and leſſe reſolute againſt Popery.
Fiftly, here is a great ſhew of evill, and conformity with Antichriſt, wherby the miniſtry of men is made leſſe glorious amongſt others.
So that from hence we ſee, we hauehave ground ſufficient, not to conform to theſe ceremonies. Wherfore doe yee judge (oh ye cenſorious and ridged brethren) ſuch, who you know of conſcience abſtayn from doing theſe things? The command of a dread Soveraign we acknowledg, and one whoſe good and ſafety we every way deſire.