The Christian Armory, Book 2 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Of Offences Passiue, or those that are taken.
Question.
WHat is a scandall, or an offence taken?
A. It is any wholesome doctrine or counsell,Mat. 15.12 13.1…. any honest and godly spéech, déed…, example, which through errour of iudgement, péeuishnes of mind, and peruerse interpretation, is turned to an occasion of offence.
Q. What are the causes of an offence taken?
A. First, blindnesse, and imperfection duplicate page duplicate page of mans reason. Secondly, corrupt iudgement arising from the ignorance of Gods word. Thirdly, preiudicate and forestalled opinions. Fourthly, hatred of the godly, and their proceedinges. Fifthly, distast and dislike of good policy and discipline. Sixthly, in the wicked an eager appetite and desire of worldlie gaine and authority, with an earnest affection to hold and maintaine it. Lastly, the manifold afflictions of such as feare God.
Q. Who are the persons that vniustly conceiue an offence?
A. First and principally, the wicked, Secondly, Gods children.
Q Whereat (in regard of the godly) doe the wicked take an offence?
A. At foure things especially.
Q How shall we arm and strengthen our selues against offences, which wicked men vniustly conceiue against vsus?
Math. 15.12. Act. 4.29. & 30.A. First, we must constantly, and chearefully goe forwards in our good purposes & proceedings, much more regarding the kéeping of Gods commandements, and a good conscience then the imagined and pretended scandal and offence, that the wicked vniustly take: wherefore let their offence taken, rather hearten vsus then hinder vsus, and more driue vsus forward in good actions, then discourage vsus.
Secondly, the more clamorous and enuious that they are against vsus, the more let vsus endeauour by all good meanes to draw them to the practise of holy duties.
Thirdly, if the wicked were falsly and vniustly offended at the excellent person,Math 11.6. the rare humility, the heauenly doctrine, the extraordinary miracles, & the sinnelesse conuersation of our most blessed Sauiour, so that they reuiled, whipped, persecuted him, and put him to the most ignominious death that could bee inuented: how much more will they bée offended at vsus that are sinners, and who many times minister matter of offence?
Lastly, let vsus (what in vsus lieth) liue inoffensiuely, and please our neighbours in all thinges, not seeking our owne good, but their saluation.
Q. What is the second pretended offence, at which the wicked stumble and fall?
A. At the godly for vsing their lawful liberty in things indifferent.
Q. How shall the godly either preuent or (at least) arme themselues against this offence by the wicked, taken, and not by the godly giuen?
A. If they that take the offence bee obstinate enemies, they must not for their pleasure remit ought of their christian liberty, but rather with the Apostle Paul to vse it: Mat. 15.12. Gal. 5.1. For in this case we are bound onelyonly to auoide the offence of our weake brethren, and not of our incurable enemies, who will neuer be pleased nor satisfied. But if christians that are weake in faith, and not yet fully resolued of points, take an offence at the vse of our liberty in meat, drinke, apparrell, &c. better it is for vsus (for the time) to yéeld somewhat to our weake brethren,Rom. 14.15. then by the vnseasonable, & inconuenient vse of that which is lawfull (in it owne nature) to scandalize them, and so cause them to perish, for whom Christ died. Therefore let vsus doe all to Gods glory, and giuegive offence to none,1 Cor. 10.31.32. neither Iews nor Gentiles, nor to the Church of God. 1. Cor. 10.31.32.
Secondly, we must not for the pleasing of mens humours, and to decline an offence taken (and not giuen) temporize with Gods enemies, nor frame our selues to all companies and professions: for better it is that all the wicked in the world should be offended at vsus, then that we for the preuenting of their (vnlawful) offence should be iniurious to Iesus Christ, or preiudice any part of his reuealed truth; and therefore we are not to communicate with such in the least things.Gal. 2.5. When therefore the omission of our Christian liberty doth either renue errour, or confirme men in it, wee must then neuer dispense with it.
Thirdly, in matters of faith, and in cases of conscience,Gal. 6.16 wee must walke by the Canon and rule of Gods word, & not by vnperfite examples:Gal. 5.1. and hauing gottē certaine resolution, wee must stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made vsus free and not be entangled with the yeake of Antichristian bondage.
Lastly, it shall be our wisedome to vse our liberty with aduised discretion, and (what in vsus lyeth) to minister no matter nor occasion of (iust) offence to our enemies; but, if notwithstanding wée cannot auoide their offence without sinning against God, and corrupting our owne consciences: this offence that they take, must neither remoue vsus from our sound iudgement in things indifferent, nor from the lawfull practise and vse of our holy and Christian liberty.
Q. What is the fourth offence that the wicked ones & enemies take against the godly?
A. Their manifold crosses, tribulations and afflictions.
Q. How shall, or must Gods children arme themselues against this offence?
Phil. 1.29.First, it is giuen to them (as a speciall priuiledge) not only to belieue in Christ, but also to suffer for him.
Luk. 16.25.Secondly, the wicked are none of Gods children, and therfore he letteth them in this world, (many times, and for a long season) to escape vnpunished, that they may at once hauehave their eternall punishment in hell fire.
Heb. 12.Thirdly, God loueth his children, and therefore he doth rebuke and chasten them; and therefore none are to take an offence at their troubles, nor to make an ill construction of them: for if they were without all correction, they should be bastards and no sonnes.
Fourthly, That they are blessed that are not offended in Christ,Luk. 7.23. so neither at his word, nor at the contemptible estate, and manifold afflictions of his children: but acknowledge Gods prouidence, and admire his wonderfull wisedome,Act. 14, 22. who hath consecrated the prince of our saluation through afflictions: Heb 2.10. and doth by many afflctions bring his childrē into his kingdom.
Fifthly, the enemies of God, and of his children, either want iudgement, and the spirit of discerning, or else are transported with humour and malice, and therefore wee are not to regard their rash censures, nor their vniust offence.
Sixthly, the afflictions of the faithfull come not by chance, but by the counsell and prouidence of God, which disposeth all things in a most excellent sort, for their profit and saluation, Gen. 45.45. 2. Sam. 16 10. Psa. 119.71. Act. 14.21.
Lastly, let it bée sufficient for vsus, that God accepteth our persons, sanctifieth our afflictions vntounto vsus, and and highly rewardeth our seruice and sufferings, and therefore though wee bee in no grace and request with the wicked world, whose fauour and friendship can neither helpe vsus, nor their false iudgement and contempt preiudice vsus, let vsus not be moued, nor amated at it.