Two Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
That Scandals are wofull and fatall euents to the ſcandalized world.
HItherto wee hauehave ſeene the Neceſsitie, come we now to conſider the Miſchiefe of ſcandals. That miſchiefe is twofold. The firſt is a woe to ſuch as are ſcandalized that doe ſtumble & are offended. Woe to the world becauſe of offences. For the meaning of the words. To the world, that is to worldly and carnall men. Becauſe of offences, or from offences. foreign, not foreign, from offences, not for offences, not as if ſcandals were the cauſe for which the woe comes, as if God brought a woe vponupon men for their ſcandals, but that ſcandals are the meanes and the Inſtruments by which, and from which God brings wo vponupon ſome mens heads. So that theſe words are not to bee vnderſtood as threatning of woe to ſuch as giuegive offence by falling into ſcandalous ſinnes, who are threatned in the former verſe, and in the end of this, but it is a threatning of wo to men of this world, wicked and vngodly men taking offence at the ſcandalous actions of ſuch as profeſſe Religion, that theſe ſcandals ſhould prooue to ſuch matters of woe and ſorrow, and from, and by them ſhould much miſchiefe come to worldly men. Which wordes ſo opened, afford vsus this point.
That the ſcandalous and offenſiue Actions of ſuch as profeſſe the Goſpell and Name of Chriſt are fatall, diſmall, banefull and wofull euents to wicked and wordly men.
God that hath a prouidence in all euents, hath an all-wiſe and ouer-ruling prouidence in euents of ſcandal, and he in that prouidence of his orders and appoints them ſo to come, that they make way for ſome great woe to worldly men. EueryEvery ſcandal is a ſtumbling blocke, and when a ſcandall is giuen, there is a ſtumbling blocke laid, and ſuch a ſtumbling blocke, at which ſome men ſhall not onelyonly breake their ſhinnes, but their neckes. But who layes this ſtumbling blocke? This ſtumbling blocke God layes, Ezek. 3. 20. I laying a ſtumbling blocke before him he ſhall die. When God in his Iuſtice meanes to make ſure worke with ſome men that they ſhall die, he firſt in his prouidence diſpoſes of a ſtumbling blocke to be laid in their way, at which they may ſtumble ſo as they may fall, and bee ruined, ſo as they may die. Amongſt many other ſtumbling blockes that God diſpoſes to bee laid in mens wayes, this is a very frequent, and ordinarie one, the ſcandalous actions of ſome Profeſſours of Religion. And when ſuch ſtumbling blocks are laid, woe to the world, they are fatal, and mortal, I laying a ſtumbling blocke that he may die.
The word foreign, a ſcandal, foreign ſignificat propriè tigillum in inſtrumentis quibus capiuntur lupi, aut vulpes, aut mures. foreign apud Heſych. Melancth, ad Rom 14.the Grammarians ſay it ſignifies the crooked piece in a trap to which the baite is tied, at which a Mouſe, Rat, Wolfe, or any other vermin biting, the trap fals downe, enſnares, and catches the beaſt. So that in ſcandalous euents God ſets vp a trap, a gin, a ſnare, by which hee purpoſes to catch and enſnare ſuch vermin as men in a reprobate condition bee. That looke as when a man ſets vp and baites a trap hee may ſay, Now woe to Rats and Mice, woe to the Foxes, Wolues, and the baggage vermin, ſo when ſcandals fall out, woe to the world, Gods trap is ſet vp to enſnare ſuch withall as are made to bee taken, 2. Pet. 2. 12. And looke as a man when he ſets vp a trap, hee intends it purpoſely for the woe of vermin, ſo when God in his prouidence diſpoſes of the euents of ſcandals, hee therein intends the woe, the enſnaring, the catching, killing, and deſtroying of ſuch who had beene happie, if they had beene made the vileſt vermin in the world.
That which Salomon ſpeakes of a wicked mans owne ſinne, is alſo true of the ſcandalous ſinne of another, Prou. 29. 6. In the tranſgreſsion of an euill man there is a ſnare, though he take a great deale of delight, and pleaſure in it, yet it will proue a trhackling ſnare; ſo in the tranſgreſſion, the ſcandalous tranſgreſſiō of a good man, or a ſeeming good man, there is a ſnare. Though euill men take a great deale of Content, and make themſelues much mirth, and paſtime at the fals, and ſcandals of ſuch as profeſſe religion, yet in that ſcandalous tranſgreſsion there is a ſnare for them, a deadly, and a mortal ſnare; woe to the world becauſe of offences.
As it is in the caſe of Paſsiue, ſo is it in the caſe of actiue ſcādals. Now in caſe of paſsiue ſcandals it is true, wo vntounto the world frō offences. Such offences worke to worldly mens great ſmart, & ſorrow. The Apoſtle ſpeakes of Chriſt, 1. Pet. 2. 8. that he was foreign, a rocke of ſcandal, or offence. And Iſ. 8. 14. 15. the Prophet foretold that he ſhould be for a gin, and for a ſnare to the inhabitants of Ieruſalem. So that it may be truly ſaid of ſuch, wo vntounto them that Chriſt the rocke of ſcandal euer came into the world. For Iudgement and for woe, am I come into the world, Iohn 9.
Thus alſo is it true in caſe of Actiue ſcandals, for Iudgement do they come into the world, and for Iudgement vntounto the world. Woe be to the world for the ſcandalous ſinnes of Profeſſours of Religion, for they be ſet vp to be ſtumbling ſtones and rockes of offence, againſt which men of the world ſhall daſh themſelues, they be ſet for ginnes and for ſnares in which they ſhall bee taken. In the caſe of paſsiue ſcandals, where offence is onelyonly taken, there the trap is baited with the bread of life. In the caſe of Actiue ſcandal, where offence is giuen, there the trap is baited with baine, and poyſon, with deadly poyſon, death is in the trap. Now if woe to the world when the trap is baited with the bread of life, how much more woe to the world, when it is baited with ranke, and deadly poyſon?
Scandals and offences are diſmal and fatal to wicked men, becauſe God in his intention and adminiſtration diſpoſes and orders them as the meanes that ſhall make way for the ſurer and ſorer puniſhment of them for their vnprofitableneſſe vnderunder, and their contempt of the Goſpell, the meanes of grace and the holy examples of ſuch as are truly godly. Therefore are they fatall and wofull euents becauſe they are ſent as executioners of diuine vengeance vponupon the diſobedient rebels againſt the Goſpel. God giues men his word and the Miniſterie of it to conuert, and ſaue them, the holy examples of his children to guide, and lead them. Now neither one thing nor another will reclaime men of the world, nothing will doe them good, ſtill will they goe on in their vnbeliefe and hardneſſe of heart, notwithſtanding the light of the Word, and the light of holy examples, notwithſtanding the ſhining light of both, they will louelove, and liue in darkneſſe ſtill. So then God ſeeing this that nothing will better them, but to Hell they will goe, and damned they will be, let his Miniſters, and his people do what they can, he thereupon enters into a reſolution to make ſure worke with them, and to take ſuch a courſe as ſhall infallibly, and irreuocably make way for their eternall ruine, and to this end in his prouidence diſpoſes of theſe ſcandalous euents, as ſtumbling ſtones, and ſtumbling blockes; at which they may ſo ſtumble as they may fall, and be ſurely ruined. As if the Lord ſhould ſpeak on this manner. I hauehave giuen you my Word and Goſpel, it hath beene preacht amongſt you plentifully, and powerfully, all the meanes notwithſtanding, you hauehave not beene one whit the better, but rather worſe, yee are more ſtubborne, more rebellious, more malicious, and to Hell yee will, doe my Miniſters what they can.
Well then ſince there is no remedie, ſince yee will goe, I will take an order to ſet you going ſurely. Behold, in my prouidence I will diſpoſe of ſcandalous euents to fall out that ſhall lie as ſtumbling blocks in your way; at which, ſtumble yee, and fall yee, and be yee remedileſly ruined. I gaue you my word that you might hauehave riſen, but you would not be raiſed by it, I wil therfore lay a ſtumbling block in your way, at which you ſhall bee ſure to fall. I gaue you my word that you might hauehave liued, but now I will lay a ſtumbling blocke that you may die, Ezek. 3. 20. You would not bee drawne to Heauen by the holy examples and lifes of my Saints, therefore ſhall yee bee head-longed another way by the ſcandalous euents that ſhall by my prouidence fall out. I ſent my Miniſters, whom I made fiſhers of men, with their nets and baites to catch you, but by no meanes would yee bee caught in their nets, nor bite at their baites, nor bee catcht with their hookes, therefore now will I diſpoſe of ſcandalous euents, which I will ſet as traps, and ſnares and ginnes for you: greedily and eagerly ſhall you come to them, & ſhalbe enſnared and held faſt for euer getting out againe. And thus doe ſcandals come as meſſengers of wrath and death.
Gods dealing with wicked men in euents of ſcandals, is cleane contrarie to his dealing with good men. Such as louelove the truth of God, and ſubiect vntounto it, though ſcandals come ſhall not bee enſnared by them, God will ſecure and ſaue them from being enſnared, Pſal. 119. 165. Great peace hauehave they which louelove thy law, and nothing ſhall offend them, or, they ſhall hauehave no ſtumbling blocke. Such as louelove Gods truth hauehave great peace, great ſecuritie when ſcandals fall out, they ſhall hauehave no ſtūbling blocks, God himſelfe will keepe them, that they ſhal not daſh their feet againſt theſe ſtones, they ſhall hauehave no ſtumbling blockes to hurt them. But now on the contrarie great danger and miſchiefe ſhall they hauehave that louelove not the Law, they ſhall hauehave ſtumbling blockes, and therefore becauſe they louelove not Gods law ſhal they hauehave them, that God may bee auenged vponupon them for the neglect and contempt of his truth. And becauſe they louelove not Gods Law, therefore ſhall ſcandals come, that ſhalbee fatal ſtumbling blocks for them. That looke as Salomon ſpeakes of the Harlot, Eccl. 7. 26. I finde more bitter then death the woman whoſe heart is ſnares and nets, and her hands as bands, who ſo is good before God ſhall eſcape from her, but the ſinner ſhalbee taken by her; So may it be ſaid of ſcandals. Mare bitter then death, (woe vntounto the world becauſe of ſcandals) are ſcandalous euents, for they are as ſnares and nets, who ſo is good before God, an holy and a godly man ſhal eſcape, and bee deliuered from being enſnared by them, but the ſinner, the neglecter and contemner of Gods grace ſhall be taken, and bee ruined by them, and therefore woe vntounto the ſinners of the world becauſe of ſcandals. It is in this caſe betweene men of the world and ſcandals, as it was in Ahabs caſe betweene him and his falſe prophets, 1. King. 22. 20, 21, 22. God had a purpoſe out of diuine Iuſtice and vengeance that Ahab ſhould fall, and bee ruined. Now God enters into counſell what courſe ſhall bee taken to bring it about that hee may fall and periſh, Verſe 20. Who ſhall perſwade Ahab that hee may goe vp and fall at Ramoth Gilead. There comes forth a ſpirit, Verſe 21. and ſayes, I will perſwade him. The Lord askes, Verſe 22. How or wherewith? Hee anſwers, I will goe forth and bee a lying ſpirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord ſaid, Thou ſhalt perſwade him and preuaile alſo, Goe forth, and doe ſo. The caſe is the very ſame here. God beſtowes his Word, and the Miniſterie of it vponupon a people, it workes them not to Faith & Repentance. Hereupon is the Lord prouoked to anger, and vponupon that hee enters into a conſult of reuenge. Here be a company of men that hauehave had the meanes of grace, but they will not bee conuerted, and raiſed vp, I am therefore reſolued they ſhall fall into Hell for euer. But who will now take ſome courſe that they may fal. Then ſteps forth Satan, I will take a courſe to make them fall fatally. And the Lord ſayes what courſe wilt thou take? Satan anſwers. I will goe forth and draw ſome noted Profeſſour of Religion into ſome groſſe and ſcandalous ſinne. And that ſcandal of his wil be ſuch a ſtumbling blocke at which they will ſo ſtumble, that I will warrant them fall farre enough, and deepe enough for euer recouering out of the pit. And the Lord anſweres, Thou ſhalt effect it and preuaile, Goe forth and doe ſo. Goe Satan, preuaile with ſuch, and ſuch a Profeſſour of Religion to bring him into ſome fowle ſcandal. And let that ſcandal bee a fatal ſtumbling blocke to make ſuch fall, and aſſuredly periſh, that would not bee wrought vponupon by the word.
So that looke what the falſe prophets were to Ahab, that are ſcandals to the world, meanes of their fatall fals and ruines, woe to Ahab becauſe of the falſe prophets, and woe to the world becauſe of ſcandals that make way for their miſchiefe, as the falſe prophets did for Ahabs. So that by all this wee ſee that Gods diſpoſall of ſcandals, is an Act of diuine vengeance, and Iuſtice plaguing mens vnprofitableneſſe vnderunder the meanes of grace, that by this meanes their righteous damnation might be ſealed vp, and made ſure.
And therefore this is a point well worth our obſeruation. That where God ſends moſt preaching, and the greateſt meanes of grace, there commonly fall out the greateſt and fouleſt ſcandals, and where litle or no meanes, little or no ſcandal.
Now what may the reaſon of this bee? Not that the preaching of the Goſpel makes men worſe, as men of euil ſpirits are readie to ſlander and calumniate it in caſe of ſuch euents, but amongſt many other reaſons that might be giuen of it, this is one ſpeciall one. Where God giues greateſt means of grace, and ſaluation, there mens ſinne in their vnprofitableneſſe, impenitencie, and vnbeliefe is the greater. The greater mens ſinnes are, the greater is Gods wrath, and therefore out of the greatneſſe of his wrath againſt mens great vnprofitableneſſe, God diſpoſes it, that where the greateſt meanes of grace are neglected and contemned, there ſhall bee the greateſt ſcandals, that ſo hee may greatly plague great vnprofitableneſſe and contempt. God will hauehave ſuch as be vnprofitable vnderunder great means, to hauehave great fals, that they of all others may fall moſt lethally, and moſt dangerouſly, and fatally. Now a little ſtumbling ſtone cauſes but a little & an eaſie fall, but the greater the ſtumbling block is, the greater, and more wofull muſt the fal needs bee. And therefore where greateſt meanes not profited by, are, there are greateſt ſcandals to bring the greater woe, and vengeance vponupon ſo great vnprofitableneſſe; therefore there the greateſt ſtumbling blockes to fall by, where the greateſt meanes to riſe by, that ſuch may not ſimply fall, but ſo fall that they may be daſht to peeces.