q Mutual Edification, the Duty of Ghrian.s. SERM. it, the weakening or humbling of their fel- I. low- chriflians, tempting them to defert chri- ti'v"%-) ftianity, or do things unbecoming the pro- fef'ion of it ; to avoid offence, I fay, not only by anions in their nature wicked, and there- fore of pernicious example, but by an indif- creet ufe of liberty. He carries this fo far as to the abftaining from certain meats, which he himfelf and other well- inflruâed chriftians judged might be lawfully ufed, but fome weak perfons thought otherwife ; abftaining from them, I fay, out of a charitable cóndefcend- ing regard to the weaknefs of fuch. And what can be ftronger than this general corn- prehenfive exhortation in the text, Let every one of us pleafe his neighbour for his good to edification. You will now perceive from what has been already faid, that this matter of edification, and the care of it fo ftriEtly injoin'd, did not peculiarly relate to the firft age of chriflianity. The nature of the thing, and the directions given in order to it, plainly flew that it is the common concern of chriftians at all times. I think, therefore, it may be ufefully infifled on, as what may very well be applied to our- felves. And in this difcourfe, I will,firfi, en- deavour to give you the true fcripture account of
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