88 Dirtf1. 1o Dirc{J. z, Diref1·3• .A'gainft being Scandali~d. CHAP. XII!. 'Direftions agaiuft Scandal,taken ; or a11 aptnefs to receiw hurt , by the words or deeds of others. ~· 1. IT was not only an admonition, but aprophejie of Chrifl, when he faid, Wo to the world bc– c;;u{e ~f effcnceJ ! It muft be that offence come : And Bleffed~ he that i1 not offend.-d or fc 111 ,_ lized in me. He foreknew that the errors and mifdoings of fome, would be the fnarc and ruine of many others : And that when d~tmna!tle herefies arife, many wiU foOow tl;eir perniciotei wayes, by rea{on of whom the way of truth. ]haD be evil fpok._en tif : 2 Pet. 1 • 2 • Like men in the duk, whac: if one 'atch a fall, he that comes next him tails upon him. There are four forts of perfons that ufe to be fcandalized, or hurt by the fins of othen. 9· 2. I· M:~lignaNt emmia of Chrifi and Godlinefs, who arc partly l1ardmd in their malice, :md partly rejoyccd at the di!honour of Religion, and infult over thofc that give the offence, or taKe oc– cofion by it to bhfpheme or perfecure. 2. Some that are more equtJI, and hopeful, and in greatn poffibility of converfion, who are fiopt by it in their ddires, and purpofes, and attempts of a godly life. 3· Vnfound Profejfort, or hypocrites, who arc turned by fcandals from the way of GodlimCs, which they feemed to walk in, 4• Wea~ Chrijlian,, who arc troubled and'hinderea in their way of piety, or clfe drawn into fome particular error or fin, though they fall not off. ~· 3· So that the effells of fcandal may be reduced to there two : I. The pcrverting of mens judgements, to dijlik,r Religion, and thin~ hardly either of the tkf1rine or praf1ice of Chrillianity. I I. The tmboldning of men to commit particular fins, or to omie particular duties; or at lcaft the troubling and hindering them in the performance : Again!\ which I !hall fir!\ give you difiinctly lame MedittJiive Dirct1ions, and then fame Prallical Direliions againfi them both ro~ gether. 9· 4• I. Direct. I• Confider what an evidutt jign it is, of avery blind or malicious{o1tl, tobe fo apt to picJt quarrels with God aNdgodlineji, becaufe of lht fins of other men. Love thinketh not ill of rhofc we love : Ill will and malice arc Hill ready to impute what ever is amifs, to thofe whom they hate : E.nmity is contentious and llandcrous; and will make a crime of vinue it felf, and from any Topick fetch matter of reproach: There is no wio.efs feerncth incredi~ ble to it, who fpeai(eth any thing that is evil of rhoCe they hate. An argument abawlo ad verbmz is fullicient: Thus did the Heathens by the primitive Chrifiians. And will you do thus by God> Will you tcrritic your own confciences, when they fhall awake, and find fuch an ugly Serpent in your bofome, as Malice and Enmity againH your Maker and Redeemer? It is the nature of tbe Devil; even his principal fin. And will you not only wear his liv~ory, but bear his image , to prove that he is your Father? and by community of naruies, to prove thar you rnufi alfo have a communion with him in condemnation and punifhment ? And cloth not fo viiible a mark ofDevilifme upon your fo~o~ls, affrjght you, and make you ready to run away from your lelvcs? Nothing but dcvi\i{h malice can charge that upon God or godlinefs, which is done by finners againCt his Laws. Would you ufe 3 friend thus ? If a murder were done, or a flander raifed of you, or your houfc were fired, or your goods Oollen, would you fufpeCl: yourfriend of it? Or any one that you honoured, loved or thought well of? You would not certainly, but rather your entmy, or fornc lewd and diifolute perfons that were moll likely to beguilty? You are blinded by malice, if you fee not how evident a proof of your devili!h malice this is, to be ready when men that profefs Religion do any thing amifs, to think the worli: of Godlinefs or Religion for it! The caufe of this fufpicion is lodged in your own hearts. 9· ·5· Direct. 2· Rtmcmber that thi-1 was tbe firft Temptation by which the Devil overtBrtw man– kind; to per[wade them 10 thin~ iU of God, as if he bad been falfe of his word, and had <nvyed them their felicity. Gen. 3· 4> 5· Ye jhall not fimly dye : For God <ktb ~tow tiJat in the day ye ea< thereof th<n yonr eyes jhaUbe opened, and ye.}hall be as Gods k,.nowing good and fvi/. And will you not b; warned by the calamity of all the world, to take heed of thinking ill of God and of his Word, and of believing the Devils reports againll: him ? ~· 6 Dirc/l. 3• Confider that to think ill ofGod, i1 10 think. him 10 be a Devil; and to think,. ill ,f godlinejj is to tak,_e it to be wicl<,ednefs: An~can man be ~uilty of a more ~tvilifo crime i' Nay, JS i' not worfe than the Devil that tempteth you to tt <an commtt. To be t:iod, IS to be Gocd, even the Iitfi– msc,
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