1Jirel1ions againjl: ~cei1Ji11g Scandal. ttmpratiotJ, Know well what it is that is the peculiar temptation, which the quality of thofc: that you have to do with, Iay:rh before you: Spend no day or hour in any comp1ny good or bJd, with~ out 3, wife and Careful V1g1lancy. 9'1 9· 23· Diretl. ~· Be ar littlt M you can inf~a;zd.~lous a~td ttmpting compan_y. Pre:fume not to touch Dircl1. 6. ! pitcl~, and prom1fe your {d vC'S ro fcapc dehlernent. Efpec!ally fly from two forts of fcandals; 1, T he difcourft:s and·focictics ,at Heretical or Schifmatical men; who fpeak pervcrfe things to draw away di[ciples after t~em, At1120· 30. Thofe that prcfume to run inw fuch fnares, and think their own undedlanding and llability, is fufficient to prefcrvc them, do lhew by their pride that they are near a f:~.ll, 1 Cor. xo. 2 . The cornp:~.ny of fi,ljual perfons, at Stage~playcs, Gaming, inordinate playcs, and wanton dalliance : 1-'or this is eo hJing your Tinder and Gunpowder to the fire: AnJ the Icfs you fear it, thegrcarcr is your d•ngcr. ~· 24· Dired. 7· I...oflk._ more at the :ood tbat iJ in otbrri, tha1t at their fault! and[.JUJ. The Flye Dire{i. 7· that •.vi!I fall on none bvt the galled u!c(rous place, doth feed accordingly. Is a profcffor of Rcli~ gion, Covetous, Drunk,or other wares fc.andalous? Remember that it i~ his Covetoufitt{s or drrtlt~ennrfi that is bzd ; Reprove that and tly from It and fpare not : Bur Religion tS good: Let that therefore be commended and imiratcd. Leave rhe Carrion eo·Dogs and Crows to feait upon : Bat do you ,choofe out the things that are commendable, and mind and mention and imitate thofe. §. 2 S· Direct. 8. Laltly, 1bi~tl;,and fpeak,_ aJ much agai1if1 t!J< fin and d"nger of tak,!ng-[candal, M Dite/l. 8. againjt the fi;e and dcmg~r of gi~i11g it: .when others cry out, '[bt{e_ ~re yoter rtli.gionJ people; Do you cry out as much agamH thcu mahgmty and rru.dncfs, who wdl d1f11ke or reproach Religion for mens lins? Which is to blame t1te the Law-makersor Laws, becaufe they are broken; or tO . fall our with ficalrb, b::caufe many that once were in health, fall fick; or to find fault with e:lting b:- caufe f~,me an: lean, or with clothing) bccau[c fame arc cold. Open to your {lives and 01hers, what a wicked and perillous thing titis is, to fall out wirh GodlimfJ, becaufe Come arc ungodly, that fctmLd godly. · Many cry out :~.gainli Scandal, Scandal, that never think, wha.r a heinous fin it is ro be fcandalizc:d, or to futfcr ml'n~ fins to be a fcandal w ymt ; and to be the worfe bccaufe that others are fo bad. No one mufi differ from them in an opinion, or a fafhion of apparel, or in a mode or [oqn of\Vor!hip, but fomc arc prcfently fcandJ!izcd: Not knowing thl.t it is a greater fin in them to be fcandalizcd, than in,thc other by fi.1ch means ( fuppofing them to be faulty)) to give thuu the occafion• . Do you know what it is to be fca;zdaliz!d or offended in the Scripture fen{(:? It is not meerly to be difplcil]ed, or to diflikc anothers actions (as is befOre faid ). But it is ro be drawn into fame fiiJ, or hindered from fame dury, or l\:opt in the courfe of Religion, or to think the worfe of truth, or duty, or a godly life, becaufe of other mens words or actions. And.do you think him a good Chri!Han, and a faithful or conllant friend ro godlinefs, who is fo eafily brought to quarrel with it ? Or is fo eafily turned from it, or hindered in it ? Some pieviOt childilh pedons are like fick fiornachs, that no meat can pleafi!; you cannot drefs it fo ·curioufly, b~t they complain that it is naughr, or this ayleth it, or that aylcth ir; when the f~ult is in thernfelves; Or like chit· dren, or fick pcrfons that can fcarce be toucbt, but they arc hurt: Do y~u think tlut th,is ficklindS or curiofity in Religion is a credit to you~ This is nor the tendcrncfs of Confcicncc which God requireth, to be eafilyhurt by other mens differences or fau~ts: As it isthe !hame ot many Ladies and Gentlewomen, to be fo curious and troublefomcly neat, that no fcrvant knowcth how to pleafe them; fo is it in Religion, a fign of your childilh folly and worfc, to Pc guilry of fuch proud curi· ofity, that none can pleafe you who are not cxad:ly of your mind and way: All men rnufi follow your humours in gefiures, fafhions, opinions, formalities and modes, or clfc you are troubled, and offended, and fcandalitcd-:. As if all the world were made to pk:!.fe and humour JbU! Or you were wife enough, and great and good enough, to be the rule of all about you ? Ddire and fpare not, that your felves and all men fbould plcafe God as exaCtly as is poffible! But if the want of that e:xactnefs in doubtful things, or a difference in things difputable and doubtful among true Chriliians, do thereupon ablte or hinder your Love or dlimation of your, brethren, or communion with them, or any other Chrifiian duty, or tempt you into ccnforioufncfs or conrcmpt of your brethren, or to Schifm, Pcrfecuti6n or any other fin, it is you that arc the great offenders, and yo.u that are like to be the htffcrets; and have cao[c to lament that fin[ul aptnefs to be thus fcandalizcd. CHAP:
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