112 Chap. 3 3. An Expofi- tion upon the Book of J', o s. Verf, io. not it felfe ) the occafion offin; yea,fin.prefently takes occa- fion when it hathnotindeed the (hew of any juft occafion; The Law by its prohibition, by the (lop and check which it puts upon the flefh, by the difcoverieswhich it makes of the contrarietyof our corruptionsho the holinefs of it,doth many timesprovoke and irritate,yea enrage and enflame them,but it affords not the lead countenance or encouragement to our corruptions. Now this ( I fay) is the wickednefs of the heart of man, with refped to fin in Generali, that it takes occafion by the commandement,tobend it feife againfl the comrñandement:and fo as to anyparticular ada- gainii a brother, to take an occafiontodoe him a mifchiefe, is wickedness, anda worke ofthe flefh. Secondly,It is finfull to ufe our Chriffian liberty, when itmay be an occafion of fin, or the laying of a Rumbling black before others, though we ufe it not with an intent or purpofe to make them Rumble or fall into fin. The Apoflle earnefly cautions the Romans to take heed of this ( Rom: 14 13. ) Let ws not there- fore judge one another any more ; but judge this rather, that no man put a,llumbling block, or an occafion to fall in his brothers way. St Paul is there fpeaking about the obfervation of dayes com- manded, and the ufe of tneates forbidden by the ceremonial) Law. Now though fome had a liberty in their confciences, to ob- ferve the one, and ufe the other,yet hewould not have themdoe either with offence to weaker brethren : our care fhould be, ei- ther firir.to keepe our brother from falling, or to raife him up when fallen.Is it then very finfull not to forbeare thole things ( which areno abfolute duties) by which another may fall ? And if it be fo finfull to doe many things which in themfelves are not finfull, when we know they may be an offence or occafion of fal- ling to others, though we intend it not ; then how extreamly fin- full is it todoany thing with an intent tomake them fall! This is properly the devills trade, and woe to thofe who take it out of his hand, or joynepartnerswith him in it. Thirdly , When any (hall delre and even hunger after an oc- cafionof accufing others, this is a very great height of wicked- neffe. The. ApoRle fpeakes fuch (z ¿or r t. 12. ) where hetells us that he did forbeare his own right, not receiving maintenance for preaching the Gofpel ; when (faith he, V: Q.) was prefect with you andvaned, I was chargeable to no man, But
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