The Gofpel of the Peace-Ofering. 241 And as for that Decree, of the Council, A. is. It is forbidden by them meerly upon the Account of Love, which is tender and loth to give Offence. The Sins there forbidden, may be referred to three Heads or Ctafi'es. 1. Sins againft the firft Table, eating Things offered to Idols. 2. Sins againft the fecond Table, againft the feventh Command- ment, Fornication ; B:caufe it was a common Sin, and wherein the Heathen were very blind, tome of them accounting it but an indiffe- rent Thing. -3. `Sins again`fh the general Rule of Love to our Brethren. Of this fort is the eating of things firangled, and Blood, which had formerly been e Sin againft the Second Commandment : Being forbidden of Old in the way of a perpetual Statute, during the whole legal Oeonomy, Lev. I 7. 15. That whichdies of it felf, includes ftrangled : For there is no other Place in the Law that forbids the eating of Things ftrangled, but only this, and Dent. 14. 21. where there is the fame Expreflion.. But now the fame Thing is forbidden in a more occafional and tem- porary Way, upon the Account of Scandal to fincere but weak Be- lievers, t Cor. 8, t 3. And there was a further Benefit of this Obfervation, in that jun- &ure of Time; for it did prevent and cut off all Appearance and Oc- cafion, for that Calumny and falfe Afperfion call forth by the Pagans, in thofe firft Times of Chriftianity ; That the Chriftians were wont to feed upon Man's Flefh, and CO drink Blood in their Affemblies, Eu- feb. Beeler Hill. lib. 5. cap. a. Tertull. Apolog. cap. 9. And though they are called neceffary Things; yet there be divers Sorts and Ways of Neceflity. As fome Things are neceffary in their own Nature, upon a moral andperpetual Account, as toAvoid Idola- try and Fornication ; fo other Things are neceffary only pro hic nunc, in regard of prevent Circumftances; as to abftain from Blood, or from eating Flefh, as t Cor. 8. x3. And though they are joined with grofTer Sins ; yet the fame Penal- ty and much more the fame Prohibition, may be fet upon things of a very different Nature. As Death is the Penalty of Murder, Gen. 9.6. And ofhaving Leavened Bread, Exod. 12. 15, 19. It cannot poffibly be the Senfe of the Council, to forbid that kind of Meat, as in it felf, and morally and perpetually unlawful ; becaufe all difference of Meats, is molt exprefly and clearly taken awayunder the New Teftament. As Mark 7. tq., to 20. Ads to. ro. r Cor. 8.8. But Meat commendeth us not to God, for neitherifwe eat, are we the better, neither ifwe eat not, are we the wort. And t Cor. to, 2S. Wfaatfoevervs I .I fold
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