Taylor - Houston-Packer Collection BS2755 .T394 1619

Epifileof S: Paul to Titus. CHAP.I.15. Thirdly , When by the naturals or ciuill vie of them , faith raifeth 293 it felfe to force fpirituall meditation : as for example : in the vfc of 3 bread,(+irring vp the heart to hunger after,and feed vpon Chris: in put- ting on our clothes, to meditateof putting on theLord Iefus Chrift as a garment: in the putting them off, of the calling offthe old man withhis lulls : In vudertaking a iourney, conceiving the life as a pilgrimage; in returning home to thinke of our tell in heaucn : in our marriagesto conceiue our felues the (poules of Chriti, and fuch like: in which we fee an cuident worke of faith, liftingvp the heart fromearthly to heauenly things. Secondly , Things indiffeQtt mull be vfed in loue: for Chriflian liber- T hiieg`cádffc tie in the vfe ofoutward things , mull giue place to charitie. And then t oec,when are they fo vied, 1.when without the offence, a, when to theedification of I others. Firt, without offence : for it is euill to him that eateth with ofence: it em.rq.ia and Paul would neuer care meare before hee would offend. Hence fol- ,,cor.s.r;. lowethit, that we may not offend either primateorpubbkeperlons. Of private men, Tome are of weake confciences; and these muti bee borne vp and yeelded unto for good, rather then detiroyed by our liber- tie: the Apotile became all things to aifuch perfont: and Chriti him (elfe would not quench a fmoaking flaxe. Some other are obflinate, tiiffe,yea andmalicious, from whomwe mull challenge out Chriflian li- bertie. Ifmen be carping Pharifies, or wilfull Papifis, the counfell is, Let them alone: nay more , foprecious mull our libertie fo dearcly pur- M,ctt.,r.r;, chafed beveto va, as we maynot negle& it , or diffemble it before such as are taught, and Ihould be fìronger, although theybee brethren : for this wasPeters cafe, for which he was iuflly reprehended , who with- drawing himfelfe from the Gentiles to pleafure the Iewes, gaue than o,l, ,r whohad beene taught the contrarie, occasion to conceiue of the Gen- tiles ,as vncleane flill. This whole truth is confirmed byPauls pradìife, who would and did permit Timothie to be circumcifed in regardof in- firme, and weake beleeuers among the Iewes, A&. 16. ;. but would not (offer Titus fo to be,Gal. 2. 3. partly becaufe he would not offend the godly ; and partly becaufehe would challenge Chriflianlibertie, a- gainti thofe obstinate and malicious aduerfaries , whohad almofi ouer- turned all the labours of the Apostle in that Churchof Galatia, by ye- ging circumcifion as a thing of absolute necellitieveto faluation. Here is minitired a dire& answer to thatquetlion, whether reculant Papilla Papitis muttbe are to becompelled to Church,becaufe it is an offencevitto thern.Whcr- «;Pellau`°b to I answer, a. That this is not a cafe of indifferencie, but neceffarie /,,Y, !lama that they come into the pure worship ofGod : and therefore it muff be ,he,::3ndwhy. effeeted, either bj entreatie, orcompulfion. 2. Were it indifferent, T z yet

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