Seim. CLVI. Of doing all to the Glory ofGod 369 unto Idols, a fufficient intimation to me that he thinks it unlawful ; and there- fore I will forbear, becaufe of the inconvenience to Religion, and the manifold fcandal that might follow upon it, by hindring others from embracing Religion or by tempting weak Chriftians, either to the doing of a thing againft their Con- fcience, or to Apoftatize from Religion. In this cafe, he that abftains from thefe Meats, and contents himfelf with others, eats to the glory of God. And that this is the true notion of fcandal and offence, not barely to grieve others, or do things difpleaftng to them, but to do fuch things as are really hurt- fed to others, and may be a prejudice or hindrance to their falvation, and an occa- fionof their falling into fin: I fay, that this is the true and proper notion offcan- dal, is evident from what follows immediately after the Text ; Give none offence to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church ofGod ; as Ipleafe all men in all things, not feeking mine ownprofit, but the profit of many, that they may befaved, Give no offence to the Jeans, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God; the Apoftle intimates that fuch an a&ion as this weare fpeaking of, mightbe an occa- fion offin to all thefe, and ahindrance of falvation : It mighthinder the Jew from turning Chriftian, and harden him in his Infidelity; for he might fay, fee how well you Chriftians worfhip one God, when you can partake of things of fer'd to Idols : It might confirm the Heathen in his fuperftition, and keep him from embracing Chriftianity ; for he might fay finely, Why fhould the Chriftians perfuade nie to forfake the worfhip of Idols, when they themfelves will knowing= ly eat things offer'd to them ? I might, tempt the weak Chriftians either to fin a- gainft their Confciences by following my example, or to Apoftatize from Chrifti- anity upon this offence taken againft it; therefore fays the Apoffie, do all things to theglory of God ; that is, for the Honour and Advantage of the Chriftian Reli- ligion, and the furtheranceof Mens Salvation ; for fo fays he, I do in thefe, and all other allions'of my life, I Rudy the advantage of all Men, in all things, not regarding mine own convenience in comparifon of the eternal Salvationof others. , And thus I have as briefly and clearly as I could explain'd this phrafe to your of doing things to theglory of God. The refult of all is, that we glorifie God by our doing our Duty, by all a&ions of worfhip and obedience to God, and by ourRepentance in cafe of fin and difobe- dience, by doing and by fuffering the will of God, more efpecially by ufing our Chriftian liberty, as to thing; lawful in themfelves, fo as may make molt for the honour and advantage ofReligion, for the unity and edification of the Church, and the Salvation of the Souls of Men, which is the proper notion here in the Text, of eating and drinking, and doing whatever we do, to the glory ofGod. From all this Difcourfe it will be evident, that three things muff concur, that our allions may be fain to be done to the glory ofGod. a. Our a&ions muff be materially good ; we muff do what Godcommands, and abftain from doing what he hath forbidden. Sin is in its nature a difhonour to God, a contradi&ion to his Nature, and a contempt of his Authority and Laws fo that we cannot glorifie God by tranfgreffing our Duty. 2. Our A&ions muff not only be good, but they muff be done with regard to God, and out of Confcience to our Duty to him, and in hopes of the reward which he hathpromifed, and not for any low, and mean, and temporal end. The belt a&ion in it felf may be fpoil'd, and all theVirtue of it blafted, by beingdone for a wrong end. If we ferve God to pleafe Men, and be charitable out of vain glory to be feen of men; if we profefs Godlinefs for gain, and are religious only to ferve our temporal intereft, tho' the a&ions we do be never fo good, yet all the virtue and reward of them is loft, by the mean end and defign which we aim at in the doing of them; becaufe all this while we have no love or regard for God, and the Authority of his Laws ; we make no Confcience of our Duty to him, we are not moved by the rewards of another World, which may lawfully work upon us, and prevail with us, but we are fwayed by little temporal Advan- tages, which if we could obtain as well by doing the contrary, we wouldas foon, nay perhaps much fooner do it, B b b And
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