374 An Expofition upon Ch ap. 9, corner Rone, a Bone of Trial ; but acci- dentally by the fault of men, which through wilful blindeneiìe tumble at him, and fo take hurt;' not aftively to make men Rumble; but paffively, be- taule men fall and dash themfelves againft him. T s M.What is it to Humble at this Hone? S s L. To take offence and be kin- dred in the way of their falvation or to be made the worfe : this the Jewes did not jufly but unjuRly, fo as it was an offence not given,but taken. T I M. What things were there inChrii, where -with they might take offence ? S I L. Firft, the outward vileneffe of his person, being to fee to a mean con- temptible man, Efai. 53. 2. Secondly, the bafe condition of his kingdome be- ing without worldly eflate and glory, Joh.18. 36. Thirdly, the poverty of his Difciples and followers, being Fifhers and other t cadet men,Mat.4.18. Fourth- ly, his converfation, becaufe he kept company with finners, Mat.9. to. Fifth- ly, his DoEtrine, becaufe he reproved their fuperflìtion, covetoufneffe, and hypocrite, Luk. 16. Mat. 23. teaching that remiffion of fins & eternal life is not to be got by obferving of Mofes Law, but by beleeving in him and in his Fa- ther. Laltly, they reproached at his hu- mane nature, fay ing, he was a friend to Publicans and ¡inners; fo his divine na- ture too, faying he cart out Devils by Belzebub Prince of Devils; Mat. 12. So deep offence they took at Chrift in the former refpe&s, that in {{cad of belee- ving in him, they blafphemed him, and railed againff him. T s M. What Doarinefs to be learned from there firth words, [they humbled, ú e ?] S 1 L. That there are two forts of offences, one given, another taken, when men hinder their own falvation by taking an offence,when no just caufe is given.Secondly, as none mutt give of -. fence to others, fo amen mul beware how they take any offence ; the reason is, becaufe a woe, is due to fuch as un- juftly take offence : Woe be unto the world becaufe of offences, Mat. 18. yet greater punishment belongs to fuch by whom the DIALOGUE XXI. Vert 32,33. For they Humbled at the Jumbling floue, as it is wruten, Behold Ilay in Sion a Humbling Hone, and a rockto make men fall,and eve- ry one that beleeveth in him (hall not be afhamed. Parts. T I MOT li E US. / WHat is the drift of this Text ? / S 1 L. To give a reafon why the Jewesbeleeved not in Chrift,which is this : becaufe Chrill became to them a Rone to Rumble at, that is, theywere offended at him, therefore they would not beleeve in him,but wilfully refufed him, and crucified him as an evil doer. This is proved by two teltimonies out of the Prophet Efay, as Chap. 8.14. and Chap. 28.16. in which places God did foretell this thing,fo as it comes not by chance,but by Gods providence. T s m. What things are we to note out of the je 7eftimonies generally ? S r L. Thefe things : Firft, who laid this Rone, to wit,God, [Ilay.] Second- ly, who is this Rumbling Rone ; Chrift in whom we are to beleeve. Thirdly, where it is laid, [ In Sion the vifible Church.] Fourthly, to what end it is laid, to Rumble at it. Fifthly,what it is to fumble at this ftone; not to beleeve in Chrift. Sixthly, what will be the condition of fuch; even (name and ever - latling confusion, set out by the con- trary ; for they (hall not be ashamed but faved, which do truth in him. T 1 M. Come to the Interpretation îof the words,and tell us who are theft, [They ?] S 1 L. Such as be called Ifraelites, verf. 3. that is, the people of the Jewes, which lived in the time of Chrift and hisApo(tles. T 1 M. What is meant by the humbling Hone ?] S i L. Chrift, as Peter expounds it r Pet. 2. 6. where the Prophefie of Efay is applyed to Chrift. Chrift is a Rum- bling Rone, not properly of his Own nature : for fo he is a precious Roue, a 1 Doll. z Doll. Reatan.
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