594 An Expofition upon T I MOTH EUS. V j THatiscontainedinthe 20.verfe? / S i L.The conflation of the former exhortation to the ftrong, that in the ufe of meats they give no offence to the weak, and fo generally in the ufe of all indifferent things:which in them - felves are good and lawful!, but being done with offence are evill, tending to defiroy the work of God. Having Paid this in the former verfe,that eating with fcandall is eviil, now on the contrary he concludes, that to forbear eating or drinking or any thing elfe which may offend, is good, as that which makes to edification and peace. r M. What is meant here by good ? S I L. The pofitive is put here for the comparative, good for better; as if he ihould fay, it is more pleafing to God, and more to the edifying of our neigh - bour,and for the peace of the Chnrch,to abfiain rather then to eat with offence. T r vs. Why Both he mentionhere not on- ly flefh, but mine and every other thing? S i L. Firft, to make the inffru&`tion more generall and large, alto to teach that in things limply neceffary to life we are not to forbear them, though o- thers be offènded ; as if one fhould take offence at our eating bread or drinking beer, whereby our life is maintained: but for Tome kinde of flefh or wine, or whatfoever elfe it is which we may be without and yet live, we are bound in cafe of off nce to refrain Inch things, at leaft for a tinte, till fuch as do humble be better perfwaded by inflru&ion. TIM Is there any difference between fi`um- bling beingoffended, or being made weak? or do they frgnifte one and thefame thing? S i L. -Howfoever Tome diffinguifh them and underhand (by humbling ) that which elfewhere is called the wounding of the weak confcience, be- ing troubled and not knowing what to hold or do, I Cor. 8. 9. and (by be- ing offended) a quite falling away or breaking offfrom the faith or Gofpell, which is called before to be deftroyed, verf. 15. and to perifh, I Cor 8. II. and Chap. I .. (by being made weak) that which be- fore in verf. i 5.was in other termes Paid to be grieved. ( Of which diftin `Ltion thereniayfollow this good obfervati- on,that fo foon as we fee the confcience of our brother begin to waver by our a &ions,it is our duty to ceafe and give over ere it come to be wounded and wracked ;) yet for my part 1 do rather judgethat one and the felf -fame thing is fignified here by the heaping up of di- vers words, namely, thereby the better to infinuate that great heed, care, and circumfpetlion be taken, (as he laid be- fore, verf. i 3.) that no humbling block or occafion of finning be put in our bro- thers way, which might be either by making them do that which they law others do with a wavering minde ; or caufingthenito deteft the faithfull, as profaners of Mofes Law,by going againft his prohibitions in ufe of dales and meats. T t M. What inflrublionr may we take from this verfe thus opened? Si L. Here is laid forth the conditi- on of weak Chriflians, which lack the knowledge of the word :fuch are apt to humble like blinde men, and like lick perlons they be weak, ready to trip and to fall upon every occafion. This mull ferve to humble the infirmand weak of judgement, and Ric them up to leek for more flore of grace, and light of know - ledge,to be able to walk more firmly. Secondly, it is muchbetter in cafe of 1 offence, to forbear our liberty in things indifferent,then to ufe it as the falvation of a Brother, is a far more precious thing then the nourifhingofour flefh or body. Allo, thereby we preferre peace and edification to our pleafure. TIM. In the 22. verf, what is mcam by Faith, [Thou haft Faith,] for with flla- fter Beza, I had rather read theft words by way of conceffion, then by interrogation, Haft thou; faith ? S I L. Faith fignifies the knowledge and perfwafion of our liberty in in- different things, as verf. 74. in his own example he expounds it. Thefe words contain another fecret objebli- on, in the behalf ofthe prong, thus. I know
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