An epistle to the faithful necessary for all the children of GodAn epistle to the faithfull necessary for all the children of God

Paul speaketh of in this place, but when these ignorant saw others eat of the flesh they were moved by their example to eat thereof as well as they, with this doubt & scruple of conscience, wherein they offended God: for seeing they doubted, there was no faith, but there was contempt of God, seeing they did it against their conscience, what ignorance soever there were: And therefore S. Paul reproveth them that were the cause thereof.

Paule speaketh of in this place, but whē these ignorāt saw others eate of ye flesh they were mooued by their exāple to eate therof as well as they, with this doubt & scruple of cōscience, wherin they offēded God: for seeing they doubted, there was no faith, but there was contēpt of God, seeing they did it against their conscience, what ignorāce soeuer there were: And therfore S. Paule reproueth them that were the cause thereof.

Moreover, wherefore did S. Paul reprove ¹S. Peter in Antioch before all that were present, for that he dissembled to eat flesh with the Gentiles, when he saw the Jews enter which came from Jerusalem: to eat flesh and not to eat is a thing indifferent: and therefore S. Peter made it no conscience to eat flesh with the Gentiles, but fearing to offend the Jews which were weak, and which understood not yet that liberty, he withdrew him self from the table seeming not to eat: wherefore S. Paul reproved him openly, although S. Peter did the same to a good intent, and for fear to offend, for in thinking to avoid the offending of the Jews, he offended the Gentiles with an offence much more dangerous: for instead of withdrawing the Jews from their Judaism, he induced the gentiles to play the Jews by his example, and troubled their conscience.

Moreouer, wherefore did S. Paule reprooue ¹S. Peter in Antioch before all that were present, for that he dissembled to eate flesh with the Gentiles, when he saw the Iewes enter which came from Hierusalem: to eate flesh and not to eate is a thing indifferent: and therfore S. Peter made it no conscience to eate fleshe with the Gentiles, but fearing to offend the Iewes which were weake, and which vnderstood not yet that libertie, he withdrew him selfe from the table seeming not to eate: wherfore S. Paule reproued him openly, although S. Peter did the same to a good intent, and for feare to offend, for in thinking to auoyd the offending of the Iewes, he offended the Gentiles with an offence much more dangerous: for insteede of withdrawing the Iewes from their Iudaisme, he enduced the gentiles to play the Iewes by his example, and troubled their conscience.