The mind and exposition of that excellent learned man Martin Bucer, upon these words…The mynd and exposition of that excellente learned man Martyn Bucer, vppon these wordes…

And where he saith, or else is made weak, I judge that to be spoken of those men, who seeing their brother do that thing which (as they are yet persuaded) is against the law of God, do not turn so far back that they will fall to variance and contention with them, neither do they follow that with they think to be evil and unlawfully done: but yet they are grieved in the mean time, and bear less zeal and love to the gospel and the maintainers thereof, especially such as then use the liberty thereof ⟨image 5⟩and this in deed is to be made weak.

And where he saith, or els is made weake, I iudge that to be spoken of those men, who seing their brother do that thing which (as they are yet ꝑsuaded) is against ye lawe of God, do not turne so farre backe that they will fale to variaunce and contention with them, neither do they follow that with they thynke to be euyll and vnlawfully done: but yet they are greued in ye meane tyme, and beare lesse zeale and loue to the gospell and the mainteyners therof, especially such as then vse the liberty therof ⟨image 5⟩and this in dede is to be made weake.

Now a godly and a charitable brother rather then he would that this should come to pass, ought to avoid the use of all unnecessary things, because the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost: Much more ought he then rather never to eat flesh, then by his liberty to give occasion to his brother so to stumble that he should thereby either fall in to an hatred & contempt of him, or else contrary to his faith and conscience should attempt to do the same things that he doth. In deed S. Paul in the first epistle and .8. chapt. to the Corinth. speaking of this later kind of offence, concludeth in this manner: Wherefore, if meat offend my brother, I will never eat flesh whiles the world standeth.

Nowe a godly and a charitable brother rather then he would that this should come to passe, ought to auoyd the vse of all vnnecessarie thinges, because the kyngdome of God is not meate and drynke, but righteousnes, peace, and joye in the Holy Goste: Much more ought he then rather neuer to eate fleshe, then by his libertie to geue occasion to his brother so to stumble that he should therby either fale in to an hatred & contempt of hym, or elles contrarie to his fayth and conscience should attempte to do the same thinges that he doth. In deede S. Paul in the first epistle and .8. chapt. to the Corinth. speakinge of this later kynde of offence, concludeth in this maner: Wherfore, if meate offende my brother, I will neuer eate fleshe whiles the world standeth.