A26892:8484
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§. 1. Scandal being a murdering of souls, is a violation of the general Law of Charity, and of the sixth Commandment in particular. In handling this subject, I shall 1. Show you what is true scandal given to another: 2. What things go under the Name of Scandal, which are not it, but are falsely so named. 3. What are the particular ways and sorts of scandal. 4. The greatness of this sin. 5. Directions to avoid it.
§. 1. SCandal being a murdering of souls, is a violation of the general Law of Charity, and of the sixth Commandment in particular. In handling this subject, I shall 1. Shew you what is true scandal given to another: 2. What things go under the Name of Scandal, which are not it, but are falsly so named. 3. What are the particular wayes and sorts of scandal. 4. The greatness of this sin. 5. Directions to avoid it.
§. 2. I. I shall not need to stand upon the Etymology of the word [Scandal]; whether it come1 from [Greek or Hebrew] claudico, as Erasmus thought, or from [Greek or Hebrew] curvum, &c. Martinius, Stephanus, Lyserus, &c. have sufficiently done it, whither I refer you: As for the sense of the word it is past doubt, that the ordinary use of it in Scripture is for a stumbling block, for a man to fall upon, or a trap to ensnare a man: And in the Old Testament it is oft used for a stumbling stone, on which a man may fall into any corporal calamity, or a snare to hurt or ruin a man in the world: (As Exod. 10. 7. 1 Sam. 18. 21. & 25. 31. Psal. 119. 165. Ezek. 7. 19. Sept.) But in the New Testament, (which speaketh more of spiritual hurts) it is taken for a stumbling block or temptation, by which a man is in danger of falling into sin, or spiritual loss, or ruin, or dislike of Godliness, or any way to be turned from God, or hindered in a Religious holy way: (And if sometimes it be taken for Grieving or Troubling, it is as it hereby thus hindereth or ensnareth): So that to scandalize, is, sometimes taken for the doing of a blameless action, from which another unjustly taketh occasion to fall, or sin, or be perverted: But when it signifieth a sin (as we take it in this place) then to scandalize is, By something unlawful of it self, or at least unnecessary, which may occasion the spiritual hurt or ruin of another: 1. The matter is either something that is simply sinful (and then it is a double sin) or something Indifferent or unnecessary, and then it is simply the sin of scandal. 2. It must be that which may [occasion] another's fall: I say [occasion.] For no man can forcibly cause another man to sin, but only occasion it, or tempt him to it, as a Moral Cause.