§. 25. Direct. 8. Lastly, Think and speak as much against the sin and danger of taking-scandal, as 1against the sin and danger of giving it. When others cry out, These are your religious people; Do you cry out as much against their malignity and madness, who will dislike or reproach Religion for mens sins? Which is to blame the the Law-makers or Laws, because they are broken; or to fall out with Health, because many that once were in health, fall sick: or to find fault with eating because some are lean, or with clothing, because some are cold. Open to your selves and others, what a wicked and perilous thing this is, to fall out with Godliness, because some are ungodly, that seemed godly. Many cry out against Scandal, Scandal, that never think, what a heinous sin it is to be scandalized, or to suffer mens sins to be a scandal to you; and to be the worse because that others are so bad. No one must differ from them in an opinion, or a fashion of apparel, or in a mode or form of Worship, but some are presently scandalized: Not knowing that it is a greater sin in them to be scandalized, than in the other by such means (supposing them to be faulty,) to give them the occasion. Do you know what it is to be scandalized or offended in the Scripture sense? It is not merely to be displeased, or to dislike another's actions (as is before said). But it is to be drawn into some sin, or hindered from some duty, or stopped in the course of Religion, or to think the worse of truth, or duty, or a godly life, because of other mens words or actions. And do you think him a good Christian, and a faithful or constant friend to godliness, who is so easily brought to quarrel with it? Or is so easily turned from it, or hindered in it? Some peevish childish persons are like sick stomachs, that no meat can please; you cannot dress it so curiously, but they complain that it is naught, or this aileth it, or that aileth it; when the fault is in themselves: Or like children, or sick persons that can scarce be touched, but they are hurt: Do you think that this sickliness or curiosity in Religion is a credit to you? This is not the tenderness of Conscience which God requireth, to be easily hurt by other mens differences or faults: As it is the shame of many Ladies and Gentlewomen, to be so curious and troublesomely neat, that no servant knoweth how to please them;
§. 25. Direct. 8. Lastly, Think and speak as much against the sin and danger of taking-scandal, as 1against the sin and danger of giving it. When others cry out, These are your religious people; Do you cry out as much against their malignity and madness, who will dislike or reproach Religion for mens sins? Which is to blame the the Law-makers or Laws, because they are broken; or to fall out with Health, because many that once were in health, fall sick: or to find fault with eating because some are lean, or with clothing, because some are cold. Open to your selves and others, what a wicked and perillous thing this is, to fall out with Godliness, because some are ungodly, that seemed godly. Many cry out against Scandal, Scandal, that never think, what a heinous sin it is to be scandalized, or to suffer mens sins to be a scandal to you; and to be the worse because that others are so bad. No one must differ from them in an opinion, or a fashion of apparel, or in a mode or form of Worship, but some are presently scandalized: Not knowing that it is a greater sin in them to be scandalized, than in the other by such means (supposing them to be faulty,) to give them the occasion. Do you know what it is to be scandalized or offended in the Scripture sense? It is not meerly to be displeased, or to dislike anothers actions (as is before said). But it is to be drawn into some sin, or hindered from some duty, or stopt in the course of Religion, or to think the worse of truth, or duty, or a godly life, because of other mens words or actions. And do you think him a good Christian, and a faithful or constant friend to godliness, who is so easily brought to quarrel with it? Or is so easily turned from it, or hindered in it? Some pievish childish persons are like sick stomachs, that no meat can please; you cannot dress it so curiously, but they complain that it is naught, or this ayleth it, or that ayleth it; when the fault is in themselves: Or like children, or sick persons that can scarce be toucht, but they are hurt: Do you think that this sickliness or curiosity in Religion is a credit to you? This is not the tenderness of Conscience which God requireth, to be easily hurt by other mens differences or faults: As it is the shame of many Ladies and Gentlewomen, to be so curious and troublesomely neat, that no servant knoweth how to please them;
