A26906:430
The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…
The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being dividers or troublers of the church with some directions to the pastors how to deal with such Christians / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Symmons, 1670
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.
Make conscience of scandalizing one party as well as another: and those most who are most in danger by your offence.
Many persons pretend the avoiding of scandal, only to flatter one party and to preserve their own reputation and interest with that side which they are loathest to displease. And perhaps discern not the deceit of their own hearts in all this; but think that it is indeed the sin of scandal which they avoid. But why make you no conscience of scandalizing others, on the contrary ⟨p. 136⟩side? Who perhaps are more in number, and whose salvation should be as much desired by you? The Papist perhaps will not deliver the Lords Supper in both kinds, nor will forbear his Image-worship, lest he offend the Roman-Catholics: But he careth not much that by so doing he offendeth the Protestants and other Churches; Nor that his Images are a scandal to all the Mahometans, and keep them from the Christian faith. And thus every sect saith; If you do this or that, you will scandalize and offend many good people: Meaning their own side: But they •ever regard how many others they shall really scandalize by the contrary: One saith, It is scandalous to use extemporary prayers; And another saith, it is scandalous to pray by forms and books: And both sides usually mean no more, but that their own party will be displeased and take it for a sin. But as he is not scandalized by me, who only taketh my action to be a sin; but he that is ensnared by it in any sin himself; so whether it be displeasing or tempting that you mean, you must regard one side as well as the other. The heavenly wisdom is without partiality and without hypocrisy. Jam. 3. 17.
MAny persons pretend the avoiding of scandal, only to slatter one party and to preserve their own reputation and interest with that side which they are lothest to displease. And perhaps discern not the deceit of their own hearts in all this; but think that it is indeed the sin of scandal which they avoid. But why make you no conscience of scandalizing others, on the contrary