The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

Answ. If by [offending them] be meant only persecuting and hurting them as many think, then it is nothing to the question in hand. For I hope ⟨p. 138⟩communicating with others is not a persecuting you▪ And bare [displeasing them] it is certain that the text doth not mean at all. But if by [offending them] be meant scandalizing them, that is, laying snares before them, whether by fraud or persecution, to turn them from Christ, and draw them to sins, then it confirmeth all that I say: And the term [little ones] containeth the reason of the words: Because as little children are easily overthrown & easilier deceived, so the young & weak believers of little faith, are most in danger of being turned away from Christ, or ensnared in any sin or error. And therefore if you think the Parish Churches to consist of weaker persons than your selves, the woe is to you or us if we offend them.

Answ. If by [offending them] be meant only persecuting and hurting them as many think, then it is nothing to the question in hand. For I hope ⟨p. 138⟩communicating with others is not a persecuting you▪ And bare [displeasing them] it is certain that the text doth not mean at all. But if by [offending them] be meant scandalizing them, that is, laying snares before them, whether by fraud or persecution, to turn them from Christ, and draw them to sins, then it confirmeth all that I say: And the term [little ones] conteineth the reason of the words: Because as little children are easily overthrown & easilier deceived, so the young & weak believers of little faith, are most in danger of being turned away from Christ, or ensnared in any sin or errour. And therefore if you think the Parish Churches to consist of weaker persons than your selves, the woe is to you or us if we offend them.

The truth is, offending and giving scandal, is commonly taken in the Gospel, for any action (which is not our necessary duty) by which either Heathens and Infidels and enemies to Christ, are like to be drawn to harder thoughts of the Christian faith; or any wicked man is like to be kept from a godly life; or else by which the young ungrounded and unsettled sort of Christians, may be tempted to turn back and forsake the faith which they have professed, or fall into any dangerous sin. And therefore seeing the separatists profess to be settled in the faith already, and many in the Parish Churches are weak, and many averse to some duties of Religion, and more in danger of being turned away, we are bound to be much more afraid of giving scandal to the Parishes, than to the separatists.