Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons

Now in the fifth place, If you ask what then is our duty that doth flow from hence? I answer.

General 5.

1. If great Professors of the Gospel may be very carnal, then why should any man stumble, or be offended at the ways of God and Godliness, because of the carnality of Professors? Will ye be offended at that which which ye know must and shall come to pass. These things have I told you before, saith Christ, that when they come to pass, you may not be offended. Now he hath told us beforehand, ⟨p. 130⟩That in the last days the Kingdom of Heaven is like to ten Virgins waiting for the coming of the Bridegroom, and they all sleep; that is, There shall be a general scurf and carnality grow upon the face of all Profession. And now ye know these things, will ye be offended? Or will ye be offended if your own offence will be your own r•ine? Woe to the world, saith Christ, because of offences; offences must come, and woe to him through whom they come. Here is a woe and a woe; A woe to the offender, and a woe to the offended. Woe to the world, why? because their offence will be their own ruin. And whoever you are that are apt to be offended at these things; Either the lives of Professors are the rule by which you walk, or the Scripture. If the lives of Professors be the rule of your life; Then why do you not live as they do? as the best of them do? why are you not rather convinced by their goodness, then stumbled by their carnality? And if Scripture be your rule, why then do you not say in the midst of all these carnalities, Well! yet the Scripture is the Scripture, and Godliness is Godliness; and therefore though all men have their failings, and the fairest face hath its wart, and there is none so spiritual, but hath some carnality; Yet I and my house will serve the Lord; for I walk by Scripture; and Scripture is Scripture still, and Godliness is Godliness still. O take heed and be not offended. That's the first Use.