The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal…

CHAP. V. Concerning what ought to make men loath and wary as to the giving Offence.

TO come now to consider those things which ought to make men tender in this, we will find, first, that there is not any duty in the matter thereof more commanded than this of giving no offence, nor any sin more condemned than untendernesse in this, as we may find from the Epistles to the Romans, Corinthians, &c. wherein whole chapters are spent on this subject: Yea, Act. 15. The Apostles and Elders thought the regulating of indifferent things for preventing of scandal, worthy to be enacted in the first Synod and Council. Secondly, There is no sin that hath moe woes pronounced against it, the Lord Himself denounceth and doubleth a woe against it, Matth. 18. 7. and the Apostle confirmeth it, Rom. 14. 20, &c. Thirdly, The hatefulness of it may appear in the rise thereof, it being, 1. an evident sign of dis-respect to God, and want of the impression of His dread, 2. of inward pride and self-conceitedness, 3. of uncharitableness and regardlessness of others, and setting them at nought, which may be gathered from Rom. ⟨p. 24⟩14. 1 Cor. 8, and 10. and can there be any thing more to be shunned than these? And upon this we will find, that men are tender and conscientious in the matter of offence, and the use of their christian liberty, as they are tender or untender in the material duties of Religion towards God, and towards others. Fourthly, There can be no worse effects than follow upon this, It bringeth a woe to the world, and is in Christ's account a most grievous plague when abounding; for, it hath destruction with it to many souls,