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

IT is hardly possible to show how many ways one may offend another, there being so many, yea, so very many ways whereby men both wrong themselves and others; yet, by considering the effects that offence given, hath, or may have upon others (although the effect follow not) and by considering that upon which active offence worketh, and which usually is offended at in another, We may draw them to some heads accordingly; As, 1. men may be drawn to some sinful action upon such an occasion: thus an action materially lawful and good in it self, becometh a scandal, when by our deed another is fostered in some sin, or encouraged to commit it, as supposing himself to be strengthened therein by our practice; Or when it may occasion others to go beyond our intent, or to do what we do in another manner which may make it sinful: So, zeal inconsiderately vented, may strengthen folks in passion; and thus eating in Idols temples (which in it self was nothing) was scandalous when done publicly, because it strengthened Idolaters to think somewhat of their •ols, and made others who were weak, to continue ⟨p. 18⟩some respect to them, because they supposed such men, by such a practice to do so; or made some judge them to have respect to Idols, and so to be less in their esteem; or, caused others to eat with respect to the Idol, when they themselves did it without it: Thus doubtful expressions in points of Truth▪ and uncircumspectnesse in not abstaining from all appearance of evil, or what doth appear to be evil to such a person, and at such a time, &c. may be offensive; as suppose one in their apparel, diet, or otherwayes, should by some be conceived to go beyond their station, and what is fit at such a time, or be an occasion to some others indeed to exceed, when, without such misconstructing beholders, there might be nothing offensive in the deed it self; and thus the deed of one person may be offensive (supposing him to be esteemed proud, covetous, unclean, &c.) which would not be so in another: So also, a thing will be offensive to one, and not to another.

IT is hardly possible to shew how many wayes one may offend another, there being so many, yea, so very many wayes whereby men both wrong themselves and others; yet, by considering the effects that offence given, hath, or may have upon others (although the effect follow not) and by considering that upon which active offence worketh, and which usually is offended at in another, We may draw them to some heads accordingly; As, 1. men may be drawn to some sinfull action upon such an occasion: thus an action materially lawfull and good in it self, becometh a scandall, when by our deed another is fostered in some sin, or encouraged to commit it, as supposing himself to be strengthned therein by our practice; Or when it may occasion others to go beyond our intent, or to do what we do in another manner which may make it sinfull: So, zeal inconsiderately vented, may strengthen folks in passion; and thus eating in Idols temples (which in it self was nothing) was scandalous when done publickly, because it strengthned Idolaters to think somewhat of their ols, and made others who were weak, to continue