A37042:98
The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal…
The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal divided into four parts ... : in each of which there are not a few choice and useful questions, very shortly and satisfyingly discussed and cleared / by ... Mr. James Durham ... who being dead (by this) yet speaketh ; and published by John Carstares ... ; to which is prefixed an excellent preface of famous Mr. Blair ... ; together with a table of the contents of the several chapters of each part.
Edinburgh: printed by Christopher Higgins, 1659
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.
CHAP. IV. Concerning that upon which Offence worketh, or, the several ways by which it is taken.
CHAP. IV. Concerning that upon which Offence worketh, or, the several wayes by which it is taken.
The considering of the second thing, to wit, that upon which Offence worketh, and by which it is taken, will clear this more: For, sometimes, 1. it affecteth the weakness of understanding and light; So, it raiseth doubts, misconstructions▪ &c. 2. Sometimes through that it affecteth the conscience; whence cometh judging and condemning ⟨p. 22⟩of others, and their deeds, and the awakening of challenges, &c. 3. Sometimes it stirreth the affections, either by awakening carnal joy, or carnal grief. 4. It affecteth corruption, when men, from prejudice, are fretted or grieved upon such an occasion; Thus often deeds become offensive, when they confirm mens jealousy▪ stir their pride, emulation, &c. 5. A deed may have influence on some folks infirmity or impotency; So, some that are more given to passion, suspicion, or such like, will be offended sooner than others, and some things will be offensive to them that are not so in themselves. 6. Men as they are gracious may be offended; for, though grace, as such, is not capable sinfully to take offence, yet gracious persons may offend, or some actions may have an aptitude to offend a gracious zealous person rather than another. Thus Peter's dissimulation might be said to be offensive to Paul, Gal. 2. though more properly it was a scandal to Barnabas, yet it grieved and stirred Paul, though in a sanctified manner he did vent that which possibly some other gracious person might either have been irritated with, or, out of respect to Peter, led away, as Barnabas was; when an ungracious person would not have laid any weight on Peter's deed, as to any of these, that is, either to follow it, or be grieved with it.