A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

This, First, would be utterly impossible, since Men are of such contrary Persuasions, that if the doing of an Action appear evil to one, the omission thereof appears as evil to another; so that unless we can at once both do it and not do it, some will unavoidably take offence at it, and be scandalized at us.

This, First, would be utterly impossible, since Men are of such contrary Perswasions, that if the doing of an Action appear evil to one, the omission thereof appears as evil to another; so that unless we can at once both do it and not do it, some will unavoidably take offence at it, and be scandalized at us.

Secondly, This would abridge, yea, utterly destroy all Christian Liberty in things indifferent; because, if nothing should be lawful that another scruples, then almost every thing would become sinful, since almost every thing is scrupled by some or other. In vain therefore ⟨p. 129⟩is it to reckon it as our Privilege, that we are freed from the Old Ceremonial Law, and that heavy Yoke of Ordinances that none were able to bear, if yet Christian Religion brings our Consciences under the most imperious Laws of mens Humours, Censures, and Opinions; it were far easier to observe all the Levitical Law from one end of it to the other, than to be bound to those worldly Rudiments, as the Apostle calls them in Col. 2. Touch not, taste not, handle not, wear not, speak not, if such a Person be offended at it, and count it unlawful.

Secondly, This would abridge, yea, utterly destroy all Christian Liberty in things indifferent; because, if nothing should be lawful that another scruples, then almost every thing would become sinful, since almost every thing is scrupled by some or other. In vain therefore ⟨p. 129⟩is it to reckon it as our Priviledge, that we are freed from the Old Ceremonial Law, and that heavy Yoke of Ordinances that none were able to bear, if yet Christian Religion brings our Consciences under the most imperious Laws of mens Humours, Censures, and Opinions; it were far easier to abserve all the Levitical Law from one end of it to the other, than to be bound to those worldly Rudiments, as the Apostle calls them in