A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

Secondly, If so be those things that are in themselves indifferent, and appear to us so to be, have yet an evil appearance unto others, if they be offended and scandalized at them, then the Rule of Christian Charity obligeth us to abstain from them. I call those Things indifferent, that are neither in themselves forbidden, nor yet commanded, but only permitted and left to the arbitrary government of every private Christian's Prudence and Discretion. As for instance, under the Levitical Law, some kinds of Meat were unlawful; as in Lev. 11. And some kinds of Garments were unlawful to be worn; as in Lev. 19.19. But now, under the Gospel, since the abolishing of those Carnal Ordinances, as the Apostle calls them, Heb. 9.4. both all sorts of Meat become lawful, whilst we use them within the Bounds of Temperance and Moderation; and all sorts ⟨p. 136⟩of Garments may be lawfully worn, while we use them within the Bounds of Modesty and Decency: These Things are left free for us to use them, or not to use them, without Sin, according to our own conveniency and discretion. These Things I call indifferent Things. And yet such is the strictness of Christian Religion, that these indifferent, lawful Things are not to be used at random neither. It is a certain Truth, though it may seem a Paradox, that we never sin in any thing more than in doing that which is in it self lawful; in these things we usually offend, either by using them immoderately, or with a neglect, yea, with a contempt of those Consciences that are weak. The Use of our Christian Liberty is not uncontrollable; but God hath subjected it to the Consciences of others; so that it is utterly unlawful for us to do that which is in it self lawful, if it give offence unto others. How this ought to be limited I shall show you by and by; in the mean time, see it clearly proved out of 1 Cor. 10. from v. 25. to the end. Where the Apostle decides this Question, Whether it were lawful to eat Meat that was offered to Idols. ⟨p. 137⟩For the understanding of this, you must know, it was a custom among the Heathens to offer Cattle in Sacrifice to their Idol-Gods; part whereof they did eat in their Religious Feasts in the Temple, selling the Remainder in the common Market. Now, the Question was not, Whether it was unlawful to join with the Heathens in eating of their Sacrifices in the Temple before their Idols;