The first is Offences. There is nothing of whose Danger ⟨p. 324⟩we are more warned in the Gospel, than of Offences. Woe to the World, saith our Saviour, because of Offences. All Ages, all Times and Seasons, are filled with them, and they prove pernicious and destructive to the Souls of many. Such are the Scandalous Divisions that are among Christians; the endless Differences of Opinions, and diversity of practices in Religion and the Worship of God; the Falls and Sins of Professors, the fearful ends of some of them; the Reproaches that are cast on all that engage into any peculiar way of Holiness and strictness of Life, with other things of the like nature, whereby the souls of innumerable Persons are disquieted, subverted, or infected, are to be reckoned unto this Head. Against any hurtful or noxious Influence on our Minds from these things, against Disquietments, Dejections of Spirit, and Disconsolations, are we secured by this Peace. So the Psalmist assures us, Psal. 119.165. Great Peace have they that love thy Law, and nothing shall offend them. The Law, or the Word of God, is the only way of the Revelation of God and his Will unto us; and the only outward Way and Rule of our Converse and Communion with him. Wherefore, to love the Law, is the principal part of our being heavenly Minded, yea virtually that which comprehends the whole. For such as do so, nothing, none of the things before mentioned, nor any other of the like nature, shall be an Offence, a stumbling Block, or cause of falling into sin. And the reason is, because they have such an Experience in themselves of the Truth, Power, Efficacy and Holiness of the Gospel, as that the Miscarriages of Men, under a Profession of it, shall never be unto them an Occasion of falling, or being offended at Christ. And I look upon it as a sign of a very evil Frame of Heart, when men are concerned in the Miscarriages of some that have made Profession, whereby they are, it may be, damaged in their Outward Concerns, so as that they are ⟨p. 325⟩surprised into Reflections on that Religion which they profess, professing the same themselves.
The first is Offences. There is nothing of whose Danger ⟨p. 324⟩we are more warned in the Gospel, than of Offences. Wo to the World, saith our Saviour, because of Offences. All Ages, all Times and Seasons, are filled with them, and they p•ove pernitious and destructive to the Souls of many. Such are the Scandalous Divisions that are among Christians; the endless Differences of Opinions, and diversity of practices in Religion and the Worship of God; the Falls and Sins of Professors, the fearful ends of some of them; the Reproaches that are cast on all that ingage into any peculiar way of Holiness and strictness of Life, with other things of the like nature, whereby the souls of innumerable Persons are disquieted, subverted, or infected, are to be reckoned unto this Head. Against any hurtful or noxious Influence on our Minds from these things, against Disquietments, Dejections of Spirit, and Disconsolations, are we secured by this Peace. So the Psalmist assures us, Psal. 119.165. Great Peace have they that love thy Law, and nothing shall offend them. The Law, or the Word of God, is the only way of the Revelation of God and his Will unto us; and the only outward Way and Rule of our Converse and Communion with him. Wherefore, to love the Law, is the principal part of our being heavenly Minded, yea virtually that which comprehends the whole. For such as do so, nothing, none of the things before mentioned, nor any other of the like nature, shall be an Offence, a stumbling Block, or cause of falling into sin. And the reason is, because they have such an Experience in themselves of the Truth, Power, Efficacy and Holiness of the Gospel, as that the Miscarriages of Men, under a Profession of it, shall never be unto them an Occasion of falling, or being offended at Christ. And I look upon it as a sign of a very evil Frame of Heart, when men are concerned in the Miscarriages of some that have made Profession, whereby they are, it may be, damaged in their Outward Concerns, so as that they are ⟨p. 325⟩surprized into Reflections on that Religion which they profess, professing the same themselves.
