A Body of Practical Divinity

Quest. How and in what Sense may we be said to partake and have an Hand in the Sins of others?

Resp. 1. By Decreeing Unrighteous Decrees, and imposing on others that which is unlawful: Jeroboam made the People of Israel to Sin; he was accessary to their Idolatry by setting up golden Calves: So David, though he did not in his own Person kill Uriah; yet because he wrote a Letter to Joab, to set Uriah in the Fore-front of the Battle, and it was done by his command, therefore he was accessary to Uriah's Death, and the Murder of him was laid to David's Charge by the Prophet, 2 Sam. 12.9. Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the Sword.

Resp. 1. By Decreeing Unrighteous Decrees, and imposing on others that which is unlawful: Ieroboam made the People of Israel to Sin; he was accessary to their Idolatry by setting up golden Calves: So David, though he did not in his own Person kill Uriah; yet because he wrote a Letter to Ioab, to set Uriah in the Fore-front of the Battle, and it was done by his command, therefore he was accessary to Uriah's Death, and the Murther of him was laid to David's Charge by the Prophet, 2 Sam. 12.9. Thou hast kill'd Uriah the Hittite with the Sword.

2. We become accessary to the Sins of others, by not hindering them when it is in our power: Qui non prohibet cum potest, jubet: If a Master of a Family sees his Servant break the Sabbath, or hears him Swear, and lets him alone, doth not use the power he hath to suppress him, he becomes accessary to his sin. Eli, for not punishing his Sons, when they made the Offering of the Lord to be abhorred, made himself guilty,