Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 7. How tender are his own expressions, his practise and his laws towards those that are infirm! He came to preach the Gospel to the poor, and heal the broken-hearted, and lay upon them an easier yoke and lighter burden. He will not break the ⟨p. 442⟩bruised Reed,¹ nor quench the smoking fl•x: he carrieth the Lambs in his arms, and gently driveth those with young: The little ones that believe in him must not be offended: It were better for him […] offendeth one of them (by injurious persecution) that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were cast into the sea: Him that is weak (even) in in the Faith, we must receive (and therefore must not cast him out that doubteth of a ceremony.) And they that are strong must bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not to please our selves, but every one to please his neighbour for his good to edification. No man should put a stumbling block, or occasion to fall in his brothers way. If we grieve our brother by our meats (or other indifferent things) we walk uncharitably: we must not for such things destroy them that are the work of God, and for whom Christ died. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, or any thing whereby he stumbleth or is offended, or is made weak. He that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith. And we must not be too forward in damning men for a morsel of bread, or a garment, or a gesture.

§. 7. How tender are his own expressions, his practise and his laws towards those that are infirm! He came to preach the Gospel to the poor, and heal the broken-hearted, and lay upon them an easier yoak and lighter burden. He will not break the ⟨p. 442⟩bruised Reed,¹ nor quench the smoaking fl•x: he carryeth the Lambs in his arms, and gently driveth those with young: The little ones that believe in him must not be offended: It were better for him 〈…〉 offendeth one of them (by injurious persecution) that a milstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were cast into the sea: Him that is weak (even) in in the Faith, we must receive (and therefore must not cast him out that doubteth of a ceremony.) And they that are strong must bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not to please our selves, but every one to please his neighbour for his good to edification. No man should put a stumbling block, or occasion to fall in his brothers way. If we grieve our brother by our meats (or other indifferent things) we walk uncharitably: we must not for such things destroy them that are the work of God, and for whom Christ died. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, or any thing whereby he stumbleth or is offended, or is made weak. He that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith. And we must not be too forward in damning men for a morsel of bread, or a garment, or a gesture.