CHAP. VIII.
THE Sixth ARTICLE CONCERNING THE AVOIDING OF THINGS offered to Idols.
THe sixth Article of the Epistle follows, concern∣ing the avoiding of things offered to Idols, Chap. 8, 9, 10,
Vers. 1. Now as touching things offered unto Idols, wee know that wee all have knowledge: knowledge puffeth up; but charity edifieth.
The disputation which is contained in this Chapter con∣sists in the answering of three Objections, from whence it appears, that it is not simply lawful to feed upon things offered to Idols.
The first Objection; wee are sufficiently instructed by knowledge, concerning the lawful use of things offered to Idols: Therefore wee may lawfully eat of them. Hee answers by way of concession, and correction, to this sense, although any one knows his liberty in using things offered to Idols, yet a bare knowledge is not sufficient, unless it bee joyned with charity in use and practice; be∣cause knowledge without charity puffeth up, and makes them proud despisers of the Brethren that know but little; but joyned with charity if edifies, i. e. accommo∣dates it self for the good of others.
Verse 2. And if any man think that hee knoweth any thing, hee knoweth nothing yet as hee ought to know.
3. But if any man know God, the same is known of him.
Hee explains what hee had spoken, by distinguishing betwixt him that knows with pride, and him that knows with charity to God and his neighbour. The one, who hath knowledge joyned with pride, knows nothing so∣lidly, because hee is puffed up with a vain opinion of his own knowledge, but the other who hath knowledge joyn∣ed with love, as hee is taught by God, so hee is approved of by God that hee is truly knowing.
Vers. 4. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto Idols, wee know that an Idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God, but one.
The second Objection; wee know that an Idol hath no divinity in it, either externally or internally, which is conceived to bee in him by those that offer things to the Idol, or is feigned to bee represented in him. Wee know also that there is no God but one: Therefore seeing the Creatures of God may not bee polluted by us from the fictions of men, it is not lawful to feed upon things offered to Idols.
Vers. 5. For though there bee that are called Gods, whether in Heaven or in Earth (as there bee gods many, and Lords many:)
6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and wee in him, and one Lord Iesus Christ, by whom are all things, and wee by him.
Hee answers first by concession and confirmation of the antecedent laid down by the opposers. For although they may bee in the words and opinion of men, and may bee called caelestial and terrestial Gods, and many Lords, yet there is but one God, and Lord, viz. the Father (by which name wee are brought to the other persons, to wit, the Son and the holy Spirit, who are one God, the begin∣ing of all Creatures from whom; and the end of all to whom, chiefly in respect of us, who are beleevers, and de∣dicated to his glory) and one Mediatour Jesus Christ, the same God with the Father, by whom, as by the Word of the Father, all things were created; and wee beleevers redeemed by him, who therefore is said to bee Lord, both in respect of creation and redemption.
Vers. 7. Howbeit, there is not in every man that know∣ledge: for some with conscience of the Idol unto this hour, eat it as a thing offered to an Idol, and their conscience being weak, is defiled.
Secondly, Hee answers by way of limitation, denying that this measure of knowledge is in all that are con∣verted; because some have not yet manifestly laid down their old opinion concerning Idols, but are touched with a certain reverence of the Idol, whilst they eat things offered to Idols, and so their weak consciences are de∣filed, doubting whether they do well: Therefore it is not simply lawful to feed upon things offered to Idols.
Vers. 8. But meat commendeth us not to God: for nei∣ther if wee eat, are wee the better, neither if wee eat not, are wee the worse.
Objection 3. But the eating of meats is in indiffe∣rent things placed without Religion, in which, liberty is granted to us: For our eating, and our not eating are both alike pleasing to God, so far as it is for our health, whether wee eat this or that meat: Therefore wee are not here to bee barred of our liberty.
Vers. 9. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.
Hee answers, that this is true indeed, unless in case of scandal, yet that hee sins, who uses his liberty to the offence of his weak Brother.
Vers. 10. For if any man see thee, which hast know∣ledge, sit at meat at the Idols Temple, shall not the conscience of him that is weak, bee emboldened to eat those things which are offered to Idols?
This hee proves by four Reasons. First, Because in the praesupposed case, the weak one is encouraged and ill in∣structed by the example of him that eats in the Idols Temple with knowledge, without charity, to the pollu∣ting of himself by eating things offered to Idols: There∣fore it is not simply lawful to eat things offered to Idols.
Vers. 11. And through thy knowledge shall the weak Brother perish for whom Christ died?
Because by so doing hee is destroyed, for whom Christ died, to wit, as much as can bee by the intention and procurement of the practice of them that eat: There∣fore it is not simply lawful to eat things offered to Idols.