A manuali [sic] of divine considerations delivered and concluded by ... Thomas White ; translated out of the original Latine copie.

19. Meditation. Of Scandall.

1. COnsider, that it is necessary for them who profess a spe∣ciall charge and love of souls, not onely to abstain from those things which are evill, but from those al∣so which carry any shew of it; for he that doeth any such thing, with desire of a temporall commo∣dity, induceth his neighbour who is not sufficiently able to judge, to imitate what is bad, or blasph me his good.

2. In the first place therefore, he woundeth his soul, diminisheth Gods honour, diverts men from his service, defileth his own repu∣tation, and that of others, who are of like profession, he hinders the profit that should proceed from their Ministery; and all these are cast behinde, for the pursuance of

some base gain, or despicable plea∣sure.

3. Adde, that the thing which he doth, for the most part is not without sin: for whereas humane actions ought to be estimated not according to the principles of Me∣taphysicks▪ but by the morall judgement of a prudent man; not every thing which to a subtile dis∣course, but which is congruous to humane conversation, is approved just and right.

4. Besides the damage for the most part of our neighbour, and a disturbance of the Common-weale, which happen out of the bordering vice, do also ordinarily proceed from such like actions. Where∣fore the end for which sin is prohi∣bited is found in them, and there∣fore it is hard to finde how they should be innocent, and free from all vice.

Conclude, that thou must live plainly and uprightly, and that thou wilt avoid not onely such

things as of themselves are naught, but also those which carry a face of badness; and that thou wilt no less beware of those things which are generally esteemed wicked, then of those which are truely so indeed.