Catholique divinity: or, The most solid and sententious expressions of the primitive doctors of the Church. With other ecclesiastical, and civil authors: dilated upon, and fitted to the explication of the most doctrinal texts of Scripture, in a choice way both for the matter, and the language; and very useful for the pulpit, and these times. / By Dr. Stuart, dean of St. Pauls, afterwards dean of Westminster, and clerk of the closet to the late K. Charles.

Bona res neminem scandalizant, nisi malam mentem.

Tertullian.

GOod meats displease none but the distempered pallats; and must the wholesome dishes bee barr'd the table, because they offend the aguish? No, Scandal in this case is medicin∣able. You know the Physitian of∣fends the sick, that hee may the more surely cure him. If to do well cause discontent, wee then offend not a∣gainst men, but their errors; and in this regard, wee are tender to the per∣sons themselves when wee strike down their ignorance. In Matth. 8. where our Saviour taught the abro∣gation of Jewish Ceremonies, and that the worst meats could not defile us, the text intimates the Pharisees

were offended; nay, and his Disciples from hence seem to intreat his silence, Master, Seest thou not that they are of∣fended? But did our Saviour regard it? Let them alone, saith hee, They are blinde leaders of the blinde. Christ meant to teach us when men grow discontented at the truth it self, the offence is taken onely, not given, and they be said then rather to make, than to receive a scandal: Which may serve to reprove too many in our Church, who still cry out of weakness, who sit not easie though on their mo∣thers 'knees, they complain her cloaths do offend their tender eyes, her Rites say they are scandalous, and they must bee relieved by that text in Saint Paul, If meat offend my bro∣ther, I will eat no meat while I live. It follows then that for their weak sakes, wee must forbear those weak cere∣monies. But is the reason the same? to eat is a private action in common converse, wherein each man is true Lord of himself, hee may command his actions, and therefore in this case to use connivency is still to be thought most commendable. But wee speak

of actions publick, solemnly designed for our Religious meetings, actions enjoyned by Laws, and approved by the far more, which is the rule of Laws; should the Church give con∣tent to some few that dislike, shee would displease multitudes, that ap∣prove her Ceremonies, and so instead of a pretended sleight offence, shee should run her self upon a true gross scandal.