Page 249
Verse 8.
And a stone to stumble at, and a rocke of offence, euen to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient, vnto the which thing they were euen ordained.
And a stone to stumble at, and a rocke of offence, euen to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient, vnto the which thing they were euen ordained.
HItherto of the punishments vpon the buil∣ders. The punishment vpon the whole bo∣dy of vnbeleeuers, is contained in this verse. Wherein note first, the kindes of punishment. Christ is a rock of offence, and a stone of stumbling. Se∣condly, the causes both in themselues, and in God, in the words that follow.
A rocke of offence, and a stone of stumbling.
Since wicked men haue refused Christ, and will not beleeue in him; He, that may not be a stone of foundation, will proue a stone of stum∣bling, and a rock for them to dash on, till they be dashed to pieces: which words import the feare∣full iudgements of God, spiritually inflicted vp∣on vnbeleeuers, which is two-fold. First, they shall be giuen vp to scandall; and then secondly to despaire.
Before I open the words particularly, diuers things may be noted in generall.
First,* 1.1 that the punishments that light vpon particular wicked men, are to be accounted the punishments of the whole body of vnbeleeuers, as here despaire and taking offence at Christ, it may light vpon some particular offenders only, yet they are punishments belonging to all.
- 1. Because there is no iudgement, but all