The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal divided into four parts ... : in each of which there are not a few choice and useful questions, very shortly and satisfyingly discussed and cleared / by ... Mr. James Durham ... who being dead (by this) yet speaketh ; and published by John Carstares ... ; to which is prefixed an excellent preface of famous Mr. Blair ... ; together with a table of the contents of the several chapters of each part.

CHAP. II. Holding forth what Offence is not, and what it is.

THese generals may give a hint of what is sig∣nified by Offence and how it is given. To adde a word more particularly to the first Question, Let us consider, 1. what offence is not; 2. what it is. 1. It is not alwayes any hurtfull and actually displeasing thing to the party that is offended; and so is not to be constructed such, or not, from their pleasure, or displeasure. 2. It is not alwayes to be judged by the matter; for, an offence may be in a lawfull matter, that simply is not to be condemned, as in eating, drinking, taking wages for preach∣ing, &c. 3. It is not alway to be determined by the effect; sometimes one may be offended, when no of∣fence was given: sometimes again, offence may be given, and the person be guilty thereof (as hath been said) when no actual stumbling hath followed, but the thing of it self was inductive thereto. 4. Nor is it to be judged by the person's intention; one may be without all design of hurting, who yet may really wound, and offend another, and be guilty by rash∣nesse, omission, too much love and condescension in sparing, unfaithfulnesse (it being much to be faith∣full to one that we love, and, which is a pity, we are readiest to offend them, as in Ionadab's case to Am∣non; yea, in Iob's friends to him, &c.) inconsiderate zeal, imprudency, or falling in some thing, that is as

a dead fly, which may make much that is profitable, become unsavoury. 2. Scandal then must be some∣thing accompanying some external deed or word (for internal give not offence) which being considered at such a time, in such a place, or in such a person, &c. may be inductive to sin, or impeditive of the spiri∣tual life or comfort of others. When this doth flow from a sinfull act, it is not so difficultly discernable, readily all actions that are materially evil, are clear; but the difficulty is when the matter is lawfull or in∣different in it self; or when it is in the manner and other circumstances of a lawfull or necessary duty, then to discern when they become scandalous in such respects; and accordingly to be swayed to do or ab∣stain in the matter, and to do in this or some other manner, as may eschew the same. This properly and strictly is that which is called offence, and is that wherein most wisdom is to be exercised in ordering and regulating us in the use of christian liberty; and concerning this are the great debates in Scripture, that men may know, that not only the Command is to be looked unto in the matter of the act, so that no∣thing be done against it in that respect, nor only that our own clearnesse be considered▪ that we do nothing doubtingly, but that others be considered also that they by our deed be not in their spiritual estate wron∣ged or hurt▪ that is, to do or abstain for conscience∣sake, not our own, but of him that sitteth with us, 1 Cor. 10. 24, and 28. for, if charity and love be the end of the Law, and men ought not only to seek their own things, but the things one of another, and love their neighbour as themselves, then ought they to seek their neighbours edification as their own, and to eschew the prejudging of them. Hence Scandal is opposit to that charity and love, and also to that respect which we ought to carry to our brother, Rom. 14. v. 10, and 15. yea, it is a scandal and offence as it is opposite to, and inconsistent with, love to his spiritual well∣being;

and so, in a word, that which is apt to make him worse in that respect, or that which may impede and hinder his spirituall growth and advancement therein, is an offence and scandal, Rom. 14. 21. And thus a scandal differeth from an injury: for, this hurt∣eth his person, name, or estate, or some outward thing; that, again, hurteth his spirituall condition, either by wronging his livelinesse, or activity, or com∣fort, &c. though the same thing often, which is an injury, is an offence also, but not contrarily.