A discourse of the forbearance or the penalties which a due reformation requires by H. Thorndike ...

CHAP. X. The Case in which S. Paul forbears the Weak.

COme we now to that Scripture of S. Paul to the Romans, upon which, the whole Plea for tender Consciences is grounded, and to state the Case, in which he prescribeth. And see, what forbearance it will inforce in our Case. S. Paul, having shewed the Romans; who, before they were converted to be Christians, had been, some Jews, some Gentiles; that Righteousness and Salvation comes only by Faith, or by Christianity, and not by the Law, or by Judaism also; proceedeth in the fourteenth Chapter of that Epistle, to Order them, to forbear one another; The Jews not to censure the Gentiles, for not observing the Law; The Gentiles not to scorn the Jews; if, not understanding the freedom of Christians, they lived as Jews, in all or in some things. It is mani∣fest, who are the strong and who are the weak, with S. Paul, in that he is one of the strong, where he says, XV. 1. We that

are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak. They that understand, how Righ∣teousness and Salvation comes only by Faith; notwithstanding that it was to be had under the Law, as well as afore the Law; these are the strong. One man be∣lieves he may eat any thing; though for∣bidden by the Law; but he that is weak, and sees nothing else on the Table but that which the Law forbids, eats herbs. One man makes difference of a day above a day, according to the Law, another esteems every day alike, XIV. 2, 5. These two instances are put for all indifferent things, prescribed or forbidden by the Law. He that understood the purpose of God in giving the Law, which he intended to make void, or rather to fulfil, in due time; So that Salvation came not by it, when it was to be had under it; He is the strong with S. Paul. He that understood it not, and yet continued a Christian, that he might come to understand it, the weak. Let no man marvel, that the Romans, who took S. Paul for an Apostle, should not understand that which S. Paul had pro∣ved, by this whole Epistle. For he pro∣veth it by the Mystical sense of the Old Te∣stament; Which, they who had submit∣ted

to the Faith could not owne, never∣theless, until they understood the reason, why God gave the Law, with an intent to bring in the Gospel by it. Let no man think, that they were not fit to be bapti∣zed, (for such were they all to whom S. Paul writes) that understood not this, be∣longing to the Foundation of Faith. Baptism maketh all Disciples of Christ, and therefore findeth them not so. It is necessary, that he who is baptized should undertake all that, which, he shall come to learn, that Christ hath taught. It is not necessary that he should know what it is; knowing that Salvation is not to be had, without doing all that, whatsoever it is, which, it shall appear, that Christ hath taught.