THese words are the second part of Pauls answer, which is a correction; in which is the Argument it selfe, vrged vpon the strong, that he ought not to offend his weake bro∣ther by his libertie in things indifferent.

The Argument is taken from the Cause, remouing scan∣dall, which is charitie.

And here we haue the Argument, and the proofe of it.

The Argument is thus:

That which is contrary to charity, is not to be done.

But to giue offence is contrary to charity.

Therefore &c.

The first Proposition is sure, for charity is the fulfilling of the Law, as we haue heard before, Chap. 13.

The second Proposition, is proued from two effects of Scandall set downe in this verse: The first is Griefe: the se∣cond Destruction.

From the first effect, the Argument is thus:

In this part of the verse, by it selfe considered, wee haue two parts: a Supposition, and an Accusation.

The Supposition, If thy brother be grieued with thy meate.

The Accusation, Now walkest thou not charitably.

Grant the Supposition, and the Accusation holdeth; take away the Supposition, and the Accusation is of no force.

To vse indifferent things, as meat, apparell, &c. is lawfull, if charity put not in a barre: wee must set more by our bro∣thers grieued conscience, then by the vse of our libertie in such things.

We may at no hand forgoe our libertie in such things, (for it is a part of the purchase by the blood of Christ) but the vse of it.

In the Supposition, we haue the thing supposed, Griefe; and the Amplification, from the subiect grieued; thy brother, and from the obiect, with thy meate.

Griefe is a passion, whereby the appetite doth abhorre with perturbation, euill present; whether so indeed, or in apprehension.

This affection is naturall and good, if it be directed vpon the right obiect, which is sinne, with the appurtenances, and that it be in due measure, and to the right end.

The subiect, thy brother: whether strong or weake, for it is against charitie, either to grieue other; but here the brother grieued is the weake one; who three wayes lyeth open to griefe, by the liberty vsed by the strong.

1 By the sinne of the strong, as the weake supposeth; for this he is grieued, thinking that thereby God is offended, and the soule of his brother in danger.

2 By reprehension: taking indignation to be reproued by the strong, for the retaining of differences of meates, dayes.

3 By being drawne by the example of the strong, to doe a∣gainst his conscience, which breedeth griefe, post factum, after the deed done.

With thy meate, that is, thy libertie in eating meats, sup∣posed by the weake to be vnlawfull.

Now walkest thou not charitably. Though in other things, yet now, thou walkest not charitably in this particular. He con∣demneth not the strong, as to be without charitie altogether, but to step awry herein. The Imputation is great, because charity is the Rule of our life.

To vse things indifferent to the griefe of our Brother, [Doctr.] is a∣gainst charity. Or, To giue scandall is against charity, because thereby my brother is grieued. 1. Corinth. 8.12. To sinne so Page  181against the brethren, is to wound their weake conscience.

May I in nothing grieue my brother? [Quest.]

Yes, in somethings I may: [Answ.] as by seuere reprouing him for sinne, that he may be brought to godly sorrow, vnto repen∣tance: Thus did S. Peter pricke the hearts of the Iewes, Acts 2.37. So Paul tels the Corinthians, that though hee made them sory by a Letter, he did not repent, though he did re∣pent. Looke how the affection of a father is in the correcting of his child, he is grieued to beat him, and yet hee is glad if it doe him good; so was Paul toward the Corinthians, it neuer repented him that he had made them to grieue, in as∣much as it profited them to repentance and saluation.

It is not against charity for Ministers to reproue sharply, and for Magistrates seuerely to punish notorious offenders; nay it is true charity to correct them vnto their amendment; and to neglect this, is want of charity: let disordered per∣sons be grieued; let drunkards and such like smart for it, that if it be possible, they may be thereby brought to repentance, and so be saued.

But to vse our liberty in indifferent things to the griefe of our brother, and so to stand vpon it, as not to omit the vse of it for our weake brothers sake, is vnlawfull, and against charity.

Yet here are two cautions to be remembred. [Note.]

1 It must be in such indifferent things, the vse whereof is not determined by the authority of the Magistrate: as, in it selfe it is indifferent to sit or kneele at the Communion; but if the Magistrate determine the gesture by his authority; then though our brother bee grieued, we are to vse that ge∣sture: For not to obey the Magistrate in a lawfull com∣mand is a sinne. The vse of our liberty is not in our power.

2 The brethren grieued, must be weake ones; * If they bee stiffe, and obstinate in their opinion, we are not bound, but may, nay sometimes we ought to vse our liberty before them, as we shall note afterwards.

The phrase is to be obserued: If thy brother be grieued; [Obs. 1] he saith not, thou grieuest thy brother; to note, that the fault Page  182is rather in the patient then in the agent. And therefore weak ones are to know, that it is no vertue in them to bee scrupu∣lous in euery thing, and to be grieued at their brothers law∣full liberty; but a sinne, which is to be amended by know∣ledge and charity.

Faith giues liberty, [Obser. 2] but charity is a binder. Omnia libera per fidem, serua per charitatem: I may doe all things by faith, I may eate of any meats, or abstaine, I may weare any colours in my apparell, &c. But by charitie I must doe or not doe that, which most makes for the peace of the Church, and the good of my brethren. Paul by faith may circumcise Timo∣thy: by charity he will not circumcise Titus.

We must haue great care of the weake: [Vse 1] A mother loues all her children, but shee is most tender ouer them that are sicke: A man most fauours that part of his body that is hurt or weake.

Euen nature (much more grace) teacheth not to hurt, but to loue our brethren.

Weake brethren are not to be contemned, but to be to∣lerated, if so be they grow not peruerse and obstinate.

We ought not to strike the strong: but to fall vpon him that is sicke and weake, is no credit.

To grieue a weake brother, is to wound him: What more inhumane thing, then to wound a brother? Especially being sicke and weake; yea and to wound not his head or face, but his very conscience, the weakest part in him, and the pretious∣sest; whose hurt cannot be without great danger.

Off with that hayre, away with that apparell, those colours, &c. which wound thy weake brothers soule.

We must haue care of all, [Ʋse 2] not to grieue any. Griefe is a sicknesse, a consumption of the soule: hee that giueth iust cause of griefe, is accessory after a sort to his brothers death.

Hee that careth not how he grieues the godly by his cari∣age, is no true Christian: for without loue wee are no Chri∣stians.

How many are they which by their beastly liuing make the hearts of good Christians sad!

Who that hath but a mite of pietie can abstaine from Page  183griefe, to heare the blasphemies, to see the drunkennesse, and wretched behauiour of wicked men?

If thou walkest in these sinnes, know that thou offendest God, and grieuest good men; and then is the Diuell pleased and his angels, * euen as the good Angels reioyce at the conuer∣sion of a sinner.

If thou hast made the good to sorrow by thy sinnes, repent, and make them glad with thy amendment. This is true cha∣rity towards God and men.