Sermon XXXI. [LXXXI. Ben.] On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xviii. 7, where we are admonished to beware of the of- fences of the world. 1. The divine lessons, which we have just heard as they were being read, warn us to gather in a stock of virtues, to fortify a Christian heart, against the offences which were predicted to come, and this from the mercy of the Lord. “For what is man,” saith Scripture, 353 “saving that Thou art mindful of him?”2694 “Woe unto the world because of offences,”2695 saith the Lord; the Truth says so; He alarmeth and warneth us, He would not have us to be off our guard; for surely He would not make us desperate. Against this “woe,” against this evil, that is, which is to be feared, and dreaded, and guarded against, Scripture counsels, and exhorts, and instructs us in that place, where it is said, “Great praise have they who love Thy law, and nothing is an offence to them.”2696 He hath shown us an enemy to be guarded against, but He hath not omitted to show us also a wall of defence. Thou wast thinking, as thou heardest, “Woe unto the world because of offences,” whither thou mightest go beyond the world, that thou mightest not be exposed to offences. Therefore to avoid offences, whither wilt thou go beyond the world, unless thou fly to Him who made the world? And how shall we be able to fly to Him who made the world, unless we give ear to His law which is preached everywhere? And to give ear to it is but a small matter, unless we love it. For divine Scripture in making thee secure against offences doth not say, “Great peace have they who” hear “Thy law. For not the hearers of the law are just before God.2697 But” because “the doers of the law shall be justified,” and, “faith worketh by love:”2698 it saith, “Great peace have they who love Thy law, and nothing is an offence to them.” To this sentiment also agrees the passage which we have chanted in course; “But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”2699 Because, “great peace have they who love Thy law.” For these “meek” ones are they who “love the law of God.” For, “Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of Thy law, that Thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the sinner.”2700 How diverse seem those words of Scripture, yet into one meaning do they so flow and meet together, that whatsoever out of that most rich fountain thou canst hear, so 2694 Ps. viii. 4. 2695 Matt. xviii. 7. 2696 Ps. cxix. 165. 2697 Rom. ii. 13. 2698 Gal. v. 6. 2699 Ps. xxxvii. 11. 2700 Ps. xciv. 12, 13. On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xviii. 7, where we are admonished to beware of the offences of the world. 743 On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xviii. 7, where we are admonished to beware…