---

I. WHAT A WEAK CONSCIENCE IS.

1. Such a conscience is improperly called tender; for tenderness imports quickness and exactness of sense, which is the perfection of this faculty, whose duty it is to be a spiritual watch to give us warning of whatsoever concerns us. It is opposed to a hard or seared conscience; but a weak conscience is opposed to a strong, which very strength consists in the tenderness or quickness of its discerning power.

2. The weakness of conscience here spoken of is opposed to faith (Romans 14:2), by which is not meant that act by which a man is justified, but signifies the same with knowledge (vers. 7, 10). The clear discernment of what is unlawful, and what is only indifferent, together with a firm persuasion of the lawful use of such indifferent things, all circumstances being duly observed in the using of them. And therefore, on the other side, the weak conscience is such a one as judges otherwise of the nature of things than indeed it is, supposing that to be unlawful in itself which really is not so.

3. From whence it follows that weakness of conscience implies —

(1) An ignorance of the lawfulness of some certain thing or action. That ignorance must be such a one as is not willing.

(a) Because it must be such a one as renders it in some degree excusable; but so far as any defect is resolved into the will, it is in that degree inexcusable.

(b) Because it must be such an ignorance as renders the person having it the object of compassion.But no man pities another for any evil lying upon him, which he would not help, but which he could not. And consequently it must be resolved into the natural weakness of the understanding faculty, or else the want of opportunities or means of knowledge. Either of which makes ignorance necessary, as it is impossible for him to see who wants eyes, and equally impossible for him who wants light.

(2) A suspicion of the unlawfulness of any thing or action.

(3) A religious abstinence from the use of that thing of the lawfulness whereof it is thus ignorant or suspicious. It brings a man to that condition in Colossians 2:21.

II. WHAT IT IS TO WOUND OR SIN AGAINST IT.

1. To afflict or discompose it; i.e., to rob it of its peace. For there is that concernment for God's honour dwelling in every truly pious heart which makes it troubled at the sight of any action by which it supposes God to be dishonoured. And as piety commands us not to offend God, so charity enjoins us not to grieve our neighbour.

2. To encourage or embolden it to act against its present judgment or persuasion: which is, in other terms, to offend, or cast a stumbling-block before it: i.e., to do something which may administer to it an occasion of falling or bringing itself under the guilt of sin. So that as the former was a breach upon the peace, this is properly a wound upon the purity of the conscience.

3. The conscience may be induced to act counter to its present persuasion.

(1) By example; which is the case here expressly mentioned, and principally intended.

(2) By command; as when a person in power enjoins the doing something, of the lawfulness of which a man is not persuaded.

(R. South, D. D.)

---

---

KJV: And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

WEB: And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died.