Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 14:23

23. And he that doubteth, is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith : for whatsoever is not of faith is sin .

In this verse is another Aphorisme respecting especially the weaker Christian. He that doubteth of the lawfulness of any meat, whether he may or may not eat it, is damned if he eat. i. e. his own conscience condemns him, or he makes himself liable to damnation, because he eateth not of Faith. The word (eateth) is not in the Original, but it is aptly inserted by our Translators, what a man doth doubtingly, he doth sinfully: He sheweth a wicked heart, that is not affraid of Sin, but in great readiness to commit it.

This is a confirmation of the foregoing assertion. By Faith here is meant knowledge or full perswasion, as v. 22. q. d. what ever a man doth with a wavering mind, without being perswaded that it is pleasing to God, and warranted by his word, he sinneth in the doing of it. Though we may not nourish doubts and scruples, yet we must not act against them; an erring conscience binds us to act nothing contrary to it. He sins that doth any thing against it, though the fact or thing done should not be sinful. Nature it self teacheth as much; that is a known saying of Cicero, Quod dubitas, aequum sit an iniquum, ne feceris. If thou doubtest whether a thing be lawful or not lawful, thou shalt not do it. vid. Heb. 11.6.

Marginal references: Or, discerneth and putteth a difference betw[illegible: 2 letters]n meats.; Or, because it is not of faith.; Tit. 1.15.