A Golden Chain

Again I say that conscience is a ^apart of the mind or understanding, to show that conscience is not a bare knowledge or judgement of the understā ding (as ^bmen commonly write) but a natural power, faculty, or created quality from whence knowledge and judgement proceed as effects. This the Scriptures confirm, in that they ascribe sundry works and actions to conscience, as accusing, excusing, comforting, terrifying: which actions could not thence proceed, if conscience were no more but an action or act of the mind. Indeed I grant, it may be taken for a kind of actual knowledge, in the mind of man: but to speak properly, this knowledge must proceed of a power in the soul, the property whereof is to take the principles and conclusions of the mind and apply them, and by applying either to accuse or excuse. This is the ground of all, and this I take to be conscience. If it be objected that conscience cannot be a natural power, because it may be lost: I answer if conscience be lost, it is only in respect of the use thereof, as reason is lost in the drunken man and not otherwise.

Againe I say that conscience is a ^apart of the minde or vnderstanding, to shewe that conscience is not a bare knowledge or iudgement of the vnderstā ding (as ^bmen commōly write) but a naturall power, facultie, or created qualitie from whence knowledge and iudgement proceede as effects. This the Scriptures confirme, in that they ascribe sundrie workes and actions to conscience, as accusing, excusing, comforting, terrifying: which actions could not thence proceede, if conscience were no more but an action or act of the mind. Indeede I grant, it may be taken for a kind of actuall knowledge, in the minde of man: but to speake properly, this knowledge must proceede of a power in the soule, the propertie whereof is to take the principles and conclusions of the mind and apply them, and by applying either to accuse or excuse. This is the ground of all, and this I take to be conscience. If it be obiected that conscience cannot be a naturall power, because it may be lost: I answer if conscience be lost, it is onely in respect of the vse thereof, as reason is lost in the drunken man and not otherwise.