A Golden Chain

Hence we are taught sundry points of instruction. I. Such as are ignorant among us must labour to get knowledge of Gods word, because it binds conscience. Neither will the plea of ignorance serve for excuse: because, whether we know Gods laws or know them not, they still bind us, And we are bound not only to do them, but when we know them not, we are further bound not to be ignorant of them, but to seek to know them. If we had no more sins, our ignorance were sufficient to condemn us. II. Gods word is to be obeyed, though we should offend all men, yea loose all mens favour, and suffer the greatest damage that may be, even the loss of our lives. And the reason is at hand; because Gods word hath this prerogative to bridle, bind, and restrain the conscience. III. Whatsoever we enterprise or take in hand, we must first search whether God give us liberty in conscience, and warrant to do it. For if we do otherwise, conscience is bound presently to charge us of sin before God. Lastly, we do here see how dangerous the case is of all Time-servers that will live as they list, and be of no certain religion till differences and dissentions therein be ended, and they have the determination of a general Council: for whether these things compass or no, certain it is that they are bound in conscience to receive and believe the ancient, Prophetical, and Apostolical doctrine touching the true worship of God and the way to life everlasting, which is the true religion. The same is to be said of all drowsy Protestants, and luke-warm gospellers, that use religion not with that care and conscience they ought, but only then and so far forth as it serves for their turns, commonly neglecting or despising the assemblies where the word is preached: and seldom frequenting the Lords table unless ⟨p. 836⟩it be at Easter. Like silly wretches they neither see nor feel the constraining power, that Gods word hath in their consciences.

Hence we are taught sundrie points of instruction. I. Such as are ignorant among vs must labour to get knowledge of Gods word, because it binds conscience. Neither will the plea of ignorance serue for excuse: because, whether we know Gods lawes or know them not, they stil bind vs, And we are bound not onely to doe them, but when we know them not, we are further bound not to be ignorant of them, but to seeke to know them. If we had no more sinnes, our ignorance were sufficient to condemne vs. II. Gods word is to be obeyed, though we should offend all men, yea loose all mens fauour, and suffer the greatest domage that may be, euen the losse of our liues. And the reason is at hand; because Gods word hath this prerogatiue to bridle, binde, and restraine the conscience. III. Whatsoeuer we enterprise or take in hand, we must first search whether God giue vs libertie in conscience, and warrant to doe it. For if we doe otherwise, conscience is bound presently to charge vs of sinne before God. Lastly, we doe here see how daungerous the case is of all Time-seruers that will liue as they list, and be of no certen religion till differences and dissentions therein be ended, and they haue the determination of a generall Councill: for whether these things compasse or no, certen it is that they are bound in conscience to receiue and beleeue the auncient, Propheticall, and Apostolicall doctrine touching the true worship of God and the way to life euerlasting, which is the true religion. The same is to be said of all drowsie Protestants, and luke-warme gospellers, that vse religion not with that care and conscience they ought, but onely then and so farre forth as it serues for their turnes, commonly neglecting or despising the assemblies where the word is preached: and seldome frequenting the Lords table vnlesse