A Golden Chain

Arg. 1. He that makes a law binding conscience to mortal sin, hath power, if not to save, yet to destroy: because by sin; which follows upon the transgression of his law, comes death and damnation. But God is the only Lawgiver that hath this privilege; which is, after he hath given his law, upon the breaking or keeping thereof, to save or destroy, Jam. 4. 12. There is one Lawgiver that can save or destroy. Therefore God alone makes laws binding conscience properly, and no creature can do the like. Answer is made that S. James speaks of the principal Lawgiver, that by his own proper authority makes laws, and doth in such manner save and destroy, that he need not fear to be destroyed of any: and that he speaks not of secondary lawgivers that are deputies of God, & make laws in his name. I say again that this answer stands not with the text• For S. James speaks simply without distinction, limitation, or exception: and the effect of his reason is this. No man at all must slander his brother, because no man must be judge of the law: and no man can be judge of the law, because no man can be a lawgiver to save or destroy. Now then where be those persons that shall make laws to the souls of men, and bind them unto punishment of mortal sin; considering that God alone is the saving and destroying Lawgiver.

Arg. 1. He that makes a law binding conscience to mortall sinne, hath power, if not to saue, yet to destroy: because by sinne; which followes vpon the transgression of his law, comes death and damnation. But God is the onely Lawgiuer that hath this priuiledge; which is, after he hath giuen his law, vpon the breaking or keeping thereof, to saue or destroy, Iam. 4. 12. There is one Lawgiuer that can saue or destroy. Therefore God alone makes lawes binding conscience properly, and no creature can doe the like. Answer is made that S. Iames speakes of the principall Lawgiuer, that by his owne proper authoritie makes laws, and doth in such manner saue and destroy, that he neede not feare to be destroied of any: and that he speakes not of secondarie lawgiuers that are deputies of God, & make laws in his name. I say againe that this answer stands not with the text• For S. Iames speakes simply without distinction, limitation, or exception: and the effect of his reason is this. No man at all must slaunder his brother, because no man must be iudge of the law: and no man can be iudge of the law, because no man can be a lawgiuer to saue or destroy. Now then where be those persons that shall make lawes to the soules of men, and bind them vnto punishment of mortall sinne; considering that God alone is the sauing and destroying Lawgiuer.