A Golden Chain

The second point, namely, Howe far forth mens laws bind conscience, I explain on this manner. It is all that the laws of God do or can do, to bind conscience simply and absolutely. Therefore humane laws bind not simply of themselves, but so far forth as they are agreeable to Gods word, serve for the common good, stand with good order, and hinder not the liberty of con science. The necessity of the law ariseth of the necessity of the good end thereof. And as the end is good and profitable more or less, so is the law it self necessary more or less. Mens laws are like their testimonies, which neither prove nor disprove of themselves, but borrow all the strength which they have to constrain, from the trueth, wisdom, and fidelity of them that bear witness.

The second point, namely, Howe farre forth mens lawes bind conscience, I explane on this maner. It is all that the lawes of God do or can doe, to binde conscience simply and absolutely. Therefore humane lawes binde not simply of themselues, but so farreforth as they are agreeable to Gods word, serue for the common good, stand with good order, and hinder not the libertie of cō science. The necessitie of the law ariseth of the necessitie of the good end therof. And as the ende is good and profitable more or lesse, so is the lawe it selfe necessarie more or lesse. Mens lawes are like their testimonies, which neither prooue nor disprooue of themselues, but borrow all the strength which they haue to constraine, from the trueth, wisdome, and fidelitie of them that beare witnesse.

Hence it followeth that a man may do any thing beside humane laws and constitutions without breach of conscience. For if we shall omit the doing of any law, I. without hindrance of the end and particular considerations, for which the law was made: II. without offence giving, as much as in us lieth: III. without contempt of him that made the law, we are not to be accused of sin. Example. In time of war, the magistrate of a city commands that no man shall open the gates: the end is, that the city & every member thereof may be in safety. Now it falls out that certain citizens, being upon occasion without the city, are pursued by the enemy and in danger of their lives. Hereupon some man without any more ado openeth the gate to rescue them. The question is, whether he have sinned or no. And the truth is, he hath not: because he did not hinder the end of the law, but rather further it, and that without scandal to men, or contempt to the magistrate.