A Golden Chain

And here it must be noted, that in all things to be done, conscience is of great force and bears a great stroke. For, this is the beginning of a good work, that the conscience first of all give her judgement truly, that the thing may be done, and is acceptable to God. Rom. 14.23. Whatsoever is not of faith, that is, whatsoever is not done of a settled persuasion in judgement & conscience out of Gods word, howsoever men judge of it, is sin. Again, God regards not the outward pomp of the action of the doer, but obedience and especially the obedience of the heart: therefore unless the conscience first of all approve the thing to be good and agreeable to Gods will,¹ it can be nothing else but a sin. And he that shall do a thing, because it is good in his own eyes, not knowing that ⟨p. 866⟩God doth allow of it, prefers himself before God, & disobeys as the servant that in his masters house will not do his masters will but his own will.

And here it must be noted, that in all things to be done, conscience is of great force and beares a great stroke. For, this is the beginning of a good worke, that the conscience first of all giue her iudgement truly, that the thing may be done, and is acceptable to God. Rom. 14.23. Whatsoeuer is not of faith, that is, whatsoeuer is not done of a setled perswasion in iudgement & conscience out of Gods word, howsoeuer men iudge of it, is sinne. Againe, God regards not the outward pompe of the action of the doer, but obedience and especially the obedience of the heart: therfore vnles the cōscience first of all approoue the thing to be good and agreeable to Gods will,¹ it can be nothing els but a sinne. And he that shall doe a thing, because it is good in his owne eyes, not knowing that ⟨p. 866⟩God doth allowe of it, preferres himselfe before God, & disobeies as the seruant that in his masters house will not doe his masters will but his owne will.