A Golden Chain

From this former rule arise three other: the first, whatsoever is done with a doubting conscience is a sin. For example: some believers in the Primitive Church held, that still after the ascension of Christ there remained a difference between meat and meat, and therefore it was a scruple to them to eat of sundry kind of meats: now put the case, that by example they are drawn on to eat swines flesh, or some other thing which they think is forbidden; this done, there is no question but they have sinned, as Paul proveth, Rom. 14. 14. I know and am persuaded through the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of it self: but unto him t•at judgeth any thing unclean, it is unclean: and v. 23. He that doubteth, is condemned, if he eat, because he eateth not of faith.

From this former rule arise three other: the first, whatsoeuer is done with a doubting conscience is a sinne. For example: some beleeuers in the Primitiue Church held, that still after the ascension of Christ there remained a differēce betweene meate and meate, and therefore it was a scruple to them to eate of sundrie kind of meates: now put the case, that by example they are drawne on to eate swines flesh, or some other thing which they thinke is forbidden; this done, there is no question but they haue sinned, as Paul prooueth, Rom. 14. 14. I knowe and am perswaded through the Lord Iesus, that there is nothing vncleane of it selfe: but vnto him t•at iudgeth any thing vncleane, it is vncleane: and v. 23. He that doubteth, is condemned, if he eate, because he eateth not of faith.

The second, whatsoever thing is done in, or with an erroneous conscience, it is a sin. For example: in the Primitive Church divers of the gentiles held this error, that fornication was a thing indifferent, and therefore conscience told them that they might do it: and yet nevertheless fornication in them was a sin, because conscience erred in her judgement. And evil remains evil, though conscience say the contrary a thousand times.