A Golden Chain

Thus it is manifest that conscience bears a great stroke in all things that are to be said or done. And hereby we are advertised of many things. First, if a thing done without good direction of conscience be a sin, then much more that which is done without good direction of Gods word is a flat sin: for without direction of Gods word, conscience can give no good direction. And if God will hold that for a sin which is done without direction of his word, then no doubt Gods word ministers sufficient direction for all actions whatsoever: so as if a man be but to receive a morsel of bread into his mouth, it can so far forth direct him, that in doing of it, he shall be able to please God. If this were not true, mans case were most miserable. For then we should sin in manifold actions, and that without remedy. And hereby the Word, I mean nothing but the Scriptures of the old and new testament, which contain in themselves sufficient direction for all actions. As for the law of nature, though it afford indeed some direction; yet is it corrupt, imperfect, uncertain: & whatsoever is right and good therein, is contained in the written word of god. And as for the best unwritten traditions, let all the Papists in the world answer if they can, how I may in conscience be persuaded that they are the word of God. If they say that the ancient fathers of the Primitive Church avouch in their writings that they are Apostolical traditions, I answer again, how shall I know and be certain in conscience that the fathers ⟨p. 867⟩subject to error, in saying so, have not erred.

Thus it is manifest that conscience beares a great stroke in all things that are to be said or done. And hereby we are aduertised of many things. First, if a thing done without good direction of conscience bee a sinne, then much more that which is done without good direction of Gods word is a flat sinne: for without direction of Gods word, conscience can giue no good direction. And if God will hold that for a sinne which is done without direction of his word, then no doubt Gods word ministers sufficient direction for all actions whatsoeuer: so as if a man be but to receiue a morsel of bread into his mouth, it can so farre forth direct him, that in doing of it, hee shall be able to please God. If this were not true, mās case were most miserable. For then we should sinne in manifold actions, and that without remedie. And hereby the Word, I meane nothing but the Scriptures of the olde and newe testament, which containe in themselues sufficient direction for all actions. As for the lawe of nature, though it affoard indeede some direction; yet is it corrupt, imperfect, vncerten: & whatsoeuer is right and good therein, is contained in the written word of god. And as for the best vnwritten traditions, let all the Papists in the world answer if they can, howe I may in conscience be perswaded that they are the word of God. If they say that the auncient fathers of the Primitiue Church auouch in their writings that they are Apostolicall traditions, I aunswer againe, howe shall I knowe and be certaine in conscience that the fathers