The first part of The cases of conscience Wherein specially, three main questions concerning…The first part of The cases of conscience Wherein specially, three maine questions concerning…

The fourth and last Ground, is touching the subjection & power of Conscience. Conscience is a knowledge joined with a knowledge. For by conscience we know what we know; and by it we know that thing of our selves which God knoweth of us. The natural condition of every mans conscience is this; that it is placed in the middle between man and God, under God and above man. And this natural condition hath two parts: the one is the subjection of conscience to God and his word; the second is a power whereby the conscience is over the man to urge and bind him. Of the first, we have this rule, that God alone by his word doeth only bind conscience properly: for he is the only Lord of the conscience, which created it, and governs it. He again is the only law-giver, that hath power to save or destroy the soul, for the keeping and breaking of his Laws. Jam. 4. 12. Againe, mans conscience is known to none but to God, and it is he only that gives liberty to the conscience, in regard of his own laws. Upon this it followeth, that no mans commandment or Law can of it self, and by it own sovereign power bind conscience, but doeth it only by the authority and virtue of the written word of God, or some part thereof. Now the Power of conscience appears in Pauls rule: ⟨p. 44⟩Whatsoever is not of faith, that is, whatsoever¹ man doeth, whereof he is not certainly persuaded in judgement and conscience, out of Gods word, it is sin. More plainly: a thing may be said, not to be done of faith two ways. First, when it is done, with a doubting and unresolved conscience, as in those that are weak in knowledge. Of which sort were some in the Primitive Church, who notwithstanding they heard of the doctrine of Christian liberty, yet they were of opinion, that after Christs ascension, there was a difference to be made of meats, and thereupon thought, they might not eat of some kind of meats. Suppose now, that these persons (by accident) should have bin drawn to eat swines flesh, which themselves had holden a thing forbidden▪ these men upon this very fact have sinned, because that which they did, was upon an unresolved conscience. Secondly, when a thing is done upon an erroneous conscience, it is done not of faith, and therefore a sin.

The fourth and last Ground, is touching the subiection & power of Conscience. Conscience is a knowledge ioyned with a knowledge. For by conscience we knowe what we know; and by it we knowe that thing of our selues which God knoweth of vs. The naturall condition of euery mans conscience is this; that it is placed in the middle betweene man and God, vnder God and aboue man. And this naturall condition hath two parts: the one is the subiection of conscience to God and his word; the second is a power whereby the conscience is ouer the man to vrge and binde him. Of the first, we haue this rule, that God alone by his word doeth onely binde conscience properly: for he is the onely Lord of the conscience, which created it, and gouerns it. He againe is the onely lawe-giuer, that hath power to saue or destroy the soule, for the keeping and breaking of his Lawes.