The Whole Treatise of the Cases of Conscience

In the doing of the work, we are to consider two things; the matter, and the manner or form of doing it. For the matter, it must be a work commanded in the word of God, either expressly or generally. For it is Gods revealed will that gives the goodness to any work. Christ saith of the Pharisees, that they worshipped him in vain, teaching for doctrines, the commandments of men. He therefore ¹that will do a work, tending to the worship of God, must do that which God commandeth. Now actions expressly commanded, are the duties of the moral Law; Actions generally commanded, are all such as serve to be helps and means, to further the said moral duties. And here we must remember, that actions indifferent in the case of offence, or edification, cease to be indifferent, and come under some commandment of the moral Law. To which purpose Paul saith, If eating flesh will offend my brother, I will ²eat no flesh while the world standeth; his meaning is, that though his eating of flesh, was a thing indifferent in it self; yet in case of offence, his mind was to abstain from it, as much as from the breach of the Law of God. Again, if an action indifferent, comes within the case, of furthering the good of the Commonwealth, or Church, it ceaseth to ⟨p. 70⟩be indifferent, and comes under commandment; and so all kind of callings and their works, though never so base, may be the matter of good works. This point is to be remembered: for it serveth to encourage every man, of what condition soever he be, in the diligent performance of the duties of his calling; as also to confute the doctrine of the Popish church, which teacheth that only alms deeds, and building or maintaining of Churches and religious houses, are the matter of good works.

In the doing of the worke, we are to consider two things; the matter, and the manner or forme of doing it. For the matter, it must be a worke commanded in the word of God, either expressely or generally. For it is Gods reuealed will that giues the goodnes to any worke. Christ saith of the Pharises, that they worshipped him in vaine, teaching for doctrines, the commandements of men. He therefore ¹that will doe a worke, tending to the worship of God, must doe that which God commandeth. Now actions expressely commanded, are the duties of the morall Law; Actions generally commanded, are all such as serue to be helpes and meanes, to further the said morall duties. And here we must remember, that actions indifferent in the case of offence, or edification, cease to be indifferent, and come vnder some commandement of the morall Law. To which purpose Paul saith, If eating flesh will offend my brother, I will