A discourse of conscience wherein is set down the nature, properties, and differences thereofA discourse of conscience wherein is set downe the nature, properties, and differences thereof

But if it shall fall out that mens laws be made of things that are cuill and forbidden by God, then is there no bond of conscience at all but contrariwise, men are bound in conscience not to obey, Act. 4. 19. And hereupon the three children are commended for not obeying Nebuchadnezzar, when he gave a particular commandment unto them to fall down and worship the golden image, Dan. 3.

But if it shall fall out that mens lawes be made of things that are cuill and forbidden by God, then is there no bonde of conscience at all but contrariwise, men are bound in conscience not to obay, Act. 4. 19. And hereupon the three children are commended for not obaying Nabuchadnezzar, when he gaue a particular commandement vnto them to fall downe and worship the golden image, Dan. 3.

Moreover, in that mans law binds only by power of Gods law, hence it follows, that Gods law alone hath this privilege, that the breach of it should be a sin. S. John saith 1. epist. 3. Sin it the anomie, or, transgression of the law, understanding Gods law. When David by ⟨p. 64⟩adultery and murder had offended many men, & that many ways, he saith Psal. 51. against thee, against thee have I sinned. And Augustine defined sin to be some thing said, done, or desired against the law of God. Some man may say, if this be so, belike then we may break mens laws without sin. I answer, that men in breaking humane laws, both may and do sin; but yet not simply, because they break them, but because in breaking them, they do also break the law of God. The breach of a law must be considered two ways. First as it is a trespass, hinderance, injury, damage, and in this respect it is committed against mens laws: secondly the breach of a law must be considered as it is sin, and so it is only against Gods law.