A09400:56
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
A discourse of conscience wherein is set down the nature, properties, and differences thereof: as also the way to get and keep good conscience.A discourse of conscience wherein is set downe the nature, properties, and differences thereof: as also the way to get and keepe good conscience.
Cambridge: printed by John Legate, 1596Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legate, 1596
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
As for the Gospel, I take it for that part of the word of God which promiseth righteousness 1and life everlasting to all that believe in Christ, and withal commandeth this faith.
As for the Gospel, I take it for that part of the word of God which promiseth righteousnesse 1and life euerlasting to all that beleeue in Christ, and withall commandeth this faith.
- 1§7. Of the Gospel binding.§7. Of the Gospell binding.
That we may the better know, how the gospel binds conscience, two points must be considered: one touching the persons bound, the other touching the manner of binding.
That we may the better know, how the gospell binds conscience, two points must be considered: one touching the persons bound, the other touching the manner of binding.
Persons are of two sorts; some be called, some be uncalled. Persons called are all such to whom God in mercy hath offered the means of salvation, and hath revealed the doctrine of the gospel in some measure more or less by means either ordinary or extraordinary. All such I think are straightly bound in conscience to believe and obey the Gospel. For that word of God, whereby men shall be judged in the ⟨p. 23⟩day of judgement, must first of all bind their consciences in this life, considering absolution and condemnation is according to that which is done in this life: but by the Gospel, all men that have been called, shall be judged as Paul saith, Roman. 2. 16. God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel. And our Saviour Christ sayeth, He that believeth hath life everlasting, he which believeth not is already condemned. It remains therefore, that the gospel binds the consciences of such men in this life. By this we are all put in mind not to content our selves with this, that we have a liking to the Gospel, and do believe it to be true (though many protestants in those our days think it sufficient oth in life and death, if they hold that they are to be saved by faith alone in Christ without the merit of mans works) but we must go yet further, and enter into a practise of the doctrine of the Gospel as well as of the precepts of the moral law; knowing that the gospel doeth as well bind conscience as the law, and if it be not obeyed will as well condemn.