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

Arg. 1. He that makes a law binding conscience to mortal sin, hath power, if not to save yet to destroy: because by sin, which follows upon the transgression of his law, comes death & damnation: But God is the only lawgiver that hath this privilege, which is, after he hath given his law, upon the breaking or keeping thereof, to save or destroy. Jam 4. 12. There is one lawgiver that can save or destroy. Therefore God alone makes laws ⟨p. 55⟩•inding conscience properly, & no creature can do the like. Answer is made that S. James speaks of the principal law-giver, that by his own proper authority makes laws, & doth in such manner save & destroy, that he need not fear to be destroyed of any: & that he speaks not of secondary lawgivers that are deputies of god & make laws in his name. I say again that this answer stands not with the text. For S. James speaks simply without distinction, limitation, or exception: & the effect of his reason is this. No man at all must slander his brother, because no man must be judge of the law: & no man can be judge of the law, because no man can be a law-giver to save and destroy. Now then where be those persons that shall make laws to the souls of men, & bind them unto punishment of mortal sin; considering God alone is the saving & destroying lawgiver.

Arg. 1. He that makes a law binding consciēce to mortal sinne, hath power, if not to saue yet to destroy: because by sin, which follows upon the transgressiō of his law, comes death & dānation: But God is the only lawgiuer that hath this priuiledge, which is, after he hath giuē his law, vpō the breaking or keeping thereof, to save or destroy. Iam 4. 12. There is one lawgiuer that can saue or destroy. Therfore God alone makes laws ⟨p. 55⟩•inding cōscience properly, & no creature cā do the like. Answer is made that S. Iames speaks of the principall law-giuer, that by his own proper authority makes lawes, & doth in such manner saue & destroy, that he need not feare to be destroied of any: & that he speaks not of secondary lawgiuers that are deputies of god & make laws in his name. I say again that this answer stāds not with the text. For S. Iames speakes simply without distinctiō, limitatiō, or exceptiō: & the effect of his reason is this. No mā at all must slander his brother, because no man must be iudge of the law: & no man can be iudge of the law, because no man can be a law-giuer to saue and destroy. Now then where be those persons that shall make lawes to the soules of men, & binde them unto punishment of mortall sinne; considering God alone is the sauing & destroying lawgiuer.