15 Which show the effect of the law. &c. That is to say, they testify that there is graven in their hearts a certain discretion and judgement, whereby they discern between right and wrong, honest and unhonest. For he meaneth not that it was printed in their will that they should covet, and studiously seek after it: but because they were so overcome of the virtue of trueth that they could not, but needs they must approve it. For why should they institute religions, but because they judge that God is to be worshipped? why should they be ashamed of adultery and theft, but that they think them both evil? unadvisedly therefore is the power of our will drawn out of this place:1 as though Paul should say, the observation of the law were subject to our power: seeing he speaketh not of the power of fulfilling the Law, but of knowledge. Neither is this word heart taken for the seat of the affections, but for the intellect only, or understanding: as Deut. The Lord hath not given thee a heart to understand. Also in an other place,2 O foolish men and slow of heart to believe. Furthermore,3 neither is it hereby to be gathered, that there is in men a full knowledge of the Law,4 but only that there are certain seeds of justice abiding in their wit: such as these be, that all Gentiles in differently institute religions, by laws punish adultery, thefts, and murder: that they commend a good faith in bargains and contracts. For so they declare how they are not ignorant that God is to be worshipped: adultery, theft, and murder, are evil: and honesty is commendable. Neither is it material what kind of god they imagine to be, or how many gods they make: it is sufficient that they understand there is a God, and that the same is to be honoured and worshipped. It forceth not whether they permit the concupiscence of another mans wife and possession, or any other thing: whether they can ⟨p. 25⟩bridle the affections of wrath and hatred: For that which they knew was evil for them to do, the same was not lawful for them to covet. Their own conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts. &c. He could not have urged them more straitly then with the testimony of their own conscience, which is in stead of a thousand witnesses. By the conscience of good deeds men support and comfort themselves:
15 Which shewe the effect of the lawe. &c. That is to say, they testifie that there is grauen in their heartes a certaine discretion and iudgement, whereby they discerne betweene right and wrong, honest and vnhonest. For hee meaneth not that it was printed in their will that they shoulde couette, and studiously seeke after it: but because they were so ouercome of the vertue of trueth that they coulde not, but needes they must approue it. For why should they institute religions, but because they iudge that God is to bee worshipped? why shoulde they bee ashamed of adulterie and theft, but that they thinke them both euill? vnaduisedly therefore is the power of our will drawen out of this place:1 as though Paule shoulde say, the obseruation of the lawe were subiect to our power: seeing hee speaketh not of the power of fulfilling the Lawe, but of knowledge. Neither is this woorde heart taken for the seate of the affections, but for the intellect onely, or vnderstanding: as Deut. The Lorde hath not giuen thee a heart to vnderstande. Also in an other place,2 O foolishe men and slowe of heart to beleeue. Furthermore,3 neither is it hereby to be gathered, that there is in men a full knowledge of the Lawe,4 but onely that there are certaine seedes of iustice abiding in their witte: such as these bee, that all Gentiles in differently institute religions, by lawes punish adulterie, theftes, and murder: that they commende a good faith in bargaines and contractes. For so they declare howe they are not ignoraunt that God is to be worshipped: adulterie, theft, and murder, are euill: and honestie is commendable. Neither is it meteriall what kind of god they imagine to be, or how many gods they make: it is sufficient that they vnderstande there is a God, and that the same is to be honoured and worshipped. It forceth not whether they permitte the concupiscence of another mans wife and possession, or any other thing: whether they can ⟨p. 25⟩bridle the affections of wrath and hatred: For that whiche they knewe was euill for them to doe, the same was not lawfull for them to couette. Their owne conscience bearing witnesse, and their thoughtes. &c. Hee coulde not haue vrged them more straitly then with the testimonie of their owne conscience, which is in steede of a thousande witnesses. By the conscience of good deeds men support and comfort themselues:
- 1Paul speaketh not of the keeping but of the knowledge of the law. Heart, for the intellect or understanding.Paul speaketh not of the keeping but of the knowledge of the lawe. Hearte, for the intelect or vnderstanding.
- 2Deut. 29.4.
- 3Luk. 24.25.
- 4Imperfect knowledge in the Gentiles.
