Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the moral law and the covenants, from the…Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the morall law and the covenants, from the…

Thus was the Moral Law written in his heart: and what the command is for direction, that he was for conversation. And howsoever the Socinians deny this law written in his heart, yet acknowledging he had a conscience, which had dictates of that which was good and righteous, it amounts almost to as much. ⟨p. 118⟩Non is it any matter, though we read not of any such outward law given to him: nor is it necessary to make such a Question, Whether the breach of the Moral Law would have undone Adam and his posterity, as well as the transgression of the positive law. For all must necessarily think, that the Moral Law implanted in his heart, and obedience thereunto, was the greatest part of Adams happiness and holiness. Although we told you, disobedience unto that positive precept, which was only for trial, might in some sense be judged more heinous, then disobedience to the Moral Law.

Thus was the Morall Law written in his heart: and what the command is for direction, that he was for conversation. And howsoever the Socinians deny this law written in his heart, yet acknowledging he had a conscience, which had dictates of that which was good and righteous, it amounts almost to as much. ⟨p. 118⟩Non is it any matter, though we reade not of any such outward law given to him: nor is it necessary to make such a Question, Whether the breach of the Morall Law would have undone Adam and his posterity, as well as the transgression of the positive law. For all must necessarily think, that the Morall Law implanted in his heart, and obedience thereunto, was the greatest part of Adams happinesse and holinesse. Although we told you, disobedience unto that positive precept, which was onely for tryall, might in some sense be judged more hainous, then disobedience to the Morall Law.

In the next place, the image of God did consist in a freedom from ¹all fear of misery and danger, even proportionably as God is without fear: And this happiness is the consequent of his holiness. And if it be true of the image of God repaired in us, that it is to make us serve him without fear all, the days of our life, how much more must it be verified of Adam in that estate? And if you demand how Adam could be without fear, seeing he knew he might fall, and so become miserable: the Answer is to be taken from that state wherein he was created; having no guilt within him, he could have no fear: Even as some learned men say, the godly shall remember their sins in heaven, yet without shame and sorrow, because that glorified nature is not capable of it. And this is a reason why Eve was not a friend of the Serpent, thought it was used by the devil to speak.