A37046:246
The law unsealed
The law unsealed: or, A practical exposition of the Ten Commandments With a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience. By the learned, laborious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. James Durham, late minister of the Gospel at Glasgow.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1676
AN EXPOSITION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, Delivered in several LECTURES. › Commandment 1
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.
2. They may be guilty of less or more ignorance, in respect of the degree; so some men are absolutely ignorant, others are doubtful only, and not confirmed in the knowledge of the truths of God, who yet have not contrary impressions of these things, as others have.
3. There are divers kinds of ignorance in men, some are guilty of wilful ignorance, some are negligent, and some (even the best) are labouring under the remainder of natural blindness, who yet are not negligent.
If it be asked whether ignorance can excuse a man, and how far it excuseth. Ans. 1. There is no ignorance (properly so called) that excuseth wholly, pro toto, it being of it self sinful, and men being obliged to know what is sin, and what not; neither can ever men do that out of Faith▪ which they do in ignorance, and know not if it be in it self sinful or lawful: this is to be understood in respect of ignorantia Juris, non facti, of the ignorance of the Law, and not of the ignorance of the Fact, (as they call it;) for men may sometimes be ignorant of this, and yet be Innocent; as when one is cutting with an Axe, and it falleth off the Helve, &c. but in respect of the Law, there is no invincible ignorance that can excuse any for their not knowing Gods mind, because they are obliged to know it.
If it be asked whether ignorance can excuse a man, and how far it excuseth. Ans. 1. There is no ignorance (properly so called) that excuseth wholly, pro toto, it being of it self sinful, and men being obliged to know what is sin, and what not; neither can ever men do that out of Faith▪ which they do in ignorance, and know not if it be in it self sinful or lawful: this is to be understood in respect of ignorantia Juris, non facti, of the ignorance of the Law, and not of the ignorance of the Fact, (as they call it;) for men may sometimes be ignorant of this, and yet be Innocent; as when one is cutting with an Axe, and it falleth off the Helve, &c. but in respect of the Law, there is no invinciable ignorance that can excuse any for their not knowing Gods mind, because they are obliged to know it.