f tyeatZfe ofCon fcience, day, there is righteoufneffe for thee to day ; if unworthy to- morrow, there is righteoufnefle for thee to morrow ; if un- worthy for ever. This is Gods word, and thy portion this bindeth thy confcience to lay hold on it. .But J have abun- dantly finned : What faithChriHs word ? , will abundantly pardon. O what comfort is this to every poore foul which the Lord Jeius bath humbled ? His word is the fùpreme binder of confcience, above the law, above juflice, above threatnings, above all the world betides. His promifing word is the fìi- premebinder of thy ccnícience, if thou bend one of (shrifts : And therefore fear not; onely believe, and be thankful', and give glory. to God. This is the chiidrens bread ; no ftranger can intermeddle with it. 3 Thefecondary bondofconfcience. YE have heard that the bonds of confcience are of two forts : Firff, there is a fu;'reme bond ofconícience, and that is Gods word : of which J have already (poke.,. Secondly, there is a relative bond of confcience., which bindeth cor.icience, in- deed, but it is onely in relation to Gods word, becaufë Gods word putteth authorityupon it. And this latter i:4 allo of two forts : t . Others may bind confcience ; z. We our laves may bindour own confciences. I. Othersmay bind our eonfciences. i. Others may bind our confciences, namely, when they have authority conferred upon them from God, and to their laws and commands receive vigour and force fromGods laws. Thus the laws and commands of Magtflrates bind the confci- ence of People ; of Parents bind the confcience of Children ; of Matters bind the confcience of Servants : For though they do not bind confcience as they are the commandments ofrncn. yet having Gods Leal and authority upon them they do. J will fet down forte conclufions v, hereby ye mayknow how farre the laws and commandmentsof others bind or not bind confcience. Hh t . Conclufon
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