./1 treatife of Confcience. i 53 day, there is righteoufoefle for thee to day ; if unworthy to morrow, there is righteouiñeiíe for thee to morrow ; if un- worthy for ever. This is Gods word, and thy portion; this bindeth thy conscience to lay hold on it. Bata J have abun- dantly finned : What faith C hrifls word ? J will abundantly pardon. O what comfort is this to every ponte ioul which the Lord Jesus bath humbled ? His word is the fupreme binder of conscience, above the law, above juftice, above threat ings, above all the world betides. His promifing word is the fu- preme binder of thy confcience, if thou beef} one of Chrifls : And therefore fear not; onely believe, and be thankfull, and give glory to God. This is the childrens bread ; no (hanger can intermeddle with it. The fecondary band of confcience. YE have heard that the bonds of confcience are of two forts : j Full; there is a fu reme bond of conscience, and that is Gods word : of which J have already fpoken. Secondly, there is a relative bond of conscience, which bindeth confcience, in- deed, but it isonely in relation to Gods word, becaule Gods word putteth authority upon it. And this latter is allo of two forts : t . Others may bind confcience ; 2. We our felves may bind our own coníciences. I. Others may bind our confcience.. a. Others may bind our coníciences, namely, when they have authority conferred upon them from God, and fo their laws and commands receive vigour and force from Gods laws. Thus the laws and commands of Magrftrates bind the confci- ence of 1 eople ; of Parents hind the concience of Children ; of Mailers bind the confè.rence of Servants : For though they do not bind conkience as they are the commandments of men, yet having Goes feal and author ity upon them they do. J willfet down force conclufions whereby ye may know how farce the laws and commandments of others bind or not bind confcience. H h a t . Cànclufsan
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