Verf 5,6. the Epiftle to the Romans. agreeable to divine Lawes. Secondly, if mens Lawes fhould pro - perly binde (as they be mans) then the Midwives difobeying Pharaoh, Exod. a. and the three Hebrews difobeying 2Ybu- cbadnezzar about falling down to the Image,Dan.3.had finned again& confci- ence:whereas their example is in Scrip- the confcience in any ref ell?Or if they do,how, tute commended for our imitation. Alfo or in what refpe 3s ? thcn,Pettr,ames and John,had not given S it L. Yea, we are in confcience a found anfwer unto the Rulers, forbid- ¡ bound to obey humane Lawes, or elfe ding them to preach, Paying, It is better I we runne into the offence of God, and to obey God then men. ' fo offend our confcience. This is the Thirdly, both the MIniffers and the very meaning of our Text : for if we people of Chrill, fhould be equally muff obey for confcience fake, then Ru- bound to fiudy humane Lawes , as lers and Lawes doe in Come fort binde divine, which were an abfurd thing our confcience. Again, this Comman- alfo then humane Lawes (hould be as dement [be fubjebi unto higher powers, ] perfe& as divine, whereunto as nothing is to be added, fo nothing is to be taken therefrom. - Laftly, there being no tribunal! feat, Paving that of God in heaven, higher and greater then that Tribunall which is common honefly, equity, reafon, and religion.For further explanation of this point,obfcrve that the Law of civil' Ma- gifirates, doth forbid and require fame- times the Idle -fame thing that Gods Law doth forbid and requre; as Ufu- ry,drunkenneffe,perjury, theft, murder: tolerable pride of that man of finne, the and then we obey not in refpe& of Pope of Linn, challenging to himfelfe men, but for divine precept fake, the that which is peculiar unto God, even a things commended being fuch as we Soveraigne male over the confcience, cannot but imbrace, unleffe we would which he will have as much obliged wound our confcience : but ifthe things unto his Ecciefiafticail Lawes, as unto Gods morall precepts; fo as men (hall finne mortally, and become worthy of eternal! death,fthey breake any Papali conflitution,even therefore becaufe they be his conflitutions. Thies Pererius the Jefuite affirmes: but Bellarmine in his as God; and to lift up himleife above all that is ca!lid God? For the confcience is Gods Temple, and fubje& unto none but to God, according to that, Give unto God the things that are Gods , Matth. 22. T r M. But do not the Lawes of man binde cannot be broken with a good confer.- ence. Therefore we are in confcience bound to do fuch things as are enjoyned us by Rulers, with this condition, that the thing enjoyned be not contrary to letup in our confcience on earth : If the Law of man (as it is of man) could bind the Confcience,then it would ¡follow, that inferiour power might prefcribe and over -rule the fuperiour. Theme things ferve to difcover the in- enjoyned, beindifferent,otamiddle na- ture, neither prohibited by Gods Law, nor exa&ed, yet then we are to obey in confcience, not of the things them- felves, but firft of the generali precept; Honour the ICirg, Submit your felves to Principalities, Be fubjea to powers, &e. Chapter de Penti fste goeth yet further : Secondly, in refpe& of the end which that if the Pope fhould commend for the Ruler propounds unto Ifimfelfe,and vertues fuch things as are vices, men areas much bound inconfcience to obey them, as if they were lawfull things commanded of God : and no marvaile, that is externall peace, order, comeli -. neffe, honefly, which being morally good thì.ngs,we are therefore in confci- ence bound not to violate them.Third- feeing they afcribe unto the Pope our- ly, in regard of certaine accidents which nipotency, and acknowledge him to be doe accompany the breach of humane a God. But what is this, but to fulfill Lawes, as difloyalty, contempt of Rn- the prophefie of Antichrift by S. Paul, 1ers, fcandali to our neighbours; which 2 7hef. 2. 2.70 fit in the Temple of God, being things morally evil], therefore when 549 Doubt. Solution.
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