Defense of the Synod of Dort, Chapter 2 · Defense 6 – Adversary 7
DEFENCE.
THis errour in the latter part of their speech, must the more carefully be observed, and cleerly refuted by us, because it is laid down as the ground of divers other errours, and the same not small, as will appear hereafter. Neither needs there in truth more, nor can there be any thing more cleere against them, then that which themselvs bring from Rom. 2, their words are; The law is written in the hearts of men in nature, Pag. 4….who hauehave a conscience to excuse them, if they doe the things of the Law, &c. This form of speech, used by the Apostle of the Law, as written in mens hearts, is borrowed from Gods writing the Law in tables of stone, which had first, and by creation, been written in mens hearts, out of which it was almost quite blotted by sin. Now what is it for the Gentiles, to hauehave had the Law written in their hearts, in or by nature, as the Apostle speaks? This must needs be in nature created: for in nature, as corrupted, there is no writing in, but blotting out of the Law. If by nature created, then as infants hauehave this nature, so hauehave they this naturall manuscript, or writing of Gods hand. This also the very word nature imports, signifying that which is born with a man, or with which hee is born; comming of a word in Greek that signifies to beget, or produce, as parents doe children, and each living creature its kind: And seeing the Apostle here speaks of a Law by which men discern the differences between right and wrong; good and evill; honest and dishonest, in morall and main matters; whence, and with what hand, should all, and every man and woman living in the world, even there where is no Law otherwise written or preached, hauehave this law and conscience thus written in their breasts, saue by the finger of God in creation? This knowledg and conscience being the remainders of that image of God, in which all men, in Adam were made. By all which it appears evidently, that infants bring into the world with them this law of nature, and those foot-steps of Gods image in their reasonable soules; who having in them the faculties of understanding and will, cannot possible be devoyd of all law for the ordering of the same; to wh…ch …aw, they are necessarily either disposed, or indispos…d▪ … it …not be, that the reasonable faculties of understanding and …ll, … any of mankind, should be voyd of all vertuous, or vitious …sposition, and inclination at least, to the things of the law of nature, that is of God, the effects whereof they sh…w forth actually in their time. And this truth themselues, elsewherePag. 117. confirm undenyably, though they think it not; where they say, that Adams posterity (originally, for of that state they there speak) hauehave weak natures, by the which when the commandement comes, they cannot obey. This originall weakness then, is a contrary disposition to the Law of God, and to that which they were created: else it could not hinder them from obeying God actually afterward; at least, internally, and in their hearts. Surely nothing but the Law of sin is contrary to the Law of God, warring against it, and against the law of the mind Rom. 7. 22. 23. 25.agreeing with it, as the Apostle speaketh.
Neither follows it, that Infants hauehave no Law, because they hauehave not peace or warre of conscience in them; nor can discern of earthly or heavenly things. The shewing the workes of the Law, and doing the things contained in the Law, and so the having a conscience excusing or accusing for the contrary, as the Apostle speaks, are not simply requisite for the having of the Law, nor for being conformable to it, but for the actuall obedience therunto, in particular actions. Persons are in three respects conformable to the law of God; first, in habite, and so a godly man is a godly man, and conformable to Gods law when hee sleepeth; secondly, in disposition or inclination, and so infants considered, either in state of creation, or regeneration, are conformable thereunto; thirdly, in performance of particular acts of obedience, by men of discretion, for which the conscience excuseth and accuseth for the contrary. As well may these men deny, that infants are reasonable creatures, as that they are lawlesse. They can perform the works of neither; but hauehave the faculties and dispositions of, and to both, which in time, and in their effects they manifest.
ADVERSARIES.
IN the next places follows their promised proofs, that ChristPag. 50. 51▪ 52. &c. hath been, and still is offered to all that hauehave sinned, and that they hauehave put him away, and that the fault is their own, and condemnation from themselvs; and Good freed from partiality.