The Theater of Gods Judgments, Book 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. How all men, both by the Law of God and Nature, are inexcusable in their sinnes.
NOw to the end that no man should pretend ignorance for an excuse, God hath bestowed upon every one a certaine knowledge and judgement of good and evill, which being naturally engraven in the tables of mans heart, is commonly called the Law of Nature, wherby every mans owne conscience giveth sufficient testimony unto it selfe, when in his most secret thoughts, it either accuseth or excuseth him: for there is not a man living, which doth not know in his heart, that he doth an evill deed, when he wrongeth another, although he had never been instructed elsewhere in that point. So, although that in Tarquinius Superbus time (Cicero saith) there was no written Law established in Rome, forbidding the ravishing and deflouring of wives and virgins, yet the wicked sonne of this Tarquine was not therefore lesse guilty of an hainous crime, when contrary to the Law of Nature he violently robbed Lucrece of her chastity: for no man can be ignorant, that it is a most grievous crime to lay siege to the chastity of a married woman, with such outrage: and so the whole people of Rome did esteeme of it, as a crime most wicked, strange, and intolerable, and worthy of grievous punishment. Every man knoweth thus much, that hee ought not to doe that to another, which he would not another should do to him: which sentence the Emperour Severus made alwaies to bee spoken aloud, and declared by the sound of the trumpet, in the way of advertisement, as often as punishment was taken upon any offendor, as if it were a generall Law pertaining to all men. This is that equity and justice which ought to be ingraffed in our hearts, & whereof nature her self is the schoolmistresse: from this fountaine all humane and civill Lawes are derived: if we had not rather say that they are derived from that true spring of equity, which is in the Law of God, which Law he hath given for a plaine and familiar manifestation of his will, concerning just, holy, and reasonable things, touching the service, honour, and glory, which is due unto himselfe, and the mutuall duty, friendship, and good will, which men owe one to another: whereunto he exhorteth and enticeth every one by faire and gracious promises, and forbiddeth the contrary by great and terrible threatnings (so gentle and mercifull is he towards us, and desirous of our good.) This is that Law which was published before the face of more than six hundred thousand persons, with the mighty and resounding noise of Trumpet, with earthquake, fire, and smoake, and with thunders and lightnings, to make men more attentive to heare; and more prepared to receive it with all humility, feare, and reverence; and also to put them in minde, that if they were disobedient and rebellious, he wanted no power and ability to punish them; for he hath lightning, thunder, and fire, prepared instruments to execute his just vengeance, which no creature under heaven is able to avoid, when by the obstinate transgression of wicked men he is provoked to anger and indignation against them. This is that holy law which hath been set forth by the Prophets; by the rule whereof, all their warnings, exhortings, and reproovings have been squared. To this Law, the onelyonly begotten Son of God, our Saviour and Redeemer Iesus Christ, conformed his most holy doctrine, bringing men to the true use and observation thereof, from which they had declined, and whereof he is the end, the scope, and perfect accomplishment: so that so farre it is that a Christian man may be ignorant of it, and have it in contempt, that none can be counted and reputed a true Christian, if hee frame not his life by the rule thereof; if not fully, yet at least as farre forth as hee is able: otherwise, what a shame and reproach is it for men to call themselves by the name of Gods children, Christians, and Catholiques, and yet to doe every thing clean contrary to the will of God, to make no reckoning of his Law, to lead a dissolute and disordered life, and to be as evill, if not worse than the vilest miscreants and Infidels in the world? God willeth and requireth that he alone should bee worshipped and prayed unto; and yet the greater part of the world are Idolaters, and full of superstition, worship Images, stockes, and stones, and pray to creatures, in stead of the Creator. God forbiddeth us to sweare by his name in vaine: and yet what is more rise than that? so that a man can heare nothing else but oaths and blasphemies. Many for the least trifle in the world sticke not to sweare and forsweare themselves. God forbiddeth theft, murther, adultery, and false witnesse bearing, and yet nothing so common as backbitings, slanders, forgeries, false reports, whoredomes, cousenings, robberies, extortions, and all manner of envies & enmities. God hath commanded, that we love our neighbours as our selves; but we, in stead of love, hate, despise, and seeke to procure the hurt and damage of one another, not regarding any thing but our owne peculiar profit and advantage. Is not this a manifest and profest disobedience, and intolerable rebellion against our Maker? What childe is there that is not bound to honour and reverence his father? What servant, that is not bound to obey his master, and to doe all that he shall will him? What subject, that is not tied in subjection to his Prince and Soveraigne? Yet there is not one which will not confesse, yea and sweare too with his mouth, That God is his Lord and Father. Which if it be true, what is then the cause that in stead of serving and pleasing him, they doe nothing else but displease and offend his Majesty? Is not this the way to provoke his wrath, and stirre up his indignation against them? Is it any marvell if he be incensed with anger, if hee be armed with revenge, and send abroad his cruell scourges upon the earth, to strike and whip it withall? Is it any wonder, if hee pile up the wicked ones on heaps, and shoot out his revengefull arrowes against them, and make them drunken with their owne bloud, and make his sword of justice as sharp as a rasor, to punish those Rebels that have rebelled against him? For vengeance is mine (saith he) and belongeth only unto me. Whosoever therefore he be that followeth the desires and concupiscence of his owne flesh, and this wicked world, and shall lead a life contrary to the instruction and ordinance of the law of God, yea although he never heard thereof, yet is hee guilty thereof, and worthy to be accursed; for so much as his owne conscience ought to serve for a law unto himselfe, by the which he is condemned in those evill actions which hee committeth: even as Paul saith, All that have sinned without the Law, shall likewise perish without the Law.Rom. 2. 12.