The Souls Looking Glass, Treatise · Part 16
Uſes.
Uſe 1.1. This confuteth the Anabaptiſts, who denie that any obedience is to be given to the ſecular power. Ye ſee here that the laws of Magiſtrates have Gods ſeal upon them; and therefore we muſt yield obedience unto them: for they bind in conſcience. Again, this confuteth the Papiſts, who teach that their Popes laws and commandments are of ſupreme authoritie, and require equall ſubmiſſion of ſpirit with Gods laws: and alſo that the omiſſion of them is death and damnation. Our doctrine and religion goeth between both: For we teach that Gods authoritie is onelyonly ſupreme, and that he onelyonly can make laws under pain of death and damnation; and that the authoritie of Magiſtrates is ſecondarie, and ſecondarie obedience is to be given unto them. The Papiſts ſpeak blaſphemie in ſaying their Pope can make laws under pain of damnation to be kept: Our Saviour Chriſt maketh this a propertie onelyonly of God; Fear not him that can kill the bodie, and there is all that he can do: but fear him who can caſt both bodie and ſoul into hell: I ſay unto you, Fear him, Luke 12.4. As if he had ſaid, Men can reach no further then the bodie, and their puniſhments can go no further then the death of the bodie.
2.Uſe 2. This teacheth us what to do if men ſhould command any thing which is unlawfull for us to perform: (Suppoſe there ſhould be any ſuch humane commands as are repugnant to Gods.) In this caſe ye ſee we muſt obey God rather then men; nay, ſuffer loſſe of goods, loſſe of libertie, yea loſſe of life, rather then obey the commandments of men in caſe they be contrarie to the commandments of God. Ye may reade a lamentable example in Ephraim; They were utterly deſtroyed for obeying their King rather then their God: The King commanded to worſhip the calves, and to go unto Bethel and not to Jeruſalem to worſhip: they yielded to his commandment, and did ſo; O thought they, We ſhall diſpleaſe the King if we do not. For this ſinne of theirs they were broken in judgement, Hoſ. 5.11. Ephraim is destroyed and broken in judgement, becauſe he willingly walked after the commandment. Beloved, Gods commandment is ſovereigne, and the ſupreme binder of conſcience: Whatever commandment is repugnant to Gods word, wo to us if we do it; nay, though it be to ſave our goods or our lives. It is true, we muſt give to Ceſar the things that are Ceſars; but ſo as withall we muſt be ſure to give to God the things that are Gods.
Uſe. 3.3. This comforteth Gods people againſt the calumnies and ſlanders of wicked and ungodly men that upbraid them for their obedience to God. O ſay they, Ye are irregular and deſpiſers of authoritie. I ſay, this is comfort to the godly, that God is able to bear them out in obeying him rather then men. Gods word is the ſupreme binder of conſcience; and therefore, whatever men think of ſuch, they are abſolutely bound to obey God. If men command us againſt the word of God, we know their authoritie is the ordinance of God; and therefore if they go beyond that, they do not bind us in conſcience. If God had not bound us in conſcience to him, others might have taken it ill if we ſhould not obey them: but now what cauſe have others to think ill of us? What folly were it in us to ſeek to pleaſe men and to diſpleaſe God? If we were at libertie, then we might chooſe whom we would obey: but now we are bound unto God, and muſt be obedient unto God, whatever men command to the contrarie, let us do it therefore with chearfulneſſe. By this we ſhew our ſubmiſſion to God; by this we ſatisfie conſcience, which being bound unto God doth continually urge us to obey him. Why ſhould we omit part of the exactneſſe of our obedience which the word of God doth require? We have more to do then ever we ſhall be able to perform: we ſhould therefore be carefull to do all that we may. By our obedience to God in this kind we convince the conſcience of others of our uprightneſſe towards God: Though through the overruling dominion of their luſts and paſſions they rage at us, and their mouthes ſpeak evil of us, yet we may have an evidence in their conſciences within which may teſtifie for us: their conſciences will whiſper within them, Surely they do well to pleaſe God rather then men: their conſciences will be on our ſide, though their actions and tongues be againſt us. We have a notable example of this Acts 4.15, 16. When the rulers of the Jews had threatned the Apoſtles, and had reviled them with many bitter words, and had bidden them go aſide for a while, then they concluded among themſelves, Surely an evident ſigne is done by them, and we cannot deny it: So that their conſciences acquitted them for good men. So when the wicked of this world have ſpoken evil of the wayes of the righteous, and blaſphemed the holy name after which they are named: yet when they are alone, and their conſciences at counſel within themſelves, then they conclude, Indeed they do well. Thus their conſciences give a good evidence of us, and accuſe them for not doing the like. And thus much ſhall ſuffice to be ſpoken of other mens binding of conſcience.