CHAP. IX.
That the lawfullnesse of the Ceremonies, can not be warranted by the Law of Nature.
WHat our Opposites have alledged for the Ceremonies, ei∣ther from the Law of God, or the Law of man, we have [Sect. I] hitherto answered. But we heard u the Law of Nature also alledged for Holy dayes, and for kneeling at the Communion. And when x Hooker goeth about to commend and defend such visible signes, which being used in performance of holy actions, are undoubtedly most effectuall to open such matter, as men when they know and remember carefully, must needs be a great deale the better informed to what effect such duties serve: He subjoyneth: We must not thinke, but that there some ground of rea∣son even in Nature, &c. This is a smoake to blind the eyes of the unlearned. Our Opposites have taken no paines nor travell to make us see any deduction of those Ceremonies, from the Law of Na∣ture: We desire proofs, not words. In the meane while, for gi∣ving further evidence to the Trueth, we will expresse our owne minde, touching things warranted by the Law of Nature.
And first we must understand aright, what is meant by the Law of Nature. To wit, that Law y which God writteth and imprinteth [Sect. II] in the Nature of man, so that it is as it were connaturall and borne togither with man. Now if wee consider, what Law was written in the nature of man in his first creation, it was no z other then the Decalogue or the Morall Law. But the Law which we are here to enquire of, is that Law, which after the Fall, God still writteth in the heart of every man: which (we all know) commeth farre short, & wanteth much of that which was written in the heart of man before his fall. That we may understand, what this Law of Nature is, which is written in all mens hearts, since the Fall, we must distin∣guish jus naturale from jus Divinum naturale. For that Law which is simply called jus naturale is innatum, and layeth before the minds of men, that way, wherein a by the guidance and conduct of nature,