howsoever that be much disputed upon, Why God would have the beast killed that killed a man; yet, to omit the thoughts of many about it, that was not because a beast could be tyed by a law: but God, to shew the horridnesse of the fact, would have the very instrument punished.
2. Some bound it by the custome of Nations, that is, jus Gentium; but that is so diversified, that a sin with some was a vertue with others.
3. Some doe bind it by reason in every man: but this is very un∣certaine, and one mans reason is contrary to anothers, and one mans conscience is larger then anothers; even as it is with mea∣sures in divers countries, though they have the same name, as a bushell, &c. yet they are different in quantity, one is larger then another.
Lastly, Others bound it by the will of God, declared and manifested first to Noah in seven precepts, and afterwards to Moses in the ten Commandements: but these extend the law of Nature not onely to first principles, but conclusions also deduced from thence.
5. The obligation of it, when the law of Nature doth bind: And that is from God the authour of it, God onely is under no law. Every beleever, though justified by Christ, is under the Morall Law of Moses, as also the law of Nature: but now this law of Nature doth not so properly bind, as it's mans reason or con∣science, as that it is the Vicegerent of God, or a command from him: and thus Cain by the law of Nature found a tye upon him not to sin, and guilt because he did sin in murdering his bro∣ther, although there was no Morall Law as yet given. It is true, indeed, our Divines doe well reprove the Papists, for calling all that time from Adam to Moses, a state, or law of Nature: and this the Papists doe, that therefore to offer sacrifice unto God may be proved from the law of Nature; whereas those sacrifices, being done in faith, had the word of God, otherwise we were bound still to offer Lambs or Kids to God, which they deny.
6. The perpetuity of this obligation. This Law can never be ab∣rogated. And herein we may demand of the Antinomian, Whe∣ther the law of Nature doe bind a beleever, or no? Whether he be bound to obey the dictates of his naturall conscience? Sup∣pose a beleever hath his naturall conscience dictating to him,