21. We also said, that the laws of nature had regard chiefly unto conscience; that is, that he is just, who by all possible endeavour strives to fulfil them. And although a man should order all his actions so much as belongs to external obedience just as the law commands, but not for the law’s sake, but by reason of some punishment annexed unto it, or out of vain glory; yet he is unjust. Both these are proved by the Holy Scriptures. The first (Isaiah lv. 7): _Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon._ Ezek. xviii. 31: _Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby you have transgressed, and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will you die, O House of Israel?_ By which, and the like places, we may sufficiently understand that God will not punish their deeds whose heart is right. The second, out of Isaiah xxix. 13, 14: _The Lord said, forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their hearts far from me, therefore I will proceed_, &c. Matth. v. 20: _Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven._ And in the following verses, our Saviour explains to them how that the commands of God are broken, not by deeds only, but also by the will. For the Scribes and Pharisees did in outward act observe the law most exactly, but for glory’s sake only; else they would as readily have broken it. There are innumerable places of Scripture in which is most manifestly declared, that God accepts the will for the deed, and that as well in good as in evil actions. [Sidenote: Also that the laws of nature are easily observed.] 22. That the law of nature is easily kept, Christ himself declares (Matth. xi. 28, 29, 30): _Come unto me_, &c. _Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me_, &c.; _for my yoke is easy, and my burden light_. [Sidenote: Lastly, in respect of the rule by which a man may presently know, whether what he is about to act be against the law of nature, or not.] 23. Lastly, the rule by which I said any man might know, whether what he was doing were contrary to the law or not, to wit, what thou wouldst not be done to, do not that to another; is almost in the self-same words delivered by our Saviour (Matth. vii. 12): _Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do you even so to them._ [Sidenote: The law of Christ is the law of nature.]