ight of the word to direct us, we walk in darkness and stumble, because
we see not where we go. They who would not be unwise, but walk
circumspectly, must understand what the will of Lord is, Eph. v. 17;
therefore, if we understand not what the will of the Lord is concerning
that which we do, we are unwise, and walk not circumspectly.

10. _Dona Dei in sanctis non sunt otiosa_.(943) Whatsoever grace God
giveth us, it ought to be used and exercised, and not to lie idle in us;
but God giveth us _actionem cognoscendi, {~GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER DELTA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER PHI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER RHO~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~} discernendi_,(944)
&c. a certain measure of the spirit of discretion, to teach us what to
choose as good, and what to refuse as evil, 1 John ii. 27, "The same
anointing teacheth you of all things;" 1 Cor. ii. 15, "He that is
spiritual judgeth all things." Therefore God would have us to exercise
that measure of the gift of discretion which he hath bestowed on us, in
discerning of things which are propounded to us, whether they ought to be
done or not.

11. Do not our divines plead for this judgment of private discretion which
ought to be permitted to Christians, when anything is propounded to be
believed or done by them? And this their judgment is to be seen in their
writings against Papists about the controversies _de interpretatione
Scripturae, de fide implicita_, &c.

12. The Bishop of Salisbury, in his prelections _de Judice
Controversiarum_, doth often and in many places commend unto Christians
the same judgment of discretion which we stand upon, and holdeth it
necessary for them to try and examine whatsoever either princes or
prelates command them to do. _Coactiva_, &c. "The coactive power of a
prince (saith he(945)), doth not absolutely bind the subject, but only
with this condition, except he would compel him to that which is unlawful.
Therefore there is ever left unto subjects a power of proving and judging
in their own mind, whether that which is propounded be ungodly and
unlawful or not; and if it be ungodly, that which the king threateneth
should be suffered, rather than that which he commandeth be done. This
Augustine hath taught," &c. And whereas it may be objected, that this