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Conscience is to be obeyed even against the Commandment of our
Superiors
RULE VII.
An abused Conscience ought to be reformed by the Will, and con-
trary Reason
RULE VIII.
The Error of a Conscience is not always to be opened to the erring
Of two Opinions equally probable, one may be safer....
RULE IV.
An Opinion speculatively probable, is not always practically the same
72
RULE V.
The greater Probability destroys the less
75
RULE VI.
When two Opinions seem equally probable, the last Determination
is to be made by collateral Inducements...
It is not lawful to change our practical Sentence, while the same Pro-
bability remains ...
80
84
A Probability is not to be followed, except in great Necessity...... 87
RULE IX.
Multitude of Authors is not ever the most probable Inducement...
90
RULE X.
In following the Authority of Men, the Choice is wholly to be con-
ducted by Prudence
100
RULE XI.
A probable Opinion may be lawfully deposed, upon Confidence of the
Sentence of another
PAGE
109
RULE XII.
He that inquires of several Doctors until he find one answering accord-
ing to his Mind, cannot by that Inquiry make his Conscience safe 113
RULE XIII.
A Man may sometimes answer against his own Opinion
RULE XIV.
The Guide of Souls may sometimes proceed according to the Con-
science of the Penitent
115
RULE XV.
The probable Sentence of a prudent Man, is more than a probable
Warranty to Actions otherwise undeterminable
CHAP. V.
OF A DOUBTFUL CONSCIENCE.
RULE I.
A doubtful Conscience defined...
RULE II.
117
... 118
A negative Doubt binds only to Caution and Observance..
RULE III.
A privative Doubt cannot obstruct a prudent Inducement.
In Doubts of Right, or Law, we are always bound to inquire; but in Doubts of Fact not always.
In Doubts the safer Part is to be chosen
The Conscience may act against a speculative Doubt
Every Judgment of the Conscience is sufficient for the Deposition of a Doubt.
120
123
124.
127
133
138
Of two contrary Precepts, the more binding is preferable
140
A Conscience sufficiently instructed by proper Arguments, may pro-
ceed to Action against the Scruple
....
172
177
He that is troubled with Scruples, ought to rely upon the Judgment
of a prudent Guide
When a Doubt is resolved in the Entrance of an Action, we must
judge of our Action by the same Measures as before....
Remedies of a scrupulous Conscience
180
ibid.
182
BOOK II.
CHAP. I.
OF THE LAW OF NATURE IN GENERAL.
The Law of Nature defined
The Law of Nature is the Foundation of all Laws, and the Measure
of their Obligation
191
228
The greatest Band of the Law of Nature is Fear of Punishment... 230
'The second Band of Virtue is Love
236
The Imperfection of civil Laws is supplied by natural Obligation... 241
Criterion of Sins against the Laws of Nature...
Actions forbidden by the Law of Nature are not only unlawful but
also void...
252
255
An Act forbidden by the Law of Nature for the Turpitude of the
Action, is also void, when the Turpitude remains....
259
The Law of Nature can be dispensed with, by the Divine Power... 260
The Law of Nature cannot be dispensed with, by any human Power 270
That the Obligation to a natural Law does cease in any Particular, is
to be declared by the public Voice
The Exactness of natural Laws may be allayed by Equity
277
CHAP. II.
OF THE LAW OF NATURE, OR OF ALL MANKIND, AS IT IS COMMANDEd,
DIGESTED, AND FERFECTED, BY OUR SUPREME LAWGIVER, JESUS
CHRIST, VIZ. OF THE CHRISTIAN LAW, THE GREAT RULE OF CON-
SCIENCE.
The Law of Jesus Christ is more obligatory than the Old Testament 281
350
The Ten Commandments of Moses are not a perfect Digest of the
Law of Nature
Explications of the Moral Law, found in the Old Testament, are Parts
of the Moral Law.
357
Every Thing in the Decalogue is not obligatory to Christians...... 360
There is no State of Men or Things, but is to be guided by the Pro-
portion of some Rule or Precept in the Christian Law
439
CHAP. III.
OF THE INTERPRETATION AND OBLIGATION OF THE LAWS OF
JESUS CHRIST.
In negative Precepts the Affirmatives are commanded; and in the
affirmative Commandments, the Negatives are included..
When a Negative and an Affirmative seem opposite in any Sense, the
Affirmative is to be expounded by the Negative, not the Negative
by the Affirmative....
In the affirmative and negative Precepts of Christ, not only what is
in the Words of the Commandment, but whatsoever is symbolical
or alike, is equally forbidden or commanded..
When any Thing is forbidden by the Laws of Jesus Christ, all those
Things are forbidden also which follow from that forbidden Action,
and for whose Sake it was forbidden
465
475
477
485
The Laws of Jesus Christ are the Measures of the Spirit, and are
always to be extended to a spiritual Signification...
489