Laws of nature are more philosophical statements about regular happenings in the human world than actual laws. In the human world, for example, people fall in love and have relationships regularly, and people often fall in love with the so-called 'wrong' people. These kinds of difficult situations can be explained by a law of nature, but they may violate other kinds of laws that exist in the very same human world.

In The Scarlet Letter, for example, the conflict that exists between the Puritan law and the laws of nature is observable in the relationship between Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. They met and developed a connection that resulted in a baby girl, as many men and women do according to the laws of nature, but Puritan law prohibits their conceiving of a child, because Hester has no husband living with her. Because of this conflict between Puritan law and the laws of nature, Hester is convicted of a crime.

Nowadays, we have laws that protect citizens (against rape, murder, kidnapping, and the like), and people suspected of violating these laws will be brought forward before a court and sentenced as a judge and or jury sees fit.

However, the Puritans had extra "laws" against certain ways of dressing, certain ways of practicing Christianity, even how certain daily duties are addressed (for example, they weren't allowed to do ANY work on Sundays). And the Puritans would reinforce these laws by socially ostracizing and/or excommunicating those that did not adhere to these social and spiritual rules. They would also publicly punish or chastise those who would rebel against them.