should not ordinarily fail of the effect either in clearing and confirming the truth or confuting the falshood of what our Conscience witnesseth Doth Conscience say They that have fellowship with God are in an happy state But we have fellowship with God Put her to the proof of the Assumption in a second practical Syllogism as thus They that have fellowship with God walk in the light i.e. live holily for God is light and in him is no darkness at all But we walk in the light i.e. live holy and uprightly This confirms Or on the other hand thus They that walk in darkness i.e. that are ignorant and disobedient have no fellowship with God But we wâ—lk in darkness This confuteth If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not the truth 1 Joh. 1.5 6 7. The Scriptures therefore do frequently offer to the application of Conscience both negative Marks and positive together that by the application of the former we may correct our mistakes and by the latter we may confirm our minds in what is assumed by Conscience as to our being in Christ and in a condition of Blessedness as Rom. 8.1 9 10 11. Psal 1.1 2. Ephes 4.20 25. And the Apostle thinks it fit to subjoyn sometimes to the testimony of his Conscience the reasons upon which that testimony was raised and from whence it resulted 2 Cor. 1.12 13. Rom. 9.1 2 3. 5. The crediting of Conscience its testimony therefore in such Propositions as are capable of further proof is not safe for us ordinarily without the calling in and considering of those proofs first had and made And it is of singular use in such a case to put Conscience afresh to the question before it comes to a Conclusive determination that such a testimony is of indubitable truth As There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ a Proposition of infallible verity But I am in Christ saith Conscience This Assumption should be again put to the question and requireth proof and confirmation as the Apostle seems to imply by adding so many Characteristical signs They that are in Christ walk not after the flesh but after the spirit are made free from the Law of sin and death i.e. from the prevailing and binding power thereof In such the body is dead because of sin and the spirit is life because of righteousness Can Conscience now again assume But this is our walk we are thus free our sins thus mortified and our spirits thus vivifyed to righteousness and holiness Or as elsewhere They that are in Christ are new Creatures Doth Conscience say we are new Creatures Press her to give you the proof of what she saith They that are new Creatures have old things past away all things are become new have put off the old man and put on the new And now attend whether Conscience can assume as in the presence of God All things are past away all things are become new in and to us c. Rom. 8.1 10. 2 Cor. 5.17 Ephes 4.22 24. 2 Let Conscience deliberate before she delivers in her Testimony Bethink thy self and bring this witness as they were their wickedness 1 King 8.47 back again to thine heart Consider your ways and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God David's haste did more than once disturb his peace and drew the Jews into a fools Paradise Hag. 1.5 7. Eccles 5.2 Psal 31.22 Isa 5.12 Hos 7.2 Know therefore this day and consider it in thine heart 1. To and before whom she is to render this witness or report 'T is not to thy self only but unto God also He knoweth the way that thou dost take The heart saith he is deceitful above all things who can know it I the Lord search the heart I try the reins c. Job 23.10 Jer. 17.9 10. O my Conscience if thou shalt not speak home and speak uprightly shall not God search it out for he knoweth the secrets of the heart The righteous God trieth the heart and reins Dost thou bear this witness in the Holy Ghost Psal 44.21 7.10 Rom. 9.1 2. What the rule or mark is according to which she is thus to witness and report Compare Spiritual things with Spiritual thy self not with thy self but with the sign or standard by which thou art to measure thy state Take not only an occasional or transient view of what that speaketh and thou art or dost But let thy consultations therewith be frequent ordinary deliberate deep Who so looketh into the perfect Law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed 2 Cor. 10.12 Jam. 1.23 24 25. 3. What reason is there that she should make this report O my Conscience how canst thou clear up this thy Testimony Of which before 4. What will be the result of this witness or report Shouldst not thou now deal faithfully with me what a fearful deluge of presumption c. would henceforth overflow me and what floods of dedolence pride c. would henceforth also oppress My conversion will be less possible and thy condemnation and torment more perplexing and full of horrour Act. 28.26 27. Luk. 13.27 28 29. 3 Let Conscience be dealt with truly and impartially by thee that she may deal forth a true and impartial testimony to thee 1. Charge her to be herein true and thorow with thee By her concernment in it Who shall witness if Conscience do not For no man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him God hath set thee O my Conscience as that heap and pillar to be a witness between him and me 1 Cor. 2.11 Gen. 31.52 Rom. 2.15 By her Commands for it God hath chosen her for this purpose and chargeth her in his Laws to be a Minister and Witness both of those things which she hath seen like Paul and of those things in the which he shall appear to her Rom. ibid. 2 Cor. 4.2 Act. 26.16 By the Covenant and Oath of God which she hath taken for it The vows of God are upon thee to be a faithfulful Witness that will not lie And wouldst thou have him to be a swift Witness against thee Prov. 14.5 Mal. 3.5 By the consequence of it to her as well as thee by the blessed effects on the one hand by the bitter effects on the other 2. Keep off such as would tamper with her and either keep her from giving witness or corrupt her in the witness she doth give Keep thine heart with all diligence Sin is ready to buy off her testimony with its pleasures Sense to bribe her with its profits Satan to befool and ensnare her with his policies Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation Set a guard upon Conscience Let not these come nigh the corner of her house He that doth keep his soul shall be far from
the end and happy effect of these Convictions So did they Act. 2. 16. They did not Oh do not you 1. Either strangle these distresses of Conscience as if they were but a fit of Melancholy a foolish Pusillanimity or at best of no profit and inserviency as they take it Mal. 3.13 14. Job 21.14 15. How many thus seek to stifle Conscience as Herod sought to slay Christ in the very Cradle 2. Do not study to defer Conscience now is the accepted time now is the day of Salvation Oh! if thou didst know in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace 2 Cor. 6.2 Luk. 19.42 Felix trembled when Conscience took hold of him but what doth he He turns off the Preacher at the Bar and this Preacher in his bosom till a more convenient time He had now something else to do and we never read that Conscience any more rebuked him Act. 24.25 3. Do not seek to divert Conscience either by carnal pleasures as Saul did Conscience is moved and he calls for the Physician He doth not pray it away but must have it played away from him Or by pursute of your callings as Cain did Conscience bruiseth and torments him and he falls upon building and travels 1 Sam. 16.14 17 c. Gen. 4.16 17. 4. Do not skin over these distresses with the formalities only of Religion as the Jews often When Conscience within or calamities without pinch them they fall a praying and crying but their heart was not right in them Baalam quiets Conscience with a few cold wishes and cheap words in commendation of God's Children Ahab humbleth himself puts on Sackcloth and goeth softly Simon Magus will be baptized and become a Christian The Pharisee pays every one of his own is not as bad as the Publican is as prompt as any to pay the external dues of Religion Psal 78.34 37. Numb 23.10 c. 1 King 21.27 Act. 8.13 Luk. 18.11 12. These things will but skin over thy wounds without the spirit and life of Religion They will but fester inwardly without this and sooner or latter break out again as they did in Magus Ahab and others Much less shouldst thou slubber it over with unprescribed and superstitious observations as the Pharisees did and have more wo's denounced against them than any one sort of men in all the Scriptures Mark 7.3 14. Mat. 23.14 c. 5. Do not swill away these distresses and debauch thy Conscience If the other courses are ill this must needs be vile Yet how many cry to Conscience as the Devil 's sometimes did to Christ What have we to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God Art thou come to torment us before the time We would fain be merry while we may And if Conscience be clamorous the drunken rounds must out-voice Conscience They drink away their Cares and Conscience Surely this iniquity shall not be purged away till you die saith the Lord of Hosts Isa 22.12 13 14. Direct 3. Awaken Consideration to a just sense of thy special corruption and therewith of thy state and condition It was this that drove the nail to the head in their heart Act. 2.37 When they heard this cum ver 36. they were pricked in their heart They did not only cry out of the sting but of the serpent Cain crieth out of his punishment But a Christian should cry out with David of his provocation Gen. 4.13 2 Sam. 24.17 Why criest thou for thine affliction thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity Saith the Lord Because thy sins were encreased I have done these things unto thee Jer. 30.15 Now is the time to turn in upon thy sin and to take off thy precious Soul from this painted strumpet whose end thou seest is bitter as wormwood sharp as a two-edged sword Now consider your ways now that your own doings have beset you about and the yoke of thy transgressions is bound upon thee by the hand of the Lord they are wreathed and come up upon thy neck Hag. 1.5 6 7. Hos 7.2 Lam. 1.14 Fix not thy thoughts so much upon his wrath as thy wickedness Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee this is thy wickedness because it is bitter because it reacheth unto thine heart Jer. 4.18 c. 2.17 Nor shouldst thou single out only some staring corruption but set before thee thy state and condition Thus did they Act. 12 16. They looked upon their lost estate and on themselves as lost and undone by sin as their question imports I am undone undone what shall I do to be saved When the Commandment came â—n revived and I died saith the Apostle Rom. 7.9 i.e. I had the sentence of death in my own Spirit I saw my self dead in and undone by sin Oh I am a dead and undone man without mercy deliver and send help Such considerations will quicken endeavours clear justice and carry thee to Jesus Christ upon the wings of faith and repentance Direct 4. Arise and sit not still in complaining They mind their work Act. 2. 16. and do not only mourn and whine Complaints both to God and Men may be lawful yea and useful needful But complaints only will never honour God or heal thy Conscience This alone will but make thy chain harder and burden heavier An ill Balsom for a bleeding wound and which the great Physician of Consciences bids you forbear Jer. 15.18 Psal 42.11 Jer. 30.15 Get thee up saith the Lord to Joshua wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face Israel hath sinned c. Josh 7.10 11. Complaints of thy sin will be more acceptable to him and advantageous to thee than complaints of thy suffering Yet neither is this enough God expects to see thee working rather than to hear thee weeping that thou be not so much querulous as industrious Lam. 3.39 40. Direct 5. Acknowledg thy case and ask counsel not only in prayer to God but in converse with men Thus did they Act. 2. 16. They do not conceal their distress but crave direction 'T is an high adventure of folly to let your wounds bleed inwardly 'T is better to breath a vein in confession If there be some shame in it there is much safety The smart of concealing will be more than the shame of confessing 'T will be some ease to have emptied your selves into anothers bosom if it do not extricate you out of your straits and unload your burdens Spiritual and skilful Surgeons when they cannot eradicate the distemper yet can and usually do ease and asswage the dolor But to whom should we go Ans To whom you should not I have advised already Direct 5. I advise you to apply your selves 1. To experienc'd men such who are healed of these maladies They can tell you their own case and cure and comforts And are therefore comforted to afford you comfort That they may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith they
oppress Briefly what or whence those secret inward records of what you have declined and done and suitable inclinations and recalls thereof to your hearts especially when death or some notable distress is come upon you or coming on What I say are all or any of these but the exertings and acts and therefore evidences and arguments of that spirit or conscience in man which is the candle of the Lord searching the innermost parts of the Belly Prov. 20.27 3. Will you confer with such who never heard of Christ or have read the Scriptures Read their written Confessions or review the workings of their Consciences There are few things that more fully or frequently occur in their Writings than the presence and power of Conscience in every man which God say they hath given to every one (a) Consciamens ut cuique sua est ita concipit intra Pectora pro facto spemque metumque suo Ovid. Fastor l. 1. s p. 2. as his deputy and for their direction over-rule and over-sight (b) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hierocl That from this is no subterfuge nothing latent (c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isocrat ad Demonic Nunquam fides latendi fit etiam latentibus quia coarguit illos conscientia ipsos sibi ostendit Senec. Epist 97. That its Testimony is of all others the strongest (d) Conscientia mille testes Turpe quid acturus te sine teste time Consciamens recti famae mendacia ridet Ovid. Fastor l. 1. Magna vis est conscientiae judicis magna in utramque partem Vt neque timeant qui nihil commiserint paenam semper ante oculos versari putent qui peccâ—rint Cicer. pro Milon its tranquility sweetest (e) Hic murus aheneus esto Nil conscire sibi nullâ pallescere culpâ Horat. l. 1. Epist 1. Conscientia rectae voluntatis maxima consolatio rerum incommodarum Cicer. Epist tam. 4. l. 6. Nullâ re tam laetart soleo quà m officiorum meorum conscientiâ Id. Quae etiâ—m obruta delectat quae concioniâ— ac famae reelomat in se omnia reponit cum ingentem ex altera purte turbam contra-sentientium aspexit non numerat suffragia sed unsâ— sententiâ vincit Sen. de Benef. l. 4. c. 21. Licet ipsum Corpus plenum bonâ conscientiâ stillet placebit illi ignis per quem bona fides coâ—â—ucebit Id. ibid. its torments sharpest They therefore abundantly counsel man to study his own Conscience (g) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tecum habita Pers Sat. 4. Nec te quaesiveris extra Pers Sat. 1. and affectionately complain that men search not into but slight their own Consciences (h) Vt nemo in se tentat descendere nemo Persius Sat. 4. As for the workings of their Consciences that of the Apostle is written (f) Nihil est miserius quà m animus hominis conscius Plaut Occultum quatiente animum tortore flagellum Mens sibi conscia facti Praemetuens adhibet stimulos torretque flagellis Luer Poena autem vehemens multò saevior illis quos Caeditius gravis invenit Rhadamanthus Nocte dieque suum gestare in pectorâ—-testem Juven as with a Sun-beam in their life as well as his Letters The Gentiles which have not the Law are a Law to themselves which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their Consciences also bearing witness or their Consciences witnessing with them and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another Rom. 2.14 15. 'T is true we commonly say such and such are of no Conscience or have lost all Conscience But this is and must be understood with reference had rather to the quality than to the faculty i.e. they are of no good or honest Conscience or as Conscience is considered in act rather than in habit they have lost their Conscience as we say men have lost their reason i. e. the free and uninterrupted use of it And it is true also that there are who have made shipwrack of all good Conscience that have seared their Consciences and that there are such whom God hath justly given over to a reprobate and remorsless Conscience cannot be denied 1 Tim. 1.19 Rom. 1.28 But Conscience it self ceaseth not though such qualities may cease or are changed Conscience is not destroyed when defiled 't is Conscience though contemned Tit. 1.15 1 Tim. 4.2 We find the arrests and acts of Conscience even among the damned the devils Mat. 8.29 Mar. 9.44 So that there is a Conscience universally in all and cannot utterly be extinct in any * See D. Taylor Ductor Dubitan 1 l. 1. ru.n. x. 5.6 7. Even they that say unto God depart from us we desire not the knowledg of thy ways are not therein without the evident self-reflections of an evil and seared Conscience Job 21.14 15. Q. 2. There being a Conscience in every man implanted by God how ought every man to imploy his Conscience in order to God Though Conscience be under the Sovereign command and of the sole Creation of God yet hath he substituted every man to be the keeper of his own Conscience under him and must surrender an account thereof to him Prov. 4.23 Mal. 2.15 Rom. 14.12 And if God hath implanted in every man a Conscience then every man should imploy his Conscience 1. In the behalf of God who hath made both them and it for himself Isa 43.7 Prov. 16.4 And so in pursuance of his holy inclinations furthering his supream Government in promoting his holy interest vindicating his sovereign glory in patronage of his holy image forwarding serious godliness in propugning his holy intentions and institutions frustrating in what they may the strong hopes and oppositions of his enemies sin the world and satan 2. As before God who as he made the Conscience will assuredly manifest the counsels of the heart 1 Cor. 4.5 'T is good to mind her often of her original and of his omniscience which will both quicken her to her employment and keep her from extreams Yea 't is necessary that all the acts of Conscience and of you toward Conscience be done as before the all-seeing Creator lest they lose their efficacy and authority upon you and you lose your end and attempts upon her whose pravity is so desperate and policies are so deep Rom. 2.15 Jer. 17.9 10. Psal 64.6 Let her often know from you that God who created and implanted her hath a most intuitive knowledg therefore of her and all her intrigues lye open to him Wo to her if she would hide counsel from him Psal 9.4.7 12. Heb. 4.13 Is 29.15 16. 3. In the business appointed her of God Look what are those offices which he hath deposited with her and see that neither you nor she decline them Look what are those operations which he hath designed by her and see that she do them and that you accordingly demean your selves toward
it self evil as in the Polygamy of the Patriarchs And should not this power be good whose power is so great both for evil and for good 5. From the Principles it owneth 1. In Nature Doth not even Nature it self teach me that my Conscience be good whatsoever pains it cost me or whatever be the persecutions from men wherewith it may be consequenced The very Heathens have therefore prescribed means and pressed motives 2. In Grace how much more am I taught to exercise my self herein and engage my self hereunto by all the principles of godliness and by all the Promises of the Gospel 6. From the Offices it is to perform Can my Conscience do well if it be evil do not its Offices for God require that it be holy and good Conscience hath the office of 1. A Minister and is therefore obliged to be good a bad Minister being the worst of Men there is little hopes of its ministring good unless it be a good Minister 2. Of a Magistrate who should be most eminently and exemplarily good and a Minister to thee for good 3. Of a Witness 4. And of a Judg which must be good or they will do evil do evil themselves and not deliver Souls from extremity and injustice 3ly Direct 3 Apply you to the Causes of a good Conscience The Causes improved the effect will ensue These are principal or less principal 1 The Principal is God Every good and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the father of Lights The good Conscience is from the God of Conscience The God that made thy Conscience can alone make thy Conscience good Acknowledg him then in all thy ways and he shall direct thy paths Ask of him by prayer and strong crys as David did Thou art good and dost good teach me thy Statutes Incline my heart to thy Testimonies Let my heart be sound in thy Statutes Create in me a clean heart O God Jam. 1.17 Psal 119.36 68 80. 1. It proceedeth from the good-will of the Father The Inspiration of the Almighty giveth Understanding 'T is He that putteth Wisdom in the inward parts and giveth Understanding to the Heart Press thy Heart to consider it and plead with him in Supplication who delights to be urged with the liberousness of his own acts of Grace and giveth liberally to him that asketh Job 32.8 c. 38.36 Jam. 1.5 2. It is procured by the great worth of the Son who was made sin for us to take sin from us and in the likeness of sinful flesh by a sacrifice for sin hath condemned sin in the flesh and so brings us to God 2 Cor. 5.21 1 Joh. 3.5 Rom. 8.3 marg 1 Pet. 3.18 The good Conscience costs no less price than the Blood of God the Blood of Christ was shed that the besmeared Conscience might be sprinkled and purged for the peculiar service of God Act. 20.28 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Heb. 10.22 c. 9.4 Apply then the meritorious and medicinal vertue that is in the Blood of Christ for cure of those maladies and bruises that are in thy Conscience Apply it by an hand of Faith make it thine Put thou on the Lord Jesus Christ Bring it down to thy case let this Blood be sprinkled on thy Conscience apply it in ardent prayer come unto God by him present his Merit with thy malignity to Divine mercy Plead his worthiness in thy unworthiness his stripes for thy healing the righteousness of Christ for the renovation of thy Conscience Pursue thy petitions upon the price he hath paid 3. It is produced by the gracious work of the Spirit If Conscience be spiritual and gracious it comes from the spirit of Grace if pure if holy 't is by the power of the Holy Ghost 'T is carnal till the Spirit comes never spiritual till born of the Spirit It is the spirit of life which sets it free from the law of sin and death Joh. 3.5 Rom. 15.13 16. Rom. 8.2 What Evangelical Truths are imprinted on the good Conscience they are of the Spirit 's writing 2 Cor. 3.3 What Evangelical Testimony is imparted by the good Conscience 't is of the Spirit 's working of his working for us who also witnesseth therewith in us Rom. 8.15 c. 9.1 Put not off the Spirit then in its motions and essays upon you which he maketh ply to him with all diligence and dearness put him not off with delays much less shouldst thou provoke him with a denial Let Steven speak why the Jews were uncircumcised in heart Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost Act. 7.51 Rather pray in the Spirit which God hath promised to pour out And who knows but Beggars may be blest in that branch of the Promises of his Grace I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them Prov. 1.23 Luk. 11.13 Ezek. 36.27 2 The less principal Causes are 1. an operative faith and love within you 2. the ordinances for faith and love without you 1. Let there be an operative faith and love within you These like Judah and Simeon his Brother come up into each others lots to subdue the Canaanites and set right the Conscience Let there be Charity out of a pure heart and Faith unfeigned and thou canst not be left without a good Conscience which the Apostle lodgeth in the midst of these as the Tabernacle of the Congregation was in the midst of the Camp Judg. 1.3 1 Tim. 1.5 Numb 2.17 Both of them have a blessed operation and tendency first to purifie then to pacifie the Conscience Of which hereafter 2. Live in the Ordinances for Faith and Love Be much in Praying Hearing Reading Meditation Conference the end of all these Commandments of God is to make thy Conscience good Cry after him and continue in them for this end make God's end thy errand to them and your heart shall live that seek God 1 Tim. 1.5 Psal 69.32 You wrong your own Souls that wave the Ordinances of our Saviour How many an evil Conscience hath been healed and cured by them How many a bad Conscience have been made good and how many a good Conscience have been made better The way is as open to you as it was to them follow God in them forsake not the ways of his Gospel you shall know if you follow on to know the Lord. Continue at the gates of Wisdom come for Wisdom to her gates and thou shalt not come off a loser yea if thou criest after knowledg and liftest up thy voice for understanding If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledg of God Prov. 8.33 ad finem Hos 6.3 Prov. 2.1 6. 4. Attend Conscience throughout Direct 4 If Conscience be not good throughly 't is not good truly See that this goodness go throughout Conscience To this is requisite 1. a right apprehension of
See thou do not baffle with or break from him Quench none of his motions be they never so strict or seem they never so severe They all tend to grace they all end in peace And though he be as yet a spirit of bondage to fear it is not to exulcerate Conscience more sharply but to heal it the more soundly and that he may be a spirit of adoption to thee whereby thou maist cry Abba father 1 Thes 5.19 Isa 61.1 Rom. 8.15 2 Attend his ways before thee not only his ways in the Sanctuary without thee in the means of grace as praying hearing c. but his ways that are more spiritual within thee in the motions of grace and minding of Spiritual and gracious matters The less spiritual-mindedness the less serenity of mind What blustrings are there here beneath But above 't is all in an happy tranquility There are no tempests or thundrings in the upper region Call up thy Conscience and its Colleagues thither and keep them conversant about spiritual and heavenly Objects and thou shalt then soon know what is the communion of the Spirit and what these suavities of Conscience are To be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually is life and peace Phil. 3.20 21. cum 18 19. Col. 1.9 10. Rom. 8.5 6. 3 Attend the witness of the Spirit in and with thee It is the Spirit that beareth witness saith the Apostle 1 Joh. 5.6 Which he doth not only externally in the Scriptures but internally to and with our spirits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.16 A single witness under the law was of no moment But at the mouth of two witnesses shall the matter be established Deut. 19.15 Jo. 8.17 Lo two witnesses are tendered upon the case to clear it God's spirit and our spirit both of them needful and useful to testifie the things of God and the things of man For what man knoweth the things of man save the spirit of man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God 1 Cor. 3.11 The spirit witnesseth to and with our spirit or Conscience in and throughout its whole argumentation and progress whereupon it concludeth its peace E. g. All those that with child-like appretiation affiance and affections can cry Abba father are the children of God But I can with a child-like appretiation affiance and affections cry Abba father Therefore I am a child of God Rom. 8.15 16. The Spirit witnesseth with my Spirit 1. To the truth of the Proposition by an internal manitestation or revelation of that truth to the mind whereof he hath already made an outward revelation in the Scriptures Joh. 14.26 Psal 119.18 2. To the truth of the Assumption by irradiating the Conscience and enabling her in and upon the reflections she maketh to apprehend feel and descry such appretiations and affections in me or whatsoever other mark or medium I am making use of to clear up my estate thereby Eph. 1.17 18. 1 Cor. 2.12 14. 3. To the truth of the Conclusion not only by strengthning her to conclude my state and condition from such appretiations and affections but by shedding abroad such beams of joy and comfort as confirm me therein and seal it up unto my soul 1 Cor. 2.9 10. Rom. 5.5 Eph. 1.13 c. 4.30 Though you must not attend for an external audible testimony from the Spirit * See Hollingw Hol. Ghost on the bench p. 74 75. Ball 's Lif of Faith p. 79. which was never promised and hardly if ever pattern'd Yet you may and must attend for the internal and effectual testimony of the Spirit in effecting exciting heightning and evidencing of his own graces to and in you and in the effusion of the love of God and of his joy upon you which is called the joy in and of the Holy Ghost and is the companion of peace of Conscience Rom. 14.17 1 Thes 1.5 6. Let me only add Thou must not expect as if the Spirit would or could witness peace to thee before it hath wrought grace in thee For its testifying peace to the Conscience is by testifying the truth of thy grace and closing with Christ Thou must first set thy scal to the truth of God in the reception of his testimony by faith in his Son ere the Spirit of truth will seal thee up to the day of redemption Joh. 3.33 cum Eph. 4.30 2 Cor. 1.22 In whom after that ye believed * Quasi dicat non citiùs nec ante sed post sidem in Christum Zanch. ad loc ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise Ephes 1.13 Thus appealing Conscience into and adjuring her by the divine presence will be of notable advantage It will not only awaken and engage Conscience but will awe her from extreams to which Sin and Satan may otherwise incline her and put the more authority and undeniableness into her testimony and sentence as being given not only upon God's commission but with God's contestation and comprobation and so will be the more powerful to arrest and stay scruples to anticipate or answer Satan and ascertain the Soul in the sweetest and steadiest affiance while the testimony and judgment of Conscience to a mans righteousness and reconciliation c. is after such severities and as in the sight of God And her language to the Soul is like that of Eliphaz to Job Lo this we have searched it so it is hear it and know thou it for thy good Psal 17.2 3. 7.3 9 10. 26.1 2 3. Job 13.15 16. c. 23.10 c. 27.2 5 6. c. 5.27 Q. 7. How may we keep Peace of Conscience when once gotten The former Directions C. 2. Q. 7. and those even now given you Q. 7. are of useful review here likewise * See Fenners Treat of Consc p. 200 c. But I shall be particular Direct 1. Keep out sin This is THE make-bate and like a mad man it casteth firebrands arrows and death Her entrance and first embraces its true may promise a mellifluous sweetness But her end is bitter as wormwood sharp as a two-edged sword that pierceth even to the Conscience And if anothers abuse of his liberty may wound your Conscience much more will the ardour of your own lusts Prov. 26.19 c. 3 4. Rom. 6.21 1 Cor. 8.12 Psal 38.3 5. Keep out especially 1 Scandalous sins These fly at God and his glory His name is blasphemed through them and shall you be blessed in them Had Zimri peace who slew his master Though David was the darling of Divine Providence yet farewell his peace when he once fell into such a provocation 2 Sam. 12.14 2 King 9.31 Psal 51.8 11. 2 Self-condemned sins Think not to sin against Conscience and yet sin in quiet Such sins are a daring of Conscience to do its worst and do implicitely condemn her as she doth explicitely condemn them And how can she in such a circumstance acquit and clear Remember what it
40.1 2. Direct 7. Turn in upon your own bosoms Commune with your own hearts as Asaph did in this very case and let your spirits make diligent search Psal 4.4.77.6 'T is one observation of Dr. Sibs on Psal 42.5 * Soul's Conflict c. 5. p. 51. That one way to raise a dejected Soul is to cite it before it self You have often heard of the Court of Conscience see you call and keep it and convene the troubles of your heart before it For herein it is that your case must be audited argued and determined I wish there were no Christians did carry it to Conscience as Ahab to Micajah Either they call not Conscience into the consultations of peace as afraid she will not prophesie good but evil concerning them Or if she comes and deals clearly them they commit her to prison and carve out nothing for her but the bread of affliction till they shall come again in peace 1 King 22.8 27. Whereas there is no sound peace but of Consciences speaking as hath been abundantly shewn Arraign your troubles before Conscience then here audit here answer here argue them For self-communing is one of the speediest and safest ways to stillness and self-quieting Psal 4.4 42.5 1 Audit and require an account of them 1. Of what kind or what they are Are they not secular troubles the troubles of some Secular emergence and interposition The Shuâ—emitess hath lost her Son and her Soul is vexed within her By the solicitous importunities of Sampson's Wife was his Soul vexed unto the death 2 King 4.27 Judg. 16.16 Or are they not Sickness troubles the troubles of a sickly indisposition which oft-times discomposeth the natural spirits and faculties and by reason of the Soul's sympathy with the Body puts the whole frame in a commotion or combustion Or are they but self-conceived troubles the troubles of a strong and stirring imagination whose false and hasty representations do frequently prevent the trial of our judgments and produce as insuperable troubles as if the grounds were real witness Jacob's imagination of his Son 's being slain till they are brought to answer it at the Bar of Conscience and Reason Gen. 37.33 36. Now though such kind of troubles call for due consideration of them in their place yet will they be cast out of Court as of another cognizance and of alien and improper consideration here when the Question is put touching troubles of Conscience 2. From what cause or why are these troubles I intend not hereby the cause why God inflicteth them but why the godly imbrace them Thus demand a reason of them and desist not till you have brought it to a resolution Thus David in his distress doubles and trebles the question Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me Psal 42.5 11. 43.5 Many of your troubles would cease and shrink away were they but summoned to appear before the Tribunal of Conscience as having nothing to say for themselves especially such as have no stronger foundation than your fancy For such as durst appear in Court 2 Here answer them Christians usually lose their peace by listning to and being led by the sudden pleas of sense instead of laying them in the scales of a judicious Discourse They hastily admit those pleas as argumentative and conclusive against their peace in private conference which do require and would receive an easie and advised answer in publick Court if Conscience may deliberately proceed upon them And it is seldom in such a case that they are ever extricated out of their difficulties and disquiets till they come to discuss them over again in the Court of Conscience And then you have them correcting sense and chiding themselves for such indeliberateness and precipitancy I said in my haste c. This is my infirmity Oh that I should be so foolish and ignorant c. Psal 31.22 77.10 73.13 15 23. Lam. 3.18 54. Isa 38.10 11. Whatever then are the pleas and pretensions in impeachment of thy peace let them be produced in open Court Let Conscience consider and compare them with the rules of the Court the standard of Evangelical peace And then how many of thy doubts and troubles will successively have TEKEL on them Thou art weighed in the ballances and art found wanting Dan. 5.27 I forbear to mention here the just answers may be given to what argument may be happily insisted on wherewith you may furnish your selves in the respective cases 3 Here argue it with them If thou canst not evince thy peace by it yet it will ease thee in thy perplexities to expostulate and argue out the case in the Court of Conscience How forcible are right words David's iterated expostulations were effectual to the recovery of his dependance and to the remitting if not removing of his disquiets and diffidence Job 6.25 Psal 42.5 c. Men are prone to plead it out with Heaven and reason it forth with God It were the more easie and expeditious way to plead it with their own hearts No arguings unless of prayer and faith being admitable with God Who is a fit opponent or respondent to argue with Omniscience and Omnipotence or can chuse out words to reason with him Job 13.3 c. 23.4 c. 9.14 Psal 77.7 10. Here argue it then and bid thy fears as Job did his Friends to attend and listen Hear now my reasoning and hearken to the pleading of my lips Job 13.6 Argue 1. from thy past serenities and sweetnesses Old experiences will become new evidences I have considered the days of old saith Asaph the years of ancient times I call to remembrance my song in the night And thence he resolveth that it was his weakness This is my infirmity to â—ield so far to his own despondency and disquiets and should be his work to devolve all into the hands of God and fortifie his dependance on him in the sense of his former happiness I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high I will remember the works of the Lord. Surely I will remember thy wonders of old c. Psal 77.5 13. David's spirit was overwhelmed within him My heart within me is desolate saith he And what doth he I remember the days of old c. Psal 143.4 5. God's ancient kindnesses afford new arguments to Conscience whereby she may and many times doth quiet her self and confute her sorrows Psal 31.21 22. 71.18 20. Well then if you would not cast away your confidence call your former comforts to remembrance Are your Souls cast down within you Revive and cheer them up with the remembrances of God from the land of Jordan and of the Hermonites what he spake to you in such a Sermon sealed in such a Sacrament secured in such a solitariness And thence reason with Manoah's Wife If the Lord would slay us would he have shewn us such things as these Heb. 10.32 35. Psal 42.6 Judg. 13.23 Argue 2. from