persons Conscience has no more reason to fear the greatest than the poorest Can the greatest man punish his Conscience for being plain with him He may indeed wound it more and more but this will in the end onely increase his own smart and anguish Prophets and Ministers have not accesse unto some nor an opportunity to tell them of their misdoings and if they have and do discharge their duty they may suffer for it John the Baptist was sent to Prison for reproving Herod and afterwards his life was taken away But though Herod was no more troubled and rebuked by John yet his own Conscience does fearlesly and impartially deal with him and therefore when he heard of the fame of Jesus he cries out John is risen from the Dead which shews that his Conscience flew in his face about him 3. Conscience accuses of high matters of such crimes the least of which deserves damnation There is nothing which Conscience does accuse of but sin and sin is the Transgression of a Law and that Law is the Law of God and this God is an infinite Majesty and therefore sin does merit an infinite punishment Though Papists call some sins venial and make but light of them yet a serious Conscience looks upon every sin as justly deserving Eternal condemnation the Apostle speaks indefinitely concerning sin without excepting any The Wages of Sin is Death Rom. 6. ult and by Death he means Eternal Death for 't is opposed unto the gift of God which is Eternal Life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Among Men there are indeed some petty faults which a Malefactor is not so afraid when accused of but how pale does he look when Felony or Murther or Treason is laid to his charge alas the Gallows the Gibbet Hanging Drawing Quartering he now fears Conscience brings in an indictement against the sinner for nothing but what is damnable for every sin against the great God is so in its own Nature And if every sin makes the Soul liable to the vengeance of Eternal fire how may the sinner be amazed when all his iniquities are set in order before him 4. Conscience accuses a man to himself Luther tells us concerning a certain Cardinal that was wont to say Conscientia est mala bestia quae facit hominem stare contra seipsum Conscience is an evil Beast for it makes a man to stand against himself When Conscience is our accuser our accuser is within us and we can go no where without this accuser A man by this means becomes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a self-punisher These self accusations do break a mans spirit they imbitter all Temporal comforts and Oh! how bitter then do they make affliction 5. Conscience in its accusations lets us understand that God understands better then it self what it layes to our charge The Apostle tells us that God is greater than our Hearts and knows all things 1 John 3 20. This Text plainly informs us that God knows by us more than we know Many sins slip out of Our memories but none out of Gods Hos 7. 2. They consider not in their Hearts that I remember all their wickedness now their own doings have beset them round they are all before my face When Conscience is awakened and we are beset round with our own doings this causes the perplexity that they are all before Gods face he remembers all though we are not able to number half of them Moses cryes out We are consumed by thine anger by thy wrath are we troubled Thou hast set our inquities before thee our secret sins in the light of thy Countenance Psal 90. 7. 8. 6. Conscience is many times incessant and not to be silenced in its accusations Augustine (h) Qui malas habent uxores domus suas intrare nolunt ad forum exeunt gaudent coepit hora esse quâ intraturi sunt ad domum suam contristantur Intraturi sunt ad taedia ad murmura ad amaritudines ad eversiones Si ergo miseri sunt qui cùm redeunt ad parietes suos timent quantò miseriores qui ad conscientiam redire nolunt ne litibus peccatorum evertantur Vt possis libens redire ad cor tuum illud munda Aufer cupiditatem sordes aufer labem avaritiae malas cogitationes odia non dico adversus amicum sed etiam adversus inimicum aufer ista omnia Intra cor tuum gaudebis Aug. in Enarrat in Psal 33. pag. mihi 237 238. compares a clamorous Conscience to a brawling Woman whose Tongue being set on fire of Hell never lies still but is continually shooting forth bitter words Now Solomon tells us 'T is better to dwell in the corner of a house top than with such a Woman in a wide house Prov. 25. 24. nay 'T is better to dwell in the Wilderness than with a contentious and angry Woman Prov. 21. 19. But how much more intolerable are the reproaches of an enraged Conscience Flashes of Hell fire do issue as it were out of the mouth of it it is continually bringing guilt unto remembrance and speaking of those Flames unto which this guilt does render the Soul that sins obnoxious and liable Thus the witness of Conscience is an accusation upon doing evil and such an accusation as may very much be dreaded 2. The witnesse of Conscience is an Apology upon doing well It will bear witnesse for those that are sincere when they walk before God in Truth and with a perfect Heart It must indeed be granted that in many things all even the very best do offend Jam. 3. 2. But conscience takes notice of the bent and desire of the Soul to please the Lord and how burthensome and bewailed infirmities are Conscience will excuse and defend if there be a will to do good though evil at the same time be present as it was with the Apostle himself Rom. 7. 21. Conscience having looked into the Gospel understands that God does not deal with Believers according to the terms of the Covenant of Works which had a promise of Life only upon condition of perfect obedience but Death was threatned upon the least transgression No no they are not now under the Law but under Grace and in the new Covenant sincerity is accounted and accepted as our perfection before God through Christ Jesus Now Consciences excusing or defending is of great force and weight 'T is not to be checkt by the reproaches of men nor by the accuser of the Brethren 1. Conscience excusing us is not to be checkt by the reproaches of Men. How eager as I hinted before were Jobs friends in their censures and accusations They thought his Religion was but a meer shew and that he had used the Form of Godliness onely as a cover for his wickedness and injustice Heark how he speaks to them Job 19. 2 3. How long will ye vex my Soul and break me in pieces with words these ten times have ye reproached me you are not ashamed
that you make your selves strange unto me and yet notwithstanding all as long as his Conscience did clear him his confidence is not shaken and he says the Righteous surely including himself shall hold on his way and he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. 2. Consciences excusing us is not to be checkt by Satan the Accuser of the Brethren As Job's Friends did censure him so Satan accused him of Mercenariness and selfishness in his Religion Doth Job fear God for nought But put forth thy hand now and touch what he hath and he will curse thee to thy Face These were the words of Satan Job 1. 9. 11. But instead of this when all was taken away Job blesses the Lord nay when his Bone and Flesh were touched he says Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil Job 2. 10. Job's sincerity is proved and approved is evident to himself and Satan who 't is likely enough was busie to disturb him is demonstrated to be a Lyar. As the Devil does hide the faults of the profane and secure from their eyes so he is continually objecting to the sincere their failings and imperfections by his good will he would have us see no sin at all or nothing else but sin and from the remainders of Corruption he is bold to call the Saints Hypocrites though these remainders are never so much their burthen But if Conscience does give testimony that they delight in the Law of God after the inward Man and that the evil in themselves they hate and desire to be delivered from the Body of sin and Death Notwithstanding Satan's slanders they give thanks to God because there is now no condemnation to them being in Christ Jesus Rom. 7. latter end compared with Rom. 8. the beginning So much for this Office of Conscience which is bearing witness both by way of Accusing and Excusing 5. It follows in the Definition that 't is the Office of Conscience to Judge that is to acquit or to condemn us Judging lies in these two things in absolving and condemning The Judge if Righteous does acquit the Innocent does condemn the guilty Now condemning and not condemning or absolving are both ascribed unto Conscience by the Apostle 1 John 3. 20 21. For if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things beloved if our hearts condemn us not then have we confidence towards God There is a kind of a Tribunal erected in the Soul of Man and after Conscience has brought in Evidence and Acted the part of a Witness then it Acts the part of a Judge and passes Sentence which is two-fold A Sentence of Absolution a Sentence of Condemnation 1. Conscience as a Judge passes a Sentence of Absolution and if being rightly informed Conscience grounds its Sentence upon Scripture we may conclude that what it looses on Earth is loosed in Heaven When Conscience does declare to the true believer that he is justified by his Faith and has Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ it says no more than what God himself has plainly spoken Rom. 5. 1. When it declares unto humbled and penitent Souls who are humbled because they have sinned and perverted that which is right and see that it has not profited them and who also confess and are willing to forsake their Iniquities when it declares unto such that Mercy and abundant Pardon belongs to them truly there is plain and sufficient warrant from Scripture for this Declaration To be absolved in the Court of Conscience is matter of great consolation and if Conscience draw its conclusions from Scripture-premises it may be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strong consolation such as has a firm basis and Foundation When Conscience does absolve much is contained in this Sentence it pronounces us free from punishment and also sentences a reward unto us it shuts Hell and opens Heaven for a reward and the greatest that can be conceived nay how great cannot be at present conceived is surely though freely promised unto them that are sincere Believers 'T is indeed a reward of Grace not of Debt but because of Grace therefore the more sure Rom. 4. 16. Therefore it is of Faith that it might be by Grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the Seed Conscience in Judging does Act as Gods Vice-gerent He himself will Judge at last as it if it have light and purity does Judge at present And those who are now acquitted in the Court of Conscience shall be also absolved at the great Tribunal The Apostle having said We have known and believed the Love that God hath to us presently speaks concerning boldness in the day of Judgment 1 John 4. 16 17. 2. Conscience as a Judge passes a Sentence of Condemnation (i) Exemplo quodcunque malo committitur ipsi Displicet authori prima est haec ultio quod se Judicè ne mo nocens absolvitur Juvenal Satyr 13. and this Sentence is passed upon the Impenitent the Hypocrites and the Unbelievers and because the Scripture does condemn these we may truly say that what Conscience binds on Earth is bound in Heaven I grant indeed that if Conscience should pass Sentence according to the Law of works every Child of Adam the Holy Child Jesus excepted would be condemned Hark what that Man after Gods own heart said Psal 130. 3. If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquity O Lord who shall stand And Psal 143. 2. Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified His Conscience saw so much and God saw a great deal more of sin that in strictness of Law and Justice it told him he was a condemned Man But by the Law of Grace they who turn from sin and believe in Christ are acquitted But as for those who will not come to Christ that they may have Life but preferr their fleshly and worldly Lusts and those things wherewith these lusts are gratified before the Lord of Life and Glory as they are condemned by the Law of Works so likewise by the Law of Grace Conscience therefore doing its Office passes a dreadful Sentence upon them and tells them that the wrath of God abides on them John 3. ult But here 't will be needful to note a difference between Consciences condemning a sinner now and the Lords condemning him hereafter that Sentence which Christ will pronounce at the last day will be peremptory unalterable therefore that Judgment is called Eternal Judgment Heb. 6. 2. There is no appeal from that Tribunal no reversing of the Sentence but those that are then condemned Go they must and that immediately into everlasting punishment as the Righteous on the other hand into Life Eternal Mat. 25. ult But when Conscience does at present condemn a sinner it does not preclude and shut up the door of hope against him its Sentence of condemnation is but conditional in case of continuance and obstinacy in sin But if the unbeliever will believe in Jesus and the impenitent will mourn for their Iniquities and turn from them to God then they shall no longer be under condemnation but as sin hath Reigned unto Death so shall Grace Reign through Righteousness unto eternal Life by Jesus Christ our Lord Rom.
sees God to be another kind of Foe and Friend than heretofore he thought him and Christ to be a better Lord and Master than heretofore he did imagine He comes to God and says Lord be Merciful be my Father and let the Lord Jesus become a Saviour to me and write down what Articles thou pleasest I will subscribe them onely help me to do it with my very Heart VVhen he hears that Command Cast away every Transgression he presently crys out Lord let not any Iniquity have the dominion over me VVhen he hears that all the Precepts of the Lord are to be kept diligently he crys out Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy Statutes VVhen he hears of the Necessity of Conversion he crys out Turn thou me O Lord and I shall be turned VVhen he hears what 't will cost to be Christ's Disciple and how he must deny himself and take up his Cross he cryes out Oh let me never be Offended but count all things loss that I may win Christ The Chimes do not more presently follow the Clock than the truly humbled Soul does upon its understanding the will of God desire to submit unto it 'T is willing to do any thing to be any thing to bear any thing to forbear any thing so the favour of God and an Interest in the Lord Jesus may be Obtained Thus you see when Conscience is troubled after a right manner In the next place I am to direct How troubled and afflicted Consciences are to be Comforted And before I begin I have need to cry out The Lord give me the Tongue of the Learned that I may know how to speak a word in Season to him that is weary Isa 50. 4. O you Afflicted Souls that are tossed in a Tempest your Affliction is of all the deepest the Tempest that you are in does beat most hard upon you You have not to deal with an Arm of Flesh nor onely with the Powers of Darkness but the Lord himself has bruised you Now for your Relief I am to bring forth the sweetest Comforts of the Gospel I am to Preach unto you the unsearchable Riches of Christ I am to tell you of Love that has Height and Length and Depth and Breadth and passes Knowledge I am to display the Mercy of God which is great towards humbled sinners as the Heaven is high above the Earth But more particularly I would lay these following things before you 1. This trouble of Conscience that you are under is really the work of the Spirit the Comforter Even under Conviction and while in distress of Soul you are really in a Comforters hand There is a great deal of difference between the wounds of an Enemy and the lancings of a Chirurgeon the latter are the better born because in order unto a perfect Cure and Ease and Health Three things are here to be Observed 1. These Convictions of the Spirit are a great mercy The Children of Men would all of them lye still and at last die in their wickedness if the Spirit did not awaken some of them 'T is a kindness to be told of our danger while 't is possible to get out of it You groan and complain because of your Guilt you fear the wrath of God and desire his loving kindness I may say truly you are highly favoured for how many round about you fearlesly provoke the dreadful God to his Face and turn to their wicked course as the horse rusheth into the Battel Now sin is a burthen your condition is much better than when you made light of it and saw no harm like to follow upon it 'T is good for us to see the avenger of blood pursuing us as long as the City of Refuge is open to receive and shelter us from that avenger 2. These convictions are in order unto Consolation Comfort is that which is proper and suitable to the Mourners and rest unto the weary and heavy laden To go by Hell gates to Heaven is not to go at all out of the way The Lord does bring Souls within the Suburbs of Hell sometimes that they may be the more afraid of sin all their dayes that they may value peace of Conscience at an higher rate and adore the Grace of God in catching them as fire brands out of the burning Jonah cryed unto the Lord out of the Belly of Hell and when his Soul fainted within him Chap. 2. 3 7. And surely his being heard and helped did the more affect him Oh do not think much to Sow in Tears as long as the promise is you shall Reap in Joy Psal 126. 5. 3. It may marvellously support you under your trouble that you do Judge and Condemn your selves The Apostle expresly says that such shall not be Judged that is condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 31. They that accuse themselves invalidate Satans accusations against them and they that condemn themselves go the way to prevent Gods condemning them He will not throw into Hell those who are continually sentencing themselves thither and see no possibility of Help but in Rich and Free Grace and who as they Judge themselves for past sins are desirous also for the future to be kept from Offending 2. For the Relief of a troubled Conscience take Notice of the love of God towards the World in sending Christ into it God so loved the World that he gave his onely Begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish John 3. 16. See also 1 John 4. 10. Herein is Love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins This Love of God towards the World is Matter of great Encouragement if it be rightly improved It shews how great a kindness God has for Mankind He has contrived a way for their Redemption and Salvation he has provided a Mediator for them which he did not do for the Angels that fell from him Heb. 2. 16. He took not on him the Nature of Angels or he took not hold on the Angels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but he took on him the Seed of Abraham Whatever Christ did for Mans Salvation 't was the will of God he should do it The whole work of Redemption is called a doing of the will of God Heb. 10. 7. Sacrifices and Offerings being insufficient to take away sin Then said I lo I come in the Volume of thy Book it is written of me to do thy Will O God Nay the Father is said to Love Christ upon this Account partly because he laid down his Life to save Men from Eternal Death John 10. 17. Because I lay down my Life therefore doth my Father Love me Now you know Christ's Life was given that it might be a Ransom for many All this shews the good will of God towards Man and how ready he is that Man should be brought near unto him and enjoy him and be eternally happy in that enjoyment This Amor Benevolentiae this Love of good will in God and desire after Man's welfare was taken notice of by the Angels and they are brought in Admiring and Magnifying the Lord when
not too great for God to forgive if himself is willing to forsake his wickedness The Lord has proclaimed his Name 34. 6 7. He is a God Merciful this may relieve us when sensible of our misery he is Gracious this may encourage us against our vilenesse and unworthiness he is Long-suffering this may keep us from sinking into despair though 't was long before we thought of turning to him He is abundant in Goodness and Truth though we are never so empty here is enough to fill us He keeps Mercy for thousands his Treasures are not exhausted by former ages we may go to him and be enriched he forgives iniquity transgression and sin Let none then say there is no Hope of what sorts or sizes soever their sins be But here let me Caution again that no sin be secretly cherished for if the cause of trouble remain how can Conscience be truly Comforted In good earnest set upon the Mortification of all the Members of the Body of sin but especially pluck out the right Eye and cut off the right Hand Let not thy Soul spare any Lust 't will be more fatal to thee than Saul's sparing Agag which cost him his Kingdom Herbert does very Ingenuously and truly tell us that Peace of Conscience is not to be attained unless there be a flight of sin The Church page 117. 118. Sweet Peace where dost thou dwell I humbly crave Let me once know I sought thee in a secret Cave And ask'd if Peace were there A hollow wind did seem to answer No Go seek elsewhere I did and going did a Rainbow note Surely thought I This is the Lace of Peaces Coat I will search out the matter But while I lookt the Clouds immediatly Did break and scatter Then went I to a Garden and did spy A gallant flower The Crown Imperial Sure said I Peace at the root must dwell But when I digg'd I saw a Worm devour What shew'd so well At length I met a rev'rend good old man Whom when for Peace I did demand he thus began There was a Prince of Old At Salem dwelt who liv'd with good increase Of Flock and Fold He sweetly liv'd yet sweetness did not save His Life from Foes But after Death out of his Grave There sprang twelve stalks of Wheat Which many wondring at got some of those To Plant and Set. It prosper'd strangely and did soon disperse Through all the Earth For they that taste it do rehearse That Virtue lies therein A secret Virtue bringing Peace and Mirth By flight of sin Take of this Grain which in my Garden grows And grows for you Make Bread of it and that repose And Peace which every where VVith so much earnestness you do pursue Is onely there I have laid down several grounds of Consolation for troubled Consciences it will be needful now to Answer some Objections they are wont to make against all that Comfort which is tendred to them Object 1. Some do cry out that their sins are primae Magnitudinis of the first Magnitude that guilt which they have contracted is so vast and themselves are so inexcusable in their wickedness that they cannot let it once enter into their thoughts that ever God should pardon or save such provoking wretches and rebels as They have been They call to remembrance what they have been and what they have done their Iniquities which they have committed have been of a very hainous Nature and as to their Number what was said concerning Abraham's Seed may very well be applied here they have been so many as the Stars of the Sky in multitude and as the Sand which is by the Sea-shore innumerable To speak Truth the Greatness of sin is the grand Objection against Comfort Answ 1. VVhen the greatness of sin causes perplexity behold how much greater the Mercy of the Lord is This Mercy is high as Heaven what canst thou do deeper than Hell what canst thou know The measure thereof is longer than the Earth and broader than the Sea But yet as great as 't is it does not give the least encouragement to presumption but against despair and despondency it may be a mighty Antidote Contemplate the Mercy of God in Christ eye his sufferings which were very great eye the greatness of him that suffered and then you will see sin (*) Peccatum est sicut Magnus Goliah omnibus viribus oppugnat Conscientiam sed si credas in Dominum Jesum pro te morruum senties peccatum stipulâ levius infirmius Luther Tom. 3. p. 367. b. exceeded by the sufferings of Christ and the Mercy of God Hark to the Apostle Rom. 5. 20. Moreover the Law entred that the Offence might abound but where sin abounded Grace did much more abound that as sin hath Reigned unto Death even so might Grace Reign through Righteousness unto Eternal Life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Though Souls are sensible never so much of the abounding of sin Grace does superabound let Man do as much as he can in a way of wickedness the Lord can out-do him in a way of Grace and Mercy That is a notable promise Mic. 7. 19. having said Who is a God like unto thee pardoning Iniquity delighting in Mercy it follows thou wilt cast all their sin into the depth of the Sea In the deepest part of the Sea the greatest Mountains if they could be cast in would be swallowed up as well as Mole-hills Divine Mercy is such a depth it can cover the greatest sins as well as the smallest and being once cast into this depth they shall never rise again unto the sinners Condemnation any more than things cast into the deepest part of the Ocean can ever be fetched up again 2. In Scripture you may find the greatness of sin used and pleaded as an Argument for the obtaining of Mercy and forgiveness Listen to the Psalmist Psal 25. 11. For thy Name-sake O Lord pardon my Iniquity for it is great this is a strong Argument for the greater sin is the more Glorious is the Lords Name and Grace in passing it by Just as 't is more for a mans Honour to forgive the Debt of a Thousand pound than of a few pence onely The Lord is willing to Honour his own Mercy and ready to forgive much But he expects that they to whom much is given should love much as there is very good reason Object 2. Those in trouble of Conscience do Object They fear 't is now too late to come to Christ and turn to God indeed if they had accepted of invitations in time it might have been well with them but now they are afraid the Sun is set and will never rise more and that the day of Grace is past and gone and that the Night of Darkness and Trouble upon their Souls is but the sore-runner of the blackness of darkness for ever Answ 1. Who tells thee that the day of Grace is past If it be Satan surely such a Liar is not to
his Anger is to be dreaded He Rules and Governs the World He forms the Light and create◠Darkness he makes Peace and creates Evil and therefore surely 't is wisdom to please him and the height of madness to provoke him 2. Conscience is given to Man that it may put him in mind of his own great Interest and concern which is to secure his Soul and to provide for Eternity 'T is not without reason that the Natural Man is called flesh in Scripture Gen. 6. 3. The flesh does so prevail against the Soul as to take up his whole time and care His great enquiries are What shall I eat what shall I drink and wherewithall shall I be cloathed Mat. 6. 31. And thus he would live as if he had no Soul to save or lose if Conscience did not put him in mind of that precious Jewel which he is intrusted with and bring to his remembrance that of our Lord Jesus Mat. 16. 26. What is a Man profited if he shall gain the whole World and lose his own Soul Or what shall a Man give in exchange for his Soul Conscience tells us of a Soul which is of greatest value and which is in greatest danger It calls a Man a Fool for saying Soul take thine ease eat drink and be merry thou hast Goods laid up for many Years Sumptuous Fare cannot satisfie the Souls hunger the most delicious Wines cannot quench the Souls thirst nor purple and fine Linnen cover the Souls Nakedness These things onely gratifie the senses but some thing that 's higher and more durable must be lookt after that may be a proper and sutable good unto the Soul of Man which is of a Spiritual and Immortal Nature and if you ask what that is I Answer the Eternal and All-sufficient God (k) Magnus es Domine laudabilis valde magna virtus tua sapientiae tuae non est numerus Tu excitas ut laudare te delectet quia fecisti nos ad te inquietum est cor nostrum donec requiescet in te Augustin Confes l. 1. c. 1. 3. Conscience is given to Man that it may tell him of his Duty and urge him to the performance of it Such is the corruption of Mans Nature that he hates Instruction and is apt to cast the Law of God behind his back Psal 50. 17. but Conscience observes what that Law requires and sayes 't is Holy just and good and therefore does protest against the Transgressing of it Conscience tells us that God is a better master than sin and Satan He rewards his Servants with Life and Joy but They theirs with Eternal Death and VVoe The Apostle speaks of all men even the Heathens that there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The work of the Law written in their Hearts Rom. 2. 15. The Consciences of Men are the Tables where the Laws of God are written and Conscience is continually opening these Tables and commanding men to read and do their duty I grant indeed that there is a writing of the Law in the Heart which is promised in the new Covenant which all men have not but is peculiar to Believers and when this promise is made good to any not only are their minds enlightned but their hearts changed there is a sutablenesse between their renewed wills and the Laws of God so that now they are desirous to keep them as before they were violently bent to break them But the writing of the Law in the Conscience is commune and Conscience understands this Law that it may presse obedience to it 4. Conscience is given to man that it may warn and caution him against the Tempter It is as it were the Watchman which gives notice of this Enemies approach Of all the powers of the Soul the Devil does least like this for it does most withstand him When Satan promises great matters to those whom he tempts Conscience sayes that a Lyar is not to be believed Either he will not give what he promises or if he does what he gives had better not be given because 't is given to the sinners hurt ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the gifts of Enemies are no gifts at all or worse then none When Satan pretends to aim never so much at our advantage or advancement or delight Conscience sees the Snake in the Grass and tells that the Devil is a Murtherer and in every temptation is carrying on a murtherous design against us When Satan comes with the sweet cup of sinful pleasures Conscience sayes Drink not for there is rank poyson in it When Satan transforms himself into a Friend and seems to consult our safety and ease and gain Conscience cryes out Take heed a Murtherer is neer you and therefore yield not to him give him no admission 5. Conscience is given unto Man that it may give Testimony to the Word of God and side with it against all carnal reasonings Affections Our Lord Jesus had to do with Hearers which were captious which were still ready to start their frivolous objections against himself and against his Doctrine as when he said if I be lifted up from the Earth that is Crucified I will draw all men to me they presently object Christ abideth for ever and how then can he be lifted up Joh. 12. 32. 34. Now he does not answer directly to their objection but applies himself to their Consciences and tells them 't was but a little while that the light was to be with them and therefore says he Walk while ye have the Light lest Darkness come upon you for he that walketh in Darkness knoweth not whither he goeth v. 35. So the Apostle did commend himself to every mans Conscience in the sight of God and adds if our Gospel be hid 't is hid to them that are lost 2 Cor. 4. 2 3. Conscience is more ready to close with Truth the Affections hang off because Truth does thwart them while they remain carnal The Consciences of the Jewes many of them were convinced that Jesus Christ was the true Messiah but their Hearts were against following of him for they loved the Praise of men more than the Praise God Joh. 12. 42 43. When a corrupt will sayes concerning a precept This is an hard saying 't is too strict Conscience will confesse 't is just and good to be obeyed When a carnal mind phansies absurdities (l) Prodigiosus certe humani ingenii furor quòd injustitiae potius Deum insimulat quam ut se coarguat caecitatis Calv. in Epist ad Rom. c. 9. v. 14. in the mysteries of the Gospel and says how can these things be Conscience is modest and replies that God is True and mans understanding is shallow and therefore man is to believe what God speaks for certain though he cannot fully comprehend it 6. Conscience is given unto man that this may side with the Lord when he passes Judgment at the great approaching day This day is called a day of the Revelation
of his Righteous judgement and whatever punishments he does sentence the Sons of Men unto they will not be able to charge him with the least injustice Their own Consciences will acknowledge every crime that the Lord then shall lay to their charge and when they are thrown down into that Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone Conscience will be ready to speak the same language which you read Rev. 16. 5. 7. Thou art Righteous O Lord which art and wast and shalt be because thou hast thus judged Even so Lord God Almighty True and Righteous are thy judgments (m) Si reus Conscientiâ suâ premitur silet actacitus expectat suam damnationem suo jam silentio damnatus Calv. in Epist ad Rom. c. 3. v. 19. God will be justified when he speaks and cleer when he judges and sinners Consciences will cleer him fully and will acknowledge that his wayes are equal but theirs have been unequal Every mouth will then be stopped and the guilty will have nothing to object against their Judges proceedings I come in the last place to the Application Vse 1. Shall be of information several weighty Truths may be inferred from this Doctrine 1. If there be a Conscience in Man learn from hence that there is a God There are many arguments to prove this great fundamental Truth the Creatures would never have had a Being unless God had given a Being to them (n) If ever there had been altogether nothing there never could have been any thing His works do abundantly declare both his Being and his Glory But if we look into our selves we shall find this Truth written plain upon our own souls VVe are as I said before so full of self-love that we should not at all regard our own knowledge of our misdoings if Conscience were not convinced of the Godhead whose judgement we cannot possibly escape The Psalmist indeed tells us that the fool hath said in his Heart there is no God Psal 14. 1. but in this he rather speaks what his wishesare than what he is really perswaded of For it has been observed concerning those who have been most Atheistical that Conscience has prickt and terrified them sometimes and the dread of God has when they have heard it Thunder or have been in some great calamity returned upon them 2. If there be a Conscience in Man learn that God is omniscient If the Lord did confine himself to Heaven and there enjoying his own blessednesse did not at all take notice what is done here below we should sin securely and not be troubled that we have a Conscience perpetually observing us But therefore Consciences eye is regarded because God looks on as well as Conscience Our Hearts know much by us but God is greater then our Hearts and knowes all things Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord surely it concerns us to walk circumspectly and exactly since there is not any Creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are open and naked unto the eyes of that God with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 13. 3. If there be a Conscience in Man learn that God is Holy and Righteous Therefore Conscience speaks so much against sin and reproaches after the commission of it because 't is contrary to Gods holy Nature and his Justice has a sword to be revenged upon the sinner Secure Transgressors are apt to imagine God altogether such an One as themselves but Conscience when it awakes tells them that this imagination is groundless that he is Glorious in Holiness that he is not a God who hath pleasure in wickedness neither shall evil dwell with him the foolish shall not stand in his sight he hateth all the workers of iniquity Psal 5. 4 5. 4. If there be a Conscience in Man learn that God is Great and Mighty and that 't is a fearful thing to fall into his hands 'T is the consideration of his irresistible strength and the power of his Anger which puts Conscience into such horrour after the commission of VVickedness Heark what the Prophet speaks Nah. 1. 5 6. The Mountains quake at him and the Hills melt and the Earth is burnt at his presence yea the World and all that dwell therein who can stand before his indignation and who can abide in the fiercenesse of his anger his fury is poured out like fire and the Rocks are thrown down by him The impressions of this anger must needs be terrible therefore Conscience causes such perplexity therefore the wounds of the Spirit are so intolerable because 't is the hand of a great angry God that makes these wounds 5. If there be a Conscience in Man learn that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. this is the ground and foundation that Conscience has to shew for that encouragement which it gives unto well-doing Conscience could not set Cursing and Death before us if God were not righteous and just neither could it set Blessing and Life before us if he were not good and gracious 'T is well for us that there is Mercy and forgiveness with the Lord and that with him there is plenteous Redemption else no Conscience could have any peace but every sinner unless strangely stupid would be overwhelmed with trouble and sorrow 6. If there be a Conscience in man learn from hence the Immortality of the Soul (o) Morte carent animae semper que priore relictâ Sede novis domibus habitant vivunt que receptae Ovid Metam l. 15. Beasts who dye for good and all and whose all dies together have no Conscience to disquiet them Man has a Conscience therefore his Soul dies not 'T is evident by the light of Nature that the Soul is immortal Many of the Heathens dreaded sin upon this account lest their Souls after death should be punisht for it But in the Scripture this Truth is evidently delivered Christ says Man cannot kill the Soul though he can kill the Body Mat. 10. 28. But if the soul did dye or sleep with the Body then Man would be able to do the one as well as the other nay he could not kill the Body but he must needs kill the Soul at the same time Besides the Apostle sayes we are willing rather to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. Now what of Paul but his Soul could be absent from his body and present with the Lord The Soul then is certainly immortal How many awakened Consciences upon death-beds have dreaded the Souls immediate punishment how many Saints upon death-beds have been ravished with the assured hopes of their Souls being presently with Christ upon their dissolution 7. If there be a Conscience in a Man learn The certainty of a judgement to come The comming of the Lord to judgment Conscience is frequently bringing to our
no enjoying of God at all Where there is no true Holiness sinners are without God in the World they spend their Mony for that which is not Bread and their labour for that which satisfies not Isa 55. 2. They only have recourse to broken Cisterns that can hold no water but they neglect and by their iniquities are kept at a distance from the Fountain of living Waters Thus that which is the Hell of Hell they undergo on Earth and yet such is their stupidness they are little if at all concerned 2. Without a good Conscience no service that we perform can be acceptable A bad Conscience is like the dead Flie in the Apothecaries Oyntment that spoils the whole This was it that made the Lord to speak thus to Israel of old Isa 1. 11 12 13. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me I am full of Burnt-Offerings and the fat of fed Beasts and I delight not in the Blood of Bullocks or of Lambs or of He-Goats When ye come to appear before me who hath required at your hands to tread my Courts Bring no more vain Oblations incense is an Abomination to me the Sabbaths and calling of Assemblies I cannot away with it is Iniquity even the solemn meeting When ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine Eyes from you yea when you make many Prayers I will not Hear And the reason of all this was because their Consciences were defiled with Blood with injustice with unmercifulness with oppression Thus also Isa 66. 3. because their Consciences were defiled by chusing their own way and their souls delighted in their abominations the Lord says He that kills an Oxe is as if he slew a man he that sacrifices a Lamb is as if he cut off a Dogs neck he that offers an Oblation as if he offered Swines Blood he that burneth Incense as if he blessed an Idol Two things are absolutely necessary unto the acceptation of our services one is the Mediation of our Lord Jesus and therefore our sacrifices though never so spiritual are said to be acceptable through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. and the other the cleansing of Conscience from all known and allowed sin for iniquity will separate between us and our God and make him hide his face from us 3. Without a good Conscience there can be no quiet or Peace but will prove exceedingly to our prejudice (p) Malâ tranquillâ conscientiâ sicut nihil pejus ita nihil iâ—foelicius haec est illa quae nec Deum timet nec hominem reveretur Bern. De Conscien cap. 3. pag. 1109. The mirth of distracted and phrantick persons makes us ready to weep because we know how little reason there is for it and thus unreasonable is security and peace where there is an evil Conscience Sin is such a Master as none of its Servants have cause to be very jocund When Death and Hell which is the wages of sin is paid then I am sure 't will be sad day with sinners and all their jollity will be turned into the height of anguish and tribulation Art thou without a good Conscience and yet art quiet thy quietness is thy Disease As there is a Natural Lethargy whereby Bodies sleep unto natural Death so there is a Spiritual Lethargy whereby Souls sleep unto Eternal Death and they wake not till the sight of an angry God upon the Judgment-seat and the feeling of the unquenchable flames of Hell awake them He had a bad Conscience that said Soul take thine ease and so had he that fared sumptuously every day but their ease did them harm and was a means to bring them unto these torments where no ease is to be looked for Ah woe unto sinners that are at ease the ease of the simple does slay them and the prosperity of Fools destroyes them Prov. 1. 32. 4. Without a good Conscience 't is impossible that we should be truly good our selves If Conscience be bad all things else within us are likely to be a great deal worse If this which should restrain from sin connive at sin how will iniquity abound if this which should be urging unto duty does not it self do its Duty how will duty be cast off there will quickly be a saying unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes what is the Almighty that we should serve him Job 21. 14 15. To say that a man has no Conscience is as much as to say that a man has no goodness When a sinner is indeed turned unto God one of the first things that is wrought upon in him is his Conscience and the more Holy he is still his Conscience does become more Pure and wakeful and tender When a sinner that is almost perswaded to be a Christian falls back again and becomes as vile nay viler than ever his Conscience rings him many a sad peal to prevent his relapse and 't is sometimes a great while before his Conscience can be charmed But if once this is laid into a Dead sleep the lusts of the Heart will grow impetuous and strong the affections will be vile and at length there may be a running out to all excesse of Riot in the Conversation Certainly if Conscience be bad the whole man is defiled if Conscience does exercise no Authority for God sinners will fulfill the desires of the Flesh and of the Mind and will walk according to the course of this World according to the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit which worketh in the Children of Disobedience 5. Without a good Conscience as nothing is good in us so nothing is good or pure to us The Apostlet ells us that unto the pure all things are pure but to them whose Minds Consciences are defiled there is nothing pure Tit. 1. 15. A bad Conscience defiles every thing A man that is Conscious to himself of loved and regining sin whatever Creatures he uses he abuses his Food his Estate his Health his Strength are all impure to him because his Corruptions are served with all these his blessings are turned into Curses because he makes a sinful and Cursed use of them Nay not only things secular but also things sacred even the Ordinances of God are prophaned and polluted by an evil Conscience Prayer is turned into an Abomination and the Lord calls it Howling Hos 7. 14. They have not cryed unto me with their Hearts when they howled upon their beds The word becomes a savour of Death unto Death the Eyes being shut and the Ears closed and the Heart being more hardened under it Receiving the Lords Supper is turned into a being guilty of the Body blood of the Lord and Eating and Drinking Damnation to our selves 1 Cor. 11. Thus a bad Conscience which suffers sin to rule without any considerable disturbance spoyls all we do turns good into Evil and the better things are in themselves makes them so much the worse to us
upon the Children of Men to see if there be any that do understand and seek him Psal 14. 2. But what kind of Hearts and Consciencs have the most of Men God is surely Angry and his Messengers are to be Reprovers and they must Reprove sharply that they may touch the Conscience to the quick And who knows but that the word in their mouths may be quick and powerful sharper than any two-edged Sword piercing even to dividing asunder of the Soul and Spirit of the Joynts and Marrow and may be a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4. 12. My Reproof I shall Direct unto several sorts of Persons 1. They are to be Reproved whose Consciences are Ignorant They are Ignorant of God and Ignorant of themselves and which is worse they care to know neither Though God be the most Excellent Object that can be known though without Knowing him there can be no enjoying him though the knowledge of God be Transforming and change us into his Image and Likeness yet how many are willingly Ignorant they care not to know him nor his will nor what he is able to do either for them or against them There is a black veil upon their hearts so that they see not their Happiness nor their Misery This makes them unconcernedly and without fear to turn their backs upon Christ and Heaven and to make great speed after Satan in those ways that lead unto utter perdition They are miserably unacquainted with themselves they see not in what state they are they know not whither they are going They despise their own ways that is they take no more Notice of their own doings than we do of those whom we most of all contemn And as for their hearts they are Terra incognita like Land never yet Discovered They may truly say that their Hearts were born with them that the Hearts have been bred up with them and that they have carried their Hearts up and down with them at their days and yet they and their Hearts are utterly unacquainted Oh that these dark Consciences would but consider these three things 1. How much evil there is in Ignorance Let Papists say That 't is the Mother of Devotion the Scripture speaks otherwise That 't is the Parent of Wickedness The Prophet having said there was no knowledge of God in the Land presently adds by swearing and lying and killing and stealing and committing Adultery they break out and Blood toucheth Blood Hos 4. 1 2. intimating that Ignorance of God was the cause of all the other abominations So Jer. 9. 2 3. They be all Adulterers an Assembly of Treacherous Men they bend their Tongue like their Bow for lies but they are not valiant for the Truth and they proceed from evil to evil Now from whence is all this They know not me saith the Lord. Certainly the Sons of Men are alienated from the Life of God and encouraged in wickedness through the Ignorance that is in them VVhen Conscience is Blind what is there to lay restraint upon Corrupted Nature And if there be no restraint the desperate Corruption of it will quickly appear and wickedness will be done with greediness Eph. 4. 18 19. 2. How inexcusable is this Ignorance considering the Light that shines and the means of Knowledge The Advantage of the Jews was great in that the Oracles of God were committed to them Rom. 3. 1 2. herein they were priviledged above the other Nations that the Lord had given his VVord unto them But we have an Advantage above the Jews because the Revelation of the Lords VVill and of his Glory is much clearer under the New Testament than it was under the Old How fully hath God spoken to us in these last days by his Son Life and Immortality are brought to light by the Gospel Death and Destruction are discovered Christ Crucified is Preached who is the Lord of Life and Glory and a Saviour from Destruction Oh how are they without Apology who shut their Eyes against so glorious a Light and will not know those things which are of so high concernment to themselves Oh you dark and heedless Souls you may be wept over as Christ did over Jerusalem because you will not know in this your day the things that belong to your Peace though quickly in a way of Judgment they may be hid from your eyes Luke 19. 41 42. 3. This Ignorance as light as you make of it is destructive None ever did hit upon the way to Life before they were aware The blind will never enter in at the straight Gate but must needs go on in that broad Road that leads to Death and Hell Solomon speaks expresly Prov. 29. 18. Where there is no Vision the People perish You read also Hos 4. 6. My People are destroyed for lack of Knowledge VVhen the Lord does save any he gives them an Heart to know himself and his Son Christ Jesus but if the Gospel be hid 't is hid to them that are lost 2 Cor. 4. 3. I know many Ignorant sinners look upon their Ignorance as their excuse for their wickedness but how can Ignorance excuse them since they are glad of their Ignorance are not desirous to know nay hate the Light which might discover their evil deeds VVâ— are told that this is the Condemnation that is tâ—â— cause of sore Condemnation that Light is come in the World and Men love Darkness rather than Light because their Deeds are evil John 3. 19. 'T is a common thing for Ignorant ones to have a Blind and presumptuous trust and confidence in God and nothing more usual in their mouths than this He that maâ—â—â— us will save us But let such hearken to the Prophet 〈◊〉 tremble Isa 27. 11. It is a People of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have Meâ—â—y on them and he that formed them will shew them 〈◊〉 Favour 2. They are to be Reproved whose Consciences are large and can swallow almost any thing Such 〈◊〉 suck in with greediness the loosest Principles and how are they pleased with an Argument craftily managed by a Profane Wit against that preciseness which the Gospel does require How do they grudge their time and pains to God and to their Souls But to the World and to their Lusts they are exceeding Liberal These large Consciences do stretch Christian Liberty even to a most sinful Licentiousness Quod libet id â—â—cet They will plead for any thing to be Lawful which they like though never so much to be condemned Some will plead for sports upon the Lords day other for vain and foolish talking and jesting others for Oficious lying others for perjury to save a mans sâ—â— from damage This largeness of Conscience how largely has it spread it self But the larger Conscience is the narrower will be our Obedience the less 〈◊〉 be done for God and more against him the less 〈◊〉 be done in Order to Salvation and more towards meâ— eternal
blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3. 19. The Gospel also does command a sinner to come to Christ to believe in him 1 John 3. 23. This is his commandment that we believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ That is that we receive him as Lord and Saviour and accept those benefits of pardon Grace and Glory which he has purchased and freely proffers to us And thus by this command Conscience is obliged to do that as a Duty which is one of the greatest Priviledges imaginable You see what bindes the Conscience namely the will of God discovered partly by the Light of Nature but principally by the Law and Gospel (f) Constat synteresis latiore sensu partim ex principiis moralibus in natis cum eorum conclusionibus partim ex iis quae Deus insuper homini praescripsit sed utramque partem constituit voluntas Dei revelata quâ homo intelligit fibi suum officium praescriptum esse Hinc lex Dei sola obligat conscientiam per legem autem intelligigimus volunt atem Dei revelatam ità ut contineat etiam illa quae in Evangelio praescribuntur Amas l. 1. De Consc c. 2. p. 5. All these Discoveries of the will of God are to be kept safe in the Conscience one part of which is therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to keep because practical Truths are to be Treasured up there we must be acquainted what is the will of God and do that will as well as understand it The adequate Rule of Conscience is the will of God and of this will in his Word there is the fullest Revelation here mans Duty is prescribed and shewn and so far as the Word commands Conscience is obliged and no further As God alone knows the Conscience and has power to punish it so he alone can bind it I acknowledge that for Conscience sake we are bound to obey the just commands of Men that are in Authority over us but the Obligation upon Conscience to do this comes not from them but from Gods command that we should be Subject to them and to be ready unto every good Work Tit. 3. 1. 3. As Conscience implies a knowledge of the will of God so 't is the Office of Conscience to impell us to comply with his will which is made known to us The Prophet speaking concerning the Spirit bringing the Word to remembrance tells the Children of Israel Isa 30. 21. Thine Ears shall hear a word behind thee saying This is the way walk in it when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left These words may very aptly be applied unto Conscience which is as a Voice within us saying concerning forbidden paths These are not the way and therefore turn out of them but concerning commanded Duties These are the way and therefore practise them When Joseph was sollicited by his Mistress to commit folly and the temptation was strong considering the circumstances which he was in It was Conscience that minded him of his Obligation to his Master which he ought not to requite by defiling of his Bed and especially how evil and hainous such a deed would be in the Lords eyes and he comes to a fixed resolution not to yield not to go contrary to his Conscience and Duty How says he shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God Gen. 39. 9. Conscience is not onely a witness to testifie concerning us nor onely a Judge to pass Sentence upon us but also a Law commanding and stirring us up unto our Duty and when it does thus excite us to Obedience First it uses Gods Name and Authority Secondly it charges under the greatest penalties Thirdly it sets before us the Lords great goodness 1. Conscience to impell us to Obedience uses Gods own Name and Authority Thus saith the Lord says Conscience These commands are the commands of God they are enacted by Him who is the supream Law-giver who hath power to save and to destroy James 4. 12. The Thessalonians when they received the Word of God which they heard of the Apostles they received it not as the word of Men but as it is in Truth the word of God which worketh effectually in them that believe 1 Thes 2. 13. Conscience charged them to receive the Gospel because the Gospel of God and they did receive it though hereupon they were exposed to never so great Afflictions and Tribulations Conscience looks beyond Instruments which are but Earthen Vessels Men of like passions with our selves and eyes that God who employs and sends them In the Publishing of a Proclamation who says Thus saith the Town-Clerk No every one concludes Thus saith the King This is really the will of God says Conscience and therefore do not dare to be obstinate against it It uses the same Language which the Apostle Paul does to Timothy after it has urged unto Duty and to take heed of sin I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall Judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. Here is such a Name and Authority used as may well make us to stand in awe 2. Conscience charges us under the greatest penalties It tells us indeed of temporal plagues and Spiritual Judgments and how much sin may cost us in this present World but that 's not all nor the worst of all it also makes Hell naked before us and takes off that covering which is upon Destruction and bids us look down and then asks this Question How will you be able to dwell with devouring fire How will you be able to inhabit everlasting burnings Is it good says Conscience to Live without God in this World and with a curse to depart for ever from him in the next Isit good to enjoy the pleasures of sin which are but for a season and then to be tormented in those Flames which never can be quenched To run into sin is to rush into a Battel against that God against whom none ever hardned themselves and prospered To run into sin is a mad venturing to leap into Hell think of this when tempted Oh how slender are the penalties wherewith Humane Laws are backed Those Statutes which were made by severe Draco which are said to be writ with Blood because he punished every fault with Death had not such a dreadful penalty annexed to them as the Laws of God For what is the Death of the Body if compared with the Damnation of the Body and Soul for ever Luke 12. 4 5. 3. Conscience that it may perswade us to Obedience sets before us the Lords great goodness bids us behold his goodness as well as his severity Rom. 11. 22. It tells us that if we depart from God we forsake our own Mercies we leave our Rock and Fortress and betray our selves into the hands of Enemies It uses the cords of Love to
dissemble upon any terms in those matters where the Glory of God is concerned what a fearful thing is it to be neer and almost a Christian Oh that God â—ould let loose his hand from me that it were with me now as in times past I would scorn the threats of the most cruel Tyrants bear torments with invincible resolution and Glory in the outward profession of Christ till I were choaked in the flame and my Body consumed to ashes Thus great is the Power and Authority of Conscience and a good Conscience does Exercise this Authority but because the Consciences of most seem to have lost all Power therefore I shall direct you how this Power of Conscience may be put forth with vigour VVould you be under the Power and Authority of Conscience then 1. Meditate upon this how Holy and equal the Law is Since we are reasonable Creatures 't is fit we be govern'd by some Law or other (a) Omnium quae in hominum Doctorum disputatione versantur nihil est profecto praestabilius quam plane intelligi nos ad justitiam esse natos neque opinione sed naturâ Jus constitutum esse Cicero de leg 1. p. 221. and what Laws are comparable to the Law of God man stands in need of a Law that may put bounds to his Will and Affections as well as regulate his Conversation humane Laws onely reach the latter but the Law of God principally requires Holiness in the former The Angels themselves are not without a Law the Apostate ones transgressed it and were cast down to Hell God spared not the Angels that sinned 2 Pet. 2. 4. the Elect Angels are affirmed to do the Commandements of God and to hearken to the Voice of his Word Psal 103. 20. And truly all the Commands of the Lord are Holy just and good the more we obey these the greater is our Liberty and freedom from the Power and Tyranny of Sin and Satan unto whom whosoever are subject they are defiled degraded debased and made miserable by that subjection 2. Consider not only the equalnesse of the Law but the greatness and goodness of the Lawgiver Conscience tells you of a Lord who has right to rule you He has given you your Being and upholds you in your Being you could not live or move or be without him And therefore by all right imaginable he is your owner and your Governour We are Debtors says the Apostle not to the flesh to live after the flesh for if we live after the flesh we shall dye Rom. 8. 12 13. he does not expresly say we are Debtors to God this was so evident there was no need to express it The Lord is so great that he may claim obedience from us for we owe him whatever we have and are and his goodness does fully match his greatness He is Optimus Maximus there is abundant reason then why you should listen unto Conscience pressing you to give him the pre-eminence before all other Lords whatsoever No King comparable to the King of Saints how ready is he to defend them how much does he consult his subjects welfare 3. Would you be under the Authority and Power of Conscience fix this upon your Spirits that a good Conscience alwayes uses its Power for your good I may here apply those words which the Apostles uses concerning Magistrates Wilt thou not be afraid of this Power do that which is good and thou shalt have Praise of the same for Conscience is the Minister of God to thee for good Name a sin which a rightly informed Conscience does bid thee abstain from which is not really a mischievous and hurtful as well as a moral evil and thou hast leave to keep it Name a duty which such a Conscience urges which is not for thy profit and thou shalt never be blamed for the omission of it What the Lord wishes Conscience speaks over again Oh that there were an Heart in you that you would fear your God and keep all his Commandments alwayes that it might be well with you forever Deut. 5. 29. Conscience aimes at this perpetually that it may be well with you and well for ever with you nay even then when it puts you upon the suffering of penal evils it does design your good they that are persecuted for Righteousness sake receive an hundred fold in this Life they have so much of grace and of the Presence of God as is an hundred-fold better than any thing that 's taken from them then in the World to come they are assured of everlasting Life 4. Think seriously of the destructiveness of those courses which Conscience would hinder you from taking Thou art not able to hurt the Lord by thy iniquity the Clouds are higher than thou but He is infinitely higher than the Clouds If thou sinnest what doest thou against him says Elihu or if thy transgressions are multiplyed what doest thou unto him Job 35. 5 6. His blessedness is so great and out of the reach of any Creature that by sin thou art not able to disturb it though failing in Duty towards him thou art justly punished So that thou hurtest not him but thy self by sin Do they provoke me to anger saith the Lord Do they not provoke themselves to the Confusion of their own Faces Death is at the end of the broad way says Conscience and therefore go no longer no further in that way but turn thy Feet into the way of Peace If thou goest on still in thy trespasses thy Feet really go down to Death and thy steps will most certainly at length take hold on Hell 5. Would you be under the Power and Authority of Conscience Beg that the Lord himself would stand by and assist this his own Officer and then its Authority will be Exercised to purpose Then strong holds and Imaginations will be cast down and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowlege of God and every thought will be brought into Captivity unto the Obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. When the under-Officer is opposed an higher Magistrate comes with a greater force to help him in the discharging of his Duty If the King himself with a great Military power should be ready to assist a Constable supposing he were resisted none would then dare to withstand When the God of Heaven does Second and strengthen Conscience then all within a Man bows before it and yields unto it As 't is the presence of God and his gracious concourse that does bring Faith and Love and other Holy habits of the Soul into powerful exercise so 't is this which does make Conscience vigorously to do its Office That 's the Second thing implied in a good Conscience The due Exercise of its Authority and Power 3. The goodness of Conscience lies in its being wakeful and attentive What Physitians say concerning Melancholy that it has a tendency either to stupifaction or to distraction may truly be affirmed concerning sin that it has
(q) As dirty hands foul all they touch And those things most which are most pure and fine So our clay-hearts ev'n when we crouch To sing thy praises make them less divine Yet either this Or none thy portion is Herb. Misery p. 93. 6. Till Conscience be good how extreamly dangerous is our Estate We are the Children of Wrath the Sons of Death Condemned already not sure to be a day or hour out of that place of Torment where the Worm does not dye and the Fire none can quench When the Lord speaks to the Ungodly his mouth is full of threatnings his words are woes and curses and not one syllable of Encouragement or hope does he give them as long as they are resolved to continue in their wickedness Indeed if they are willing to have their Consciences and Conversations cleansed then he declares himself inclined to Mercy and to make them white as Wool or Snow though before red like Scarlet or like Crimson Isa 1. 16. 18. But as long as Conscience is secure and the sinner is resolved and obstinate alas God is angry with him every day the Vial is continually filling fuller and more wrath is treasured up against the day of wrath If the sinner turn not the Lord hath whet his Sword he hath bent his Bow and made it ready and who knows how soon the Arrow may be shot that may dispatch the sinner in the twinkling of an Eye and both kill and damn together 7. If Conscience be not good how great and intolerable may be the torture of it when it is awakened Solomon tells us That the Spirit of a Man may sustain his Infirmities but a wounded Spirit who can bear These wounds are made by sin as the Meritorious caus e and by the hand of God himself as an Holy Righteous Dreadful Sin-revenging Majesty The buffetings of Satan indeed are sometimes very troublesome and terrible but what are the buffetings of a Creature if compared with the blows and wounds of Him that is Almighty When God shall say to a sinful soul Behold I am against thee Ezek. 5. 8. When God shall run upon a Transgressor as a Giant and break him with breach upon breach surely his hands will not be strong his heart will not be able to endure 'T was a saying of Luther (q) Animus malè sibi conscius potiùs in mille rerum formas verteretur ac citiùs per saxa per ignes per ahaeneos montes denique ad Diabolum ipsum ferretur quam ad Deum accederet Luther Tom. 1. In Genes c. 43. That an evil Conscience being indeed wounded had rather be turned into a thousand forms had rather venture upon Rocks and Flames Mountains of brass nay upon the Devil himself than have to do with God The Design of which passage is to shew how terrible the Lord is unto a guilty and enraged Conscience Such are said to be Drunken but not with Wine unless it be the Wine of Astonishment and they are compared to a wild Bull in a Net being full of the Fury of the Lord and the Rebuke of God Isa 50. 20 21. If you look into Scripture you may find the Saints themselves complaining of these wounds in their Consciences Listen to Job Chap. 6. 2 3 4. O that my grief were throughly weighed and my Calamity laid in the Balances together For now it would be heavier thâ—â— the sand of the Sea therefore my words are swallowed up for the Arrows of the Almighty are within me the Poyson whereof drinketh up my spirit the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me The Psalmist speaks to the same purpose Psal 88. 14 15 16. Lord why castest thou off my soul why hidest thou thy Face from me I am Afflicted and ready to die from my youth up while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy terrors have cut me off And if Saints have drank so deep of this Cup of Trembling oh how bitter may it be to sinners (r) Est intus animi vigor Arce conditus abditâ Haec venena potentius Detrahunt hominem sibi Dira quae penitus meant Nec nocentia corpori Mentis vulnere saeviunt Boetius l. 4. Met. 3. pag. mihi 122. As therefore you would avoid the Lords contending with you which will make your spirits fail before him it should be your care to have a good Conscience 8. A good Conscience as it will make those that have it to be better and better themselves so it will render them exceedingly beneficial and make them blessings unto others A good Conscience like Rebecca of old is weary of the Daughters of Heth and is not satisfied unless the Flesh be like the house of Saul growing weaker and weaker and the Spirit be like the house of David growing stronger and stronger Conscience puts the Saints upon following on to know the Lord and following harder after him and though the least Grace deserve Infinite and Eternal thanks and Conscience urges unto praise yet withall it adds that the highest measures of Holiness are not to be rested in but still there must be a growing up into Christ in all things untill we arrive unto a perfect stature in his Kingdom A good Conscience will also make us publick Blessings unto others (s) Vir bonus est commune bonum It considers we are not Born or New-born onely for our selves It will make us beneficial to the Church and to the World 1. To the Church If there were more of Conscience it would hinder Animosities Contentions Divisions Declinings the decay of Love and of the Power of Godliness Conscience is for Peace and Unity and for walking as Saints and Brethren Mens Passions and Interests put them upon those courses that tend to Dividing and Destroying the Church of Christ 2. To the World A good Conscience will make us to put on Bowels and to compassionate Mankind 't will hinder us from Offending them and hardening them against Religion 't will make us pray for and endeavour the gaining and saving of them It will cause our Light so to shine before Men that they seeing our good Works may Glorifie our Father which is in Heaven and at length they may be brought to desire to become themselves of the Number of his Children I have done with the Reasons of the Doctrine I come now to the Application VSE 1. Shall be of Reproof If it should be the care of all to have a good Conscience alas whose heart may not smite him who has not Reason to acknowledge that a sharp Reproof is but justly due Conscience in these last and worst days seems to have left the Earth and truly till there are better Consciences there may not be better days or if there should be better times they would but prove a Judgment For if Mens Hearts are stupid under Adversity Prosperity is not likely to awaken them The Lord looks down from Heaven
destruction I would here propose these three things unto them whose Consciences are of so great a latitude 1. This largeness of Conscience argues great contempt of God and of his Will there is not a standing in aw of him and of his word His word is very strict his commands holy and requires that we should walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exactly and circumspectly this is to be wise to do otherwise is to discover the most dangerous folly Eph. 5. 15. What manner of persons sayes the Apostle ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness 2 Pet. 3. 11. But notwithstanding all this large consciences live at random as if preciseness were more ado than needs and as if the Lord did but jest in his Holy Precepts and those terrible threats which back them but they to their cost shall find and feel he is in good earnest 2. This largeness of Conscience is a shrewd sign that sinners are in the broad way They that can swallow camels 't is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle than for them to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven The Scribes and Pharisees of old did omit the weightier matters of the Law Judgement Mercy and Faith But Christ does denounce a wo unto them Mat. 23. 23. Largeness of Conscience discovers a great carelessness of the soul and too great an indifferency what becomes of it for ever And what souls are likely to miscarry if such be not We must work out our Salvation with fear and trembling if we will be saved 3. The larger Conscience is and the more is swalowed at present the greater hereafter will the account be We are all Stewards which must shortly give an account of our stewardship and though a◠present some like the steward in the Gospel many take their Bills and write Fourscore or Fifty for an Hundred Yet our Lord who will call us to an Account will be exact in reckoning and cannot be deceived by us His judgement is according to Truth Rom. 2. 2. And oh how many things will he condemn at the last day which sinners defend at present 'T will be indeed a day of Light and Manifestation both of things and persons Many persons that went for Saints will then be unmasked and found Hypocrites and have their sad portion with the Hypocrites And many things that where counted no sins will be found great sins and the lighter they were made of the more heavy and damnable they will prove unto the sinner A large Conscience therefore take heed of Attend unto the Law and to the Testimony which does discover evil and be afraid of every evil way 3. They are to be reproved whose Consciences are at peace but that peace has no solid and good foundation The most of sinners in the world have this false peace in their own Spirits sometimes they are a little awakened but are quickly hushed asleep again by that evil One who does destroy souls by thousands and by millions by carnal security Transgressors when first they venture upon sin their Consciences recoyl upon them but by degrees they grow senselesse Custom in sin and Quiet in sin do go commonly together (t) Primùm quando homo peccat videtur ei importabile processu temporis grave videtur paulo post leve judicat cùm crebris ictibus verberetur vulnera non sentit verbera non attendit In brevi vero temporis spacio non solùm non sentit sed placet dulce fit quod amarum erat asperum vertitur in suave Ad extremum non potest avelli quia consuetudo vertitur in naturam quod priùs ad faciendum erat impossibile jam impossibile est ad continendum Bernard De Consc c. 3. pag. 1109. One of the Fathers does excellently describe how the ungodly arrive unto this false peace At first sayes he sin does seem intolerable afterwards onely heavy after that being frequently given way to and Conscience stunned by many wounds makes no great matter of them in process of time sin is not burthensome at all but pleasant at last 't is turned into a second nature and the sinner can no more be drawn from it than the Ethiopian can change his skin or the Leopard his spots Jer. 13. 23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil A great many not onely Profane but Professors are concerned in this reproof and have no better than a false peace of Conscience Here therefore I am to shew what that peace of Conscience is which is false and also how unreasonable it is to give entertainment to it A false peace of Conscience I shall describe to you in these particulars 1. That peace of Conscience is false where Sin and Misery were never seen They who never perceived any harm in sin and wonder why the Lord in his word does speak so much against it and why his Ministers cannot let men quietly alone in the commission of it who never lookt so far as to behold that eternal death and destruction that is threatned to be brought upon the workers of iniquity these are at peace because they do not apprehend what reason they have to be troubled there is sufficient cause of grief and fear and horrour onely they want an eye to see it so as to be indeed affected There are some that are such fools as to make a mock of sin and count it a pastime to do wickedly These do no more understand what sin is nor the Hell which the Holy God has entail'd upon it than the mad-man understands what he does when he casts Fire-brands and Arrows and Death and saith am I not in sport Prov. 26. 18. Others though far from being indeed justified think they are righteous though sick after a deadly manner yet imagine they are whole and undervalue the great Physitian Both these sort of Persons have peace but 't is without ground for the former do grosly mistake sin and the later do as grosly mistake themselves 2. That peace of Conscience is false where the strong man armed keeps possession where Satan works and rules without resistance Our Lord sayes When the strong man armed keepeth his Palace his goods are in peace Luk. 11. 21. By the strong man we are to understand the Devil by his Palace we are to understand the sinners heart because as a King reigns and commands all especially in his Palace so the Devil bears sway in the hearts of the ungodly And a false peace and quiet is the great means whereby the Devils Rule and Government is upheld If you are careless and unconcerned whom you are led by 't is certain that the Devil leads you for none are led by the Spirit of God without great sollicitousness and fear of being misguided and strong cryes that they may be guided by his counsel unto his Kingdom and Glory Satan is
They see no evil in sin and they think the Lord sees none neither they love sin and they think God does not so much hate it or at least that he will connive at their wickedness Can there be a more gross mistake And how unreasonable is that Peace which is grounded upon such a mistake No secure Soul know God hates sin infinitely more than thou canst love it and though thou flatter thy self in thy own eyes for the present He will Reprove thee and set thy sins in Order before thee Oh now consider this ye that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver All thy Blessing of thy self cannot make thee Blessed all thy promises to thy self are vain for thou canst not perform one of them But the Lord both can and will fulfill his threatnings and cause the curse denounced to overtake thee 2. As long as a false Peace does last Satan is unlikely to be cast out Awakened and troubled Souls are afraid of being under his Power and in time look after Deliverance but they that are secure will swallow his Baits and follow this Enemy as long as he Sails with the stream of Corrupted Nature and tempts them to that which their own wicked hearts delight in And is it not sad to be in possession and at the Command of so Cruel an Enemy A Believers Heart is the Temple of the Holy Spirit but the Heart of a wicked Man is the hole of the Old Serpent Oh the danger that such are in to be stung to death and destroyed every moment The Jews did boulster up themselves with this That they were Abraham's Seed and they were foolishly confident that God was their Father But Christ speaks plainly Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father ye will do John 8. 44. The Devil is a Father to all presumptuous souls they do his Will and will be his Prey 3. This false Peace is very provoking and makes the breach between God and the Sinner still wider Barely to sin does not so much incense as to make Light of it and not to be troubled after sin has been committed The Apostle tells us that mens hardness and impenitency causes them to treasure up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath and the Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God Rom. 2. 5. If a Servant commit a fault and afterwards laugh in his Masters Face this is more insufferable than the fault it self Thou that canst forget God days without Number and yet art at Peace thou that canst neglect the Lord Jesus and his Benefits and yet art at peace that canst Live without the VVord and Prayer in secret and when thou prayest with others thy Heart is absent and yet art at peace Thou that canst be Intemperate Sensual Unclean Covetous Proud Slothful and yet art at peace Alas how much is God thine Enemy how bitterly dost thou provoke him unto Anger The lighter sin is made of the heavier 't will be sound and the weightier Gods indignation 4. This false Peace will be but short Job 20. 4 5. Knowest not thou this of Old since Man was placed upon the Earth that the Triumphing of the wicked is but short and the Joy of the Hypocrite but for a moment This false peace can last no longer than Life and Life is hasting to a Conclusion as the swift Ships unto the Haven and as the Eagle does unto the Prey How small is that satisfaction which the hungry man takes in a Dream of a Feast He Dreameth saith the Prophet and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his Soul is empty Isa 29. 8. Secure Souls do Dream that God is a Friend but when they awake they will find him an Enemy they Dream that they are whole but when they awake they will find that they are sick and if Hell wakes them they will find their case altogether Desperate and their Disease past Cure They Dream that they are Rich and increased with good things but when they awake they will perceive themselves empty and miserable False peace may fitly be compared to a Night-vision for as there is no real ground for it so 't is but of very short continuance 5. This false peace is threatned with sudden destruction Solomon tells us Prov. 29. 1. He that being often reproved hardneth his Neck shall suddenly be Destroyed and that without Remedy And the Apostle speaks to the same purpose 1 Thes 5. 3. When they shall say Peace and Safety then sudden Destruction cometh upon them as travel upon a Woman with Child and they shall not escape Have you never taken notice of a Man Labouring under the Falling-sickness He seems as well as any person in the VVorld eats as heartily walks as strongly as another but upon a sudden down he falls foams at Mouth beats his Breast and becomes a spectacle of great horror Sinners that have a false Peace look chearfully go up and down from day to day quietly as if no danger were near them but at length Death seizeth upon them and it seizeth on them suddenly for it finds them utterly unprepared and the first death is immediately followed by the second and if we could see them in Hell Ah how should we behold the Case altered How are they brought into Desolation as in a moment and utterly consumed with terror Psal 73. 19. All their vain hope is turned into a most tormenting despair all their false joy and peace is changed into inconceivable agonies and vexation of Spirit 6. This false peace of Conscience will very much heighten the Torment that shall follow As Heaven will be the Sweeter to Believers because of their foregoing Sorrows Sufferings and Temptations so Hell will be the more Bitter to the Ungodly because of their Confidence that they should scape it They that have a false peace do come many of them with an expectation to have the door of Heaven open to receive them Lord Lord open unto us as if they should say Lord Lord We are at the door and therefore let us have admission into thy Kingdom But when they find the door shut and shut for ever against them and instead of a place in Heaven they are thrown down into one of the hottest places in Hell Oh what weeping and wailing will be the consequent Death was the worse to the Amalekite that brought tidings of Sauls death to David because he expected a reward for his news 'T was more grievous to Agag to be hewed in pieces by Samuel before the Lord when he came forth delicately and said surely the Bitterness of Death is past So Hell will be the more intolerable unto them who fully reckoned upon it that they were secured from those burnings When a sinner that is in a false peace all his days is chased out of the world and beyond his expectation nay contrary to his expectation is turned into a flaming Hell We may conceive him thus speaking
withdraw his anger the proudest helpers must stoop under him Job 9. 13. 3. A despairing Conscience remembers sin and those threatnings that are denounced against it and is overwhelmed Oh the mountains of guilt which it does behold and these are high trespasses are grown up unto the Heavens and then it applies all the Curses all the evils that it reads in the Book of God unto it self there is a roll opened before it written within and without with Lamentations and Mourning and Wo to allude to that place Ezek. 2. ult Wherever the despairing sinner goes he is dog'd and followed with Legions of sins and Conscience is still tormenting it self with such sad thoughts How shall all these be answered for How shall that vengeance be undergone which so many iniquities and so heinous do deserve 4. A Despairing Conscience looks upon Christ and the Gospel and is more than ordinarily tormented to think there is help for others but for it self none to be found It calls to mind that once the door was open and the sinner was invited to come in but refused but now concludes the door is shut eternally once the Spirit strived but being resisted is departed for good and all so as never to return again Once sayes the despairing soul I had a day of Grace but I did not know it I did not improve it but now am overtaken by an Everlasting Night and shall never see day more The Prince of Peace the Gospel of Peace are hid from me the hopes of Peace are quite gone I have outdone the very Devils themselves and may expect if it be possible to be more miserable they never refused one offer of Mercy but I thousands they never slighted a pardon but I have slighted it and was unwilling to be reconciled to God they never rejected a Redeemer but I have rejected him and preferr'd vanity nay sin which is of such a damnable Nature before the only Saviour 5. A despairing Conscience remembers Death and Judgement and Eternity and then there is even a Roaring out for Anguish something like unto the yellings of those that actually are in the burning lake Ah how shall I bear the wrath of the Almighty when all of it shall be stirr'd up What ease can I expect in Everlasting Flames How shall I bear the society of the Devil and his Angels How shall I endure to be tormented for ever in the presence of the Holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb Rev. 14. 10. 'T is not more certain I must dye than 't is certain I must be judged 't is not more certain I must be judged than 't is certain I must be damned 't is not more certain I must be damned than 't is certain that my damnation will be Everlasting This is the Language of a despairing sinner and since to despair is to be upon such a wrack how are they to be reproved that sin against Conscience which has a tendency to despair 6. They are to be reproved who go about to wound and to ensnare the Consciences of Others How careful was the Apostle not to cast a snare upon the Corinthians 1 Cor. 7. 35. nor to enjoyn that as necessary where the Lord had not imposed a necessity and a little after he sticks not to say that they who sin against the Brethren and wound their weak Conscience do sin against Christ 1 Cor. 8. 12. And if I am not by an imprudent use of my Christian liberty to embolden another to venture upon sin against Conscience surely much lesse may I do this either by constraint or by perswasion If it argue want of Love and be a great sin to impair the Estate to blemish the reputation to hurt the body of my Brother how much worse than all this is it to wound his Conscience Those who have no mercy to the Souls of Others surely have little to their Own and they will make bold with their own Consciences who have no care no tenderness in reference to the Consciences of their Brethren Several sorts of persons are here concerned as being injurious to others Consciences 1. False Prophets are injurious to the Consciences of others These do speak perverse things to draw away Disciples after them the Apostle deals very sharply with these he calls them Dogs and bids us beware of them Phil. 3. 2. Beware of Dogs beware of evil workers No wonder that Paul stiles them Dogs since Christ before had call'd them Wolves nay ravening Wolves False Prophets especially strike at Conscience and endeavour to mis-inform That and if once they can prevail so as to make the Conscience put darkness for light and light for darkness a lye for Truth and Truth for a Lye how may souls be carried away truly so far at length as to fall into damnable Heresies and also into grosse impieties and wickedness Those deceived and deceiving ones spoken of 2 Pet. 2. They walked in the lusts of Vncleanness they counted it pleasure to Riot their Eyes were full of Adultery and could not cease from sin their Heart was exercised with Covetous practices and while they talked of Liberty they were themselves the Servants of Corruption 2. Dawbers with untempered Mortar are concerned Conscience is little beholding to them for they heal the wound of it slightly crying Peace Peace where there is no Peace Jer. 6. 14. How miserable is the condition of unfaithful Ministers and likewise of those Souls that belong to their charge The Watchman that gives not warning the Blood of Souls indeed will lye upon his Head but this implies that such Souls do also perisâ— Ezek. 33. 7 8. O Son of Man I have set thee a Watchman unto the House of Israel therefore thou shalt Hear the Word at my Mouth and shalt warn them from me When I say to the wicked man thou shalt surely dye if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way that wicked man shall dye in his iniquity but his Blood will I require at thine hand If an unskilful Physician has need of a new Church-yard what shall be said of an unskilful or unfaithful Preacher I will not affirm he has need of a new Hell but I am sure he will help very much to fill the Old one Those that make the way to Heaven broad and easie and regeneration needless and the Death of Christ an encouragement to continue in sin and the Mercy of God so large that 't will put up any thing and will certainly be extended unto any that cry Lord have mercy upon us These are Dawbers enemies to Conscience they build a Wall that shall be rent with a stormy wind in fury and brought down to the ground and they shall be consumed in the midst of it Ezek. 13. 13. 14. 3. All enticers unto Wickedness are cruel Enemies to the Consciences of others If there be a Devil incarnate he is such an one whose businesse is to tempt those to sin whom he has to deal with
of the Lord will still strive if he meet with nothing but resistance dost thou think that Mercy will still be offered if that Offer be nothing else but rejected Dost thou think that the day of Grace will still continue if it be eat and drunk and slept and play'd and sinn'd away Dost thou consider how easie 't is for God to destroy thee And if he does it he will ease himself of a Burthen For he is pressed with thy Iniquities as a Cart is pressed that is full of sheaves Amos 2. 13. Nay he threatens to do it which should make thee as secure as thou art horribly afraid concerning those Sinners that did refuse and rebell that did refuse to turn and did resolve to rebell Thus saith the Lord the Lord of Hosts the Mighty One of Israel Ah I will ease me of mine Adversaries and avenge me on my Enemies Isa 1. 24. 8. That Conscience may be awakened Behold and Know thy self To understand our selves is a great part of Wisdom to live and die Ignorant of our selves (c) Miser nimiùm Qui cunctis notus moritur Ignotus moritur sibi Seneca is not to see what 's our Happiness what 's our Misery till 't is too late to obtain the one to avoid the other How do the ungodly mistake every thing They mistake sin for they think it pleasant they mistake the World for they think 't will make them happy they mistake Satan for they think there is no harm in yielding to his Temptations they mistake the Lord for they think him an hard Master and his Commands grievous they mistake themselves for they think they are what they are not and that they are not what they are Look therefore into your selves Sinners and there are five things you should take notice of which may help very much to startle Conscience 1. Take Notice of your Guilt Ah how have your offences abounded You have Sinned alone you have Sinned in Company you have Sinned in every place in every Relation in every Capacity in every Employment nay you have Sinned in every Duty that you have performed unto God himself How should such Guilty Souls tremble We blame the stupidness of a Malefactor that is in Prison for several Crimes the least of which is enough to Hang him Oh blame thy self for being unconcerned at thy many thousands of Transgressions the least of which is enough to damn thee 2. Take Notice of thy weakness Art thou O Man a Match for God Hast thou an Arm like the Lord Or canst thou Thunder with a voice like him Canst thou deck thy self with Majesty and Excellency and array thy self with Glory and Beauty Canst thou cast abroad the Rage of thy Wrath and behold every one that is proud and abase him Job 40. 9 10 11. Poor VVorm thou dwellest in a House of Clay whose Foundation is in the dust thou art no more able to stand against God than dryed stubble before devouring flames or Chaff before the fiercest VVhirle-wind 3. Take Notice of thy Mortality How quickly may thy breath go forth and thou return to thy Earth and all thy thoughts perish Psal 146. 4. How soon maist thou be hid in the dust and thy face bound in secret Dost not thou Observe Men as great as young as rich as strong as thy self carried to their Graves VVhy should thy Conscience be secure as if thou wert sure to be out of the reach of Death for these several Years It does infinitely concern thee to awake to Righteousness presently and to work for God and for thy Soul while 't is day for the Night is coming is just at hand and there is no VVisdom nor working in the Grave whither thou art apace going 4. Take Notice of the Immortality of thy better part thy Precious Soul (d) T was a notable saying and observation of Hierocles upon Pythagoras 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is T is the wicked man that is unwilling his soul should be immortal Thy Body indeed must lie senseless in the Grave till the last day but thy Spirit must return to God who gave it As the Spirits of Just Men immediately after death are made perfect in the Heavenly Jerusalem so the spirits of the Ungodly are thrown into Hell when separated from their Bodies for the soul has been the principal subject of sin and most Active in wickedness and therefore does more early begin to be tormented The Sodomites are said to be now suffering the Vengeance of eternal fire Jude 7. which shews plainly that their Souls are now in Hell for if their Bodies and Souls were asleep together they would not truly be said to suffer that vengeance 5. Take notice of the eternal Duration both of Soul and Body after the Resurrection Body and Soul which Death does part must be joyned again and as they have been Companions together in Sin so they must share together in Everlasting Punishment Thou maist be weary of thy Being sinner and wish thou hadst never had it or that it might be taken away but thy wish will not be granted Thou must endure as long as God does and since thou must Be for ever Awake awake that thou maist not be for ever miserable 9. That Conscience may be awakened Behold how the Judge stands before the Door James 5. 9. the coming of the Lord draws nigh and is still nearer and nearer Yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 37. Oh think of that day when the World shall be on Fire about your Ears when the Lord shall come with Clouds and every Eye shall see Him and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him when the Sun shall become black as a sackcloth of hair and the Moon shall be like blood when the Heaven shall depart as a scroll when 't is rolled together and every Mountain and Island shall be removed out of their places when the Lord Jesus shall sit upon his great white Throne and all the dead both small and great shall stand before him and shall be judged according to their works Rev. 20. 11. 12. Consider seriously 1. How glorious the Judge will be at that day he will come attended with Legions of Angels Oh the Majesty and Brightness of our Lord when he shall appear the second time he appeared the first time in the form of a Servant because he was to be obedient unto Death for the sins of men but then he will be seen as he is 't will be evident to all that he is the Son of God and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Brightness of his Fathers glory 2. How powerful will this Judge be found All the Devils and the Reprobate world will be then together and yet they will not be able to make their part good against him but he will Judge and Condemn and put the Sentence which he passes upon them in Execution 3. How Righteous will the whole proceeding
ebbing or flowing of any Humour in the Body Load is laid on by the Spirit of God and the burthen presses continually untill the Comforter take it off The Psalmist says that his sore ran in the Night and ceased not Psal 77. 2. So Psal 38. 6. I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long 5. Melancholy makes a Man to fear every thing almost though there be no just ground of fear VVhen he goes to Bed he fears he shall die in his sleep and not Live till Morning Though in never so good a Trade he fears that God will blast him in his Estate and that he shall fall into extream poverty Melancholy persons are tortured with a fear of being Distracted and running stark Mad many times and then they think what a sad spectacle they shall be when they are in Bedlam and if Professors how much Religion will be Reproached upon their Account Many times they fear the appearing of the Devil in some terrible shape and that thereby they shall be frighted out of their wits 'T is ordinary for them to have sad fore-boding thoughts of ill to themselves as that some grievous Calamity is not far off from them or theirs and that their lives will be very short and within a little while they shall be in another VVorld They can hardly hear of any that have Hang'd or Drown'd themselves but they fear (g) Quos malè habet hic morbus tristes sunt solitarii formidulosi pertinaces phantasias quasdam sibi faciunt quae nec sunt nec esse possunt falsa multa imaginantur timent non metuenda sine causâ moerent animumque macerant they shall do the like one time or other I might spend a whole day in naming the fears of these sorrowful souls And if Fear have Torment as the Apostle speaks 1 John 4. 18. How tormenting is Melancholy that is so full of Fear But a troubled Conscience eyes and fears the Wrath of an Almighty God and that principally Psal 88. 7. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves Selah And v. 16 17. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy terrors have cut me off they came round about me daily like water they compassed me about together 'T is not Poverty Disgrace Death that is so much dreaded but a Jealous and highly provoked God is terrible and therefore when the Lord promises to revive such Consciences he says he will cease to be Angry and to contend Isa 57. 16. For I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wrath lest the Spirit fail before me and the Souls which I have made 6. In Melancholy there are strange hurryings in the Heart 't is snatched and carried away and some amazing thoughts are upon a sudden injected about Spiritual things but there is no Scripture-ground alledged for them Some under this Distemper will cry out they are meer Hypocrites and as if they had look'd into the black Book of Gods Reprobation will peremptorily say their Names have been written there from everlasting Others will cry out that the day of Grace is past and gone and that God has sworn concerning them in his wrath that they shall never enter into his Rest Now as the God of Heaven does walk upon the Wings of the Wind so Satan the God of this World does walk upon these Melancholick winds mixes himself with them and terrifies the Soul with the fear of Damnation And oh with what astonishment does a poor Melancholick Creature think of being damned everlastingly Many times Satan tells them that the longer they Live they will but fill the Vial fuller of wrath and but add more fewel to that Fire which must be their Portion for ever and hereupon follow temptations to self-murther and upon all convenient Occasions when they are alone by Water or see a Rope or a Knife Do it Do it is violently urged in upon them But if you ask these Melancholy souls why they conclude themselves Hypocrites and Reprobates not one Scripture can they produce to prove it VVhereas on the other side in trouble of Conscience the Conviction is plainly grounded on the word of God The awakened VVorldling hears his Covetousness called Idolatry the awakened VVhore-monger perceives evidently that no unclean Person shall inherit the Kingdom of God The awakened Swearer reads that his Oaths will make him fall into condemnation They believe those threats and know that they are guilty therefore they are Afflicted and look out after a Remedy and cry to be turned from their Iniquities and Reconciled unto God 7. In Melancholy Druggs are profitable gentle Remedies for violent are by no means to be used (h) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hippocrates Aphor. may be blessed to give ease But as for trouble of Conscience Hei mihi quod nullis dolor est Medicabilis Herbis Alas no Herbs can here at all avail The whole Colledge of Physitians would be here at a loss VVhen the Italian Doctors came to Visit Spira in his distress He spake these words Alas poor Men how far wide are you Do you think that this Disease is to be Cured by Potions Believe me there must be another manner of Medicine It is neither Plaisters nor Drugs that can help a fainting Soul cast down with the sense of sin and the wrath of God 'T is onely Christ that must be the Physitian and the Gospel the Soul-Antidote But here I must add that where the trouble is mixt partly from Melancholy and partly from a wounded Conscience proper Physick and especially a well-ordered Diet and Exercise must be used for the one as the blood of Christ is the alone sutable Remedy for the other 8. Melancholy alone never alienates the Heart from sin Several that Labour under this distemper in their lucid intervals will be as vain as any nay sometimes they have strange and strong inclinations to Uncleanness and too much yield unto them they will most Prodigally mispend their time which is much more precious than Gold that perishes and exceedingly give way to sensuality and the pretence is their Melancholy VVhen in their doleful fits they have been afraid of Hell and have concluded they should be damned as certainly as either Cain or Judas yet when that fit of Melancholy is over how will they yield unto Temptation they are as proud as before as passionate and worldly as ever and none of this troubles them This Malady also does mightily indispose them to Duty it makes the Heart like a stock or stone Indeed this blockishness where there is Grace is a burthen but in others not so Duty onely is a Burthen not their indisposition to it But now trouble of Conscience if right helps much to break that League between the Soul and Corruptions it causes great tenderness and fear of sin and very much incites to Prayer and other Holy Duties which God has Commanded and wherein Communion with
non placeamus Luther Tom. 2 p. 485. a. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew to the Heirs of Promise the immutability of his Counsel confirmed it by an Oath that by two immutable things wherein it was impossible for God to lye we might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us When God swears in his wrath it may make obstinate sinners to Tremble but when he swears in his Love it may cause humble sinners to Rejoyce And not only the Oath of God but the Death of Christ the Testator makes this Covenant sure A Testament though alterable while men are living yet 't is of force when they are dead Heb. 9. 16 17. Our Lord Jesus the Testator has undergone Death and has bequeathed unto all broken-hearted sinners that come to him and are willing to be wholly His Pardon and Grace and Peace and Glory and therefore all this shall be surely given them 3. The Covenant is Everlasting the things therein promised are durable and that love which humble and believing Souls have an interest in is unchangeable The Covenant shall never fail on Gods part Isa 54. 10. The Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee nor the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath Mercy upon thee And he has engaged it shall not fail on the part of his People Jer. 32. 40. I will make with them an Everlasting Covenant that I will not turn away from them to do them good but how Lord if they fall back and deal treacherously No sayes he I will put my Fear into their Hearts that they shall not depart from me 4. The Promises of this New Covenant are made good for the Lords own sake not for ours well may it be called a Covenant of Grace for whatsoever is given by vertue of it is bestowed freely Let free Grace be well studied and all objections from unworthinesse will fall to the ground God never pardon'd any because they did Deserve a pardon but all that he has pardon'd had they been dealt with according to their sins had been condemned everlastingly O you troubled Consciences hark how the Lord speaks Isa 43. 24. 25. Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins and even wearied me with thy iniquities One would have thought that hereupon God should have said I will now make thee to groan under my wrath and my wearied patience shall be turned into fiery indignation Oh no the Lord instead of breathing forth anger abounds with Kindness I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my own sake and will not remember thy sins And as for his own sake he promises to pardon the guilty so also to cleanse and renew the defiled A new heart will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you I will put within you my own Spirit and he shall cause you to walk in my Statutes I will save you from all your Vncleannesses Ezek. 36. 26 27 28 And then it follows v. 32. Not for your sakes do I this saith the Lord God be it known to you be ashamed and confounded for your own wayes O House of Israel 9. For the relieving of a troubled Conscience heed those encouragements and assurances which are given unto such as desire after Grace and Holiness Christ pronounces them blessed that Hunger and Thirst that is which desire earnestly after Righteousness Mat. 5. 6. God has promised to fulfill the desires of them that fear him But those under trouble of Spirit are full of Holy desires let them not be dismay'd all their desire is before God and their groaning is not hid from him I told you before that a lazy wish after Grace signifies nothing where there is stronger desire to continue in sin and that desire keeps a man under the power of sin and hinders his turning unto God But this is certainly true that a true desire after Grace does argue Truth of Grace If you ask me how true desires after Grace may be known I shall answer in these particulars 1. True desires after spiritual things are grounded upon Judgement and Vnderstanding Davids mind was enlightned to see the goodness al sufficiency and glory of God and therefore he cryes out my Soul Thirsteth for God for the living God Psal 42. 2. Through the precepts of the Lord he got understanding and perceived the Evil of sin and upon this followed Hatred of it which does include a desire to have it totally subdued 2. True desires after spiritual things are not to be diverted but do prevail whatever is cast in the way Let the World and the God of it make never so big offers all is undervalued in comparison of the favour of God and fellowship with him Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee All things else are counted losse and dung compared with the Lord Jesus and the Pearle of price 3. True desires are Vniversal after All kind of Grace Strength against every Corruption is longed for and 't is lookt upon as a blessed thing to be filled with all the Fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the Glory and Praise of God Phil. 1. 4. True desires put Souls upon earnest seeking There will be frequency and fervency in Prayer a serious attendance upon God in his Ordinances pains will not be grudged that are taken for the securing of a Soul for the obtaining such excellent things as the Loving kindnesse of God the Grace of his Spirit and a Kingdom that cannot be moved One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after Psal 27. 4. I might also add that these desires are permanent not pangs that soon wear off but they do abide there is also grief and pain because there is so little of that which is desired so little life and softness of heart and purity and though never so much is given yet they are unsatiable here on Earth These desires will be fully satisfied with no lesse than the seeing of God face to face above Psal 17. 15. As for me I will behold thy Face in Righteousnesse I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness 10. For the comforting of an afflicted Conscience cast your eyes upon those notorious Sinners (t) Deus non fictos sed veros peccatores salvat quia non ficta sed vera est ejus misericordia Luther Tom. 2. p. 187. a. which have obtained Mercy Was Saul an ordinary sinner that had been a Blasphemer or David that had been guilty of Murther and Adultery or Solomon that is charged with idolatry or the Corinthians that abused themselves with mankind besides several other abominations What Miracles of free Grace are these and yet it has not done the most it can Let us suppose a greater sinner than any mentioned in Scripture he is
every where present as that we are continually under his Power the Psalmist tell us that his Kingdom ruleth over all Psal 103. 19. His Eyes run too and fro to shew himself strong on the behalf of them whose hearts are perfect with him And he is 〈◊〉 mighty to beat down and to destroy his Enemies he can make destruction to come upon them like a Whirlewind and though they may promise themselves safety yet they can in no wise secure themselves against his Almighty hand 3. God is every way present by his very Essence oh the incomprehensible immensity of his being He is not far says the Apostle from every one of us Act. 17. that is he is really neer us for in him we live move and have our being (e) Nos gentes nationesque distinguimus Deo una domus est mundus hic totus Reges tantum regni sui per officia ministrorum universa novére Deo indiciis opus non est non solum in oculis ejus sed in sinu vivimus Cuncta deo plena sunt Minutius Foelix p. mihi 80. You must not imagine that the Essence of God is divided so as to be part in Earth and part in Heaven but after an unconceivable manner 't is whole in it self whole in all things whole in every thing 't is whole within all whole without all 't is not mingled or defiled with any thing 't is no where included no where excluded nothing does or can contain it and yet by it all things are contained surely then this God does compasse our paths wherever we go and is acquainted with all our wayes Psal 139. 3. In the second place I am to shew you how we are to look upon God when we set our selves before him 1. We are to look upon God as our Maker 'T was a complaint made by Elihu Job 35. 10. None saith where is God my Maker He is the former of our bodies and the Father of our Spirits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are his off spring and we should be often enquiring to what end he made us which was that we might yeild fear and service and love and praise to him that gave us our beings and if we thwart the end of our Creation and serve our lusts and Satan who are our Makers Enemies he may repent of making us as he did concerning the old World and then destruction will follow 2. We are to look upon God as our Owner We are not our own who can lay claim to us Satan by right cannot all that dominion that he has over us is by usurpation and our being so foolish and wicked as to subject our selves voluntarily to him But the Lord is by right our owner to him we are debtors and owe all that we have and are We are not just unlesse we yeild our selves to him 3. We are to look upon God as our Ruler 'T was a very prophane brag of those Psal 12. 4. Who is Lord over us God ought to be acknowledged as our Lord and if he be not obeyed as such he will shew himself a Lord by breaking us if we will not bow before him We should often be asking our selves whose servants we are if sins if Satans we should propound another question What wages these are likely to give us and should we toyl and work hard to make our selves miserable and bring our selves to Death and Hell Onely the Lord has a right to rule us We should still be enquiring what his will is and since he is the supream Soveraign of Heaven and Earth and is so Holy Righteous Gracious his will should never be thwarted by ours but we should endeavour to do it on Earth as 't is done by those in Heaven There is abundant sweetness at present in being not wedded to our own wills in obeying the Lords will besides the future infinite recompence of reward He that doth the will of God abideth for ever 1 John 2. 17. 4. When we set our selves before God we are to look upon him as our preserver 'T is of his Mercy that the Children of men are not consumed their provocations are many but he being full of Compassion spares them Our sins have been crying out against us all our dayes and Satan would fain have destroyed and devoured us long ago but God is Rich in Goodness and forbearance Rom. 2. 4. The Ox knows his owner and the Asse his Master crib and shall we never consider to whom we are beholding he is the God of our lives and the Father of every Mercy which we receive 't is both our duty and interest to walk worthy of and suitable unto his Care and Kindness especially if we are Believers for then he is not only the Father of our Mercies but our Father likewise (f) Falsa theologia est Deum iratum esse agnoscentibus peccata sua talis enim Deus nec in coelo nec usquam est sed est idolum perversi cordis quia verus Deus dicit Nolo mortem peccatoris Luther Tom. 4. 383. a. and being always under our Fathers eye we should follow him as dear Children Eph. 5. 1. 5. We are to look upon God as Him who alone can make us happy Sin cannot do it for it has a quite contrary effect how many millions has it undone and made miserable for ever and daily 't is undoing more The World cannot make us happy for if the world had had power to do this Solomon being exalted to the top of worldly greatness and having so much of wealth and Earthly pleasures that he could not desire more would not in the midst of all have cryed out all is vanity and vexation of Spirit and there is no profit under the Sun Eccle. 2. 11. The Lord can satisfie the Soul of man though other things cannot He can supply all our needs according to his Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus Phil. 4. 19. he can do more then our Souls can desire or conceive nay exceeding abundantly above all that we either ask or think Let us be perswaded that if ever we are happy God must make us so and that he makes us happy no other way but by giving himself and Communicating his Grace to us in his Son and this will cause us to cleave unto him 6. We are to look upon God as one that is very jealous of us lest we go a whoring after other Lovers we are really idolaters if we love other things more than God and Idolatry is Spiritual Adultery and if Jealousie be the rage of man how much more is the Lords jealousie to be feared we should call that Wife impudent with a witness that should commit lewdness before her Husbands face Spiritual whoredom is never committed but God looks on Oh how daring are the Children of men Think of Gods jealousie when your hearts are about to depart from him and to be taken so exceedingly with the things of the world Hark to the
then Learn if the Conversation be bad Conscience must needs be bad also If wickedness be Ordinarily practised in the Life 't is a sign either that Conscience is stupid and takes little notice of what is done or if it does observe yet 't is without power to restrain and hinder it 2. Learn what an Happiness 't is to a Nation to have much of a Good Conscience among them This will hinder Warres and Fightings and Confusion this will hinder Injustice and Oppression and Uncleanness This would cause Unity and Peace turning our Swords into Plough-shares and our Spears into Pruning-hooks and prevent our hurting and destroying one another any more Isa 11. 6 7 8 9. Those are Enemies to the common Good who endeavour to debauch the Consciences of men for they go the ready way to fill the places where they live with all Impiety and Unrighteousness VSE II. Of Advice which shall be in the words of the Psalmist Shew that you have indeed a good Conscience by departing from Evil and by doing Good Psal 37. 27. 1. Depart from Evil. There cannot possibly be a greater Evil than Sin this is the procuring Cause of all other evils there had never been any such thing as Sickness Pain Death Hell if Sin had never been Sin dos alienate from God Col. 1. 21. 'T is a most base Employment we cannot be engaged in fouler and filthier work than in working of Iniquity and is there any good that comes of it No no the works of Darkness are Unfruitfull Rom. 6. 21. What fruit had ye then in those works whereof ye are now ashamed All will repent of these evil works sooner or later the sooner the better for to repent in Hell will be too late Mind therefore your Consciences bidding you cease to do Evil else Evil will be extremely aggravated But if Evil be forsaken the great Bar to Mercy is removed and God is ready to pardon and be at peace with you Isa 55. 7. 2. Learn to do well Conscience will be pleased if God be pleased God is a Gracious Lord compare Him and Sin together Him and Satan together His Commands are not grievous he is ready to help you to do whatever he requires and to work all your works in you and for you Isa 26. 12. Your work if truely good will be wages because of that Peace and Joy at present to be found in the way of Righteousness for by good works it appears that Faith is of the right kind is the Faith of Gods Elect. Finally you must be judged according to your VVorks Rev. 22. 12. Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be As you would stand at that day up and be doing the work of the Lord now I have done with that fourth Doctrine A good Conscience has a great and lasting Influence upon the Life and all the Actions Doct. 5. The fifth Doctrine is this A good Conscience steels a mans Heart with courage and makes him fearless before his Enemies Paul earnestly beheld the Councel He was not afraid to face them because his Conscience was clear Nay we read that Foelix the Judge trembled while Paul the Prisoner was confident the reason was because the Judge had a bad Conscience which flew in his face when he heard of Righteousness Temperance and Judgement to come Act. 24. 25. but the Prisoner being acquitted by a good Conscience did not tremble but rejoyce at the thoughts of Judgement to come VVhen Bradford was brought before the Chancellour he thought to brow-beat him but could not Bradford look'd him steadfastly in the Face and out-look'd him and then look'd up to Heaven I do not wonder that he did not fear the the Look of a Popish Bishop who was not afraid as it appeared afterwards of a fiery Faggot Now the grounds why those that have a good Conscience are Fearless be these 1. The Strength of God who is engaged for them is everlasting Isa 26. 4. In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength 2. As his Strength so his Covenant and Kindness are also everlasting Isa 54. 10. For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my Kindness shall not depart from thee nor the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy upon thee Nothing shall be able to separate Believers from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. ult 3. Let the weakness of Enemies be considered Why should he that has a good Conscience be afraid of a Man that shall die and of the Son of man that shall be made as Grass 4. As Enemies are weak so they are limited they are absolutely under Gods Power they are as a staffe in his hand and cannot move or strike but as he pleases Let not the Axe boast it self against him that heweth therewith Isa 10. 15. Why should a good Conscience be afraid of the Axe since the Lord in whose hand the Axe is is so sure and great a Friend 5. There is an excellent Promise That what Men do mean for Evil shall turn to Good Nay all all things shall work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. God does admirably over-rule the Sins of men and does make these subservient to his own Glory and the Good of his people (i) Bonum est ut mala sint aliter non sineret Deus ut mala essent non sinit autem nolens utique sed volens Augustin The Selling of Joseph was the Preservation of Israel the Persecuting of the Christians the Enlargement of the Church the Killing and Death of Christ the Redemption and Salvation of Mankind VSE I. Of Encouragement to the Saints the Lord takes care to secure them from Fear as well as Harm His Spirit dwells in them to comfort them and Conscience is commanded to speak Peace unto the Sons of Peace in the Lords Name (k) Injustè torqueris quid nunc diceres si juste nullum nempe tormentum conscientia majus est illâ incolumi externâ haec despicito intra te est consolatur tuus Quosdam career ad insignem gloriam alios ad eximiam fortunam multos ad coelum misit ad sepulchrum omnes nullum cepit quem non redderet Petrarch VSE II. Of Caution Take heed of wounding Conscience for that will make you exceeding timerous If you comply a little in a sinfull way and use any unlawfull Means for securing of your selves this will spoyl your Peace and your Confidence and you must expect greater straits to make you see the folly of the Course you have taken And 't will be very sad to have a Storm without and a Tempest within at the same time VSE III. Of Terrour to Believers Adversaries There is very good reason why Fear should seize upon them they are engaged in bad work they have a bad Conscience and their End if they go on in this way
that there is but an hairs breadth between them and Death between them and Hell and inform them that 't is possible even for the most Profane to be saved if they come and submit to the Lord Jesus and break off their sins by Righteousness 3. O Conscience speak unto the Civilized sinners that trust in their own Righteousness Tell them that the Prophet counted his Righteousnesses as filthy Rags Isa 64. 6. And ask them how they dare to trust in theirs Convince them that 't is not enough to escape the more scandalous wickednesses for the Pharisee was not an Extortioner nor Vnjust nor an Adulterer he Fasted and Prayed and gave Tithes of all that he Possessed and yet all this could not Justifie him Tell them that they are not so whole but they need Christ the Physitian and must needs die without him as well as others Tell them that their very Hearts must be renewed and taken off from sin and the Creature and turned unto God else they must of Necessity perish 4. Speak O Conscience unto Hypocritical Professors tell them that that which is highly esteemed among Men is abomination many times in the sight of God Say to them in the words of the Apostle and be sure to speak home Gal. 6. 7 8. Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a Man Soweth that shall he also Reap He that soweth unto the Flesh shall of the Flesh Reap Corruption Tell them that their Secret sins their secret Intemperance and Uncleanness and Dishonest dealing is set in the Light of Gods Countenance and though they may shut their own Eyes and not see God yet they cannot shut Gods Eyes nor hinder him from seeing them Tell them that Hypocrisie is most hateful and that as Hell is prepared for the Devil and his Angels so in a special manner for the Hypocrite and the Unbeliever 5. O Conscience speak unto the Rich in this world and tell them how hard 't is for them to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and as long as they love the World and desire it more than Communion with God 't is utterly impossible Bid them to think of the Rich Man in the Gospel that went from a great Estate and from a full Table and a brave House and sumptuous Fare unto a place of Torment Put them in mind that the Love of Money is the root of all evil and that wealth has proved unto Millions onely like a weight to sink them into Destruction and perdition Bid them mind a Treasure in Heaven which is infinitely better than Gold and Silver which are Corruptible 6. Speak O Conscience to the Poor and tell them 't will be sad for them to be miserable in both Worlds 't will be sad to receive evil things here and ten thousand times worse hereafter Bid them take heed of Lying and Stealing and trusting in any sinful course for a Livelihood but perswade them to seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness that all other things which are needful may be added to them Mat. 6. 33. Charge them to be Poor in Spirit to be contented with their Condition without murmuring against God or envying at those who have more than themselves and above all things to endeovour that they may be rich towards God Rich in Faith and then they will be Heirs of the Kingdom which the Lord has promised to them that Love him James 2. 5. 7. O Conscience speak unto Traders of all sorts tell them that false Weights and Measures and Balances are an abomination in the sight of God When they are about to Cheat give them a check and assure them that an Estate gotten by fraud is attended with a Curse Be with them in their Shops and at the Exchange observe how they Buy and Sell and examine all their gains bid them to mete the same measure unto others that they would have mete unto themselves and to do as they would be done unto Mat. 7. 12. Tell them that 't is the height of Madness to venture the losing of their Souls for a pound or for a shilling or for Six-pence unjustly gained since Christ who knew the value of Souls says that a Soul is more worth than the World and all the Wealth of it put together 8. Speak O Conscience unto Back-sliders tell them that it had been better for them never to have known the way of Truth and Righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the Holy Commandment delivered to them 2 Pet. 2. 21. Call them Dogs for returning to their Vomit and Swine for wallowing again in their former Mire Tell them that where there was but one unclean Spirit before they are likely to be possessed with seven now and the latter end will be worse with them than the beginning 9. O Conscience speak unto them that are truly humbled for sin and are willing to have Christ upon any terms and tell them that God is rich in Mercy ready to forgive freely the Debt of many thousand Talents These are the Sons of Peace and therefore let thy Peace and thy Lords Peace come and abide upon them (m) Futurae beatudinis non est certius testimonium quam bona conscientia mundus enim volubilitate circumvoletur ploret ridea pereat transeat nunquam conscientia mercessit Bernard lib. de Conscen c. 4. Those that mourn for their Iniquities and hate every false way and are desirous to be washed and Sanctified by the Spirit of Christ as well as Justified and reconciled by his Blood oh be sure to comfort them tell them that the Lord will not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax untill he send forth Judgment unto Victory Mat. 12. 20. Bid them not to be cast down not to be disquieted but to hope in the Lord and praise him who is so nigh to them that are of broken Heart and saveth such as be of a contrite Spirit 10. Lastly O Conscience speak one word to the Preacher himself and speak effectually Thou that Teachest others be sure to Teach and Learn thy self Practice not the sins thou cryest out against neglect not the Duties thou urgest others to perform Be not like those who dig in Mines and enrich others but are poor themselves Or like that Statue in Greece which shewed the way to Thebes and Athens but it self stirred not Oh take heed lest after thou hast Preached Christ and Conscience unto others thou thy self be found a cast-away FINIS A Poem out of Mr. George Herbert Called Longing pag. 142 143 144 145. WIth sick and Famisht Eyes With doubling Knees and weary Bones To thee my cries To thee my groans To thee my sighs my Tears ascend No end My Throat my Soul is hoarse My heart is wither'd like a ground Which thou dost curse My thoughts turn round And make me giddy Lord I fall Yet call From thee all pity flows Mothers are kind because thou art And dost dispose To them apart Their Infants them and they suck thee More free Bowels of pity hear Lord of my Soul love of my mind Bow down thine ear Let not the wind Scatter my words and in the same Thy Name Look on my sorrows round Mark well my Furnace O what flames What heats abound What griefs what shames Consider Lord Lord bow thine ear And hear Lord Jesu thou didst bow Thy dying head upon the Tree O be not now More dead to me Lord hear Shall he that made the ear Not hear Behold thy dust doth stir It moves it creeps it aims at thee Wilt thou deferr To succour me Thy pile of dust wherein each crumb Says Come To thee help appertains Hast thou left all things to their course And laid the reins Upon the horse Is all lockt hath a sinners plea No key Indeed the World 's thy book Where all things have their leaf assign'd Yet a meek look Hath interlin'd Thy board is full yet humble guests Find nests Thou tarriest while I die And fall to nothing thou dost reign And rule on high While I remain In bitter grief yet I am I stil'd Thy child Lord didst thou leave thy throne Not to relieve how can it be That thou art grown Thus hard to me Were sin alive good cause there were To bear But now both sin is dead And all thy promises live and bide That wants his head These speak and chide And in thy bosome pour my tears As theirs Lord JESU heal my heart Which hath been broken now so long That ev'ry part Hath got a tongue Thy beggers grow rid them away To day My love my sweetness hear By these thy feet at which my heart Lies all the year Pluck out thy dart And heal my troubled brest which cries Which dyes