ready to quarrell with God and to fall out with him as if he had greatly wronged him God saith unto him doest thou well to be angry yea saith he I do well to be angry even unto death His words are very high words of a passionate spirit blinded with anger rather then with any expresse rebellion Very needfull therefore is it that such should have conscience as a Controuler to check them Againe others their Affections are disorderly placed on wrong objects likeing those whom they should dislike and loving those whom they should loath such was the blind Affection of Jehoshaphat to Ahab I am saith he as thou art 2 Chron. 18 3. 2 Chron. 19.2 my people as thy people its needfull therefore that conscience say to such as Jehn to Iehoshaphat shouldst then love them that hate the Lord Lastly many mens appetites are very wanton wholsome meates and drinkes content them not their meates must be mixed with hurtfull condiments and their drinke with noxious ingredients therefore it is very requisite that conscience play the Monitor and advise them not to looke on the wine when it sparkles Prov. 23.30 31. nor to seeke after mixt wine though it goe downe pleasantly yet at last it will bite like a Serpent and hurt like a Cockatrice And thus you see how just and how mercifull God is to plant such a power as conscience within us Vse 1 Is there such a power or faculty as conscience in every man then let every man learne to magnify his maker not barely for being his Creature but for being such a Creature as none is like him First look upon thy meanest part namely thy body view that well and thou shalt see such an exellency in it that no visible creature is comparable unto mans body If we look unto our first Creation we find them very excellent creatures 1. God made them with consultation and deliberation Gen. 1.26 let us make man His advice argueth a worke of great weight and moment and this word of plurality us intimates the Trinity (a) Galen though a meere Naturalist when he saw the admirable frame and structure of mans body was so taken with it that he could not but adiudge the honour of an Hymne to the wise Creator of it and mindes us of the mysterie of the three persons in one Godhead God the father seemeth to speak as communicating by way of consultation with God the Son and God the holy Ghost in the worke of Creation 2. The wonderfull endowments of the body in beauty strength nimblenesse activity without deformity or mortality 3. All other bodies made for the good of mans body the heavenly to give light unto it the earthly bodies to nourish cherish and comfort it Againe if we consider the recreation or regeneration of our bodies we find them more excellent 1. Purchased by Christs bloud 1 Cor. 6.20 2. Sanctified by Christs spirit 1 Cor. 6.19 3. Assumed by Christs person Phil. 2.7 When he took our nature he took our body and was made like unto us in all things sin only excepted so that we are as neer to Christ as our bodies to our soules Having thus viewed our meanest part namely the body let us in the next place consider our best part namely our soule What the soule is The soule of man is a spirit distinct invisible immortall infused by God 1. A spirit Thus much the Originall word declareth as in John 11. 33. and John 12. 27. we find soule and spirit promiscuously used by our Saviour my soule is troubled my spirit is troubled 2. A distinct spirit because it hath its being not only in the body but also out of the body Eccl. 12.7 as it had its time of entrance into the body so its time of returne out As it is in us so it can be without us and will be after us 3. Invisible Because no more to be seen then an Angel or God himselfe 4. An immortall spirit Eccl. 12.7 And Christ tells us that men may kill our bodies but not our soules which made Anaxzarchus bold to speak unto his Tormentors who did beat him with clubs laye on my Sachel meaning his body you cannot hurt Anaxzarchus meaning his soule 5. A spirit infused by God Gen. 2.7 How Adam came by his soule we all know namely by inspiration but as for our owne soules we are at a great stand Some think by participation (b) Chrysippus de natur â. lib. 3. as one Candle lighteth another Some thinke by generation (c) Tertullian l. de anim â ch 5. that a man begets a man compleat Others say it is by infusion (d) Thom. Aquin. 1 q. 75.6 1 m. by a peculiar inspiration when the child is first quickened in the womb Much is imagined little concluded concerning this question (e) St. Austin hath writ 4 bookes of the originall of the soule in which he leaveth this question undecided And his second booke of Retractions doth witnesse that he continued in that doubt unto his death cap. 56. and no marvell for who knoweth the way of the spirit Eccl. 11.5 The Scripture seems to warrant the last opinion calling God the Creator of the Spirit Zach. 12.1 The giver of the Spirit Eccl. 12.7 The Father of our spirits Heb. 12.9 It is not without consideration if God by a peculiar elegy and stile is called the father of spirits that he might be opposed to the father of the flesh for if the soule be by traduction then those that are the fathers of the flesh would also be the fathers of the spirits neither would God by this title be distinguished from the father of the flesh if he wrought alike in both and did not forme mens soules otherwise then their bodies So then consider well your bodies soules and you may safely conclude that of all the creatures that ever God made there is more to be seen of God in man then in them all and in man much in his body more in his soule but most of all in his conscience as one saith this smelleth more of God then the heavens the Sun the Stars or all the glorious things of the earth gold precious stones Rubies or sweetest herbs roses or lillies Oh how should we magnifie our maker Ps 139.14 and with David say I will praise thee O Lord for I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvelous are thy workes and that my soule knoweth right well Object Ob. Our conscience were at first very pure and excellent but now like our selves they are most sinfull yea our Soules and Consciences are defiled Tit. 1.15 therefore nothing worthy praise in them Answ A. It s very true that our consciences which were pure and excellent at first are by Adam's sin become defiled and uncleane But let me tell you there is no part power or faculty in the whole man that retaines so much of its excellency in it as conscience doth though the
not to please God but to please Hamor and Shechem their Rulers and to enrich themselves shall not their goods and their cattell be ours Ge. 34.23 Thus many now adaies amongst us will make some shew of religion performe holy duties both publikely and privately not out of conscience but out of carnall policy They have learned Matchiavels maxime to seem religious is a credit but to be neligious is a cumber It s only a forme without power a shew without substance They set not God before their eyes neither do they with Moses see him that is invisible they look only unto men and all their ayme is how they may please men and advantage themselves in earthly things Therefore if you will be sure your Conscience is good do what you do for Conscience sake not because man thinks it fit and you think it profitable or honourable but because God commands it 2. Note If you have a good conscience then will you suffer what you suffer for Conscience sake yea to satisfy Conscience This is praise worthy saith the Apostle 1. Pet. 2.19 1 Pet. 2.19 when a man for conscience towards God endures greife suffers wrong and as his precept so his practice had rather be punished for doing well then praised for doing evill See this in Daniel he will suffer hunger feed upon Pulse rather then defile his conscience Dan. 1.8 The three Children will chuse rather to have their bodies burned in schorching flames then to have them bowed to a base Idol And Paul had rather that Ananias should smite him then that his conscience should smite him Try thy selfe therefore by this Note doest thou suffer and doest thou so suffer as to satisfy conscience patiently bearing it because God will have it so as David in the railing of Shimei he curseth me because God hath said unto him curse David Not that God said so much by word but by a command of providence so ordering and disposing of Shimei his malice as to make it a rod to correct and chastise David for his sin 2 Sam. 16.20 but as a Scorpion to Shimei to sting him to death and destruction Thus did Job in all his troubles beare with them with wonderfull patience Job 1.21 he will not charge God foolishly but saith the Lord giveth the Lord taketh away praised be the name of the Lord. But alas how many now amongst us would be accounted men of a good conscience and yet will suffer nothing for conscience They will suffer no greife no paine no losse for it See this in Amaziah King of Judah he hires an Army of an 100000 men of valour out of Israel 2 Chr. 25.6 for an hundred Talents of silver but God dislikes his hired men and sends a Prophet unto Amaziah to dismisse them The King tells the Prophet what shall I do for the 100 Talents as if he should have said I have disbursed a great summe of monyes shall I now loose all You may see how loath he is to loose his money 100 Talents of silver a great summe But alas what is 100 Talents to a good conscience yet look abroad in the world and you may then descend from Talents to pounds from pounds to pence and from pence to farthings and find some yea a multitude that if a farthing and a good conscience stand in competition they will loose their Conscience to save their farthing Heare this you Tradesmen Typlers Retailers and all that have any commerce in buying and selling witnesse this truth with me how often have you and that upon the Lords day preferred your owne houses before Gods house your tâ—pling guests and prophane Customers before Gods ministers and servants chusing rather to gaine a Trisle at home then to gaine salvation abroad in attending on Gods holy ordinances Yea let me say yet more unto you how often hath your conscience blamed you for so doing and you whereas you should have hearkened unto conscience voice have stopt your eares and blamed conscience for too much strictnesse too much tendernesse what mean these words of yours If I should be so strict in my dealings as Preachers would have me to be I might soon pluck down my signe shut up my shop sit still and do nothing Let me tell such these words savour not of a good but an evill Conscience God puts none of his into such streights as that they cannot live except they live unholily unjustly Believe it as there is no calling be it never so high that must call thee from God so there is no calling be it never so low that must give thee a dispensation to dishonour God And as in the greatest calling men may live both fully and faithfully so in the meanest calling if men use diligence with conscience they may live honestly and yet comfortably Oh therefore my Beloved cast off such gaine as filthy lucre such customers as your great enimies and take up this holy resolution never to make hast for wealth nor to use any unlawfull meanes for this transitory Trash but say if I begg I begg if I starve I starve I will loose all rather then loose a good conscience 3. Note of a good Conscience is boldnesse for God and in Gods cause The righteous are as bold as a Lyon Prov. 28.1 Prov. 28.1 When the conscience is good the courage is great it will make a man to have a Lions heart and an Angels face such an heart had Paul when he looked on the Councell Act. 23.1 such a face had Stephen the Proto-Martyr Act. 23.21 15.6 Act. 6.15 All that sate in the Councell looking stedfastly on him saw his face as if it had been the face of an Angel This good conscience will make a mans face as a flint against such as rebell against God Ez. 3.8 9. Ezek. 3.8 9. Let but God call upon such Is 41.10 13.14 saying feare not worme Jacob for I am with thee be not afraid for I am thy God or let him stand by them Act. 23.11 as he did by Paul and bid him be of good cheer They presently take such courage unto them that having God for them they feare not who are against them Ps 3.6 David will not feare an hoast of men Athanasius a world of men and * Fox in the story of Martin Luther p. 849. Luther will not feare a multitude of Divels were they in number as many as there were Tiles upon the houses of Wormes But alas where are these valiant ones become we have many very couragious for themselves and in what makes for their owne interest but as for God and in his cause they are very Cowards They are bold for sin but bashfull for sanctity they can plead for Baal but not for God And yet such would be accounted men of a good conscience But let me tell such they do much deceive themselves as they have not Pauls courage so neither Pauls conscience and as
as Ten. So conscience may be past feeling Ephes 4 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Remorselesse Stupid like a member that is benumm'd and hath no sense in it as the word signifies like a dead man that feeles not the heaviest Burden that is laid on him But when it is awakned Oh that Infinite unexpressable torments that will surround thy pretious soule At thy Right hand thy sins will be accusing thee At thy Left hand Infinite Devills expecting thee Vnder thee the fulnesse of hell burning Above thee an Angry Judg and within thee hty Conscience tormenting So that to live will be a torment to dye will be an Hell Yea God himselfe will rowse it up if not by his word as he did Ahabs Conscience or by his rod as he did Pharaohs yet by his terrible presence when thou shalt stand before his Tribunall then shalt thou call unto the mountaines to fall upon thee and the Hills to cover thee from the presence of the Lord Yea then shall thy conscience like a vulture gnaw upon thy heart and like a Scorpion sting thy very soule and that rigorouslie without Commsseration constantly without intermission and continually without cessation then shalt thou feele that worme that never dyeth and that fire that never goeth out Oh therefore do not content thy selfe which a false peace but labour for the peace which God approveth give no rest to thine eyes or slumber unto thine eye lids before thou hast gotten a good conscience namely A Conscience both purified and pacified by the bloud and spirit of Christ 1 Cor. 6.11 3. Use for Comfort to such as have tried and upon a truetryall have found themselves to be enriched with this precious Iewel namely a good conscience let such magnifie God say the Lord hath dealt most bountifullie with me praised be his great Name for his uuspeakable gift Elkanah could say to Hannah that he was better unto her then ten sonnes But thy good conscience may truly say to the that she is better then ten thousand sonnes then a world of earthlie freinds for under God and his Christ conscience is the friend of friends the truest sweetest constanst and most faithfull friend 1. The truest Friend which will deale most truly with thee earthly Frinds come short both in reproofes and comforts they doe what they do by halfe speak a little to thy face but more behind thy back and many times deale untruly with thee when thou doest good they will say thou doest evill and when thou doest evill They will say well done but thy good conscience will not do so will not daub with untempered morter nor call good evill nor evill good but will deal very plainly with thee accusing thee when thou doest ill and so excusing thee when thou doest well 2. The sweetest friend Phil. 4. that will make thee ever merry and alwaies rejoyce to laugh under the whip to sing in the stocks to joy even then when thy goods are spoyled yea in the sharpe tryalls to rejoyce that thou art accounted worthy to suffer for Christ and to Compleat thy Joy thy Conscience will feast thee nor once or twise but every day it will be a continuall feast unto thee 3. The constanst friend In time of distresse when carnall friends fayle thee this will abide with thee Art thou in disgrace which men hated traduced accused condemned do the Abjects mock thee the drunkards make songs upon thee do Beliaste charge thee with lies and Falsities doth Tertullus withall his Art render thee an odious and pestilent fellow Againe do thy own friends account thee an hypocrite as Iobs friends did him and the world value thee as the filth and of-scouring of all things Job 16.19 yet comfort thy selfe in this that thy testimony is on high and thy witnesse in heaven yea thy witnesse is on earth in thine owne conscience say with Job not with standing all their spite and lies against me I will hold fast my righteousnesse and will not let it go Job 27.6 my conscience shal not reproach me whilst I live 4. The faithfull'st friend that will help at a pinch and when thou art in greatest need Job tells us that he had friends but they were unfaithfull They deceived him as a brook deceiveth the wearie and thirstie Traveller he comes unto it in Summer to quench his thirst and then behold it is dried up againe he seeks unto it in the Winter season and then behold it is frozen so that he is still disappointed of his hope Thus deale my unfaithfull friends with me saith Job when I have most need of their help then they faile me Job 6.15 Solomon compares such to a broken Tooth Prov. 25.19 and a foot out of joynt which will surely deceive such as trust unto them for when they go to eate their tooth will hinder them or when to walke their foot will paine them and so to be of no use or profit unto them But a good Conscience is no such false friend no thou mayest trust unto it in the greatest pressures in times of disgrace poverty sicknesse death and judgment when all forsake thee then will thy conscience like a faithfull Jonathan stand by thee Ruth 1.17 Ruth's resolution to stick to Naomi in all changes was more then ordinary to tell her that nothing but death should part them But here behold a better freind death shall not part thee and thy Conscience she will be with thee in sicknesse and in health in life and death in judgment and before Gods Tribunall Therefore rejoice and let thy God be ever magnified 4. Use is to exhort all such as have not this Heartejewell of a good conscience to labour above all things for the enjoyment of it This is that unum necessarium though generally neglected Every man voluntarily of himselfe desires a good Wife good Children good Servants good Cloathes good houses yea all good but as for a good conscience which is worth all and without which all these outward blessings will be but so many curses unto us yet alas how carelesse are most in the getting of the one how earnest and laborious in the other Let me therefore advise you in the first place to labour for a good conscience so shall all these outward blessings be sweetned unto you Now that you may not be deceived in this rich commodity I will briefly shew you what it is A good conscience is a conscience both purified and pacisied What a good Conscience is mistake me not I deny not but that Conscience may be good if only purified but it cannot be well compleated except it be also pacified for without this latter there is many a sad soule so troubled that they will not beleive they have what indeed they have viz. a good Conscience They are so far from Pauls assurance of a good conscience that they rather beleive their consciences to be very evill and defiled Therefore strive to get