as to assure our Hearts before him 3. Conscience is easily offended but not easily appeased As the Eye is easily offended with the least dust or mote which soon gets in but is not easily gotten out But then to appease it costs a great deal of trouble Therefore if we would as Paul keep a Conscience void of Offence there needeth much tenderness and watchfulness for by the Commission of deliberate and wilful Sins you may raise a Tempest that is not easily laid again as David felt broken bones after his foul fall Psalm 51.8 Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Before the Action Conscience sheweth what is to be done in the Action it guideth us in doing after the Action it censureth it as well or ill done And so either comforteth us with hopes of a Reward or terrifieth us with fear of Punishment As a Man acteth so Conscience is a Party as the Action is censured so Conscience is a Judge after the Action the force of Conscience is usually seen more than before the Fact or in the Fact because before and in the Action the Judgment of Reason is not so clear and strong the Affections raising Mists and Clouds to darken the Mind and trouble it and draw it on their side by their pleasing violence By the Treachery of the Senses and Revolt of the Passions the Mind is betrayed but as the Violence of the Affections ceaseth and is by little and little allayed guilt flasheth in the face of Conscience and Reason hath the greatest force to affect the Mind with grief or fear The Act being over and the Affection satisfied the Soul giveth place to Reason which was before contemned and when it recovereth the Throne it striketh through the Heart with a sharp Sentence and Reproof for obeying Appetite before it self and brings in Terrour and Trouble which causeth the Soul to sit uneasy Matth. 27.4 I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood Rom. 1.32 Knowing the judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death Therefore do not go like an Ox to the Slaughter nor a Fool to the Correction of the Stocks 4. Conscience is the best Friend and the worst Enemy It is the best Friend partly for its Comfort Prov. 15.15 He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience no Bird sings so sweetly as the Bird in the Bosome Partly for its nearness it is alwaies with us in Health and Sickness in Life and in Death Husbands and Wives who are most together yet because they live a distinct Life they are often apart Death looseth the Bond and Knot but this remaineth with us So it is the worst Enemy Partly for its universal nearness it is sad for a Man to be at odds with himself and fall out with his own Heart It is a Domestical Tribunal which alwaies remaineth with us and therefore Iob could bear the Reproaches of others but his own heart should not reproach him as long as he lived Iob 27.6 Partly because of the grievousness of the Wound and Stroak Prov. 18.14 A wounded spirit who can bear It is no less than the fear of the Wrath of the Eternal God A Man cannot run away from his Conscience no more than he can run away from himself and therefore for a Man to please others and offend his Conscience what folly is that Or to please a Lust to wound his Conscience A Lust or vain Appetite is an unjustifiable thing and will soon appear so but the Fears of Conscience are justified by the highest Reason the Law of God the satisfaction of a Lust is a poor vanishing Pleasure but the observing and keeping a good Conscience breedeth a solid Joy which will stick by thee to the very last and when thou comest to dye will be a support to thee Isa. 38.3 Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight When thou must leave Riches Honours and Pleasures which are the Baits of thy Lust this will stick by thee 1 Iohn 2.17 The world passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever Therefore now thou shouldest mortifie thy Lust and gratifie thy Conscience 5. Thy Conscience is the beginning of Heaven and Hell A good Conscience is the beginning of Heaven and Peace and Joy in believing is a foretast of that fulness of Joy and Pleasure which we shall have when we come into Gods immediate presence The glorified Spirits carry a good Conscience with them to Heaven their works follow them Rev. 14.13 And the damned carry their Stings and Convictions with them to Hell Mark 9.44 Their worm dyeth not and the fire is not quenched Oh think of this The Joys of the Spirit are an Antipast of Glory called often an Earnest in Scripture 2 Cor. 1.22 Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts And the Horrors of Conscience are the Suburbs of Hell Oh therefore be sure to keep all quiet within and whatever be your Temptations do not offend Conscience but unfeignedly discharge your Duties to God and Men 6. If there be a crack and a flaw in your Conscience all your trading with Heaven is at a stand there cannot be any serious dealing with God nor Holy boldness in Prayer 1 Iohn 3.21 If our hearts condemn us not then have we confidence towards God When you have sinned away your Peace a strangeness and distance groweth between God and you Psalm 32.3 When I kept silence my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long Gen. 3.8 And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden Adam run to the bushes Your hearts will grow shie of God and you cannot so comfortably look him in the face and so the sweetness of Holy Privacy and Communion with God will be lost Time was when you could go boldly and open your Hearts to God but now you are afraid of him and every Act of Commerce is a reviving of your Bondage the remembrance of God is a trouble to you 7. If Conscience speaketh not it writeth for it is not only a Witness but a Register and Book of Record Ier. 17.1 The sin of Iudah is written with a pen of iron and with the point of a diamond We know not what Conscience writeth being occupied and taken up with Carnal Vanities and carryed away with foolish and hurtful Lusts but we shall know afterwards when the Book of Conscience shall be opened Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were
second Miracle that Iesus did when he came out of Judea into Galilee 2 Pet. 3.1 This second Epistle write I to you Tot convincor testibus quot Christianis Sermonibus me monuerunt I have so many Witnesses against me as I have heard Sermons So the same is true for Deliverances The Lord will set his Hand again the second time to recover the Remnant of his People that shall be left Isa. 11.11 So for Motions of his Spirit My Spirit shall not always strive with Man Gen. 6.3 it had done so long already So for God's Apparitions to Solomon 1 Kings 11.9 His Heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel which had appeared unto him twice So Jer. 25.3 From the thirteenth Year of Josiah the Son of Amon King of Judah unto this very Day that is the three and twentieth Year the Word of the Lord hath come unto you and I have spoken unto you rising early and speaking but you have not hearkened God's Expostulations in Scripture when he proceedeth to any particular Judgment are an Instance of what he will do in the general Judgment 2. On the other side is written all the Good and Evil that we do For Good the Apostle speaketh of Fruit abounding to their Account Phil. 4.17 The Prophet sheweth God taketh notice of our Faithfulness or owning God in an evil time Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it and a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his Name So of the Conversion of any be they never so few Acts 17. ult Howbeit certain Men clave unto him and believed Kindness to his Servants Mat. 10.42 Whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a Cup of cold Water only in the name of a Disciple verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his Reward 1 Kings 19.18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel all the Knees which have not bowed unto Baal and every Mouth which hath not kissed him On the other side Injuries done to his People are recorded he hath a Bottel for their Tears a Book for their Sorrows Psal. 56.8 Thou tellest my Wandrings put thou my Tears into thy Bottel are they not in thy Book So for all the Sins we have committed Is not this laid up in store with me and sealed up among my Treasures Deut. 32.34 Nay Iob 13.27 Thou lookest narrowly unto all my Paths thou settest a Print upon the Heels of my Feet Every Action leaveth a Mark behind it Nay in the Verse before Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the Iniquities of my Youth as if God had taken account of his old Sins Many in this Account shall hear of things long ago committed their Iniquities will find them out If a Man escape any remarkable Judgment for one Year or two he thinketh all is forgotten Ay but these Debts stand upon record against us till the Book be cancelled or crossed Thousands of vain Thoughts sinful Actions much mispence of Time abuse of Mercies will then occur to our view when our whole Lives shall be set in order before us Psal. 50.21 These things hast thou done and I kept silence thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine Eyes Now these are the Accounts kept between God and us 2 dly At the Day of Doom these Books shall be opened Rev. 20.12 I saw the Dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened God can forget nothing and Conscience shall be awakened to an exact review of all our Ways Security vanisheth Light is greater Judgment is nearer Circumstances of Conviction shall then be produced the Trial is to be open the Wicked are to be shamed the Righteous to be vindicated God shall be justified when he judgeth Psal. 51.4 That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest Impenitent Sinners are to be condemned for abusing the Law of Nature or despising the Grace of the Gospel 2 Thess. 1.8 Taking Vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ. 3 dly That all without exception shall be called to this Reckoning none so high as to be exempted from it none so low as to be neglected in it I saw the Dead small and great stand before God Rev. 20.12 They all stand on the same level Magistrates must give an account of their Trust and so must meaner People 1 Pet. 1.17 If ye call on the Father who without respect of Persons judgeth according to every Man's Work God is an impartial Judg. Men are often biassed by the expectation of Benefit or terrified by the apprehension of Danger No Person no Action can escape his Judgment 4 thly The Judgment will pass upon all Men according to the Account then given If we have been faithful and fruitful in improving God's Talents it shall go well with us in the Judgment if negligent and careless it shall go ill Cast the unprofitable Servant into outer Darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Mat. 25.30 Though not persecuting not riotous yet if unprofitable The barren Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewen down as well as the naughty Tree that bringeth forth bad Fruit. God reckoneth with us now but often doth not execute his Threatning or in the midst of Judgment remembreth Mercy Then the Doom is finally and irreversibly past without hope of Recovery and there is no temperament of Mercy at all to those that have lost their Season Vse To reflect the Light of these things on our Hearts Is our Account ready Most neglect or put off the Thoughts of it But do you take Occasion hence to reckon with your selves aforehand See every Day what you Receive and what you Return Consider every Day 's Mercies and every Day 's Work The profit of daily arraigning Conscience is exceeding great 1. It keepeth us sensible of our Duty which otherwise would be forgotten Heathens saw a necessity of this Reckoning with respect to growth in moral Vertue Men would not easily commit Evil nor omit Good or perform it so coldly if they did but say as the Town-Clerk of Ephesus did to still the Citizens We are in danger to be called in question for this day's Vproar Acts 19.40 2. It would make us often to have recourse to Grace when we observe our Sins Duties Mercies Comforts and how the one aggravate the other Surely we should every day make even with God deprecate the strict Judgment Psal. 143.2 Enter not into Iudgment with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no Man living be justified Get the Books cancelled Psal. 51.1 According to the multitude of thy tender Mercies blot out my Transgressions Augustus bought his Guilt who slept securely when he owed so
he be our Judge we ought to take the Law from his Mouth and put our selves into his hands to be guided and ordered by him that we may find favour in that day This is evident every one would seek to be approved by his Judge and that Christ is our Judge is evident by his Resurrection and his Doctrine alone with any probability of Reason pretendeth to the reparation of Mankind and to set them in joynt again that they may live to God Let Men have but the sense of a Judgment to come soundly laid up in their Hearts and Consciences and they can have no Rest while they keep off from the Gospel 3. This doth best solve the doubts about present Providence Paul doth not teach Felix that the Christian Religion doth make any difference between the Just and Unjust as to their outward condition in the World or between the Temperate and Intemperate no for the Just may be oppressed and the Unjust thrive or else Felix had never been in power And as for the Temperate their Religion would make them miserable while they deny the desires of the flesh No here there be just men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked and they be wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous Eccl. 8.4 But there is a judgment to come wherein every Man shall be judged according to what he hath done in this Life All Men must appear and receive their doom and some go into everlasting life others into everlasting punishment 2. The manner is to be considered The word must be closely and prudently applied for here is both a close and prudent Application 1 Close he discourseth of Virtues opposite to the Vices wherewith this Man was blemished the Word hath force of its self yet managed with dexterity as a Dart that falleth by its own weight it will pierce but especially when feathered and directed and cast by a skilful hand and levelled at the mark This is Iesus whom ye have Crucified And when they heard that they were pricked at the heart Acts 2.36 37. Not when they saw the Miracle not while the Doctrine was delivered In the Doctrine delivered we do but bend the Bow in Application we let fly the Arrow and shoot at the mark A clap of Thunder when distant doth not startle me but when it is my own Zenith 2 Prudent Paul is here an example of Prudence as well as of Faithfulness when he spake to Felix and Drusilla he doth not charge them with Intemperance or Unchastity or Injustice but discourseth of Justice and Temperance that by that which is right they might understand that which is crooked and from the Rule know their own Enormity He lays the Looking-glass before their Eyes and lets them see themselves and behold their natural Face in a Glass III. The Effect or Fruit how it doth or may come to nothing 1. Through the levity of Man whose pangs of Devotion are soon spent the Righteousness of the Hypocrite is compared to the Morning Clouds and the early Dews Hosea 6.4 The righteousness of the upright to the Morâ—ing light Prov. 4.18 2. Their addictedness to their Lusts which is greater than their affection to Religion Luk 8.14 And that which fell among Thorns are they which when they have heard goe forth and are choaked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to perfection Sentiments of Religion dye away through cares of the World or voluptuous living 3. Their unskilfulness in handling wounds of Conscience Some think they are never wound enough but it is not the deepness of the wound but the soundness of Cure that is to be regarded Some heal their wounds slightly a palliate Cure they skin it over when it Festreth within Others dissemble it till it proveth deadly Others run to a worldly Cure as if Soul-Thirst could be quenched at the next Ditch or an evil Spirit could be cured by Musick Some by a clatter and dinn of business put off that which they do not put away Amos 6.3 Ye put away the evil day Cain in anguish of Conscience fell a building of Cities 4. Want of God's Grace Acts 16.14 And a certain woman named Lidia which worshipped God heard us whose heart the Lord opened Which is forfeited by the party who hath common helps and advantages Some put away the Word Acts 13.46 It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you but seeing ye put it from you and judge your selves unworthy of eternal life lo we turn to the Gentiles Some put away trouble of Conscience Gen. 6.3 My spirit shall not always strive with Man for that he also is flesh Some lose their Tasts and Relishes of Christian Doctrine and relapse into a carnal Savour Heb. 6.3 4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the Heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost And have tasted the good word and the powers of the world to come if they fall away to renew them to Repentance 1. Use Information we learn divers profitable Lessons from hence 1. The power of the Word Here is a notable Instance of it if we consider the person who trembled Felix 1 By Religion a Pagan who did not believe the Gospel The Devils believe and tremble and the Word worketh effectually in them that believe But here an Infidel is fain to stoop to the evidence of it and at the same time it breaketh upon his Heart and Mind so far as to make him afraid 2 By his quality a Judge the Prisoner maketh the Judge tremble Outward distance and disadvantages should not discourage us our Testimony rightly managed may alarm the Consciences of those who are ready to condemn us 3 By his Disposition not a Devout Man but a Man hardned in a course of sinning We should despair of none God can find his way into the Consciences of the most sensual 4 For his outward condition a Man glutted with worldly Happiness yet the thoughts of the other World will soon souer all the prosperitie of the present life 5 For his Temper now he sent for Paul out of Curiosity to satisfy his Jewish Wife or Minion but God can make use of Man's sins to Glorifie himself and his Truth This Power of the Word this convincing Power should be often thought of they that feel it not fear it Iohn 3.20 For every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved 2. The profitableness of insisting upon the last Judgment that we may perswade you and you may suffer your selves to be perswaded It is the great awe-bond to beget in us a sense of our Duty and Sin For First 't is an impartial Judgment that must pass upon all high or low rich or poor Revel 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books
were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their works Outward Friend or Foe Heathen or Christian Officer or private Person 1 Pet. 1.17 And if ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth every man according to his work Secondly It is a strict and just Judgment Acts 17.31 He hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness Now God winks at many faults ver 30. Thirdly It is our final Doom our eternal Estate dependeth on it We must be judged to everlasting Joy or everlasting Torment Fourthly It is near and asure For the Iudge standeth before the door Jam. 5.9 Every Week Day Hour Minure we approach nearer to it 3. The â—oarness of a bad Conscience and what unsound terms it is with God Felix is set a trembling by Paul Belshazzer's edge taken off in the midst of his carowzing Daâ— 5.6 Then the Kings countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him so that the joints of his loins were loosed and his knees smote one against another So true is that Heb. 2.15 Who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondâ—ge 4. The necessity of a strict Obedience We should carry our selves so that the Word may comfort us not make us afraid discharging our Duties to God to our Neighbor and to our Selves Tit. 2.12 Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Paul mentioneth here two Parts as suiting to his purpose but there are three and Godly the chief part of which is to seek our Reconciliation with God by Christ then to love him and delight in him and serve him faithfully doing his Will seeking his Glory Righteously that we may be just to our neighbor doing to others as we would be dealt with our selves Soberly Sobriety and Temperance lyeth in Self-government that he possess his vessel in Sanctification and Honour keep himself unspotted from the World subdue the Flesh that it may not wax wanton that the heart be not hardned nor Conscience stupified and so become uncapable of Spiritual things and so still Crucify the Flesh and inure the Mind to Heavenly things 5. The sottishness of them who are not moved so far as Felix was who hear of Righteousness Temperance Judgment to come and are not a whit moved Object But you will say our Hearts are established by Grace why should we be afraid of the future Judgment Answ. 1. To be only moved with fear and terror is slavish 2. You should have a deep Reverence of His Majesty and so be afraid to displease him 3. You must distinguish between a perplexing distrustful fear and an Holy preventive eschewing Fear 4. There are great Reasons why this Fear should have an influence upon us while we dwell in flesh 1 Because the wrath of God was once our due 2 We still deserve it 3 It is certainly a great and extream difficulty to get free from so great an evil See the Authors Sermon on 2 Cor. 5.11 pa. 113. 2. Use. Caution which is double 1. Do not lose the advantage of this common work but when the waters are stirred put in for Cure It may be lost 1 partly by delays or dreams of a more convenient season The sinners Morrow will never come delay is but a plausible denial the sinners non vacat is non placet Luke 14.18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse 2 Partly by disobedience or relapses into our old crimes so Felix returned to his bribery and licentious course Therefore let us open our hearts to Christ's knocking Reasons 1. It is very dangerous None so bad as those that quench these Convictions The Holy Ghost by the power of the Word fetteth them a trembling many times at the thoughts of their condition and they have some kind of mind to let sin goe but it cometh to nothing Iron often heated and oft quenched is the more hard the parts are more united and condensed As water heated in cold weather being more rarified freezeth the faster Prov. 29.1 He that being often reproved hardneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy 2. You lose your season the time wherein God will be found There is a twofold season the time of God's Grace and our Capacity 1 The time of God's Grace God the Father's time is while he waiteth 1 Pet. 3.20 When once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah The Sons time is when the Gospel offers are made to us To day if you will hear his voice Heb. 3.7 2 Cor. 6.1 2. We then as workers together with him beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain for he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation The Spirit 's season is the time of the motions of his Spirit Gen. 6 3. My spirit shall not always strive with man Acts 7.5 Ye stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do always resist the Holy Ghost 2. The time of our Capacity When Conscience is awakened the Word is most likely to make an impression upon us as when the Wax is hot it will receive the impression of the Seal 2. do not rest in a common Work that you hear the Word and are some way affected Herod rejoyced Felix trembled God hath never our Hearts till he hath gained our Love as well as our Fear Felix trembled God gained upon his Fear but he never hath our Hearts till he hath our Delight and such a Delight as is not controlled by other Delights when I love him above all and rejoyce in his Word more than in all Riches A Sermon on Prov. iii. 17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace IN the Context you have an Exhortation to get Spiritual and Heavenly Wisdom The Argument is first Generally Propounded and then Particularly Amplified 1. Generally Propounded Vers. 13. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding 2. Particularly Amplified 1. By the Worth and Excellency of Wisdom Vers. 14 15. The merchandize of it is better than the merchandize of silver and the gain thereof than fine gold c. 2. The Utility and Profit Vers. 16. Length of days is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour She is represented as a Queen having both hands full of Blessings In the right hand length of days in the left hand riches and honour He speaks Pro more faederis according to the manner of the Covenant wherein Temporal Things are explicitely promised though Spiritual and Eternal Things are implyed In her right hand length of days What do Men desire more than to live long
to see his Love in the Losses you have sustain'd and the Blessings you enjoy But were it worse with you as to outward Comforts yet the Foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth them that are his And certainly there is more in God and a Covenant-Relation to him to support your Joy than there can be in any outward Affliction to cause Grief and Sorrow of Heart And a due sense of God's afflicting Hand is not inconsistent with a holy rejoicing in him Now that God would fill you more and more with the Joys and Comforts of his Holy Spirit and multiply his Blessings upon your self and those that have descended from you is the Prayer of Honoured Madam Your Ladiship 's most obliged and most humble Servant WILLIAM TAYLOR February 9. 1692 3. SERMONS Preached upon Several Occasions SERMON I. LUKE xvi 30 31. And he said Nay father Abraham but if one went unto them from the dead they will repent And he said unto him If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead IT hath been a Question whether this is a Parable or an History A Parable surely for otherwise many incongruities would be asserted For it supposeth Body and Soul already in Hell ver 23. And in hell he lift up his eyes being in torment And it would suppose Charity and care of Conversion of others in Hell therefore it is not an History The scope of this Parable is to teach us three Lessons 1. To shew that the Godly-Poor are Blessed and the Unmerciful-Rich are in Everlasting Torments Desideravit guttam qui non dedit micam he desired a drop of Water that would not give a bit of Bread 2. The irreversible Estate of the Damned verse 26. Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from thence 3. That the Direction of the Holy Scriptures are the only Means to escape these Torments This latter is represented in a Dialogue between Dives and Abraham Dives would have one sent from the Dead to his Fathers House Supposing that would work on them to repent Christ's Parables do impersonate our Thoughts we alwaies dislike the present dispensation which God useth to reclaim us and would have extraordinary Means and then we presume we should believe and repent these are our thoughts But Abraham thinketh otherwise or rather Christ who is the Author of the Parable If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead By Moses and the Prophets are meant the whole Scriptures of the Old Testament and the New these are mentioned because these only were then written and received by the Iews and these include the rest the same Truth being carryed on in all the Books though more explicit in the latter Doct. That the word of God is a more conducible means to perswade us to Repentance than if one should come from the dead There are two wayes of Proof of this Doctrine And therefore let us see what may be said for and against one coming from the dead First If one coming from the dead be presumed to be a more Effectual Means to bring Men to Repentance and Conversion to God it must be either because he can bring a more necessary Doctrine or could urge better Arguments and more perswasively or propound these Truths with more certainty or could by his own strength convey a Power with his Words or rationally expect a greater concomitancy and co-operation of Grace than is ordinarily dispensed by the Word One or other of these things it must be or else the conceit is vain and frivolous But now proceeding from one consideration to another I shall shew you that the Word of God hath clearly the preheminence and is a far more accommodate instrument to work upon the hearts of Men than any extraordinary dispensation whatsoever 1. One coming from the Dead Angel or Man cannot bring a Doctrine more necessary there being in the Scriptures sufficient Direction about the way to true Happiness For which we have not only express Testimony but apparent reason and sensible experience 1. Express Testimony which should sway with Christians 2 Tim. 3.16 17. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works A Man of God or Minister of the Gospel thoroughly furnished hath from the Scriptures full out enough to guide Man to the injoyment of God nothing is wanting for Information as to Doctrine Conviction Arguments of Quickning or Exhortation for Instruction or Directions concerning the whole Duty of Man And 2. Apparent Reason if God be a sufficient Teacher of Divine things and if we suppose him willing to inform the Creatures neither of which can be denyed without blasphemy then surely supposing the Scriptures to be the Word of God as all Christians do and in this Debate it is fit we should suppose then certainly we have enough in the Scriptures and need not that the rest of the dead should be discomposed that there may be a fit Messenger found out to invite us to return to God If it need proof who can teach us the way to Blessedness more than the Blessed God Psal. 119.12 Blessed art thou O Lord Teach me thy statutes Who more willing to shew Man what is good then the good God Psalm 119.6.8 Thou art good and dost good teach me thy statutes The Blessed God needeth not to envy us the perfection of Knowledge as the Devil insinuated Gen. 3.5 God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil Wherein is his Happiness lessened by our perfection And the good God who is so full of goodness and love to Mankind would give us a sufficient Direction especially since his Son appeared in Humane Nature and became his Messenger Would God reveal himself to any one from the Dead yea to an Angel more than to his own Son Oor could he see feel or hear more than God hath made known to Christ Or be presumed to have a greater Charity to Mankind than the Lord hath whose Creatures they are no No no it cannot be he hath shewed thee O man what is good Micah 6.8 Abide by that and thou hast enough But let us confirm it Compare the Provisions of the Word with your own necessities What! Would you have a Rule And see if you have it not in the Holy Scriptures Titus 2.11 12. For the grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world By the grace of God is meant the Gospel and what
written in the books according to their works These Books are the Book of Conscience and the Book of Gods Remembrance The Remembrance of our Actions shall be forced upon us Conscience is Gods Register and keepeth a Diary and sets down every thing This Book though it be in the Sinners keeping cannot be razed what Conscience writeth is written to Eternity unless it be blotted out by Repentance and a serious application of the Blood of Christ. Well then consider a sleepy Conscience will not alwaies sleep if we suffer it not to awaken here it will awaken in Hell where there is no Remedy for the present it sleepeth in many in regard of motion check or smiting but not in regard of Notice and Observation This secret spy is privy to more than it speaketh of it is laid up as matter for the Worm that never dyeth to feed upon 8. If the stings of an evil Conscience be not alwayes felt yet they are soon awakened by serious Thoughts of Death and Judgment to come and then forced upon us There is a fire smothering in our bosoms and it is soon blown up into a flame Sometimes by the word Acts 22.25 And as he reasoned of righteousness temperance and judgment to come Felix trembled Belshazars edge was taken oft in the midst of his carowsing Dan. 5.6 Then the kings countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him so that the joints of his loyns were loosed and his knees smote one against another Sometimes by some great Troubles Isa. 59.12 For our transgressions are multiplyed before thee and our sins testifie against us For our transgressions are with us and as for our iniquities we know them Therefore we roar like beasts and mourn like doves ver 11. In a Tempest that which is at the bottom cometh a top Or by Death whatever silence there be in Conscience before yet Death usually reviveth these fears 1 Cor. 15.56 The sting of death is sin Men are wise and more serious as they are entring on the Confines of Eternity near things affect us the baits of the Flesh have then lost their allurement the Devil that was before a Tempter will then be a Tormentor things overlooked before are then seriously considered then the stings of Sin work most sensibly and in a lively manner and the deluded Sinner begins to see what he would not take notice of before 9. If Conscience do not speak to you you must speak to it and call upon it to do its Office Call your selves to an account for the Expence of your Time and Employment Psalm 4.4 Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still Psalm 77.6 I commune with mine own heart and my spirit made diligent search Take a time to parley with your selves and consider how matters stand between you and God When the Clock striketh not it is a sign the Plummets are down and we must wind them up again Every day we must do something as Iob sacrificed for his Sons day by day Iob 1.5 It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts And God himself reviewed every dayes work and saw that it was good Gen. 1.4 10 12 c. So should we review every dayes work and cast up the account at the foot of every page Short reckonings prevent mistakes Pythagoras taught his Scholars that they should never give way to sleep till they had posed themselves with these Questions Quid feci c. What have I done What good have I omitted Wherein have I transgressed Conscience What hast thou to say to me And Seneca telleth of his Friend Sextius that before he would betake himself to rest he would ask his Soul Quod hodie malum tuum sanasti cui vitio obstitisti qua parte meliores What evil hast thou got rid off to day What Sin hast thou resisted Wherein art thou better than thou wert before And he saith of himself Quotidie apud me causam dico toâ—um diem mecum scrutor dicta facta mea remetior that he scanned all his Actions and Speeches in the day Shall Heathens be more serious and shall Christians who are acquainted with Eternity never take time to set Conscience awork Oh let us be ashamed of our slightness and negligence 10. We can never have a sound Conscience till we be sincere with God in a constant uniform course of Self-denying-Obedience 1 Iohn 3.19 Hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him and this is described in the Text by keeping a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men So 2 Kings 20.3 I beseech thee O Lord remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight And this not in an Act or two but in a Mans whole Course Psalm 106.3 Blessed are they that keep judgment and he that doth righteousness at all times Not by starts and good moods only but constantly and at all times And our Obedience must be self-denying as well as constant and uniforme that Religion is worth nothing that costs nothing 2 Sam. 24.24 I will not offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing When we value Gods Interest above our own and we can deny our selves upon the hopes of Glory then is our sincerity most evidenced But if we embrace only the safe cheap and easie part of Religion and cannot deny our Ease Profit and Honour we do not set up Christs Religion but a Christianity of our own making Matth. 16.24 Then said Iesus unto his disciples if any one will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me 11. If we would have Conscience to do its Office there must be great heed and watchfulness for it is corrupt as well as other Faculties and from a Judge it may become an Advocate excusing the partialities of our Obedience To evidence this more fully with respect to Conscience Men may be considered three wayes as acting without Conscience or according to Conscience or against Conscience 1. A Man may act without all Conscience so a Man may do either good or evil 1. Good as those that act rashly inconsiderately or customarily As when Men pray give Almes go to Church Conscience did not send them thither but Custom inducement of Friends perswasions of Parents or the like These do that which is good but they do it not well Luke 8.18 Take heed how you hear Conscience doth not put them upon it To this first sort may be reckoned those that intended to do evil but by accident do that which is good as Iosephs Brethren Gen. 50.20 But as for you ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good And those that performe the Duties of Christianity so far as the interest of the flesh will give them leave for the flesh it self will command you to