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A81634 Gospel-mysterie or, the great union that is betwixt Christ and the saints. From Cant. 2. 16. With a true way to discern a godly man from a carnal or ungodly man: and the way how the saints return after back-sliding. Also, the worth of a good conscience. By Robert Dornford. Dornford, Robert. 1652 (1652) Wing D1935; Thomason E1315_3; ESTC R209206 36,827 79

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is a conscience washed in the blood of Christ that is the first step of a good conscience Heb. 9. 14. I say the first step is to be washed in the blood of Christ that is to have the guilt of sin clean done away in him As in Rev. 1. 5. He is the faithful witness that hath offered up to God a Sacrifice which hath fully satisfied him as Isa 53. 11. This Chapter is full of this Discourse Again A good conscience being so washed will endeavour to avoid all offences both to God and man as you see in Acts 24. 16. This washing and purging doth not only make clean but also keeps it clean It doth not only justifie the soul but also it sanctifies Heb. 9. 14. 2. A good conscience is a quick-sighted conscience and that two wayes In seeing what is Good Bad. 1. He sees the good and rejoyceth as Paul in 2. Cor. 1. 12. Our rejoycing saith the Apostle is in the testimony of a good conscience that with godly sincerity we have walked Here the conscience sees the good 2. A good Conscience sees the evil and strives against it As you see the same Apostle Rom. 7. 23 24. But I see saith Paul another law in my members O wretched man that I am here is a quick-sighted Conscience he sees the old man striving sin endeavouring to make inroads upon the poor soul very often and therefore it is happy for any soul that hath a sight of it By this you see that a good Conscience is quick sighted And yet further such a Conscience will not deceive thee he will not lie quiet when thou doest evil but will tug with thee for repentance and therefore whoever thou art that hast a dead Conscience and that liest quiet seest no evil in thy corrupt nature thou mayst have cause to fear that the guilt is not washed away but that thou art still in the state of nature Again a good Conscience fears to sin nay he trembles at it and the reason is because it is against his God because God hates it therefore he hates it See an example of this in Gen. 39. 9. How shall I do it sayes Joseph seeing the sin is against my God I dare not do it Let this teach all that love God to answer Sathan and all their tempters thus I will not yield to any thing that is against my God Again a good Conscience fears to wound it self by leaving und●ne those duties which God requ●reth of him and therefore his work is to keep it self pure and unspotted as Paul saith in 2 Tim. 1. 3. and his work is to find out and do the will of God Such a Conscience is alwayes fearfull that he doth too little for God and that his heart is never right enough in what he doth These are the marks to know a good Conscience there are many more marks to know a good Conscience by but for the present these are all that I shall name this being only by the way to make the other more clear The next thing is the worth or value of a good Conscience Although I cannot tell or declare the just value yet I shall shew some of the worth or value of a good Conscience by which you shall see how good it is to have such a Conscience and to do it I shall lay down these four grounds which will make it appear why it is at such a rate 1. A good Conscience is worth much because it tels thee thou art at peace with God thy Conscience testifies to thee that thou art so as Paul saith 2 Cor. 1. 12. 2. A good Conscience speaks peace to thee and excuseth thee as Paul saith Ro. 2. 15. When Sathan and all thy accusers flie in thy face thy Conscience tels thee Christ hath paid and satisfied the just Law of God to the full and that thou art acquitted fully This is of much worth to thee and thou canst not set worth enough on it 3. The comfort of thy life is much in this that thou hast not a feared Conscience neither a dead Conscience neither a Conscience subjected to dead works but that thy Conscience is awake and feels and is sensible of evil and also of good and that it tels thee daily without flattery how the case stands with thee I say such a Conscience is much to be valued that deals plainly and flies in thy face when thou sinnest and that will never leave thee till thou see and repent of it and also when thou doest that which is good that Conscience will also tell thee thou doest thy duty and thou mayst expect God and his Spirit with thee in doing his will Search and see now whether this be not worth much 4. The worth and value of a good Conscience is very high at the time of death When death comes to take thy life what is a good Conscience worth then O then 't is worth much What would a man whose Conscience condemns him give then for this good Conscience even ten thousand worlds if he had them I tell thee that then it will bring thee into the presence of God with joy whereas on the contrary it will be as that saying of our Lord Mar. 9 46. a worm which will not die Is a good Conscience of such worth O then strive to keep a good Conscience let thy exercise be much in it as the Apostle Paul saith Act. 24. 16. both towards God and man first to God see thou do those duties he requires of thee and see thou wound not thy Conscience by thy neglect hearken what thy Conscience saith and quench not those whisperings when it tels thee thou must do this duty and forbear that evil I say whatever thou doest keep it clear between God and thy soul Again keep a good Conscience towards God and man and to do it observe these things 1. That thou avoid carnal company and carnal speaking for that will much offend thy Conscience because thou shouldst make the Saints thy companions and thy Experiences of God thy discourse 2. Be often in private speaking to thy Father for he longs to hear from thee and thy Conscience will soon tell thee that thou hast found him meeting thee God is a loving Father and he delights to have his Children often speaking to him and keeps a book of Remembrance as in Mal. 3. 16 17. God will make up such among his Jewels and as a father spareth his son that serveth him so will God spare such a soul 3. Have a care what thou doest in thy dealings among men keep a good Conscience here thou shalt find many idle words not fit to come out of thy mouth and many times thy Conscience tels thee that it is evil avoid it now and set a watch before thy heart and lips that thou mayst keep a clear Conscience And be sure that thou defraud no man but deal justly or else thou wilt hurt thy conscience seek truth as the Apostle Paul saith