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conscience_n accuse_v bear_v witness_n 1,900 5 7.1853 4 true
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A67215 The heavenly guide to true peace of conscience Wherein is observed in a most plaine and comfortable manner, 1. What conscience is. 2. What a miserable thing an evill conscience is. 3. What an happinesse a good conscience is. 4. How the estate of conscience is truly discerned. 5. The meanes to procure a good conscience. By H.V.V.I. Walker, Henry, Ironmonger. 1641 (1641) Wing W376B; ESTC R219913 4,118 10

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THE HEAVENLY GVIDE TO TRVE PEACE OF CONSCIENCE Wherein is observed in a most plaine and Comfortable manner 1. What Conscience is 2. What a miserable thing an evill Conscience is 3. What an happinesse a good Conscience is 4. How the estate of Conscience is truly discerned 5. The meanes to procure a good Conscience By H. V. V. I. 1 PET. 3. 21. The like figure whereunto even Baptisme doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ Printed at London by Tho. Harper 1641. The heavenly guide to the true peace of Conscience I. What Conscience is COnscience is the Act of a reasonable creature apprehending the revealed will of God takes notice of his owne actions and compasses it with the rule of Gods Word and so passeth sentence upon himselfe 1. I say Conscience is the act of a reasonable creature not of a beast or any creature save onely such who are endued with reason because creatures without reason are not capable to serve God in any other way then they doe In which service notwithstanding the evils they are incident unto doe yet serve God in their kinde But man who is a reasonable creature hath a conscience which by sin is defiled and being purged by the blood of Christ is brought by the eternall Spirit from dead workes to serve the living God Conscience doth exceedingly raise up the joyes both of Saints and Angels in Heaven and increaseth the horror of the Divels and damned in hell 2 Conscience is an act of apprehending the revealed will of God it is not of the apprehension of mans will it is not having an eye to profit or pleasure or favour no Conscience is an act proceeding from the revealed will of God which being fully comforted with the assurance of the pardon of sin from God is fully satisfied We cannot begin to looke into the conscience till we look up to God 3. Conscience takes notice of a mans owne actions It is not the applause which others give a man it is not the commendations of companions it is not any thing taken upon trust from men but the taking notice of a mans owne actions bearing witnesse in the holy Ghost This ariseth from Conscience 4. Conscience compares a mans actions with the rule of Gods word to looke how others live to have an eye to mans esteeme to looke no further then outward carnall respects this ariseth not from Conscience But the renouncing even the secrets of dishonesty by bringing of the conscience to the manifestation of the truth this doth truly arise from the Conscience 5. Conscience passeth censure upon it selfe It is not the stilling of the thoughts that arise by musicke dancing and such like vanities it is not the slender looking on a mans life and presently looking off againe and passing by it with an undaunted courage as if a man would outface heaven this conclusion is not of conscience no it is then of conscience when it shewes the worke of the Law written in the heart the conscience also bearing witnesse and the thoughts the meane while passing censure that is either accusing or excusing II. What a miserable thing an evill Conscience is There is no misery can exceed the misery of an evill Conscience both in respect of wants that attend thereon as also the woes belonging thereto first in respect of the wants that attend on an evill conscience it is miserable as may appeare both by the present wants thereof as also by its unprovidednesse for the time to come The present wants that attend an evill conscience makes a miserable conscience and that is alwayes effected either by being seared up with hardnesse and fensing it selfe against the breathings and workings of Gods Spirit so that it will not bow nor bend nor yeeld to come to triall in truth but peremptorily persisteth in its owne way and will not be controlled or else it becomes so fearfull that it casteth a man into utter desparation so that it is as impossible for such a man or woman to looke up to God with comfort as for a blinde man to behold the Sunne Hence it hath come to passe that some have been so farre perplexed in this sad condition that they have been so confident that they should bee damned in hell that though the Lords Ministers have come after a most sweet and heavenly manner with an olive branch of peace in their mouthes yet still they have cast off all nothing could yeeld them any comfort nothing but hell nothing but damnation could appeare before their eyes So likewise also an evill Conscience is miserable in the future for it is unprovided for the time to come For such is the misery of an evill conscience that when it stands at the Barre of Gods judgement before whose tribunall we must all appeare then will torments of an evill conscience bee the greatest plague of all this is the hottest cole in hell fire even a defiled conscience full of unbeliefe and horror and not able to behold any thing with comfort but the Divels the damned nay the very Saints nay more God himselfe is terrible for their conscience to behold Secondly the woes of an evill conscience makes a man exceeding miserable and these woes are both temporall and eternall Temporall woes incident hereunto are feares that arise from a polluted Conscience feares of sicknesse feares of the plague feares of death feares where no feare is still meets with them often in the way Oh! thou that fearest the judgement so why doest thou not feare to sinne Why doest thou not trust in God These feares and troubles and doubts arise from thy want of faith Thou hast a polluted conscience and therefore thou art loth to come to triall to have thy defiled conscience come to a triall before God this is a terrible misery therefore labour to come out of it Those eternall woes that lye upon a polluted and evill conscience in case it bee not purified and brought to beleeving are even such as the Divels themselves are plagued with eternall torments in hell where is nothing but weeping and gnashing of teeth plagues upon plagues torments and woes and miseries for ever never to have end Thus may you see briefly the misery of an evill conscience III. What an happinesse a good Conscience is The comforts of a good Conscience are exceeding great And that may appeare First by the communion it hath with Gods Spirit Secondly by the union it hath with Christ Thirdly by the unity it hath with God through Christ Fourthly by the promises of eternall life First the happinesse and comfort of a good Conscience is great by the communion it hath with Gods Spirit insomuch that is there any weaknesse in us the Spirit strengthens us Doe infirmities hang upon us the Spirit helps us Doe wee not know