Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	bind_v	law_n	moral_a	1,887	5	10.0514	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A16342	Two sermons preached at Northampton at two severall assises there The one in the time of the shrevalty of Sir Erasmus Dryden Baronet. Anno Domini, 1621. The other in the time of the shrevalty of Sir Henry Robinson Knight, anno Domini, 1629. By Robert Bolton ... Published by E.B.	Bolton, Robert, 1572-1631.; Bagshaw, Edward, d. 1662.	1635 (1635)	STC 3256; ESTC S106258	56,433	110

muddinesse imperfection and infirmity Who doubts then but when we spy these last muddy streames to crosse the current of the divine Law we must have recourse unto the well-head Divine Lawes do bind the conscience primarily as they say properly and by themselves GOD is the LORD of the conscience and onely able to damne and save the soule for the breaking or keeping of his Lawes and therefore he alone hath an absolute and soveraigne power to binde the conscience If humane Lawes even that are just doe any way it is by the power and precept of divine Law See Rom. 13.1 c. I meane meerely humane For that is false which Bellarmine hath De laicis Cap. 11. Par. 5. that every just Civill Law is either a conclusion or determination of the divine Morall Law Iunius as all along in his Animadversions so here he hath also nobly conquered and confounded him And therefore as we would preferre the keeping of a good conscience before the sleeping in a whole skin and the feare of him which can destroy bondy and soule in hell fire before him that can onely kill the body let us cleave unto the commandements of GOD against the contradictions of the whole world Yet notwithstanding the mis imployment and the errour in the exercise of it Authority is still venerable in the originall and to be reputed GODs creature else had Daniel never spoken thus to Nabuchadnezzar an ungodly King and scourge of Nations Dan. 2.37 Thou O King art a King of Kings for the GOD of heaven hath given thee a Kingdome power and strength and glory And hence it is also De Civitate Deili 5.6 21. that Austin that renowned Father tells us Hee that gave Soveraignety to Augustus gave it also to Nero. Hee that gave it to the Vespasians father and sonne sweetest Emperours gave it also to Domitian that bloody monster In a word saith he hee that gave it to Christian Constantine gave it also to Iulian the Apostata That infinite wisedome of GOD which hath distinguished his Angels by degrees which hath given greater and lesse light and beauty to heavenly bodyes which hath made difference betweene beasts and birds created the Eagle and the Flye the Cedar and the shrub and among stones given the fairest tincture to the Ruby and the quickest light to the Diamond hath also ordained Kings Dukes or Leaders of the people Magistrates Iudges and other degrees amongst men Reason 2. Secondly Government is the prop and pillar of all States and Kingdomes the cement and soule of humane affaires the life of society and order the very vitall spirit whereby so many millions of men doe breath the life of comfort and peace and the whole nature of things subsist Let the heart in a man surcease from the exercise of its principality prime motion and the wholebody would presently grow pale bloudles and livelesse If that glorious Giant in the sky should retire his light into himselfe and through a languishing faintnesse stay his course and the Moone should wander from her beaten way whom GOD hath appointed rulers over day and night the times and seasons of the yeare would blend themselves by dis-ordered and confused mixture This goodly frame of the world would dissolve and fall into confusion and darknesse Proportionably take Soveraignety from the face of the earth and you turne it into a Cockpit Men would become cut-throats and Canibals one unto another Murder adulteries incests rapes roberies perjuries witchcrafts blasphemies all kinds of villanies outrages and savage cruelty would overflow all Countries We should have a very hell upon earth and the face of it covered with blood as it was once with water Reason 3. Thirdly It giveth opportunity by GODs blessing for the free exercise and full improvement of all humane abilities to their utmost worth and excellency Trades traffike lawes learning wisdome valour policies of State religion all Arts and excellencies thrive and flourish with much happinesse and successe under the wings and warmth of a godly government Some shadowes of these notable and worthy effects appeared even in the Heathenish State as in that of the Romanes to what a matchlesse noone tide of earthly glory and greatnesse to what an incredible and uncomparable height of humane felicity did that people aspire by managing their mysteries of State and guiding the raines of their commanding power by a faire ingenious and noble hand and that out of the meere illuminations of reason and principles of naturall policy But I must tell you by the way they were notably assisted in this Imperiall rise by their strict and severe lawes against those two grand impoysoners of the strongest See Godwin de Ro. Leg. pag. 161. and most flourishing States first Bribery secondly basenesse in comming to high roomes They had many lawes De ambitu de pecunijs repetundis If a Senatour were found to have used unlawfull meanes for the attaining of any Office he was to suffer ten yeares banishment and so proportionably of bribery No Kingdome under heaven harbouring these two cut-throates can stand long without basenesse or ruine If Government then hath such power and workes such wonders in Pagan Kingdomes what heavens upon earth what worlds of happinesse by GODs mercy may be comfortably expected when it is seasoned and sinewed with the truth of Religion and power of Christianity which is the chiefest top and well-spring of all true virtues even as GOD is of all good things For all other ornaments and excellencies of Nature Art Pollicy are as but a dead and livelesse carkasse except they be animated and quickned with the true feare of GOD and religious forwardnesse for his glory Nay a gracelesse Magistrate is a grievous plague for when he followes the publique administration of Iustice onely as a trade with unquenchable and unconscionable thirst of gaine and attaining his owne ends being not in heart perswaded that Iustice is GODs owne worke and himselfe his Agent in this businesse the sentence of right GODs owne verdict and himselfe his Minister to deliver it Formalities of Iustice doe but serve to smoother right and that which was necessarily ordained for the common good is through shamefull abuse made the cause of common misery which is too manifest by too many wofull experiences See Bacons aduancement pag. 3● But now for instance of those happy fruits and excellencies springing by GODs blessing out of Government sanctified by the effectuall and powerfull Majesty of true Religion I will goe no further then our owne State since that peerelesse Princesse Queene Elizabeth of sweetest and dearest memory the happiest instrument of GODs glory of her sexe since the most blessed Virgine I say since she rose into the Imperiall throne what a deale of glory and light admiration and honour what miracles of unparalled deliverances and preservations have crowned this famous Iland To say nothing of temporall felicities for which purpose instance might be given in some

them cast their eye upon GODs blessed Booke and tremble and be for ever frighted from all false dealing in this kind by such places as these Isa. 5.20 Woe unto them that call evill good and good evill c. Rev. 21.8 All Lyers shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Iudges may be accessary to blood-shed two wayes especially if they doe it knowingly and swayed away by by-respects 1. By condemning the innocent which is cleare and 2. By letting the guilty escape which appeares by GODs owne words 1 Kings 20.42 Because thou hast saved him whom I appointed to dye thy life shall be for his life c. And by that Advocates speech to a Iudge in Germany aggravating the fault of a murtherer that had killed sixe men No my Lord saith he he hath killed but one you are guilty of the blood of the other five because you let him escape upon the first murther Now in this case let them take a curbe and restraint from consideration that the very heathens to shadow out their torment did faine hellish furies to follow such hainous offenders with burning firebrands c. But especially let the Booke of GOD beate them off from any tainture that way Amongst many others that place Numb 35.33 is able to pierce an heart of adamant where the Spirit of GOD tell us that besides personall guilt blood involves even the whole Kingdome in the staine and mischiefe for blood saith he defileth the Land and the Land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein but by the blood of him that shed it I intend nothing in these last passages to the prejudice or offence of any For my part I honour the reuerent Iudges and worthy Lawyers of this Land at this day as one of the noblest limbes of the State And I cannot but looke upon the Lords my Iudges with more then ordinary respect for Iustice Nicols sake my worthy Patron that reverend and renowned Iudge whom I honour in the dust And yet for all this I must tell you the truth deale plainely I must and will from this place in this place though I should dye in it Me thinkes the very providence of reasonable men should move you that are Magistrates in this and other corporations to relieve your poore with the forfeitures of oathes and Ale-houses But when you have besides GODs blessed Law so mighty against drun●ards blasphemers And that King Charles also hath so graciously confirmed those blesed Acts provided in that case to sharpen the sword and strengthen the arme of Authority for that purpose you ought to be extraordinarily vigilant active and conscionable in the execution of them otherwise assure your selves you rob GOD of his honour the King of his service and the poore of their almes and your selves of good consciences And this fourefold cord without repentance and quickning is able to bind the curse of GOD fearefully to the consciences of t●ose which should be faulty this way I charge none in this point but onely them whose consciences if they will give them leave to speake out ma● justly accuse if any of your hearts should condemne you GOD is greater then your hearts and will pay you home be not deceived nor flatte your selves with any ungrounded selfe conceit It is a principle even in morall policy that an ill executour of the Lawes is worse in a State then a great breaker of them Not to punish an offence Calvina lib 2. pag. 249. being under your charge and in your power is ●o commit it We that are Ministers and called Rectours are bound and may b● stirred up by the grounds of common equity to feed the flocke if we take the fleece to give spirituall things where we have temporall But that dreadful charge of Paul to Timothy 1 Tim. 4.1 is able to trouble and affright ever a Chrysostome a Calvin who preached every day and such others illustrious lights and earthly Angels for powerfull and plentifull preaching what terrour and trembling then should it put into the hearts if they be not turned into rocks of silken seldome negligent and no-Preachers I charge thee before GOD saith Paul and the LORD IESUS CHRIST who shall judge the quicke and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdome Preach the Word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and Doctrine When I seriously ponder the everall effectuall enforcements of this terrible obtestation me thinkes Ministers should doe nothing but study preach and pray FINIS

fame saith Austin were the aime in the Actors of those admirable things amongst the Romanes Adde then these and we have Thirdly religious righteousnesse which ever strikes the stroke doth the deed and goes through stitch indeed in all comfortable Christian government It onely steeres aright in all publicke employments stands upright in all stormes and is steele to the backe Either there must be an addition of Religion to reason piety to policy counsell out of GODs Booke to the light of naturall conscience sanctified righteousnesse to civill honesty or as tho preferred party himselfe though otherwise of never so good parts never so universally and excellently enriched with all endowments of all kinds naturall morall politicke learned is but as a dead man a rotten carrion stucke over with flowers so certainely with whatsoever outward flourishes and formalities he may seeme to dazle the eyes of underlings he will poyson his place by preferring his owne particular and private ends by putting sometimes hatefull businesse into good language for his owne advantage and further advancement and ever by temporizing rather then hazard his temporall happinesse Heare what judicious Master Hooker did happily let fall from his pen to this purpose So naturall saith he is the union of Religion with Iustice that we may boldly deeme there is neither where both are not For how should they be unfainedly just whom Religion doth not cause to be such or they religious which are not found such by the proofe of their just actions If they which employ their labour and travaile about the publicke administration of Iustice follow it onely as a trade with unquenchable and unconscionable thirst of gaine being not in heart perswaded that Iustice is GODs owne worke and themselves his Agent in this businesse the sentence of right GODs owne verdict and themselves his Priests to deliver it formalities of Iustice doe but serve to smoother right and that which was necessarily ordained for the common good is through shamefull abuse made the cause of common misery It is no peculiar conceit Note but a matter of sound consequence that all duties are by so much the better performed by how much the men are more religious from whose abilities the same proceede This explication thus premised I come to confirme the point first by Scripture And first take notice of GODs owne words to King David 2 Sam. 23.3 The GOD of Israel said the Rocke of Israel spake to me He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the feare of GOD. And why a Rocke upon purpose to intimate give assurance of an all sufficiency and omnipotent arme for protection in such cases And why so because all that set themselves to governe graciously and as GOD would have them shall be sure to be mightily set against by all the powers of darkenesse all the Devils in hell and all their wicked instruments upon earth Magistrates that are no medlers as they say but onely seeke themselves and a name and an honour in their places neede no Rocke The Governour of a Corporation who will suffer himselfe to be intreated for the erecting and supporting of those bloody dens of swinish drunkards schooles of misrule and nurceries for the gallowes resolves to take no notice of those sonnes of Belial who belch out their blasphemies in the street against that blessed law provided in such a case is willing to be accessary to all those sinnes through his whole yeare which out of cowardlinesse or connivency he left unpunished I say such a one is like enough to sleepe in a whole skinne he needes no Rocke The negligent and unconscionable Minister which never goes about to stirre the Devill in the ignorant prophane and those that hate to be reformed but is well enough content that so he may rise and jovialize it in the meane time to treasure up the bloody cries of so many murdered soules against the day of wrath he shall not have so much as a drunkard to open his mouth or wag his finger against him he needes no Rocke The idoll Iustice that onely hunts after plausiblenesse and popularity and for the good word of all the good-fellowes about him to serve his owne turne for some intents when the time serves and for that purpose upholds as much as he can for shame or dare for law all prophane sports rotten Ale-houses I say there where the Iustice of Peace is milde and the drunkard merry as they say there is mischiefe enough he needes no Rocke But now that man of Authority who in love to the LORD IESUS and out of the Lion-like boldnesse of a good conscience dare and will draw the sword of Iustice against the proudest Nimrod if neede require sets his breast from the beginning to the end of his yeare with impartiality and resolution against all the flouds of Belial bends himselfe with such an universall sincere severity against all sinne that he is now become the drunkards song c. That man of GOD which being sensible of the horrible sinne of killing soules dares not but discover unto his people the damnablenesse of their state all kinds of hypocrisie all sortes of unregeneration the whole counsell of GOD and so dwell upon their bosome sinnes with terrour and truth and still beate upon those barres with the hammer of the Word which keepes them from CHRIST untill the Devill be driven out of them Which you know what a world of ungodly opposition bedlam rage and railing it will raise against a faithfull Minister The Iustice of Peace which resolves to be serious and reall to doe his Country good indeed and to discharge a good conscience undauntedly without all feare or faction and lookes upon blasphemers drunkards whore-masters railers against Religion c. as the North winde upon raine c. I say such as these and in a word all who deale uprightly and rule in the feare of GOD have neede of a Rocke against the rage of all ungodly oppositions And such a Rocke will the GOD of Israel be unto them all that set against them shall set their shoulders against a Rocke all their cunning and close projects and open base practises of all prophane opposites and underminers the plausible politicke tyrannise of those that sit in the gate all the scurrill dunghill rimes and railings of deboist Bilial drunken jesters All that man or Devill can any wayes doe against them shall all be but like so many proud and swelling waves which dash themselves against a strong impregnable rocke which the more boisterously they beate against it the more desperatly are they dissolved and broken into a vaine sonne or froth The ever glorious Princesse of sweetest and dearest memory Queene Elizabeth is a most memorable and matchlesse instance of protection in this kind The mighty arme of GOD was as a Rock of brasse to beate backe from her sacred and Royall person See Ra●ot lib. 2. pag. 432. defending the Gospell of IESVS CHRIST such variety