Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	die_v	hell_n	worm_n	1,009	5	9.7957	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17334	The schole of godly feare a sermon preached at the assises holden in Exeter, March 20, 1614.	Bury, John, 1580-1667.	1615 (1615)	STC 4180.5; ESTC S262	20,285	40

but a time whose being is in fluxu nothing else but a fleeting and passing 2. Fickle being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a commoration but no habitation a soiourning as the new Translation rather then a dwelling or at least such a dwelling as of Tenants at will that standeth vpon most vncertaine termes Passe the time of your dwelling here in feare But onely glauncing at these feare is the marke whereunto this Text aimeth Among many sorts whereof Feare threefold we may take notice of these three 1. Infernall in horrour of punishment 2. Criminall vnder the burdē of guiltines 3. Filiall in duty of grace The infernall is a desperate feare when hell gnawing vpon the damned soule she lieth trembling like vnto a Partridge while the Hawke plumeth her or a Sheepe while the Wolfe deuoureth her which dieth fearing and feareth dying The Criminall is a perplexed feare the shaking Palsy of a guiltie conscience fearing to suffer euill for doing euill The Filiall is a reuerent feare keeping the heart in awe from doing euill against God that hath done so much good for vs. This last is peculiar to the Elect and is absolutely good the first is proper to the Damned and is alwaies naught the middle is middle betweene both sometimes good and sometimes euill according to the subiect in which and the end to which it worketh In the Reprobate a criminall feare is the portall of hell the threshold of infernall feare and is meerely seruile in the chosen it is the entry to repentance an introduction to filiall feare In the wicked it is the first biting of the worme of conscience which in hell will euer gnaw and neuer die as in Cain Genes 4. In the godly it is a biting also of conscience worme remorsus but by this byting his biting is preuented remorse bringeth foorth amendment and the daughter eateth vp the mother it causeth repentance vnto saluation not to be repented of 2. Cor. 7.10 like a sudden affright which cureth an Ague as in Dauid 2. Sam. 24.10 This feare is a good Vsher to enter Initiall feare but no good Tutour to perfect a Christian for when the Law our School-master Galat. 3.24.25 hath plaid his part with the rod of terrour to whippe vs to Christ being come into his high and Free-schole we must learne to learne more for loue of learning then for feare of beating This pricking feare doth very good seruice as a sharpe needle to make way for the thred of loue to follow whereby God and man being sowed together the thred holdeth the needle is taken away Thus feare hauing drawne in loue loue being growne perfect casteth out feare 1. Iohn 4.18 But as it casteth out one feare Filiall feare so it bringeth in another Serue the Lord without feare saith Zachary Luk. 1 74. yet serue the Lord in feare saith Dauid Psalm 2.11 serue him without that seruile feare that abhorreth the punishment more then the offence but serue him with that filiall feare which detesteth the offence more then the punishment I say the offence more then the punishment because a good Christian may in due order cast an eye on both Compounded And if we follow the streame of feare in this Text back to his springs we see it ariseth from two heads 1. God is our Father there springeth vp the feare of his mercies There is mercy with thee that thou maist be feared Psalm 130.4 Secondly God is a Iudge and thence riseth the feare of his iudgements for it is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God Heb. 10.31 the feare of his mercies is the maine spring and predominant whereby we principally abhorre the fault the feare of his iudgements is the lesser spring and subordinate whereby in a second place we shunne the punishment Looking vpon God as our most gracious Father wee bee or at least should be both studious of weldoing because it pleaseth him though there were no heauen to reward vs and timorous of ill-doing because it offendeth him though there were no hell to terrifie vs but for that dulnesse and securitie are so ready to ouertake vs he presenteth himselfe on the other side as a Iudge holding out in his right hand reward in his left hand punishment that with these two spurres he might both stirre vp him that standeth still and driue him faster that is already on his way The first place in our hearts must be taken vp for the feare of God as a Father 1. Of Reuerence arising from the sense of his mercy and this feare is not the mother of distrust but the daughter of faith Psalm 5.7 In the multitude of thy mercies I will goe into thy house there Faith the mother leadeth the way and will worship in feare c. there the daughter followeth This feare is not the daughter of painefull anxiety but the mother of ioyfull alacrity Psal 2 11. Reioyce before him in feare This feare is not a riuall but a sister of loue going so louingly hand in hand that none loue God better then they that feare him most none feare him more then they which loue him best The feare of God as a Iudge 2. Of Caution arising from the meditation of his iudgements may and must haue his place too and when the former feare is made Steward of the heart this latter may take his place as an excellent Porter to examine euery thought before it giue passage This is not a feare of diffidence for it leadeth in confidence Psalm 41. Many shall see it and feare and shall put their trust in the Lord. First feare then trust It is not a feare of perplexity but of caution Pro. 14.27 The feare of the Lord is a welspring of life to auoide the snares of death This Porters office is to keepe out securitie licentiousnes and such other vagrants as Psal 4.4 Tremble and sin not against these it standeth in the dore of the heart like the Cherub in the gate of Paradise brandishing the flaming sword of Gods heauy iudgements in threatning death hell torments c. It maketh of these armour of proofe against sinne quencheth the fire of lust in the flame of euerlasting fire and maketh the fornace of hell a cooler of his passions That it may flie from it it flieth vnto it and when he most flieth from it then he findeth it the safest refuge and the more hee thus feareth it the lesse cause there is to feare it These seuerall feares thus rising from seuerall heads Their vnion father and iudge meete together here in the streame of one compound and wel-tempered feare both of mercy and iudgement a feare mixed of that honour due to a father and that feare due to our Lord Malach. 1.6 a feare that is both louing and wary We may call it an awfull loue or a louing awe and in this feare wee must passe the time of our dwelling here Which how