the Blood Rom. 5. 1. of Christ saith S. Paul wee haue peace with God Rom. 5. And againe The Blood of Christ Heb. 9. 14. once offred by his eternall Spirit without fault purgeth our consciences from dead workes Heb. 9. Yea so purifieth and pacifieth them that it leaues no remorse of sin accusing or condemning in them Nothing else in this world hath this vertue saue Christs Blood alone there is no pacification of the soule without remission Ioh. 3. 1. Heb. 9. 22. Heb. 10. of sinne no remission of sin without blood no blood expiatory for sinne but Christs no application of this expiation but by faith The consequence then is vndenyable therefore by faith in Christs Blood shed for the remission of sinne we attaine peace of conscience No perfumes of the Sanctuary or charmes of Oratory can relieue it no straines of Musicke or Songs of Angels can reioyce it All other merriments and outward refreshments whatsoeuer haue no more power to cure and quiet it then popish holy-water hath to coniure the diuell This this is the honour royalty and peculiar dignity of Christs blood by the hand of faith applyed to the soule for the full remission of sinnes This alone can pacifie and make good the conscience and fully effect it whereas otherwise all the glittering appearances of happinesse which dazle the eyes of doting worldlings cannot bring it to passe The superstitious Papist troubled in conscience for sinne runnes vp and downe for reliefe like an Hart with an Arrow in his side Se rotat in vulnus transsixam circuit hastam hee sends to the god of Ekron for helpe hee buyes a pardon 2. King 1. 2. goes to shrift lasheth and launceth himselfe as the Priests of Baal did posteth to a Masse passeth 1. King 18. on in pilgrimage to a woodden worme-eaten Lady or painted Image and all this while as an aguish man that drinkes water his disease increaseth no shift of place or change of aire can relieue him being dogged and attended on by the hellish hag of his conscience Quae surdo verbere caedit which whips him in secret and in silence telles him Omnibus vmbra locis adero dabis improbe poenas The prophane worldling likewise being vexed and perplexed in mind with the horrour of his offensiue life and the blood-hound of his guilty conscience hunting dry-foot on the sent Prou. 28. 1. of his former sinnes proiecteth fearfull things ambulat in circuitu walkes in a restlesse round or maze like a sea-sicke wretch from the ship to the boat and so backe againe and as Saint Augustine passionately describes it runnes like Aug. in 45. Psa a Male-content ab agro in vrbem c. from the field into the City out of the City into his house from the common roomes thereof to his bed-chamber from thence to his study or closet and then out againe to seeke for a merry companion to see if hee can play away his trouble and remooue the melancholy qualme as carnall men account it from the stomake he eates profusely drinkes profoundly sports profanely and all to lull the conscience asleepe and to drowne her accusing voyce by 2. King 23. 10. the clamours of needlesse imployments But all in vain he doth but loose his chaine that it may be tyed straighter and smother the fire for a time which will afterwards breake forth with greater violence a seeming truce he may haue true peace he cannot haue for Nocte diéque suum gestat in pectore testem yea pestem hee carries night and day his bane in his bosome and of all earthly refreshments may truly say as Iob of his Iob 16. 2. friends Miserable comforters are ye all But as for the godly Christian who is willing to illuminate and regulate his conscience by Gods sacred Word and the diuine Oracles of eternall truth when scruples and troubles of conscience doe arise whereby hee is somewhat distracted or distressed leauing all humane conclusions vntryed vntrusted he forthwith goes to God in prayer for direction powres forth his soule in supplication to him imbraceth all good meanes of instruction and edification layes fast hold by a liuely faith on Christ Iesus for reconciliation and so finding Christ the great Physician of soules or rather being found of him findes with all peace and tranquillity his doubts resolued his griefe remoued his feare cancelled his heart confirmed in well-doing his soule as it were rauished with the sweet sauour of his precious oyntments so that Flammas licet hic ille iaculetur polus fractus illabatur orbis impauidum ferient ruinae though the heauens and earth crack and fly off the hinges and the Mountaines be remoued yet therewith he cannot be appalled to him being in Christ and feeling it to be so there is no condemnation or remurmuration of conscience for sinne and therefore with glory to God in excelsis he sings De profundis a requiem to his soule You see then by that which hath been said how that the conscience which Gods Word actuated by the Spirit inlighteneth and perswadeth and the blood of Christ Iesus applyed by the hand of faith purgeth and pacifyeth is the onely good conscience Know also that truly to beleeue well according to the tenour of Gods sacred Word and to indeuour duly to liue well in a cheerfull obedience to his holy will is both mother and nurse of the same It is the pure inmost blood which breeds and the radicall moysture which feeds the bright Lampe of the soule a good conscience Whereof for a conclusion to the premises and an induction to that which followes this plaine and pregnant definition proued by direct passages of Scriptures offers it selfe to your Christian obseruation Doct. 4 A good or vpright a Prou. 15. 15. conscience is a diuine b Rom. 2. 16. power and principall part of Gods Image in man whereby he doth most resemble the selfe-sufficiency of God which being c Ephes 1. 7. inlightened by Gods Word and purged by d Rom. 5. 1. Heb. 9. 14. faith in Christs blood from the guilt and punishment of sinne and from dead workes to serue the liuing Lord speaketh e Phil. 4. 7. peace with Gods allowance is a f Iob 33. messenger of good things betwixt God and vs and cheereth vp the heart with g 1. Pet. 1. 8. ioy vnspeakable and glorious In which Definition you may easily perceiue how that knowledge and faith repentance and obedience peace and ioy haue their concurrence to make vp the precious odoriferous balme or oyntment of a good conscience First knowledge and faith is requisite thereunto lest it should be blind and erronious Secondly repentance and constant obedience lest it should be secure and licentious Thirdly peace and ioy lest it should bee stirring galling and needlesly tender and timorous To touch the tops of these perswasions first Iudg. 7. 1. Knowledge it is by too lamentable
THE CONSCIONABLE CHRISTIAN OR THE INDEVOVR OF SAINT PAVL TO HAVE AND DISCHARGE a good conscience alwayes towards God and men laid open and applyed in three Sermons Preached before the Honourable Judges of the Circuit at their seuerall Assises holden in CHARD and TAVNTON for the County of Somerset 1620. By RICHARD CARPENTER Doctor of Diuinity and Pastor of Sherwell in Deuon Acts 23. 1. I haue in all good conscience serued God vntill this day 2. Cor. 1. 12. This is our reioycing the testimony of our conscience c. Aug. cont Petil. Conscientiâ—nâ— malam laudant is â—â—â—â—â—nium non saâ—at Bonaâ— calâ—mniantis conuitiam non vulnerat Imprinted at London by F. K. for Iohn Bartlet and are to be sold at the signe of the gilded Cup in the Goldsmiths Rowe in Cheapside 1623. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL HIGH SHERIFE OF SOMERSET IOHN TREVELIAN of Nettlecom Esquire c. The Authour wisheth what the worke describeth the singular comforts of a Conscionable Christian in this life and in that to come blessed immortality SIR Your worth shineth in so high a Sphere of dignity being now the worthily honoured high Sheriffe of the County that if I should indeuour to hold foorth a Candle to any to behold the brightnesse thereof I might iustly bee censured of folly or flattery But I haue no such proiect and in truth it is not your annuall acquired greatnesse and eminency of office and place but your continually inspired goodnesse and life of grace appearing in your practice of piety charity and hospitality farre beyond many of your ranke and quality which hath as it were by a secret forcible influence drawne me vnto you and this discourse of a Conscionable Christian from me Which as it resembles you much so desires to honour you long so much the more to honor you as you shall the more desire and indeuor to resemble it and proceed in some competent proportion to expresse and represent the lines limbes lineaments thereof in the future course of your life and conuersation Wherof I conceiue no small hope hauing been an often eye-witnesse of the manifold graces of God shining in you and occasionally inforced to take notice of your exemplary integrity in the faithfull discharge of your publike Magistracy heretofore and at this time in managing wisely and worthily this important Office whereunto your vertues haue aduanced you from which I doubt not but you will come off commendably and comfortably without any gash or galling of your conscience Which that you may the better doe giue me leaue whom you haue chosen at your seuerall Assises to be a Monitor to many to bee also now a Remembrancer vnto you that you put your soule to that noble imployment of reflecting vpon it selfe and recollecting the particular knowne-passages of your well-neere ouerpast Magistracy with an vndazeled and vndissembling eye that so thorowly trying discrying what you haue done and finding vpon serious examination of your wayes words and workes that as another Moses and Samuel you haue wittingly and willingly done no man wrong neither been voluntary Agent nor forced instrument in the doing of any thing vniustly you may hereupon rest assured and secured of this that you haue carefully and conscionably accomplished your Office and duty Whereof the Countrey makes thankfull report and I cannot but heere to my knowledge giue publike testimony thereunto being also desirous that the tender of this poore Paper-present should be if it may be a perpetuall acknowledgement how much I stand bound to you in generall for your many Christian fauours vouchsafed to mee in particular I haue long I confesse run on the score so that the interest of your loue exceeds the principall of my abilities But yet if verball payment may satisfie for reall benefits and goe for currant I hope hereby at length to strike out some part of my debt At this present let it please you to accept this little monument of that great respect which I deseruedly beare vnto you what propriety you iustly haue both in the worke and in the Author it is well known to all which know vs. I need say no more but this At your instance and intreaty these Sermons were preached by your best deuotion they were attended and in testification of my dutifull loue towards you they are now published You were the chiefe meanes and motiue to bring these meditations to the hearing of many and therfore cheerfully they runne to your hands and are bold vnder your name to offer themselues to the view of all And so humbly commending them to your gentle acceptation and heartily committing you to the Almighties gracious protection and to the Word of his grace which is able to keep Act. 20. 32. you from falling to build you further and to giue you an inheritance with them that are truly sanctified I rest euer prest to be proued Your louing Sonne-in-law in all Christian obseruancy truly deuoted RICH. CARPENTER Loxford the 20. of Septemb. 1620. TO THE READER CHristian Reader In these later and looser times wherein as the Heathen of old complained Malunt disputare homines quà m viuere Men delight rather to argue and discourse of piety and Religion then seriously to reduce the principles thereof into practice and action It is much to bee feared that we all feare God too little and it may iustly be suspected that too many stand so affected in these dayes of long peace as the Romans did in the time of their ciuill warres Then some followed Caesar and they were weakest some Pompey and they were thought wisest some Crassus and they were accounted worst So now some follow the flesh and are led by her corrupting allurements some are Fauorites and Minions of the world carried away with its glittering preferments some are meere Factors for the diuell fulfilling his crafty-cruell designements all are set on worke but vnder the Commander of this cursed Triumvirate for the most part so wickedly that euery where there is a consumption of grace through the corruption of sinne piety complaining that shee is sicke charity neere dead good workes buried prayer and preaching neglected honesty and sobriety derided iustice and equity abandoned truth and plaine-dealing imprisoned faith and a good conscience banished and driuen out of the Countrey For the recalling whereof from banishment or rather for the inciting of Christians to giue thereunto better entertainment I had I confesse some extraordinary calling to those places where these Sermons were preached and therefore more then ordinarily laboured to worke by them powerfully on the consciences of my Auditors that they might be truly inlightened and inliued To this purpose my desire and study was as the circumstances of persons time and place required to lay the Axe of Gods Word close to the root and to apply my doctrine home to the heart and so to set conscience it selfe aworke Now the whole and intire worke of conscience to giue by the way some light to the ignorant
of all other things is most precious and yeelds sweetest and durablest contentment and that you may so haue it that you may also hold it fast and be confirmed in the same put in daily practice these few rules First in respect of God labour and indeuour by all holy exercises of Rules for the preseruing of a good conscience Prayer of hearing the Word of God by conference and Meditation to find the fruition of his sweet presence renewed in you Secondly in respect of your selues and your actions you must resolue by a secret vow passed betwixt God and the soule to refraine from all occasions of dipleasing his Maiesty to performe Canonicall obedience in all required duties and to doe nothing doubtfully with intricate suspension of mind And lastly in respect of your estate it behooueth you wholly to roll your selues and relie on the prouidence of the Highest and to consider whatsoeuer comes vnto you that it commeth from a Diuine hand whose Almighty power is guided by a most wise prouidence and tempered with a fatherly loue and so to be perswaded the estate wherein you are to be best of all for you because he willeth it who foresees and effects what is best for his These as a threefold cord diuinely twisted are sufficiently able to strengthen in vs and to confirme vnto vs the hold-fast of a good quiet conscience To the which generall rules these particular helpes are subordinate which the conscionable Christian may and must vse for his surer footing and better furtherance in the way to heauen First his holy care must bee so to heare the 1. Helpe Word as with a settled purpose to yeeld obedience from the heart to the forme of doctrine Rom. 6. 17. whereunto he is deliuered not talking as many doe in a dreame of the Kingdome of God and righteousnesse thereof or walking as others doe with respect to their profit or preferment in some good duties as Herod did but with an heart inlarged by grace running in all the wayes of Gods Commandements blessing Psalm 119. God for the day-light of the Gospell and the opportunity offered thereby of casting off the workes of darknesse and putting on the armour of light imbracing at all times the sound of the Word not onely when it commeth in a still and soft voyce gently admonishing vs to auoyd the quagmires of voluptuousnesse the thorny copse of couetousnesse and the stickle path of Prou. 3. 17. pride and to walke precisely in the pleasant and prosperous wayes of wisedome but also when as a Trumpet it soundeth the Alarm of iudgement against secure and impenitent sinners that so he may be kept in awe and say with the Prophet O Lord I heard thy voyce and was afraid Hab. 3. 2. Psal 119. 120. my flesh trembleth for feare of thy iudgments Secondly with the faithfull Esa 26. he is so to wait for the Lord in the way of his iudgements Vers 8 9. with his soule desiring him in the night and with his spirit seeking him in the morning that thereby he may not onely be terrified but as the Prophet there speaketh learne righteousnesse and behold the high hand of God as well in protecting the vertuous and compassing them about with a wall of brasse for their defence Ezek. 5. as in punishing the vicious which in the Land of vprightnesse doe wickedly for their destruction Thirdly that his profession and practice may be no way mimicall and grounded only on occasion and confined by limitation but sincere and intire without dodging and reseruation he must bind himselfe with Dauids vow and make Psal 119. 106. a couenant betwixt God and his soule that hee will performe his righteous iudgements and be as the Clocke in the house where hee liueth in the company where he conuerseth awaking others to doe their duties and to this end must daily edifie himselfe in his most holy faith Iude vers 20. praying in the holy Ghost that God who in his conuersion rowzed him out of the sleepe of sinne would by the neuer-ceasing influence of that grace which first awaked him keepe alwayes his heart awake and not suffer him to sleepe as others doe and let slip opportunity of grace but preserue him watchfull and sober 1. Thes 5. 6. that so continuing the spirituall motion of prayer thankesgiuing meditation and examination of his heart and life he may be preserued in his spirit and not transgresse Mal. 2. and Mal. 2. 16. more and more strengthen in himselfe the good things which else would bee ready to dye Reu. 3. 2. Reuel 3. Fourthly he must with all diligence auoyd that repletion of worldly desires and carnall delights which our Sauiour shewes to bee an especiall enemy to Christian watchfulnesse and with the wise Steward Luk. 16. must be content Luk. 21. 34. to sit downe and write fifty for an hundred Luk. 16. that is to abridge himselfe of many profits and pleasures yea by seasonable abstinence he is to bring his flesh into subiection and by perpetuall sobriety to fence the City of his soule that by any rout or riot of voluptuousnesse the walls thereof be not broken downe Fifthly he is with the Israelites Numb 9. to keepe the watch of the Lord and as they fixed Numb 9. 23. their eyes on the pillar of a cloud by day and of fire by night that according thereto they might rest or remooue so the conscionable Christian is to marke and obserue diligently Gods workes and dealings with others and himselfe and when hee calles to feasting or mourning is to haue his eyes opened and his senses awaked to entertaine the Lords mercies or iudgements with ioy or sorrow as hee hath appoynted Contrary to the disposition of Amos 6. 8. those retchlesse rebellious persons by the Prophets Ier 5. 3. condemned Amos 6. Ier. 5. Esa 22. Lastly that hee may constantly stand on the guard of faith and a good conscience hee is seriously to meditate on and daily to expect Christs comming to Iudgement that whether Luk. 12. 35. he come at euening or morning or midnight he may be ready with his Lampe burning and loynes girded to entertaine him and finally for the full and finall preseruation of his conscience from ruine hee is in humble prayer to Psal 127. commend the keeping thereof to the neuer-sleeping Keeper of Israel that hee making his Watch-tower therein it may bee preserued through faith vnto eternall life Beleeue mee then Fathers and Brethren the procuring and preseruing of this true Diamond which flings beames of comfort vpon the soule of this true Rubie which carryes in her face the colour of vertue of this soueraigne cordiall of a good and quiet conscience requireth an excellent exercised man well skild in the pure and pious trade of Christianity c. Vse 1 Wherefore whilest the Wizards of this world like to that couetous Cardinall which preferred his portion in Paris before
experience well known that for want of knowledge in Gods Booke and of faith in the Gospell offering forgiuenesse of sinnes onely by Christs blood many sottish soules liue in ignorance and darknesse and in the very shadow of death not able to discerne by reason of their blind nature and naturall blindnesse the things which concerne their peace but thinking all religions will saue or a good meaning serue the turne or a Lord haue mercy at last cast be sufficient Alas many a Fly doe these swallow many a sinne vnseene vnsorrowed for doe they digest and in many things do they erre as Christ told the Sadduces Mark 12. because they know not the Scriptures Mark 12. 24. and the power of God The ignorance whereof as Chrysostome noteth is the mother of Chrysost in 3. Coloss all mischiefe and therfore he earnestly exhorteth all secular persons to get them Bibles the physicke of their soules to labour to bee more Iob 22. 21. acquainted with God in his Word that they may grow vp therby in grace and in the knowledge 2. Pet. 3. 13. of our Sauiour Christ without which sauing knowledge and faith grounded thereon which the Hebrewes by an excellency call Shekel Mekodesh sanctifying wisedome the conscience 2. Faith cannot be vpright It is sufficient vnto sin to doe against conscience as Saint Paul in Rom. Rom. 14. Augustine 14. sheweth whereunto that of Saint Augustine agreeth Quicquid sit contra conscientiam aedificat ad Gehennam But it is not sufficient to duty and obedience to doe according to conscience except it bee inlightened and rectified by the Word without which information and illumination conscience often resolues where it should restraine acquits where it should condemn and so erreth and offendeth diuers waies First by an erronious acceptation and entertainment of the lawes fashions and traditions of men for the precepts of God which is the errour of superstition incident to ignorant arrogant Papists who make the Popes Dictates their practicall principles and seeing if they see at al thorow the false spectacles of their purblind guides shew their obedience in those things to wit in the adoration of Images inuocation of Saints meritorious obseruation of dayes and meates and celebration of Pilgrimages and Masses c. for which they can shew no commandement All whose Religion in these and the like poynts of Purgatory of prayer for the dead of satisfactory seruices and sacrifices of their owne inuention may easily be swept away with the Prophets besome Esa Esa 1. 12. 1. Who required these things at your hands Secondly by a vaine assumption of false principles and a misprision of good for euill of euill for good and this is the errour of prophannesse frequent amongst our common people who inlarge their consciences to the vttermost bounds of any pleasure or profit and vnder pretence of not being booke-learned will not suffer their consciences to prooue good Lawyers in Gods Booke but liue in darke corners vnder blind Sir Iohns and so take quid pro quo Chalke for Cheese riches for righteousnesse policy for piety who accounting gaine godlinesse and maintaining bad opinions to iustifie base affections doe hereupon in the errour of their iudgement practise commonly swearing prophaning of the Sabbath Vsury Lying Lottery Legerdemaine without any regret of conscience at all Thirdly by false application of good principles as when from those approued grounds and true propositions Religious adoration is not to be giuen to creatures and likewise Christians haue liberty in things indifferent these vnwarrantable conclusions are deduced Therefore we may not kneele in the Act of receiuing the Communion Therefore we are not bound to obey the Magistrate in things indifferent Which errour of conscience I may call the errour of too much singularity and precisenesse arguing their indiscretion who in their ouerweening curiosity will bee ouer-pleasing God with better deuices then his owne and take vpon them to teach the Spirit to speake according to the consonants of the Alphabet so long till their wit turne to madnes and end in mischiefe as appeareth by the course and condition of Separatists Anabaptists and Arminians at this day For the auoyding of all which errours of superstition prophanenesse and precisenesse let vs heare and obey our Sauiours counsell Search Ioh. 5. 39. the Scriptures Ioh. 5. for they beare witnesse of me the Way the Truth the Life they giue best testimony both of Gods will concerning his own seruice and of his good will in Christ to all his faithfull seruants Let this Word of God dwell plentifully in vs as Saint Paul prescribeth Col. 3. 16. Col. 3. and that not in some but in all wisedome that we may thinke speake and doe wisely in all things And for the better sharpening of our dimmed sight in matters diuine let vs not refuse the eye-salue of our better inlightened guides but gladly accept thereof that so by all these and other good meanes our consciences being rightly informed we may expresse the goodnesse of them by doing or not doing confidently what God hath commanded or prohibited And to this end that our hearts Col. 2. 2 16. may bee comforted and established in euery good saying and doing wee are to lay fast hold on that euerlasting consolation and good hope through grace which the Father hath giuen vs Colos 2. 2 16. and by all spirituall aliments to preserue and cherish that sauing faith in vs whereby we are perswaded that our sinnes are pardoned and God in Christ reconciled to vs. This indeed is the root of a good conscience as hath been already shewed and this Beleeue in Christs blood is the gracious powerfull Word whereby all consciences are now stilled as the Luk. 19. Act. 16. consciences of Mary Magdalen Zacheus Lydia and that Iaylor were suddenly and soundly thereby quieted Now for the cherishing and confirming of this faith the daily exercises of repentance and obedience are requisite and therefore to make vp the vprightnesse of a good conscience wee are in the second place to speake of these ingredients as most necessary thereunto to wit of repentance and obedience Of repentance in mind altering the thoughts from the approbation of sinne of repentance in heart sorrowing for the committing of sinne of repentance in mouth reprouing and controlling sin of repentance in the whole man remoouing whatsoeuer is knowne to be amisse and bringing forth fruits of amendment of life c. This is a worke impossible to nature without grace and so slow in the working of grace through the contradiction of our nature that howsoeuer many professe it yet few practise it but being rightly practised it will make such a diuision betwixt our persons and our sinnes that by the repairing of the Image of God more and more in vs we shall haue comfortable furtherance in the way to saluation This therefore must not be wanting to him or scanting in him that desireth a good conscience For where there is no true repentance there is no true faith no true faith no true Christ no true Christ no true remission of sinnes no true remission of sinnes no true peace of conscience grounded
the hauing and holding of an vpright conscience within you Doe all things as in Gods presence cherish true sauing-faith by often hearing and reading of the Word and the frequent practice of Prayer and true repentance inure your selues by religious exercises to a kind of familiarity with God that the assurance of his loue in Christ and the comforts thereof be not interrupted walke carefully in your particular callings to the glory of God and the common good auoyding as serpents couetousnesse and ambition which make men set their consciences on tenters and stretch like cheuerill and because at the great and generall Assises sentence shall passe and Iudgement be awarded according to the things written in the Booke of euery mans conscience take we heed Reu. 20. 13. that these Bookes of account bee kept vnblurred vnpolluted pure and cleane from presumptuous sinnes which are the cut-throate of the soule and offensiue in Gods sight In a word let this be your wish aboue all wishes and herein make sure worke come of the rest what will that by the effusion of Christs Blood for you and infusion of his Spirit into you you may inioy this pleasant and peaceable portion of a good conscience which is more highly to bee esteemed of and held at a dearer rate then the Merchants precious Pearle for which as it is Mat. 13. 46. in the Parable he sold all that he had in comparison whereof the things that are in the worlds eye most aduantageable vnto vs are to be accounted losse and iudged as dung that we Phil. 3. 7. may win it Let others say Who wil shew vs any good Yet Lord lift thou vp the light of thy Psal 4. countenance vpon vs. Let others content themselues with a portion in this life whose bellies Psal 17. 14 15. thou fillest with thy hid treasure but let vs O Lord behold thy face in righteousnesse and in the glasse of a good conscience heere on earth so when we awake in the day of Resurrection we shall be satisfied with thine Image rauished with seeing and secured for retaining thy glorious presence in heauen All earthly ioyes and treasures without this of a good conscience are but as so many ponderous waights to giue poize to the soule to sinke it to hell But with this all outward helpes for present maintenance are as so many Promooters and Proctors for the future inheritance giuing vs not onely wings of a Doue or an Eagle but of an Angel to ascend into heauen With this heauenly treasure then of an vpright conscience whosoeuer amongst vs O that there were many such is really possessed to speake plainely in the phrase of the holy Ghost he is without controuersie richly yea royally blessed * Sola conscientia virtutum praestat gaudium verum perpetuum Caeterae hilaritates frontem remittunt cor non implent Sen. in Ep. 23. Hee need not enuy the rich Corne-hoorders barnes inlarged and goods increasing or the Gluttons purple rayment and delicious feeding or the greatnesse of the greatest Potentate arrayed in robes of State powdered with Pearle and boasting with Nebuchadnezzar of his power and stately building No Hee need not enuy the magnificent pompe and vsurped Oecumenicall power of that triple-crowned ruffling Priest of Rome that Meridianus Daemon as Bernard calls Antichrist who to giue life to the image of the Beast seekes as Reu. 13. 15. much as in him lieth to make the Lord of life exhaeredem vineae exhaeredem vitae riding on mens shoulders treading on Emperours necks and swimming in his Orcipotent Sea with the bladders of intolerable pride and insolency No no Vix vnius assis Nec pretio pluris mundana haec omnia ducit For carryed in the triumphant Chariot of a cleare conscience and aduanced farre aboue these painted Pageants of things sublunary and perishing with Gods leaue and loue he inioyeth a selfe-sufficient happinesse in health and sickenesse in life and death and after death euer-induring Vse O happy then and thrice happy we if as S. 1. Cor. 1. 12. Pauls was so our reioycing and glory bee in the testimony of a good conscience if in truth wee can doe as in all his tryalls he did hold foorth this testimony as a shield of defence and flag of defiance against all scandalous imputations and Acts 23. 24. 25. aspersions if we can truely say as he said Wee are assured that we haue a good conscience desiring in all things to liue honestly Heb. 13. 18. or duely indeuour as hee in my Text indeuoured to haue a good conscience alwayes towards God Text. 3. part and men Which words importing the latitude or extent of a good conscience in respect of time and the obiects thereof come now very fitly to bee handled wherein I will labour to preuent your wearinesse First of the time and duration of the Apostles indeuour and exercise to haue a good conscience namely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alwayes being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Alwayes Scholiast hath it being in all things euery manner of way so farre as humane frailty did not let inoffensiue and vnblameable indeuouring at all times through the whole tenor of his life Non pro vsura exigui temporis aut pro primis Caluin tantum diebus sed omnibus diebus vitae post conuersionem as Caluin renders it to bee vprightly conscionable conscionably vpright Doct. 8 So that this word Alwayes imports constancie and equality without remissenesse or partiality In the life of man and course of his calling there are many turnings references occurrences opportunities importunities and diuers respects in all which at euery turne to bee the same man requires the strength of a good conscience A child or weakeling may take two or three steps well and walke somewhat euenly but to turne hither and thither vp and downe with actiuenesse and dexterity and to maintaine the thorow pace or race with settled constancie and alacrity argues the metall and making of a very strong man Such an one was our Apostle in the race of Christianity after his conuersion as appeareth by his Triumphant Epinichion 2. Tim. 4. I haue fought a good fight 2. Tim. 4. 7. kept the faith finished my course c. and by his confident protestation Acts 23. 1. I haue Acts 23. 1. serued God with a good conscience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thorowout vnto this day Alwayes without stumbling without offence as it is in my Text c. Which is not so precisely to bee vnderstood Reas double as if he had beene alwayes indowed with an equall good disposition to godly duties and had neuer slipt or slept through humane infirmity For as the Spouse of Christ confesseth Cant. 5. ◠of her selfe I sleepe but my heart waketh and so condemneth her drowzinesse in the flesh notwithstanding her watchfulnesse in the Spirit So S. Paul Rom. 7. complaineth on himselfe Rom. 7. 19. that
Walke by a rule Gal. 5. 16. Take heed to our wayes with Dauid Psal 39. and striue to keepe an euen and direct course as it were by line or leuell that so we may haue entrance into the strait gate into the which the proud man with his high lookes the ambitious with his aspiring thoughts the malicious with his swelling vncharitable heart the Vsurer with his full bags the drunkard with his full cups and corrupt lungs the adulterer with his fulsome minions and wasted loynes can haue no admittance no admittance if they liue and lye and die in their sinnes without repentance facilis descensus auerni A man may goe to hell without a staffe as the Heathen saith sed reuocare gradum c. But to make a step to heauen and so to seeke the Kingdome thereof as to find it so to finde it as to inioy it hic labor hoc opus est non puluinaris sed pulueris This this indeed is a labour of great worth a worke requiring much heedfulnesse diligence and watchfulnesse Whereof our Apostle had good experience and therefore for our learning and imitation he hath left it recorded that hee did forget what Phil. 3. 13 14. was behind that is account whatsoeuer he had done or suffered already for Gods sake to bee as nothing not worth the naming but this one thing he did he did indeuour himselfe to that which was before and striued to doe better and to bee better and followed hard towards the Marke for the price of the high calling of God in Iesus Christ So heere in my Text hee exercised himselfe that is with diligence and dexterity and continuall indeuour to the vtmost he pursued this one thing aboue all other things to wit the hauing and holding of a good conscience esteeming it at so high a rate as the Merchant did the Pearle for which hee sold all Mat. 13. 46. that he had accounting all things else as drosse and losse in comparison thereof He knew that the imperfect Essayes proffers and momentany purposes and propensities of lazie languishing wishers woulders ripen not reach not home thereunto and therefore with a steady settled will and full resolution with the greatest bent and extent of his regenerate rectified affection such as was in Dauid where hee vowed and Ps 119. 106. swore that hee would keepe Gods righteous iudgements and in Ioshua where hee resolued Iosh 24. 15. that whatsoeuer others did hee and his house would serue the Lord pursueth the purchase of this heauenly Iewell a good conscience in which pursuit he deserueth our best imitation and most zealous emulation too So that as S. Ierom hauing read the religious life and comfortable death of Hilarion said Surely Hilarion shall be the Champion which I will follow So hauing heard the godly care and continuall indeuour which Saint Paul had to keepe an vpright conscience wee should all both Magistrates and Ministers and all other officers and instruments of Iustice here present religiously resolue to make Saint Paul our Champion and guide in a businesse of so singular consequence henceforward exercising our selues in this to haue alwayes a good conscience towards God and men to haue I say that tranquillity of mind that heauenly Musicke whereon the old Philosophers doubtfully harped but the good Christian heart onely heareth it and answereth it with iust measures of ioy Which spirituall harmony to giue you by the way a taste of it for the sharpning of your appetite after it as a song of three parts consisteth in a three-fold Pax suprà exrà intrà peace with God aboue vs and men without vs and the soule within vs and therefore is both hard to be gotten and rare to be found But after wee haue sought heauen and earth Note behold where onely the wearied Doue the humbled Christian may finde this Oliue of peace this peace of a good conscience namely in that reconciliation to God in that remission of sinnes and fruition of Gods fauour which the eternall Peace-maker the Esa 9. Sauiour of men and anointed of God CHRIST IESVS hath procured and purchased 1. Pet. 1. 19. by the infinite price of his most precious Blood the benefit whereof hee offers to be apprehended of vs by the spirituall hand of faith Receiue then peace and be happy beleeue and thou hast receiued by faith thou Ioh. 3. 16. art interessed in all that either God hath promised or Christ performed The faithfull apprehension and application of Christs all-sufficient satisfaction makes it to bee thine Vpon this satisfaction thou hast the broad Seale of pardon and remission vpon remission followes reconciliation and vpon reconciliation peace of conscience O heauenly peace whereby alone we are at league with our selues and God with vs without which all other pleasures are to be pitied without which the heart will deny to be cheered though all the world bee her Minstrell and Musician When therefore thy conscience like a sterne Sergeant shall catch thee by the throate and arrest thee vpon Gods debt let this be thy plea that thou hast already paid it bring foorth that bloody acquittance sealed to thee from heauen vpon thy true faith and straightway thou shalt see her fierce lookes changed into friendly smiles and that hand which was ready violently to drag thee to prison now louingly to imbrace thee and fight for thee against all temptations and accusations whatsoeuer For what can accuse or condemne where God and the conscience do acquit Hic murus ahaeneus esto nil conscire tibi Let this be thy fortresse and brazen Bulwarke in all assaults of thy spirituall enemies that thou hast no sinne vnrepented no corruption vnbewailed with the guilt wherof thou canst charge thy selfe Surely thou canst not be by the false Saluianus iudgement of another made miserable who art thus by the true testimony of thine owne conscience become blessed the vniust exclamations of the wicked without shall not be able to hurt thee whilst the iust acclamation of thy witnesse within doth cleere and cheere thee nay rather thou shalt make to thy selfe a Garland of the false aspersions of Sycophants and be able comfortably confidently to say as S. Austin in a case not much vnlike said Fideliter in conspectu Dei dico c. I speake it solemnely Aug. cont lit Petil. l. 3. c. 6. in the sight of God that I am not guilty to any of those actions wherewith my aduersary chargeth me since the time I was baptized in the name of Christ and therefore haue no cause to be sad but to reioyce and exult Goe to then ye righteous reioyce in the Lord sing merrily ye that are purged and pacified by faith in Christs Blood to the mighty God of your saluation Walke cheerefully on in the way of peace thus chalked foorth vnto you let no difficulty be a sufficient excuse to hinder you in the pursuite of this peace of conscience which
his part in Paradise exercise themselues wholly and their greatest wit cunning and policy to gaine and retaine good estates good Farmes good fields good friends good houses good horses good clothes good euery thing else but care not for this onely permanent and Paradisaicall good of an vpright conscience let all of vs that would be accounted godly wise prouident for a better world make it our principall care and study to get this choyce Iewell of admirable vertue and operation and to set it in the best and chiefest roome of our holy and hearty affection as a blessing of all blessings sufficient for present maintenance Psalm 84. and future Psal 84. 11. inheritance Luk. 12. 31. With which that wee Luk. 12. may be really possessed and so royally blessed it is generally required of vs all as in part it hath and shal be more fully declared hereafter that we be according to our seuerall callings much exercised in prayer in thankesgiuing in hearing reading and meditating of the Word much in patience temperance repentance obedience Gods mercies and iudgements on our selues and others must be daily considered his Temple on publike solemne assemblies duely frequented his Throne of grace in priuate deuotion often sollicited his distressed seruants pitied and relieued especially wee must be inured to a daily diligent search and examination of our soules by that scrutiny in Seneca Anima Seneca mea quid fecisti hodie O my soule what hast thou Ier. 8. 6. done to day that so comming to a true sight and sorrow of our sinnes and corruptions wee may humbly confesse them feruently craue pardon for them and by faith in Christs blood be assured of the forgiuenesse of them and so with peace of conscience and ioy of heart walke on cheerfully in the religious race of godlinesse and vertue to the iourneys end of endlesse felicity Herein and therein ought we to be exercised if we would inioy the comfort and credit of conscionable Christians And as these generall duties of Christianity are carefully to be performed so the particular offices whereunto we are called for the propagation of Religion and piety or the preseruation of order iustice and equity in Church or Commonwealth are seriously to be attended and executed Hoc agite in the sacrifices of the heathen gods was a precept much vsed and obserued how much more in the seruices of the God of heauen especially in that great businesse of Iustice and Iudgement whereunto by God the King and the Countrey the most of you are now designed should the said precept Doe yee this that is intend and apply all the faculties of your mind to the doing of it be kept inuiolable and that not only of you the chiefe agents and ministers but of all others the instruments and assistants of Iustice whether witnesses who are faithfully to prooue the action or counsellours who are formally to plead the cause or Iurators who are vprightly to censure the allegations These and euery of these for the discharge of a good conscience herein and therein according to Saint Pauls practice must exercise themselues and that ingeniously without sinister affection and that instantly as the occasion is giuen without put-offs to after-times or any tedious protraction Vse 2 So that to come to a second vse of the doctrine proposed me thinkes here come within compasse of iust censure diuers Christians as they esteeme themselues to be sharpely reprooued for their security and grosse stupidity in slighting neglecting and procrastinating necessary duties who thinke and speake much of doing but leaue to doe the effect of their thinking who mention and motion many things fit to be acted and done for the reformation of disorders and matters amisse in themselues and family at home in the Church and Common-wealth abroad but as weaklings and slacke-graces set not their hands to the worke thrust not themselues forth with Dauids resolution Psal 101. tot Psalm 101. to the speedy execution of the same Farre be they from the Prophets and our Apostles spirit and resolution farre from the obedient disposition which was in Father Abraham who according to Gods Commandement forthwith circumcised his family Genes Gen. 17. 17. put away the bond-woman and her sonne Gen. 21. Gen. 21. yea readily and betimes went on his Gen. 22. iourney to sacrifice his onely beloued Sonne Isaac Gen. 22. and not asking a reason for it which he thought to be presumption or opposing any carnall reason against it which hee knew to be rebellion instantly did that hee was called vnto and commanded to doe with all expedition But alas these and are not some of you Fathers many of you Brethren such either in fauour to themselues or for feare of others stand still with the idlers in the market and doe nothing or hauing begun well reuolt Math. 20. 1. Tim. 4. 10. Iudg. 5. with Demas disappoynt with Meroz or follow a farre off as Peter did Christ and doe not put themselues forward to the reforming of any course that is euill or the furtherance of any cause that is good Yea whereas the places and callings of some require that they should as State-Physicians purge themselues of all distempered humours that they might the more effectually worke on the humorous distemperatures of others and that they should bee patrons of peace and piety and patternes of temperance and honesty that so they might the more boldly reproue and soundly represse the lewd and lawlesse irregularities of the sonnes of Belial wherwith these times swarme They on the contrary runne a race of the like excesse of riot with others and as if it were no disparagement but rather an ornament vnto them sweare by authority oppresse and extort by licence drinke that I may not say drab it too without controll without feare care or conscience Such and such with shame and griefe I speak it are more then a good many of our neuter-passiue Magistrates scar-crow Constables and meale-mouthed vnder-officers in Towne and Countrey who resembling Ostritches which Plin. haue great feathers but no flight or Iupiters Blocke cast amongst the Frogs to bee the king whom they feared at first for its greatnesse but despised at length for its stilnesse suffer many hainous and hidious enormities of whoredom blasphemy drunkennesse prophaning of the Sabbath and wilfull recusancy to passe by them vncontrolled and are loth lest they might bee accounted precise and pragmaticall to exercise themselues in this to see these and the like abuses punished or reformed So that as Demosthenes Plut. sometimes complained that by the Athenians slothfulnesse the power of their aduersary Philip King of Macedon was greatly augmented so may we that are Ministers iustly complaine that by the remisnesse of the aforesaid Magistrates and Officers the kingdome of Satan in those his vicious vicegerents is exceedingly inlarged And therefore we doe the more humbly intreat you my Honourable Lords according to the great measure of
Isa 57. 21. is no peace to the wicked saith my God no true peace either in life or death Lateri haeret laethalis arundo The griping gnawing and neuer dying Worme of an accusing conscience euery where tormenteth them and executeth the sentence of remedilesse condemnation vpon them so that being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 selfe-condemned Tit. 3. 11. through the guilt of their sinnes as Cain Iudas Herod and Felix were and as credible Histories Acts 24. declare Bessus for secret killing of his father Bassianus of his brother Orestes of his mother and Richard the third of his nephewes to haue beene they leade heere a life euer-dying and feele as it were a death neuer-ending which is no other but a fore-runner of that supreme and finall doome which God who will iustifie the sentence and execution of conscience shall in that great Day of Iudgement passe peremptorily on all the wilfully-disobedient transgressors of his Commandements Vse Take we heed then that wee neglect not the checks of conscience when wee are bent vnto sinne nor despise the iudgement of conscience when we haue sinned but make haste by repentance in faith to be reconciled to God and it for otherwise God will ratifie the sentence of conscience at the last Day on all impenitent sinners and albeit now many such by their wealth and hearts ease are rockt asleepe by iesting merry tales eating drinking and gaming are cast into a spirit of slumber yea although the vnruly perturbations of their worldly lusts and affections be now so lowd that the voyce of their conscience condemning their wicked wayes and workes cannot bee heard yet the Day shall come and it will be a dreadfull Day for them when these worldly negotiations shall cease and all fleshly perturbations shall be silent and conscience shall be so shrill that they shall both heare it and be thryld at it and gnash Reuel 16. 11. with their teeth and gnaw their tongues for indignation to see how God taketh part with it against them O what horrour and confusion shall then couer the faces of such as by a multitude of carnall pleasures and worldly cares and affaires drowne and cry downe the voyce of conscience by which their euill wayes and workes are condemned as the Drums and Tabrets 2. King 23. 10. in the sacrifices of Molech did the cry of the infants which in Tophet were burned But on the other side O what honour and exaltation shall crowne the heads of those which heare and obey the voyce of conscience by the light of Gods Word rightly informed which lend their eares whilest this good Cassandra spends her tongue and by her in all their actions are willingly guided and directed And so much if not too much may suffice to haue beene spoken generally of conscience it selfe as in her nature properties and offices in her power command and Soueraignty she is considered to bee great Now by Gods assistance vnder the conduct 2. Part. of his feare and your fauour I will proceed to commend to your view and entertainement especially an vpright conscience as in her causes and effects her proiects and priuiledges she is found to bee singularly good and that 1. Bernard Bona conscientia turbata 2. Bona conscientia tranquilla not as she is in continuall conflict with the flesh rebelling against the Spirit and so afflicted with the sanctified dolours of the new birth but as it is after regeneration quieted with the sence of remission of sinnes and reconciliation to God in Christ and so excusing cleering chearing and comforting the soule of the sound Christian In respect whereof some call it The Paradise of the soule The Iubile of the heart Laetitia cordis quasi latitia A surpassing inward solace so dilating and inlarging the heart for some good in possession more in expectation that the ioy thereof cannot well bee suppressed or expressed And hence in a common popular apprehension it is said to bee a ioyfull remembrance of a well led life ioyned with an hopefull expectation of a comfortable death and glorious resurrection S. Paul in respect of the mindes tranquillity Phil. 4. 7. inioyed thereby termeth it a peace which passeth all vnderstanding like to the hidden Manna and white stone wherein a name was written which no man knoweth but hee that inioyeth it Reuel 2. 17. Salomon that kingly Reu. 2. 17. Preacher pointing at the peerelesse pleasure and immutable comfort of a good conscience compares it to a continuall feast farre excelling Pro. 15. 15. Mishteh tamid the royall feast of Ahashuerus which lasted but nine-skore dayes for this feast of a good conscience whereat the Angels are Cookes and Butlers and the blessed Trinity gladsome ghests as Luther boldly speakes without intermission Luth. in Gal. of solace or interruption of society is a continuall feast A feast in life and health refreshing the soule with dainty cates of diuine comforts A feast in sicknesse when worldlings hopes hang downe their heads like a Bulrush and lag like a Ruffians starcht Ruffe in a storme of raine yea in death a feast when comfort is worth a world and all worldly comforts and comforters forsake vs yea in the Day of Resurrection and after that Day when all these shaddowes shall flie away a feast for euermore No maruell then that Saint Bernard being rapt and rauished heerewith breaketh foorth into the singular commendation of the admirable endowments thereof saying Bona conscientia est Be◠in form hon vit titulus religionis templum Salomonis ager Benedictionis hortus deliciarum gaudium Angelorum c. A good conscience is the Title and Crowne of Religion the Temple of Salomon the field of Benediction the Garden of delight the ioy of Angels and Sanctuary of the holy Ghost c. But because these the like allusiue notions of a good conscience frequent in the Fathers are magis sloridae quà m solidae more pregnant for wit then profitable for present vse I will say to them as Iehu to the messenger of Iehoram 2. Kin. 9. 18. 2. King 9. Turne behind me and will take hold of that more sound description thereof by Isiodore affirming that a cleere or inoffensiue conscience is such a one Quae nec de praeterito iustè accusatur Isiod in 2. l. soli loq nec de praesenti iniustè delectatur nec de futuro sollicitè perturbatur that is which is neither iustly accused for things past nor vnlawfully delighted with things present nor anxiously troubled for things to come This clearing chearing conscience and that Note perfectly good Adam only had in his Creation whilest in Paradise hee walked with God without sinne and without feare in the state of innocency But now there is no way to come to it to attaine and haue a quiet conscience and that but imperfectly good after regeneration but onely by the mediation and reconciliation of Christ Being iustified by faith in
vpon the assured sense and inward feeling of the same But rather the grace of Christ redeeming the loue of the Father electing and the comfortable fellowship of the holy Ghost quieting the conscience is farre off from them which continue in their sinnes and stand out as rebels in their disobedience against God The rule is ancient and true Bona conscientia Aug. non stat cum proposito peccandi a good conscience cannot stand with a purpose of sinning or with irresolution against sinne but is armed thorowout with a resolute determination wittingly and willingly to sinne no more accounting it a mockery to cry Peccaui and mourne for sinnes past with a meaning to sinne againe in the like yea a most ridiculous folly like to the Shipmans continuall labouring at the pumpe without any care to mend the leake Wherefore as we desire to liue in the lawfull peace of an vpright conscience so let it be our chiefest care to inure our selues to the practice of repentance and obedience The practice of which to speake briefly of them ioyntly consists not in pretending as the manner of many is a good heart without fruits of amendment for that is but vanity or in making some outward shew of reformation without purging the heart and affections for that is but hypocrisie or in exchanging of sinnes to wit of prodigality or prophanenesse in youth for couetousnesse and Popery in age for that is but irreligious mockery But in an inward lothing from the heart and an outward leauing in the course of our life of all such knowne sinnes wherein we haue formerly liued and delighted and also in an earnest desire of the heart and constant indeuour in our life and conuersation to practise all duties of piety charity which in our seuerall places and callings are required T is not sufficient to put off the old man to cast away the weapons Eph. 4 22. of darkenesse and to abhorre and remooue Col. 3. 10. what is euill but we must put on the New man Rom. 13. take vnto vs the Armour of light and cleaue to Rom. 12 9. that which is good T is commendable with the repentant Prodigall to forsake our former riotous Luk. 15. luxurious and offensiue liuing and to returne to our Fathers home for this mends the matter but it is much more comfortable and complete after the shaking off of the ragges of sinne to put on the robes of Righteousnesse and Garments of Saluation for this perfecteth the match and accomplisheth the marriage betwixt Christ and vs and heereby shall we giue testimony to others and to our selues and our owne soules that we are penitent and obedient Christians and so bring wonderfull peace and comfort to our consciences For when a Christian inriched with these spirituall graces of true knowledge and faith shall thus proceed in the carefull practice of these holy duties of repentance and obedience then his conscience which otherwise would looke sterne vpon him begins to smile to speak sweetly to him to conuerse amiably with him to clap him on the backe applaud him exceedingly exhilarate and refresh him To which purpose S. Bernard speakes excellently Vis O Bern. homo semper epulari vis nunquam tristis esse benè viue Wilt thou O man neuer be sad wilt thou turne the whole yeere into a merry Christ-tide liue well then Fiat iustitia saith Saint Austin Aug. habebis pacem Eschew euill and doe good Psal 34. 13. and thou needest not seeke peace and ensue it Psal 85. 11. Psal 34. for peace will finde thee and kisse righteousnesse wheresoeuer shee finds it Doe Iustice loue mercy humble thy selfe and walke with thy God as Enoch did Gen. 5. doing all things as in Gods sight For this is the direct Micah 6. 8. way to the obtaining and maintaining of a conscience comfortably good the voyce of ioy and Psal 118. 15. deliuerance shall be in the Tabernacles of the righteous saith the Psalmist and the worke of Esa 32. 17. Iustice shall bring peace and quietnesse Esa 32. and it cannot be otherwise but that Melchisedec the King of righteousnesse which walkes sincerely should also be Prince of Salem and walke confidently peaceably securely Synceritas Serenitatis Isiod mater est sine qua tranquillitas omnis tempestas est Sincerity is the mother of true tranquillity and without it all carnall rest is as a dangerous Lethargie Sincerity as it is of all vertues the girdle and most acceptable to God Eph. 6. 14. whose vnfained obedience it implyeth so it is most profitable in all dangers trials and temptations to man whose peace it worketh and in whom it begetteth a Lyon-like boldnesse as Salomon speaketh The righteous is as bold as a Pro. 28. 1. Lyon This cannot be put out of countenance by the false accusations of slanderous tongues it throweth them off as Paul did the Viper from Act. 28. 5. his hand vnhurt This saith with Saint Paul I passe not for mans iudgement 1. Cor. 4. and 1. Cor. 4. 3. Iob 31. 35. with Iob Though mine aduersary would write a Booke against mee I would take it vpon my shoulder and binde it as a crowne vnto mee What made Iob so confident Surely it was the vprightnesse of his heart his sincere obedience and innocency which he saith he will hold fast Iob 27. 6. and not forsake lest his heart should reprooue him and his conscience trouble checke him Vse Wherefore as hee that will saile safely must looke as well to the balast of his Ship as to his sailes So if you will saile safely in the Ship of a good conscience to the Port and Hauen of heauen you must not onely looke that there bee soundnesse in your knowledge and faith which are as sailes hoysted vp to make foorth for the prize but also that there be sincerity in your repentance and obedience which are as the soules balast to moderate her pace lest shee dash against the Rocks of presumption and to this end vse that safe and sauing method by a learned Father prescribed When thou art Aug. tempted to sinne set before thee the weight of sinne the wound of conscience the wrath of God which is as a flaming fire and remember Rom. 2. that tribulation and anguish shall be vpon euery soule that sinneth Rom. 2. And let this be vnto thee a strong bridle and retentiue from vice and againe when thou beginnest to bee weary and drowzy in Gods seruice thinke vpon the blessed recompence of well-doing and consider that to them which by continuance in doing well seeke glory and honour there shall be giuen eternall life and immortality and let this be a sharpe-pointed spurre and motiue
towards men a good conscience requireth and inioyneth as well as the other of holinesse filiall feare and religious worship towards God and so requireth and exacteth both in all that it will not haue either the one to wit Holinesse to be snuffing Mal. 1. 13. puffing short-winded and out of breath as theirs was Mal. 1. Or the other to wit Righteousnesse to be as a morning cloud soone scattered Hos 6. 4. and dissolued as theirs was Hos 6. But both lasting and induring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alwayes for all the dayes of our life that in an holy kinde of righteousnesse and a righteous kind of holinesse we serue God from day to day as long as there is a day left to serue him in and that so we may bee pure and without offence vntill the Day of the Lord filled with the fruits of Righteousnesse and Holinesse which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glory and praise of God Phil. 1. 11. So then to make a corollary of the premises and a recollection of that which at diuers times before you hath beene deliuered concerning the hauing and discharging of a good conscience alwayes towards God and men I will now for your better instruction and edification humbly commend to your sanctified memories obseruation and imitation too this Summary conclusion as a liuely Character of a sound conscionable Christian A sound conscionable Christian is he who The Character of a conscionable Christian hauing his conscience inlightened by sauing knowledge in Gods Word and purged by faith in Christs Blood from the guilt and punishment of sinne and from dead workes to serue the liuing Lord walketh cheerefully and constantly in the way of life which God hath chalked foorth vnto him not wishing it to bee wider or smoother but going on therein vprightly and freely neither stooping vnder the burthen of a willing sinne nor fettered with the gieues of vniust scruples He alwayes pondereth his paths and ordereth his wayes aright not regarding so much to be applauded of men as to bee approoued of God not looking so much to what hee might doe by his power as what he ought to doe for his praise being neither voluntary Agent nor forced Instrument in that which is vnlawfull to bee done but holding all his sences and members within Couenants for their good behauiour in that behalfe If his wisedome and vertue aduance him to any place or office of command and authority he glorieth not therein as in a Chaire of State or Farme of commodity but is glad thereof onely as a meanes of furthering his reckoning and pleasuring his Countrey wherein he wisely and worthily demeaneth himselfe so cherishing and countenancing wheresoeuer hee comes and hath to doe religious sober and honest liuers that hee dares not affoord a good looke to naughty Varlets and notorious offenders Hee waigheth all matters not according to the common beame of custome and opinion but at the golden Standard of Gods Sanctuary Truth hee exerciseth as well in the censure of persons as iudgement of things and will not iustifie the wicked through bribery or flattery neither condemne the righteous through malice or enuy for a world Being called therunto he giueth plaine testimony to the truth as well for smal as great stranger as brother and oweth so much to the Author of truth that he will not paint potsheards and say Falshood is truth or truth falshood Good euil or euill good for any feare or fauour whatsoeuer According to his meanes and ability he keepeth his house well and therein is mercifull and bounteous but his Church better and therein is deuout and religious hee looketh so to the Church that the Common-wealth receiues no detriment and so maintaines holinesse and piety in the one that he neglects not vpright dealing and equity in the other turne him what way soeuer you will hee is euer the same and will doe well turne him to God to his neighbour to company to himselfe alone put him in office out of office turne him loose to all occasions references and occurrences hee holds his owne and walkes honestly honourably warily worthily praise-worthily in all things and wil not to gaine any thing though neuer so precious leape ouer the pales or goe out of the Paradise of a good conscience In a word all his dealings are square and aboue the boord in his promises and payments hee keepeth day and touch his word is his parchment his yea his oath which he will not violate for any feare or losse hee is a faithfull Clyent of truth and honesty and in the plaine way thereof goeth on confidently and will either triumph in his integrity or suffer with it To conclude his soule is euery day dilated and inlarged to receiue God and goodnesse and is so taken vp with heauenly contemplation and contentments that he lookes often as one displeased on earthly pleasures and preferments he is very well prouided for both worlds and is sure of peace and comfort here and of glory and a glorious Kingdome hereafter This this is the sound Christian which hath gotten the inestimable treasure of an vpright conscience that true Diamond which flings beames of solace vpon the soule This is the conscionable man whose praise and reward is of God though the diuell and world storme and burst for enuie Such a one be he Minister or Magistrate be he Witnesse Iuror Clerke or Aduocate whatsoeuer his place or calling be as Dauids souldiers said of him is worth a 2. Sam. 18. 3. thousand of the common sort who feare to haue a name to feare God and to bee charged with sincerity Such a one as you haue heard the elect vessell of grace and lowd Clarion of the Gospell Saint Paul was and according to my Text indeuoured still to be Oh then that in vs the fire of â—â—le for imitation of him could so bee enkinâ—â—â—d that herein and therein conscionably comporting our selues in our seuerall vocations we might euery one for himselfe bee inabled to say truly as well as he Herein doe I indeuour my selfe to haue alwayes an vpright conscience towards God and men Which that wee may all Fathers and Brethren both say and doe let vs humbly and heartily beseech Amighty God of his abundant grace and mercy to grant and for this end to giue to that which hath been deliuered such a generall blessing according to our particular necessities that thereby such consciences as are dead and dull may be quickened such as are blind and erronious may bee inlightened such as are in a slumber may bee awakened such as are tender confirmed such as are heauie and pensiue comforted and all some way or other bettered through the powerfull operation of his gracious Spirit to the eternall praise of his glorious Name in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne and our onely Sauiour to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost bee ascribed all glory and honour now and for euer Amen FINIS