Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	ghost_n	sin_n	sin_v	1,582	5	10.1697	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A18036	The conscionable Christian: or, The indeuour of Saint Paul, to haue 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 Taunton, for the county of Somerset. 1620. By Richard Carpenter, Doctor of Diuinity, and pastor of Sherwell in Deuon.	Carpenter, Richard, 1575-1627.	1623 (1623)	STC 4681; ESTC S107676	65,416	130

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 quàm 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

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 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