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
A91733	Rules for the government of the tongue: together, with directions in six particular cases. [brace] 1 Confession of our faults to men. 2 Confession of Christ before men. 3 Reprehension of faults in others. 4 Christian communication. [brace] Vrbanity and eloquence. 5 Consolation of the afflicted. 6 Self-commendation, and a disproof of perfection in this life. Added, as a supplement, to the Rules for governing [brace] 1 the thoughts, 2 the affections, in the Precepts for Christian practice, or, The rule of the new creature, new model'd. / By Edward Reyner, minister of the Gospel in Lincolne.	Reyner, Edward, 1600-1668.; Reyner, Edward, 1600-1668. Precepts for Christian practice.	1656 (1656)	Wing R1230; Thomason E1594_2; ESTC R208861	220,132	401

use our Tongues as iustruments of much service praise and glory to his Name and of good to others For what God useth hee will blesse and to that end that God would speak by us as hee did by o 2 Sam. 23.2 3. David The Spirit of the Lord spake by mee and his word was in my Tongue though wee can desire and expect it but in an ordinary not in an oraculous way which made David to be the sweet Psalmist of Israel Vers 1. and a Pen-man of holy Scripture The Fourth Rule 4 Rule Observe bewail and amend the errors of your Tongues 1 Observe them Psal 119.59 what yee say amiss as what yee do amiss Christians should take account of their words as well as of their works for both of them are equally their wayes in which they walk on towards either Heaven or Hell Jer. 8.6 God hearkens to hear you ask your selves what have I said as well as what have I done For the Tongue is subject to more errors slips and failings than the hand or any other member of the body because it is so moveable voluble flexible indefatigable that speaks infinitly more words than the hand doth deeds or the foot goeth steps The Tongue is never tired with talking as other members are with moving viz. hand and feet Who can understand his errors Psal 19.12 saith David his unadvised inconsiderate sins to wit in speaking as well as in acting or in thinking Therefore think of your words and recollect them after yee have spoken them to find out the faults of them Then 2 Bewail the same Mourn for not only evil speeches but even for idle words impertinent unprofitable discourse Let us judge our selves for them for of every idle word Mat. 12.36 that men shall speak they shall give account in the day of Judgement A gracious heart will melt as kindly and mourn as bitterly for sinning with the Tongue as with the hand for unadvised words as for unbeseeming deeds The errors of a godly mans mouth fill his heart with grief and face with shame He can say my Tongue hath cost my soul many a sigh mine eye many a tear and put my cheeks to many a blush Gods servants have gained hereby When Moses complained of the uncircumcision of his lips God promised to bee with his mouth and teach him what to say and to make him a God to Pharaoh to command him in Gods Name to let Israel go and if he refused to execute judgement upon him by Gods power and Aaron his Brother should be his Prophet i. e. his spokesman for his readiness of speech Exod. 6.30 with 7.1 Job 42.3 When Job was convinced and humbled for uttering that hee understood not things too wonderfull for him which hee knew not that is for speaking rashly and ignorantly of the passages of Gods providence which were above his capacity Then God made out a clearer discovery of himself than formerly for saith Job Vers 5. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee When the Prophet Isaiah was sadly sensible of the pollution of his lips woe is mee saith hee I am undone ●●a 6.5 6 7. c. then God touched his lip with a coal from the Altar by the ministry of an Angel and took away his iniquity and purged his sin This is part of the answer of a good conscience towards God to say I have sinned with my mouth but Lord thou knowest I have sorrowed with my heart for it Christians should weep sin to death sin in the mouth as well as sin in the heart or life 3 Mark and mourn for the errors of your Tongue to amend the same Take account of your speeches as well as of your wayes that you may turn your tongue as well as your feet to Gods testimonies So did p Job 40.4 Job Behold I am vile what shall I answer thee I will lay mine hand upon my mouth Once have I spoken presumptuously against thy providential proceedings but I will not answer or justifie what I have rashly spoken yea twice but I will proceed no further I will never say so again If you have spoken foolishly or wickedly idlely or vainly lay your hand upon your mouth and say so no more Happy is that observation which causeth repentance and that repentance which produceth reformation of faults in heart tongue or hand The fifth and last Rule ● Rule keep a good and constant correspondence as between heart and tongue to speak as yee think as was shewed before so between tongue and hand to do what you say to pay what you vow to God and perform what you promise to men and to say no more to either than you can and will do that there may bee an harmony between your words and your works that as your Tongues are the interpreters of your minds so your hands may bee the executors of your tongues to perform the Dicts and Ingagements thereof Good language joyned with real performance is as one saith as a pleasant sauce to wholesome meat Reas 1 Because this is a sign 〈◊〉 downright and throughout sincerity when a man speaks what he thinks or his words may bee read by himself in his heart and when a man doth what hee saith or his words may be read by others in his life Hee that doth not what he saith undoeth his sayings He that liveth not what hee speaks kils his words or unspeaks in his life what hee hath spoken with his mouth Reas 2 This is the image of God upon us who spake with his mouth to David and fulfilled with his hand what hee promosed q 1 King 8.15.24 Isa 46.11 him Gods Tongue and hand go together what he saith he will do Reas 3 This is a fruit and sign of love in deed and in truth to which the Apostle John exhorts r 1 Joh. 3.18 us When our love lyeth not in our lips only nor terminates in our Tongues but commeth forth into our hands and makes out it self in real actions as well as in verbal expressions Reas 4 This is the property of a Citizen of ſ Psal 15.4 Sion Hee sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not Hee will make good his word Tongue-ingagements by hand-performance though it be to his damage or prejudice 1 Joh. 3.7 Let no man deceive you saith the Apostle He that doeth Righteousnesse not he that sayeth it only is righteous Not words but deeds denominate a man righteous To say and not to do is to be like the Nightingale Vox praeterea nihil a voice and no more Reas 5 This is the practice of the wicked not only their Tongues but their hands or doings are against the Lord Isa 3.8 as Jerusalems and Judah● were to provoke the eyes of his glory which brought them to ruine The wicked make their word good even when they speak evil The Jews made wicked Vows

and godly sorrow for them and resolution against them for future to give satisfaction to the Church that God hath wrought a converting or regenerating change in them As those whom John baptized in Jordan and received into the Church of the Gospel confessed their b Mat. 3.6 sins The converts at Ephesus that beleeved through Pauls Doctrin came and confessed and ●●ewed their d Act. 19.18 20. deeds with detestation and burnt their Conjuring books which amounted to a great value Vers 19. openly renouncing their former life and course 2 After admission to ordinances and fellowship in the ●hurch of Christ those that give offence by walking e 2 Thes 3.6 disorderly whether to the whole Church or but to some particular members of it they ought to confesse their faults to the whole society or to the persons in it to whom the same is known to testifie their repentance and thereby the truth of Grace in them that those who know their sin may know their sorrow also and 1 If the offence be publick by their confession to preserve the credit of the society and roll away reproach and infamy from it that it may not bee accounted an ulcerous body a leprous company nor a cage of unclean birds and to give warning and an alarm to others that hear it to fear lest they offend 2 If the offending Brother be cast out or the Brethren withdraw from him they may receive satisfaction by the free ingenuous and hearty confession of his offence and receive him to fellowship and renew their love and favour towards him as Paul intreated the Church at Corinth to do to the incestuous person upon the same f 2 Cor. 2.6 7 8. account ye ought to forgive him and to comfort him lest he should bee swallowed up with over much sorrow Wherefore I beseech you that you would confirm your love towards him 2 Is Injuries which ye have done to others Injuries ye should willingly acknowledge and be sorry for the same For Confession in this case is a kind of satisfaction and a means of pacification Christ directs us to do thus If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest thy Brother hath ought against g Mat. 5.23 24. thee leave thy gift there and go thy way first be reconciled to thy Brother then come and offer thy gift God will accept no service at your hands till yee have confessed to your Brethren the wrongs you have done them Again in Luk. 17.34 If thy Brother trespasse against thee rebuke him and if he repent forgive him and if he trespasse against thee seven times in a day and seven times in a day turn again to thee saying I repent thou shalt forgive him Even wicked Saul confessed to David the wrong he had done him in persecuting him without h 1 Sam. 24.17 18 19. Scruple cause 3 Case is Scruple about a sin that stings or burtheneth your consciences as whether you have committed it how many are perplexed with doubts and fears concerning the sin against the Holy Ghost or are not some way accessary to it or whether your sin is pardonable or a sin unto death or how may you obtain pardon and assurance thereof and how your consciences may bee quieted and comforted Let mee joyn herewith Predominancy of sin the case of the predominancy of a lust which assaults and afflicts you with the vigorous stirrings of it and is too hard and masterfull for you In both these cases you may disburthen your souls into the bolome of some wise godly friends and acquaint them with your scruples what sins you fear you have committed and with your unruly corruptions what sins you are strongly tempted to commit to obtain the benefit of their counsels and of their prayers how to get sin pardoned to you and subdued in you ease to your consciences and rest to your souls The more free you are to unbosome your selves and lay open your soul-cases to others the more forward will they be to pity you advise you and pray for you that you may be healed of your soul-sores and consciencewounds which by concealing may grow incurable How can the Physician apply healing medicines if the patient do not discover his disease Oftentimes the very opening of mens grievances easeth the conscience saith a reverend Divine as the opening of a vein cooles the blood Dr. Sibs But it is neither wisdome nor mercy to put men upon the rack of Confession further than they can have no ease any other way The Fourth Case is a common Judgement or a particular affliction 1 A common Judgement when a man hath had a speciall hand in pulling down the same a common Judgement and is detected by the providence of God he ought to confesse his sin that procured it not only before God but before men also who suffer with him and for his sake to clear the Justice of Gods proceedings The Israelites were smitten at Ai and could not stand before their enemies for Achans sin in plundering the wedge of gold Josh 7. and Babylonish Garment For the removal of Gods wrath and Judgement from Israel Joshua said to Achan Vers 19. my Son give I pray thee glory to the Lord God of Israel and make confession unto him and tell mee now what thou hast done hide it not from me Observe 1 That Joshua required Achan to confesse his sin not only to God but to man also even to Joshua the Ruler of the people 2 That Achan by confessing his sin should give glory to God and clear his justice both in smiting Israel and in drawing him out to deserved punishment Then Achan freely confessed his sin to Joshua Ver. 20 21 c. that he and no other had committed that hainous offence and thus and thus have I done said he c. Jonahs sin in flying to Tarshish when God sent him to Nineveh Jonah 1. procured a mighty tempest in the Sea so that the ship was like to bee broken and Jonab with all the men and goods in it were in danger to be cast away then Jonah confessed his fault even to the Mariners that were Pagans freely and fully without pleading excuse for it or extenuation of it for the men knew that he had fled from the presence of the Lord Jonah 1.10 because he had told them 2 a particular affliction A particular affliction as sicknesse In this case you must confesse your sins to God chiefly and you may confesse them especially that particular sin which you conceive to be the cause of your sicknesse to men also as to the Elders of the Church and to other Christian friends thereby 1 To justifie God that he is Righteous faithfull yea and mercifull in laying his hand upon you 2 To move men scil the Elders and others your friends to pray more fervently for you 1 That your sins may be pardoned 2 That your sickness may be

others in six respects 254 Reas 2 The Misery of them that want comfort 258 Reas 3 The Excellency of the duty in it self It is 1 The work of God to comfort poor souls Of God the Father 259 Of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 260 2 The practice of the Godly 262 Reas 4 The equity of the duty in respect of us in four particulars 262 Quest How may wee comfort afflicted consciences 264 Ans Take these five directions 1 Set before them these eight grounds of Consolation 1 The greatness and freeness of Gods pardoning and reconciling mercy 265 2 The infiniteness of Christs merits 265 3 Gods gracious and general tender of Christ and his benefits to any that will receive him 266 4 Christs invitation of all to him that feel any want of him or have any desire to him 267 5 The Examples or Experiences of Gods mercy manifested to the greatest of sinners 268 6 That some of Gods servants have drank deep of this cup of soul-troubles 269 7 Gods promises of healing 275. Quickning 276. Illightning 277. Of returns 278. Of peace and joy 280 8 Set before them and apply to them Two things 1 Grace may bee hid for a time and not discerned by them that have it 281. And they that have cannot lose it wholly for five Reasons 283 2 The desire of Grace is Grace 286. Proved by five Reasons True desires may bee descerned 1 By the root from which they spring which is threefold 290 2 By the fruit or effect of them 291 3 By the properties of them which are 4. 292 1 Syncere for ground and end 2 Vigorous stirring and strong 3 Seasonable for time 293 4 Constant and continual for duration 294 2 Direction Caution them against four evills to take heed 1 That they do not dishonour God 295 2 That they do not destroy their own souls 296 1 By denying what God hath done for them 2 By refusing what God would give to them 297 3 That they do not gratifie Satan 297 1 By entertaining parley with him 298 2 By hearkning to his Temptations which are five ibid. 4 That they do not satisfie their disquieted hearts in four things 299 3 Direction In dealing with afflicted souls cherish three Graces in them to wit 1 Repentance 300. 2 Faith 3 Patience 301 4 Direction Take a right course for healing their distempers 1 By searching the sore to the bottom 302 2 By turning the stream of their passions into another Channel 5 Direction Bear with their Infirmities as ignorance frowardness 303 The sixth and last Particular case is self-commendation This hath been the practice of Gods servants 303 This is lawfull in eleven cases 304 1 Of Afflictions from God 2 Of injuries from men 305 3 To shew forth the infinite riches of Gods free Grace 307 4 To give others occasion and provocation 308 1 To pray for us 2 To praise God for us 3 To glory on our behalf 5 When others require an account of our faith holiness c. 309 6 When wee would propound our selves to others as examples for their imitation 309 7 When enemies accuse us and friends will not vindicate us 310 8 To shew and approve our integrity to uphold the credit of our callings further the successe of our labours promote the efficacy of our counsel 310 and to manifest our love to others 311 9 When the cause of Christ or his Church and Name of God is like to suffer if wee be silent 312 10 When we leave the people or place where wee lived or the office wee did bear p. 312 11 Case To convince others of their sins against 1 God 2 Our selves 314 What Self-commendation is sinfull 314 315 What Self-commendation is lawfull in four respects 1 For the Matter when the things for which we commend our selves are 1 Good in themselves 317 2 Really ours 318 2 For the measure to speak rather under than over 319 3 For the manner in a threefold respect 1 Of our selves when we commend our selves 1 Forcedly not forwardly 319 2 Humbly out of a sense of our own Infirmities 320 3 Modestly without boasting 322 2 Of God thankfully out of a sense of Gods goodness to us 323 3 Of others charitably and tenderly 324 4 For the End Self-commendation is lawfull when our aim therein is in respect 1 of our selves to do our selves right not to get praise 324 2 Of God to give him glory 325 3 Of others to promote their good by our example and experience 326 Of Perfection in this life How Job did justifie himself as if he was perfect 327 In what sense we are said to be perfect in Scripture 332. scil 1 In respect of our being in Christ 333 2 Of our justification before God ibid. 3 In reference to our Sanctification in six respects 336 1 Of parts 1 When the whole man is sanctified in every part though not wholly 2 When he hath the seeds of all Grace in him What the Perfection of degrees is 337 2 Of progress When wee have attained to some good measure of grace here ibid. 3 Of uprightness that is called Perfection 339 4 Of furniture with gifts and graces for our work 341 5 Of desires and indeavours after perfection 342 6 In respect of establishment and perseverance in well doing p. 345. Perseverance is perfection Object God commands us to bee perfect here Answers thereto in p. 345 c. No man can be without sin or fully perfect in this life proved by six Arguments 1 Argu. This is contrary to the holy Scriptures 350. To the experience of all Saints ibid. To the state or constitution of all the Saints in this life 352 Object 1 Why are Gods people said to bee perfect if they bee not so Ans In three particulars p. 353 Object 2 Why God suffers sin to remain in his people here Ans In three particulars p. 354 2 Argu. Absolute Perfection was proper to Christ and is peculiar to Heaven p. 355 3 Argu. Those that plead their perfection discover much sin in their spirits speeches and carriage p. 356 4 Argu. The opinion of Perfection in this life shakes the fundamentals of religion p. 357 5 Argu. In every place of Scripture where Perfection is spoken of the Saints here something goeth before or followeth after which expresseth or implyeth their Imperfection p. 358 6 Argu. The Saints who are stiled perfect in the Scriptures are noted for their infirmities p. 360 Humane Testimonies against Perfection in this life 362 FINIS Reader Take notice 1 That there are sundry literall faults which thou mayest easily amend and pass by as speakin for speaking babbling for babling irresistably for irresistibly and for or and or for and a change of Numbers as word for words forces for force and of persons sometimes as he for the. And such like These as I have observed are the greatest Page 31. line 34. read reins p. 38. l. 32. r. bleate p. 62. l. 8. r. not p. 63. l. 7. r. I will bee with thy mouth p. 64. l. 1. r. that wee know not what to say p. 70. l. 1. r. his Altar p. 164. l. 13. r. piety p. 166. l. 16. r. opportunities p. 178. l. 29. r. as soon as it is sown p. 201. l. 30. r. 2 Chron. 25.16 p. 214. l. 2. r. some p. 223. l. 13. r. commends p. 227. l. 14. r. dexterity l. 18. r. jocing l. 22. r. seek p. 231. l. 13. blot out 1. p. 258. l. 8. blot out 1. p. 260. l. 23. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 344. l. 16. r. waxing 2 That there are some Marginall faults as Page 8. for Psal 30. read 39. 3. p. 51. for 2 Sam. r. 1. Sam. 25. p. 67. r. Psal 141. 3. p. 94. for Psal 102. r. 120. 3 4. p. 97. for Psal 136. r. 139. 4. p. 103. r. Deut. 33. 29. p. 105. r. Jonah 1. 3. p. 145. r. Gal. 1. 6. p. 173. l. 11. add Prov. 15. 12. p. 175. for Gen. 21. 22. r. Gen. 9. 21 22. p. 231. for Rom. 11. 11. r. Rom. 1. 11. p. 245. for Zachary 11. 13. r. Zach. 1. 13. p. 311. for 2 Tim. 1. 8. r. 2 Tim. 1. 3. p. 340. for Job 1. 1. 5. Job 1. ●