Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	godly_a	rejoice_v	simplicity_n	1,031	5	9.5439	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A08488	Sions teares leading to ioy: or The vvaters of Marah sweetned First preached at Clonenagh in the Queenes County in seuerall sermons, and now published for the benefite of the Church. By Ri: Olmstead, minister of Gods word, and Master of Arts.	Olmstead, Richard.	1630 (1630)	STC 18811; ESTC S120808	86,010	266

which hee prayeth may possesse the Philippians mindes in Christ Iesus This is a blessing peculiar to Gods people that haue it washed by faith in the bloud of Christ and in the lauers of mortification for this can proceede from no perfection in man true it is that Adams conscience in his integrity did excuse him before God because there was nothing in him blame-worthie but since the depraued estate of man by the fall no mans conscience can excuse him For besides those palpable sins of commission and omission wherunto each mans conscience is priuy is there a man liuing whose conscience can excuse him in the best workes that euer he did may not all flesh cry out with the Church Isay 64.6 is not all our righteousnesse as filthy and menstruous cloa●hes Ps 43.2 c. and with the Psalmist Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall none liuing be iustified And did not the Eternall appoint A aron to offer sacrifice for the sinnes of the offerings of the children of Israell but faith assuring the heart and conscience of remission of sinnes the pacification of the wrath of God justly conceiued against vs for them breeds loue loue works godly sorrow which is a sweete witnes of Gods loue to vs and so quieteth the conscience Obi. It may be objected that many wicked mens consciences lye quiet Answ There is in man a quiet good conscience and a quiet ill conscience which is improperly said to be quiet but only seemeth to bee quiet yet is it but for a time which if it be once awaked and rowsed vp either by the law afflictions or judgments of God it will rage and storme like a fell dragon tiger or fierce cruell lion or mad dog as did the consciences of Kaim A chicophel and Iudas Mat. 27.5 The reasons why the consciences of the most wicked men lye quiet and still and that in the most till death are 1. Ignorance as did Pauls conscience he thought he did GOD seruice in persecuting the Saints and that be ought to doe many contrary things against the Name of Iesus it was the ignorance of his conscience which was the cause of his vnfeelingnes 2. Impurity for the conscience is defiled and so defileth the actions and makes them vncleane as Paul sayth Tit. 1.15 to the impure and vnbeleeuing nothing is pure for euen their minds coösciences are defiled and how can the conscience doe his office being thus defiled 3. In constant because vngroūded and so is carried and hurried hither and thither vpon euery supposition 4. Deceitfull hauing lost the plainnesse and innocency which it had by creation and is restored to the true beleeuer by Christ 2 Cor. 1.12 which Paul rejoyced in and doth now nothing but juggle foyst and deceiue 5. Injustice so that in judging it determines against the truth against God and against the saluation of the soule a wofull condition 6. Lastly through ill vsage 〈◊〉 hath lost his tendernes for when it hath cryed oft times it hath not beene heard or not regarded or that which is worse snibbed buffeted and beaten and so resolued to admonish no more but as a scholler apprentice or seruant continually hained at buffeted and beaten growes desperate so is it with the conscience that it is like that which Paul speakes of those auncient Heretickes which had their conscience feared with a hote i●oo 1 Tim. 4.2 Quest How comes the conscience to make Apologie or to excuse vs from godly sorrow Answ The conscience being deliuered from darknes the Son of God inhabiting it and bringing light into it is able to discerne what the soule hath performed that which is commanded by God on his parn and the promise and covenant made by the Highest on his part by which he hath obliged himselfe to bee propitious and fauourable yea to giue comfort and joy Blessed are they that mourne Mat. 5.4 Psal 26.6 for they shall bee comforted and they that sow in teares shall reape in ioy causeth the heart to rest vpon the promises with an holy security 2. The Almighty hath appointed as all the duties of mortification to be speciall meanes of this in particular to mundifie and cleanse the conscience from that impurity and vncleannes which naturally is vpon it that a man is able to say with boldnesse as Paul Act. 23.1 I haue in all good conscience serued God vntill this day and so a great care in all things to do vprightly 3. Being thus cleansed and purified it hath in it that plainnes innocency simplicity and harmlesnes which the Apostle speakes of 2 Cor. 1.12 Our reioycing is this the testimony of our conscience that is simplicity and godly purenes c. we haue had our conuersation in the world c. 4. Which brings forth in the conscience a diuine sentence so as in determining it judgeth for God and as God according to the sacred Canon of his euerlasting word and so 5. Constancy and a kinde of habitual peace tranquility so as no power of man or Deuil can compell or shake it as Iob sayth Iob 27.6 I will keepe my righteousnes will not forsake it my heart also shall not reproue me of my dayes 6. And so becomes a continuall refreshing yea as Salomon saith Trev. 15.15 a good conscience is a continuall feast it will dwel with him be with him at bed and board ride with him be a sweet companion with him when hee is alone comfort him in his most vncomfortable afflictions like a louing faithful wife that no chaunges or alterations can transmutate her affectionate heart from her dearest beloued husband so is it with this blessed guest a quiet good conscience arising from the sence of our reconciliation with God wil make apology or defence for vs against the world Deuill in all times places companies c. Thus haue I according to my poore talent opened and vnfolded this point of godly sorrow which is one of the greatest paradoxes in all practicall Diuinity with as much plainnesse and perspicuity as possibly I can if I should further proceed as I haue begun in the other fiue signes notes of Godly sorrow 2 Cor. 7.11 which the Apostle Paul hath set downe in the Corinths I should be tedious therefore there being amōgs● Diuines no difference about the interpretation of them I referr● thee to the blessed labors of tha● Diuine Master Caluin Caluines institut Commentariis in 2 Cor. 7.11 Sermon of repentance as also tha● worthy Master Arthure Deu● who doe particularly handle th● onely a word or two by way o● exhortation or vse 1. Here is a sound ground o● consolation and comfort for a●● true humbled soules if it be tru● godly sorrow they may say with Iob After darknes I shall see light this sence of misery shall bring me to the sweet sence of mercy this sorrow may last for a night but ioy

beholding the seedes to spring and budds to ●ut outin the seueral plants especially considering our Lord Iesus delightes to come into the gardens to walke there to delight himselfe in beholding the sweete blessed growth in graces holy duties and hence ariseth joy euen in afflictions for the name in the honor of Christ as in al the Martyrs the Saints Heb. 10.34 who suffered with ioy the spoyling of their goods As also to see the weedes of sin to be ouer-mastred and rooted out thereby 6. In the testimony of a good conscience which is as Salomon sayth a continuall feast o Cor. 1.12 hauing witnes that in simplicity and godly purenes and not in fleshly wisedome he hath conuersed That a man hath not moyled al be smeared and durtied himselfe the conscience in lusts and pleasures but hath maintained a blessed combate and cherished the pantings breathings and longing desires of the Spirit against the cursed lusts and corruption of the flesh As also in the fauour of God reconciled by Christ the conscience testifying this atonement Rom. 5.11 the soul● is at quiet peace and repose in his loue as the childe in the mothers lap or fathers armes 7. In Iesus Christ who is in g 2 Cor. 5.17 vs by faith h Gal. 2.20 liueth i Eph. 3.17 dwels in vs so as Paul say the we worship God in the Spirit k Phil. 3.3 and reioyce in Iesus Christ The wise Merchant takes more pleasure in the pearle then in all his estate besides Phil. 3.8 And the Apostle accounts al but losse dung in comparison of Christ Zaccheus receiued Christ joyfully not into his house onely but into his heart especially And it is not possible to be otherwise for the faithfull soule being the sweete and beloued Spouse of Iesus Christ should estimate or delight in any thing in the world aboue or comparable to her amiable beloued Head and louing husband 2. 〈◊〉 Rom 12.12 For time to come they find much joy in the hope expectatiō of that ioy glory which they shal inioy in Heauen in the mercy and saluation of God as Dauid saith Psal 13.5 I trust in thy mercy mine heart shall reioyce in thy saluation In that presence of glory where the Lord shal be more then a Sun to refresh reviue them Ps 84.11 and more then a shield to defend them Thus of the internall meanes or well springs of heauenly ioyes 2. Externall or from without and that in three particulars 1. In the Word blessed ordinances of God● for the Word Ps 11● Dauid esteemed and delighted in it more then in his appointed food pathetically cryes out O how loue I thy Law it is my meditation continually It is a character true vndoubted marke of such as feare God that they haue great delight in his commaundements Ps 11● ● In the Word are described delineated the wayes of wisedome the invaluable pleasures treasures thereof which make a man possessing her truly happy Pro. 3.13.18 Blessed is the man that findeth wisedome and getteth vnderstanding for the merchandise thereof are better then the merchandise of siluer the gaine thereof better then golde length of dayes are in her right hand in her left hand riches glory her wayes are wayes of pleasure all her paths prosperity she is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her and blessed is hee that retaineth her The Gospel is a deep sweete fountaine of precious promises Rom. 15.4 the Spirit worketh consolation by the Scriptures There is the ioyful tydings of saluation the blessed doctrine and assurance of free remission of sinnes our full iustification by the redemption of Iesus Christ published and proclaimed there are the pleasures of Gods House there is foode for the children of the most High and great King to nourish them vp to eternal life this they desire 1 Pet. 2.2 as infants clothe them with tissue or cloath of gold bespangle them with the most Orient pearles that the East or West Indies can afford set most curiously in the finest gold of Ophir or crusado trundle before thē apples of gold bring them instruments make the most melodious harmony musicke that Art can deuise make them heires of this great Vniuerse yet nothing pleaseth them but the brest so assuredly not any thing can satisfie the true childe adopted heire of God but the sweete sincere milke of the Word that is their proper element they will trauail from sea to sea to finde the word of the Lord they can no more liue without it then the fish without water the mole without earth the camelion without aire the Salamander without fire and when they finde it they feed vpon it and uourish vp their soules with ioy to eternal life And for the ordinances of God they are as k Is 12 3. wels and fountaines out of which they draw with ioy waters of life and comfort as the ministery of the word they long after it with earnest most affectionate desires as the l Psal 42.1 chased Hart panteth after the coole chrystaline streames when they are absent from it and depriued of it they cry out m Ps 84.2.5 Oh how amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord God of hostes My soule longeth and fainteth for the Courtes of the Lord pronouncing the Sparrow and Swallow happy that may build their nests neere the Altar concluding that they are blessed which dwell in his house for they feede vpon the words of Christ vnto eternal life and so haue their hearts lifted vp to ioyfulnesse and the prayses of God The Sacraments are other blessed fountaines and wels of ioy wherein Christ is before them crucified to the eye to the increasing strengthning of faith all other sauing graces of the spirit which faith is the roote mother of In like manner is spirituall ioy conueyed to the soule in the vse of the rest of the ordinances of God as confession of sinnes godly sorrow prayer reading conference and such like wherof euery true beleeuer hath experience in the secret consolations rauishments of the heart which the spirit of God doth exhibite in the due serious vse of these sacred ordinances 2. In the sweete fellowship communion of Saints they finde secret ioy Psal 16.2 Dauid professeth that all his delight is in them that excell in vertue In respect of this Paul longed to be with the Romanes that he might be comforted by their mutuall saith Rom. 1. to haue fellowship with them publikely in the vse of the Ministry of the word Sacran ents prayer and priuately in the vse of the more prinate duties of godlynesse as exhortation they as Salomon saith The face of a friend sharpens his friend as the Apostle saith whet one another to loue and good workes Psal 122.