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
A51047	Christian advice both to old and young, rich and poor which may serve as a directory at hand, ready to direct all persons almost in every state and condition. Under XXVII general useful heads.	Mocket, Thomas, 1602-1670?; Cross, Thomas, fl. 1632-1682, engraver.	1671 (1671)	Wing M2303A; ESTC R217853	68,834	211

Church of God above two thousand it may be three thousand years in the publick worship of God and in private Families also particularly at the Passeover the Jews used to sing six Psalms together beginning at Psalm 111 some think Psalm 112 and so on as the Jewish Rabbins and other learned Divines do think called the solemn Hymne and the great Hallelujah Further how antient singing of Psalms is Read Exod. 15.1 c. How excellent Psal 30.1 2 4. and 92.1 and 147.1 How warrantable under the New Testament See also Ephes 5.18 19 20. Col. 3.16 Jam. 5.13 Psal 147.1 Which custome 't is probable our blessed Saviour observed after the Passeover and his Supper were performed Mat. 26.30 and his Disciples It was used even in mixt multitudes and so commanded Psa 66.1 2 3 4. 68.32 96.1 2. and 98.1 2 4 5. Knowing what I do know I wonder that any sober Christians should scruple at it and lay it aside it was not wont to be so till of late years the Enemie hath sown his tares among the good Corn thereby hoping to corrupt us with his many foul errors and so to divide and destroy us and the Protestant Religion and Verity which the God of truth forbid and rebuke the Enemie 7. In performing these and all other religious duties have a special care and eye to the manner of doing them as well as to the Ordinances and duties themselves namely to perform them 1. Humbly and self-denyingly looking unto Christ both for assistance and acceptance without whom you can do nothing so himself saith John 15.5 and we find it true by experience 2 Cor. 3.5 that is nothing rightly and acceptably by our own abilities but only by the assistance and for the merit and intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. Also do all duties with all the strength of your intention and affections Eccles 9.10 What thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might Most necessary in performing Religious duties not coldly carelesly with wandring thoughts or dead drowsie affections but with the heart kept close to the duty and with God in the duty 3. Also look to a right end for the manner and end of doing duties is that which God chiefly looks at requires and accepts Many by-respects and ends may put on to duties but to do them in a right manner and to a right end principally to the Glory of God and good of Souls is that which is the heart soul and life of a duty argues our faith in God love to him and obedience to his Sovereign Authority as most wise just and good without this the best duties are not regarded but despised rejected and many times cursed and punished as the Jews services and offerings Isa 1.11 12 13 14 15. Isa 66.7 and Jehu his good works Hos 1.4 8. Obey Magistrates them that have Authority over you with all humility cheerfulness observing their commands for conscience sake for so we are commanded and Nature teacheth us Rom. 13.1 2 5. Tit. 3.1 1 Pet. 2.13 14. For they are the Ministers of God the Powers that are are ordained of God And yet the Rulers that then were in being were wicked men Tyrants and Heathens whom the Prophet Jeremiah Jer. 29.7 and the Apostles commanded to pray for as Nebuchadnezzar Nero and those under them much more ought we to pray for and obey Christian Magistrates And in case any thing should be commanded which God forbid I speak by way of supposition which upon serious consideration you cannot be perswaded can stand with your obedience to God the Supreme Lord the peace of a good conscience forbear to act yet with all humble respect to Authority submitting willingly to suffer rather than to sin as the three Noble men did Dan 3.16 17 18. and Daniel chapt 6. ver 7 10 11. and the Apostles Act. 4.19 In all other things obey the Magistrate Supreme and Sub-ordinate readily and chearfully and thereby give good proof of your Loyalty and that you are not stubborn and refractory so that if any should maliciously slander you or falsely accuse you you may say as Paul Act. 24.13 They cannot prove the things whereof they now accuse me and as Daniel Innocencie is found before me and also before thee O King have I done no burt Dan. 6.22 and as it is Act. 24.16 I do exercise my self to have always a good conscience void of offence towards God and towards men and as it is 2 Corinth 1.12 Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation in the world Also pray heartily daily for the King and all in Authority under him that under them ye may live a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty for so we are commanded as a thing well-pleasing unto God 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3. That so doing ye may put to silence the ignorance and malice of foolish men 1 Pet. 2.15 especially Popish persons who are ready to say they are enemies to Kings Magistrates and Government stubborn disobedient and self-willed rebels to Authority the great and common Argument some men use against those that are most quiet conscientious and do most heartily pray for Kings and all in Authority desiring their good every way and the publike welfare and prosperity 1 Pet. 4.3 4. 9. Have a lawful calling and use it lawfully Have a lawful calling some honest imployment especially such as will conduce to the publike good as well as to your own particular benefit such a calling as is of good report and sutable to your means parts abilities and condition This I speak to them that are yet to chuse a calling yet such imployments as are sinful so some are ought to be cast off And in a lawful calling be faithful careful just and diligent in it avoyding idleness wastfulness and covetousness This duty God laid on man in the state of innocencie to keep him honestly imployed and his mind busied but after the fall toylsome labour came in as a punishment for sin Gen. 3.17 18 19. In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat thy bread till thou return unto the ground Exod. 20.9 Six days thou shalt labour God allows no person whatsoever to live without a lawful calling and imployment that is capable of doing something Idleness was one of the sins of Sodom An idle person est pulvinar diaboli the Devils cushion on which he delights to sit and his anvil on which he uses to hammer mischief Of such an active nature are our spirits that if we do not busie them about that which is good the devil will be sure to set them about that which is evil You read what sad temptations befel David when he was idle and what sad doings followed 2 Sam. 11.2 c. but it cost him very dear 2 Sam. 12 9 c. compared with Psal 51. Deal justly and faithfully with all men whether they

2 Thes 1.7 8 9 10. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction And so on to v. 11. And this knowledge must not be an idle meer notional knowledg swimming in the brain but an operative practical powerful transforming knowledge such as workes on the heart and puts on to believe and practice what a man knoweth and doth transforme change and make a man to endeavour to be like unto God himself loving merciful good gratious holy just true and spiritual Many wicked men yea enemies and persecutors of the true Religion and godly men have do know much as to a speculative and notional knowledge and can speak well when they please but make no conscience to practice what they know Secondly Faith is necessary to the right participation of the Lords Supper also to live and die comfortably and happily A particular distinct Faith which is a recieving and resting on Christ alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the Gospel More largely and generally Faith is a resting and relying on God the Father for all good things both for soul and body this life and that to come only for the alone mercy of God and merit of Christ the Mediatour John 1.12 and 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whose believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Mark 16.16 He that believeth shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Heb. 11.6 Without Faith it is impossible to please God Thirdly Repentance is also necessary to live and die well and happily Luke 13.3.5 Said our Saviour Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Therefore it is called Repentance unto life Acts 11.18 Now repentance is a conversion or turning of the heart and whole man from sin all sin in affection and endeavour unto God Therefore it is so often expressed in the Scripture by turning as Deut. 4.30 and 30.10 1 Kings 8.35 Nehem. 1.9 Psal 7.12 and very often elsewhere There are two parts of Repentance Humiliation and Reformation 1. Humiliation and sorrow for sin past and present because sin a transgression of the holy just and good law of God Rom. 7.12 and because offensive and hateful to God a filthy thing defiling and dangerous to our selves yea damnable if continued in 2. Reformation or amendment of life an unfained leaving of all sin in affection and also in practice in respect of sincere desires purpose and endeavour daily to amend whatsoever is amiss and to lead a life according to the command of God without which sorrow for sin and humiliation availes little Fourthly sincere love true hearty Christian love is another necessary grace both love to God the Father Jesus Christ and to our Neighbour 1 Love to God even the whole blessed Trinity in unity who is the only chief and all-sufficient good most lovely in respect of his most excellent wisdome love goodness holiness mercy truth faithfulness justice and all other his transcendent perfections Also for what he hath done for us and is still most ready to do for his people Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul and with all thy might So Deut. 10.12 Mat. 23.37 2. We must love our Neighbour also Mat. 22.37 Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self that is truly heartily and really making it appear by the fruits and effects of it as occasion requireth and opportunity serveth and as we are able and that both to good and bad men 1. Good men with a love of complacency and delight because of the Image of God in them Psal 16.2 3. 2. Bad men evil yea wicked men yea enemies with a love of benevolence that is so as to pity them wish them good pray for them counsel instruct admonish and reprove also when there is just cause occasion opportunity and we may do it with any hopes of doing good Levit. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart but thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour not suffer sin upon him or not bear sin for him as the margin hath it Mat. 5 44. I say unto you said the Lord Jesus Love your enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven Not rendring evil for evil 1 Pet. 3.9 Yet hate and shun their sins and have no fellowship in the unfruitful workes of darkness Eph. 5.11 Sixthly sincere obedience an hearty desire purpose and endeavour to observe the whole will of God and obey him in all his commands both of piety and holiness towards God and of justice equity and mercy towards men sobriety towards ones self Tit. 2.11 12. This I mention particularly though it might have been included in the former because Christ will be a Saviour to none but to them that do sincerely obey him Heb. 5.9 Christ Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire rendring vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1.7 8 9 10. And because I would have it particularly minded and observed Now consider I beseech you for the Lord Jesus Christ his sake and that seriously 1. Whether you have these such a knowledge of God and of your selves whether you do in some measure see your misery by sin the remedy thereof by Christ know the doctrine of the Sacraments and that not with a bare notional knowledg but a working and practical knowledg And have you a true living faith in God through Jesus Christ whom he hath sent such a faith as applies the righteousness of Christ for justification and draws virtue from him for sanctification and holy conversation Do you truly repent of your sins and heartily endeavour to amend what is amiss are you new creatures and endeavour to live in newness of life Do you mak conscience of obeying Gods commands of living holily and dealing truly faithfully and justly with all men Do you truly love God for himself and above all things and your neighbour truly and heartily for Gods and Christs sake wishing his good and be ready to do any Christian neighbourly office of love for him or any of them forgiving private wrongs and injuries as you would that God for Christs sake should forgive you or do you heartily desire and truly endeavour after these things if so in truth then happy are you blessed be God for this great mercy and goodness to you he has done more for you then if he had given you very many thousands and made you great the greatest persons in the world yea then if he had given

negligence I might say the prophaness of most Parents Masters and Governours of families who have no duties of Religion performed in the family not so much as prayer but live like Heathens and Infidels only work eat drink sleep play and the like worldly things but no service of God or very rarely sometimes some have a short heartless prayer at night yea it is to be feared and I have too much reason to think that some even whom I know and no doubt many others and I therefore mention it that they might see their sin such I say which make a fair profession of Religion and do attend I think constantly on some of the best Preachers and yet have no family-duties or but seldom This is very sad that that which should be minded principally the worship and service of God in the family is either wholly neglected or least minded It was otherwise with Abraham Joshua Job David Daniel and all that ever truly feared God Gen. 18.19 Josh 24.15 Daniel three times a day Dan. 6.10 11 12. David seven times a day Psal 119.64 5. Imploy them well in lawful imployments but do not over-burden them A good man is merciful unto his beast saith Solomon much more to his servant 6. Be careful for them both in health and sickness provide all things needful and convenient for them and in due seasons Allow them convenient time for rest recreations and to mend their apparel and allow them for their work a sutable reward the laborer is worthy of his hire Let poor labouring men especially be fully paid for their work whether they work with you or for you God hates oppression Do not work on the poor mans necessity you would not be willing to be so served your selves Do nothing in this kind but that which is just and honest before God and all men Remember you have a Master in Heaven to whom you must give an account and there is no respect of persons with God Ephes 6.9 And though some poor labouring men will be glad at some times to do any thing to get a peny to supply necessaries yet sure no honest man or that fears God will work on such a man or womans necessity to pinch men that labour of their necessary and convenient food apparel or wages to deny them their just due defer them when they stand in need of it abridge them of their necessary rest abate them in their wages or work on poor mens necessity as the manner of some wretched Masters is to do is hateful to God who is merciful and will surely avenge the poor that cry unto him and severely punish such wretched Masters 7. Teach them their Trade who are put as Apprentices to you It is a great sin to keep them ignorant of the lawful ways and the managing of their Calling a robbing of them and frustrating the end for which they were put to you As for the Mysteries or rather mysterious iniquities many men use in the managing of their Trades and Callings let the wicked keep to themselves whereby many to wonderment quickly grow rich but fear you God It is an old saying Plain dealing is a Jewel but he that useth it shall die a beggar but it is better to die a beggar than a knave to die poor and go to Heaven than to die very rich and go to hell 1 Cor. 6 9 10. The only sure way under Heaven to have a blessing on whatsoever a man hath and Gods favour whose loving kindness is better than life is to deal truly justly and faithfully with all men in all things I will not condemn any whom I see or hear of that suddenly get great estates but I cannot imagine how some men should get such vast estates as they do in a few years if they do not use some subtleties or ways more than are honest But they stand or fall to their great Master I do but give some men an Item God grant the faulty may make use of it I touch not others unless by way of caution 8. Teach them also to be careful diligent and provident for themselves in an honest way that they may see you mind their good as well as your own it will both do them good and make them more careful to manage your business for your comfort and benefit 9. When you have a good servant especially one that feareth God and makes conscience of his ways esteem highly of him or her bless God for and make much of such and use him as a brother or her as a sister in Christ and a good gift of God Philemon v. 16. 26. Servants you that are actually engaged or yet free and intend to be such let me mind you also of your duties and make Conscience of performing them as you tender your own good First as much as in you lieth while you are free or when you shall be free and intend to engage again make choice of a Godly family of such Masters Mistresses or Dames and samilies where piety and good Conscience are exercised and Religious duties constantly performed and encouraged as you tender the everlasting good and welfare of your precious and immortal Souls Be not so deluded as for a little no nor for a great deal of worldly wages or respect to neglect your precious souls Evil and ungodly families have undone many a hopeful servant both in soul and body yet most endeavor to get into families where they may get most wages or other worldly respects without any regard to piety the best things Gods glory or their eternal estate and prove accordingly and many repent sore when it is too late when they are called by death to give an account of themselves and their time unto God the Judge of all the world Secondly Having made a good choice or being in a Religious Conscientious family bless God for it be willing ready and forward to joyn with them in all Religious duties and to learn of them improve your opportunities and continue there so long as you intend to be servants to others if you may continue change not for worldly respects and advantages only to your prejudice in spiritual things Thirdly Being servants of whatsoever rank sort or condition birth or estate you were before yet being servants know and make conscience of the duty God and Nature require of you As 1. Be obedient to them that are your Masters according to the flesh that is to fleshly and bodily Masters of the same common nature with your selves in all things lawful and that may stand with your obedience unto Christ your heavenly Master and absolute Lord so God himself expresly commandeth Ephes 6.5 Colos 3.22 Yea though they were before inferior to yourselves in divers respects and are still froward harsh cruel ungodly 1 Pet. 2.18 not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward in all things So Colos 3.22 that is in all things lawful all things that may stand with Gods command