Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	good_a	heart_n	merry_a	1,048	5	9.9107	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81485	A sincere believer, comforted, and encouraged. Or; a practical treatise, discovering the goodness of God to a sinful soul, in the enjoyment of Christ With the great benefit and comfort he hath thereby. Whereby as through a prospective, a true Christian may plainly see how to fit and prepare himself in such a manner, as his endeavours may not be in vaine. By R.D.M.A. and minister of the gospel in the Isle of Wight. Recommended to the serious perusal of all true Christians. By Thomas Goodwin, D.D. and Will Strong, M.A. deceased.	Dingley, Robert, 1619-1660.; Goodwin, Thomas, 1600-1680.; Strong, William, d. 1654.	1656 (1656)	Wing D1500; ESTC R230249	203,361	369

Lulla by Lulla's watch to smother grace in the cradle they seek by all meanes to coole ensnare divert and discourage such as begin to hanker after God and cast a favourable eye on Religion saying Touch not taste not handle not such precise and factious doings But the hottest place in hell is kept for such seducing discouragers See what Christ saith Matth. 23.13 Woe unto you that shut up the Kingdome of heaven for ye neither go in your selves nor suffer others that are entring to goe in These are compared in a Latin p Canis in praesept Proverb to a Dog in the Manger that will not himselfe taste the hay or provender nor suffer the Cattell to come neere it that have a mind to it but lies snarling at them This is the lively picture of Seducers and Discouragers they will not taste the goodnesse of God themselves nor yet permit others to doe it These are the Devils Factors and he will pay them their wages Paul describing the Revelations of Christ to his soule saith and immediatly I conferred not with flesh and blood Gal. 1.16 that is with carnall reason say some which is an evill counsellour for the soule Rom. 8.7 But I rather think that by flesh and blood is meant evill men as divers q Martin Luber and Perkins on the place Expofitors conclude So then in that nick of time when he began to taste God in converting love he would not consult with such at Damascus as might rather hinder then forward him in the worke For this doe all wicked men lest the goodnesse of others should discover or molest their wickenesse 2. Vse To inform us in the true reason of all that rage and fury Vse 2 that boyles up in the spirits of men and women against God and his wayes They r Scientia non habet inimicum praeter ignorantem speak evill of things they know not nor ever tasted Jude 10. This made them crucifie Christ Acts 3.17 They are sortishly ignorant of that reall worth and sweetnesse that is in God and Religion and he●ce comes all their rage and foame against such things If men that are now as furious as Lyons and Tygers did but make triall of holinesse and understand things aright they 'd be as tame as lambs as Isai 11.6 When Christ offers to wash men from their sinnes they cry out with Peter Thou shalt never wash my feet but when they begin to see his love and taste his goodnesse then Lord not my feet onely but my hands and my head Joh. 13.9 In a word men are not so averse before tasting as they are greedy afterwards 3. Vse Somwhat by way of triall and examination Vse 3 whether you have tasted divine goodnesse and sweetnesse yea or no. The effects of this taste are three Regeneration Estimation and Exultation 1. Regeneration and vivification of the soule and infusions of celestiall quicknings This taste will frame thee to be a new creature producing an unfained change in the heart and bringing the spirit to a continuall care of pleasing God Thus the word is called the savour of life unto life 2 Cor. 2.15 16. A man cannot taste God and remain in a dead condition Some boast of Revelations but have they a principle of life are they purged from their filth doe they walk close with God 2. Estimation of God above all earthly thing preferring celestiall before sublunary sweetnesse All will be counted dirt and dung to Christ Phil. 3.8 or as some render it dogs meat to Christ viz. course and contemptible food after such junkets The soule will esteeme Christ as the people did David more worth then ſ 2 Sam. 18.3 ten thousand or as t Ruth 4.15 Naomi did Ruth better then seven sons u Acts Monuments None but Christ none but Christ said Lambert lifting up such hands as he had and his fingers ends flaming A good heart prizes God in Christ above all the world For as the shining of the Sun drownes the Starres so the unconceivable sweetnesse of Christ turns other sweets which the soule admired before into w As the Priests of Mercury eating their figgs and honey cryed out Sweet is truth● so here c. bitternesse And if the soule meet with any sweetnesse any content in earthly things it still admires God and cannot but infer If the creature be so sweet how sweet is the Creator If the viaticum be so pleasant in my journey how glorious will the feast be at home Have you such thoughts of Christ You indeed have tasted the goodnesse of God 3. x Ab illis qui gustarūt mirâ cum dulcedme percipitur vita nova Mar. Luther in 1 Pet. 2.3 Exultation and delight springing from the love of complacency as the schools call it when the soule is lost in a desired labyrinth of spirituall enjoyments and the longings of the soule are shuffled with the breathings of the Spirit When the soule doth acquiesce repose feast and solace it self in the sweet fruition of Christ in whom fullnesse dwells and all that the sinner desires now is that he may be able to y Beatitudo hominis est gustus bonitatis Dei Scultetus Id. Typ Psal 3 Pag. 272. manage his joyes and that his heart may not be too little for his comfort and so breake with the longing it hath after God but that it may be content to live a while in banishment and wait with patience till the marriage day in heaven Oh here 's a soule that is crowded with glorious thoughts of Christ and many times knows not whether it be in the body or out of the body Psal 36.8 They shall be satisfied with the fatnesse of his house and in thy light shall they see light This tasting is an earnest of heaven and the first fruits of z Bona conscientia maximū semper praestat solatium Euthym 'T is a continuall feast glory and therefore well may such sing and leap for joy and then say Returne to your rest for the Lord bath dealt bountifully with you Psal 116.7 scil They joyfully take their a Gustus doni coelestis totum hominem refocillat Christo Hosman in Heb. 6.4 recumbency in the bosome of Christ Were you ever acquainted with these joyes for no Christian hath them continually and hath the God of hope fill'd you with joy and peace in beleeving thou hast tasted how good how sweet the Lord is Heare what b Acts Monu fol. 1361. Lawrence Saunders the Martyr said unto his wife before his death Deare wife riches I have none to leave behinde wherewith to endow you after the worldly manner but that treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is to hungry consciences whereof I thank my Christ I doe feele part and would feele more loe that I bequeath unto you and to the rest of my beloved in Christ to retain the same in sense of heart alwayes Pray pray I am merry and I

P●nem vides praeterea nihil sed audis tesseram esse corporis Christi ne dubita impleri à Domino quod verba sonant corpus quod nequaquàm cernis spirituale esse tibi alimentum Calv. in Mat. 26.26 This is my Body and this is my Blood q. d. These outward Signes and Seales are most sure and certain pledges of my Body and Blood which I doe as truly give to be spirituall food as I give the Bread and Wine to be bodily food to every beleever 1 Cor. 10.16 This was long since promised Isai 25.6 The Lord will make a feast of fat things of wine on the Lees well refined So Prov. 9.5 Here Christ as the Master of the Feast bids us welcome saying Eat O friends yea drink abundantly my beloved Here the the hungring and thirsting Soule hath refreshment and strength from heaven here it is put in mind of Christ and all that he hath done and endured for us Here it hath heavings and violent liftings of heart towards God And Christ saith Open your mouthes wide and I will fill them with good things Here the Soule hath meetings with God and is convinc'd of his love and the truth of his promises For this is a Seale of the righteousnesse of Faith Rom. 4.11 It confirmes the covenant of grace to us You see how we taste the goodnesse of God in the Lords Supper 4. Conference 4. In Society and Communion and Christian conference with the Saints and speaking often to one another of the things of Heaven Mal. 3.16 For thereby we taste of others gifts which are given them for others to profit withall and they will be ready to comfort us with the comforts wherewith they have been comforted of God as 2 Cor. 1.4 Indeed much of God may be seen and tasted in communion with the Saints 'T is a piece of heaven upon earth 't is the joy of Christians All my delight saith David is in them that excell in vertue Communion with the Saints is often made a step to fellowship with Christ as 1 Iohn 1.4 c Haec itaque socletas cujus meminit Johannes est Ecclesia Christi quae in symbolo dicitur sanctorum communio habet autē maxima bona spiritualia c. Thomas Naogeorgus in 1 Johan 1.4 That yee may have communion with us and that also our communion may be with the father Throw a dead Charcoale among the living and it will soon sparkle and kindle Simile First indeed sparkle viz. Thou wilt dislike their wayes principles but afterwards kindle and glow with love to God and his truth when you have lookt better into them and tasted Gods goodnesse among them 5. Meditation 5. In f Gustare est cogitare Erhard Schueptius Comment in Psal 34.6 Meditation This is a Saints pastime it recreates and perfumes the tyred spirits 't is a Ladder by which the Soul-clambers up to heaven 't is a duty is ever at hand Prov. 6.22 When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee when thou awakest it shall talk with thee When thou art alone nay in the darke when travelling c. On all occasions you may let out your soul in meditation when other duties cannot be performed Nay when you sleep you may be medling with this duty For having communion with God in the day and closing thy eyes with some meditation even thy dreames may be of the love of God and the glory of heaven as the experiences of the Saints can witnesse Meditation it enter● us into the first degrees of those heavenly joyes and imparts to us some beginnings of the vision and fruition of God It enables us with Moses to discerne as we are able some glimpses of God that our faces shine with purity and divine splendor By this we are ravished with Paul and are catcht up into paradise and in the twinkling of an eye are driven as in a fiery Chariot into heaven By this with holy g Soli Stephano conspicua fuit Dei gloria impiis enim qui eodem loco stabanc hoc spectaculum latebat undè sequitur non in coelis sed potius in Stephano editum fuisse miraculum Calvin in Acts 7.56 Stephen we see the heavens opened and Jesus sitting at the right hand of God Indeed admirable are the effects of divine meditation It confirms our knowledge Psal 119.99 It strengthens our memory Ps 63.6 It enflames our love as bellows the cynders Psal 119.97 and Psal 39.3 It cherishes affiance in God as Psal 119.147 148. It maintains a true and son-like feare of God Psal 4.4 It hushes and quiets the soule in afflictions Psal 119.23 1 Pet. 4.12 Thinke it not strange q. d. It matters much what our thoughts and meditations are in trouble It promotes prayer Psal 143.5 6. Eccles 5.2 and praising God This tunes the harp Psal 63.5 6. It weanes and sequesters the heart from the world It spiritualizes our discourse Psal 77.12 Mat. 12.34 If there be fire on the hearth some sparks will flie out at the chimney In a word it casts a secret influence on the life Josh 1.8 Psal 1.3 and 119.15 Purge the fountaine and the streames will run pure The life is easily transformed when the heart is new moulded What shall I say h Cogitare est vivere Tull. Acad. Quaest lib. 1. Meditation is the very life of our life as a Heathen could say and see by the light of nature It is the food of our soules the fuell of our zeale the spur of our devotion The soule that can meditate on God is never lesse i Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus alone then when alone for his fellowship is then with the Father and his Sonne Jesus Christ It delights to walke in these groves and fold the armes in these shadie bowers of solitary but divine meditation where it heares the Nightingale of a good conscience warble melodiousl● k Psal 104.34 My meditation of thee shall be sweet saith David and in the multitude of my thoughts thy comforts delight my soule q. d. I caste much of God in this duty and it feeds me with many sweet morsells of contentment Psal 104.34 But now doe beleever● taste the goodnesse of God in divine medication Quest Ans I answer 1. By meditating of all his glorious perfections especially the boundlesse dimensions of his sweetest attribute which is his mercy So l Hic locus hortatur omnes homines ut velint cogitare de bonitate Domini Erhard Schnepfius in Psal 34.6 Pag. 204. taste and see viz. consider a little with me saith David here how good the Lord is q. d. By meditating dive into the Ocean of divine sweetnesse and contemplate of him that is beauty and goodnesse it selfe 2. By meditating m Nolite omnia beneficia Dei sine gustu deglutire aut maligne perpetuâ oblivione sepelire sicut faciunt impii Sed adbibete palatum videte

I will give health and cure and I will cure them and reveale unto them the abundance of Peace and Truth and I will clense them from their iniquities which I will pardon c. x Cicer. Tusc Sanabilibus aegrotamus malis Seneca de Irâ lib. 2. cap. 13. Even Heathens have acknowledged the sick soul of man may be cured well Christ is that great y Interna vulnera Balsamū internum internall Physician Ministers z 1 Cor. 3.9 Rom. 10.14 15. who are said to co-work with him are the externall 2 Tim. 2.24 25 26. The servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle to all apt to teach patient in meeknesse instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the Truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill who are taken captive by him at his will a 1 Cor. 3.6 But all this while wee can doe nothing without Christ wee may thrust cripples into the Poole 't is he stirres the water Not wee but Jesus of Nazareth cures sinners But how doth Christ heal them Quest I answer By his bloud Ans 1 Behold the Physician bleeds to death for the Patient Stilomūs Pour●●ossi●●ing p. 302 and the bloud of the Physician saith b Sanguis medici medicamētum aegri Aug. Austin is the medicine of the Patient Heare the Apostle Peter in his 1 Epistle 2 Chapter 24. vers By his stripes wee are healed The application of that to the Conscience cureth us for the bloud of Christ clenseth from all sin and without the shedding of bloud there could be no remission no curing of us oh this was a powerfull and precious medicine indeed it c Clemens Alexandrinus calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viz. The remedyagainst all the venome of corruption cures all our maladies Alchermes Bezoar Dust of Pearls or Aurum Potabile are not so comfortable or restorative to the weak body as this bloud to the sick soule d 1 Pet. 1. 18. Acts 20.28 This is such a medicine that Heaven and Earth had not the like or another You see how he cures soules chiefly by his bloud other secondary means he useth For 2. As Christ cures souls by his bloud Answ 2d so also by his Word Psal 107.20 He sent out his word and healed them And this was the reason why the Syr. and Arab. read the Text thus He shall arise with healing upon his Tongue For Peace is the fruit of his lippes promising pronouncing interceding Till he speake peace by his f Sicut corpori Deus praeparavit medicamēta ex herbis it a animae praeparavit medicamenta ex his sermonibus Origen Word there 's no healing for us Next Christ heales by his rod he sends sicknesses into our flesh Answ 3d to convey health into our minde g God afflicts us non studio nocendi sed desiderio sanandi Aug. Epist 48. He wounds us to cure us The fruit of afflictions to Beleevers is the taking away of sinne Isa 27. Now fin is the soules sicknesse The rod is a Teaching rod David found it good for him viz. his soule that he had been afflicted Lastly Answ 4 Christ heales us by his Spirit I will send the Comforter to you saith Christ Joh. 14.26 He will helpe our infirmities Rom. 8.26 This is that h 1 Joh. 2.20.27 2 Cor. 1.21 22 oyle which Christ the good Samaritan poures into a wounded Conscience to asswage the griefe of soules and administer ease and refreshment to such as groane for mercy Rom. 8.16 In our greatest spirituall distempers his e Heb. 4.12 i Sumus quidē nos valde infirmi at spiritus sāctus adjuvare non desinit Chrystoph Hosmon Grace is sufficient for us he stayes us with flaggons and comforts us with apples when we are sicke of Love You see Christ heales the soule spiritually and how 3. Christ heales Politically be comes with healing in his wings when he pleaseth to divided and distempered Nations that are at the brinke of desolation The deadly wounds of Nations may be cured Rev. 13.3 When wee thinke a Nation is so full of wounds and botches that it must needs perish Christ can heale it And 't is his imployment to heale Nations as well as bodies or soules Jer. 30.17 They that spoyle thee shall be a spoyle for I will restore health unto thee and heale thee of thy wounds Oh that God would say thus to these distemper'd and distracted Kingdomes and oh that he would k Dolorem medicinae spes salutis mitigat make us willing to be healed No differences are too great for Christ to compose ours are intricat● l Ann. Dom. 1648. Julii our severall opinions and factions and fractions what are they but so many diseases upon our Mother the Church of England A whole Colledge of State-Physicians have been long in Consultation many veines have been opened c. Yet still shee is sick sick almost unto Death Well no Nation so desperately sick but Christ can cure it and that easily speedily he can rebuke the madnesse of the people give our Senators wisdome unite head and members hush the Nations and make warres to cease m Sanitas gentium est agnitis Redemptionis beneficiis c. Pignetus in Apoc. 22.2 The leaves of that Tree of life that hath twelve manner of fruits are for the healing of the Nations Rev. 22.2 n Tho Brightman on the Rev. Pag. 882. This tree of life with his variety of fruit and medicinall leaves is Jesus Christ 't is he that will nourish and heale the Nations professing the Gospel o Ezek. 47.12 Thus it hath been proved to you Quest there is healing in Christ now let us see wherefore it is thus or how it comes to passe and on what grounds that Beleevers finde healing from these blessed wings of their Redeemer Reason 1 1. All 's to be laid down at the p Mihi meritum d●est non illi misericordia Bernard Serm. 14. 61. feete of free grace Answ Reason 1 He will have mercy because he will have mercy 't is your Saviours good will to heale you wee have merited nothing can challenge nothing when he might thinke of hell he thinks of healing should he for ever leave us rotting in our sinnes Christ were just 2. Beleevers finde healing from Christ Reason 2 because they are related and united to him are made one with him being in Christ wee have new natures and are new creatures q Porro foliis fides cōfertur in Rev. 22.2 Pignetus in Locum He tooke our nature saith Austin that he might heale it of all diseases and then takes the Elect and unites them to himselfe that they all may partake of the Cure 3. 'T is his office to heale them Reason 3 and Christ was sent for this end Isa 61.1 He hath sent mee to binde up the