Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	knowledge_n	sin_n	sin_v	2,885	5	9.7377	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47454	The counterfeit Christian, or, The danger of hypocrisy opened in two sermons : containing an exposition of that parabolical speech of our Blessed Saviour, Matth. XII, 43, 44, 45 ... / by Benjamin Keach ...	Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.	1691 (1691)	Wing K55; ESTC R18720	49,835	62

it would or might carry them away to all horrid Words and Blasphemy And then presently after brings in this parabolical Speech When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man c. 'T is not a speaking of hard words against Christ and the Holy Ghost but a speaking them as the Pharisees did out of spite designing to destroy him and render him odious This is dangerous 1. 'T is a sinning wilfully after a Person has received much knowledg it is a Sin knowingly committed against the operations of the Holy Spirit casting contempt or highest reproach upon Christ and the Holy Ghost contrary to the rational Convictions of their own Consciences 2. There is also it appears Malice against Christ and his Spirit in the Hearts of those Men who are guilty of it they are said to do despite to the Spirit of Grace they desert the Assemblies where he manifesteth his Gifts and Graces they reject him viz. the Holy Spirit with them and treat as one observes his Gifts and Motions as if they were mere Delusions and Impostures of an evil Spirit and this is done wilfully out of Malice to Christ his People and Religion 3. Also doubtless Apostacy is another ingredient thereof in some they fall away c. they utterly disown that Religion they have professed 4. Final Impenitency appertaineth to it likewise for what Sins we truly repent of we shall be forgiven But of these 't is said 'T is impossible to renew them again to Repentance because God is withdrawn from them and hath left them for ever so that no Means used can do them any good As God will not renew them again so none else can do it they sin therefore without remorse of Conscience after they have made shipwrack of Faith and that seeming good Conscience they once had for Paul intimated he had a good Conscience before he was converted or whilst a Pharisee Act. 23. 1. But those who are unsound at Heart who do not fall away from their seeming Holiliness and profession of Religion and so die not in Apostacy yet if they never come to be savingly wrought upon or to pass under a Divine Change they all nevertheless perish in Hypocrisy so that every way their State and the State of all of them is and will be at the last miserable And from the whole we may note That the State of the Self-righteous and Pharisaical Persons is far worse than the State of gross and prophane Sinners These are sick and know it not wounded but see no need of a Physician Sinners but see no want of a Christ They may conclude they are converted and therefore seek not after Conversion We always think his State is sad who though mortally wounded yet feels no pain Some Sinners are said to be past feeling their Enemy is hid in them they think he is gone when 't is no such thing for he another way has faster hold of them than ever 'T is a hard and difficult thing to bring a Pharisaical Person one that looks upon himself to be a religious Man to see his woful State and Condition Men may be civilized and make a great Profession of Religion and go for Saints on Earth that are not such in the sight of God in Heaven We may also from hence infer 'T is a most dangerous thing to make a Profession of Religion without true Regeneration be first wrought in the Soul better be no Professors at all than not so as to be sincere Hypocrisy is a most cursed and dangerous Sin these Persons Satan hath commonly the strongest hold of of all others The State of sincere Christians is happy though Satan doth attempt to get into them and destroy them yet he cannot do it there is no abiding for him he may foil them but cannot give them a final fall though they fall they shall rise again Satan cannot be said to be quite thrown out of that Man's Heart where the true Grace of God is not implanted nor the Soul renewed None but the Lord Jesus who is stronger than Satan can bind this strong Man armed and set the Soul at liberty Where the Heart is not changed Satan can return in one way or another at his pleasure he takes them captive at his Will Mortality or all external Gifts and common Graces though it may seem to sweep the House yet is the House empty and all is but like a vain Shew or Garnish all Reformation is nothing without Regeneration APPLICATION This may inform us of the Cause and Reason there is so great Reproach brought upon Religion and on the Ways of God and on the People of God by some who profess the Gospel Alas many of them who are called Saints we may justly fear are but counterfeit Christians such who never experienced a true Work of Grace they may have knowing Heads but unsanctified Hearts And from hence it is there are so many proud Persons in many Congregations who with brazen Foreheads will brave it out with impudent Faces in the presence of Christ's faithful Ministers and though reproved and told of their cursed Pride and abominable Dresses high and shameful Towers hateful to God and good Men yet reform not will not deny themselves of their filthy Lusts tho the Name of God and Religion is exposed to great Reproach and Contempt thereby and the Hearts of sincere Christians wounded and mourn for it bitterly before the Lord. If they had but a spark of true Grace could they ever stand it out thus against the Gun-shot of Heaven How fearless do they seem under the ratling Peals of the Thunder of Heaven They regard not the whetted Sword of the Almighty nor the bending of his dreadful Bow nor mind the Arrows that are just upon the String who is ready to send forth his Anger with Fury and his Rebukes in Flames of Fire Moreover from hence it is also there are so many covetous earthly and hard-hearted Professors and Members in Churches Alas you may tell them of this abominable Sin a thousand times over and all to no purpose their Hearts 't is to be feared are set upon their Covetousness they love the World more than the Word nay more than God or Jesus Christ and yet under a Cloak of Religion shelter themselves as if all was well and they good Christians And because they covet no Man's Goods but their own and so are not guilty of Theft they conclude they are not chargeable with this Sin of Covetousness though Christ's poor Members are not regarded the Naked are not clothed nor the Hungry fed nor the Sick visited They will give something 't is true but not according to the Need and Necessity of the Poor nor according to their Ability nor is it out of Love to Christ nor to his poor Saints neither they give what they do give may be to free themselves from Reproach or to quiet their own Consciences