Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	law_n	sin_n	transgression_n	2,525	5	10.8527	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A38061	A preservative against Socinianism. The first part shewing the direct and plain opposition between it, and the religion revealed by God in the Holy Scriptures / by Jonath. Edwards.	Edwards, Jonathan, 1629-1712.	1693 (1693)	Wing E217; ESTC R24310	65,484	89

to_o the_o good_a nature_n of_o his_o creature_n that_o they_o yield_v any_o obedience_n to_o his_o command_n perhaps_o you_o will_v say_v there_o may_v be_v other_o obligation_n beside_o those_o of_o punishment_n which_o man_n may_v be_v under_o to_o practice_v their_o duty_n such_o as_o be_v those_o of_o honour_n and_o gratitude_n and_o the_o strong_a tie_n of_o reason_n which_o will_v bind_v a_o man_n to_o comply_v with_o his_o duty_n if_o there_o be_v no_o other_o motive_n to_o it_o but_o this_o that_o to_o do_v otherwise_o will_v be_v to_o act_v unsuitable_o to_o the_o dignity_n of_o his_o nature_n all_o this_o may_v be_v fine_a in_o speculation_n but_o will_v signify_v little_a when_o reduce_v to_o practice_n the_o generality_n of_o man_n be_v govern_v by_o sense_n the_o motion_n of_o which_o be_v too_o headstrong_a and_o furious_a to_o be_v curb_v by_o the_o bare_a command_n of_o reason_n when_o they_o be_v not_o enforce_v with_o the_o fear_n of_o punishment_n the_o voice_n of_o which_o will_v be_v as_o feeble_a as_o that_o of_o old_a eli_n to_o his_o rebellious_a son_n far_o too_o weak_a to_o master_v their_o violence_n and_o therefore_o that_o frantic_a woman_n that_o some_o have_v talk_v of_o who_o bring_v fire_n in_o one_o hand_n to_o burn_v up_o paradise_n and_o water_n in_o the_o other_o to_o quench_v the_o flame_n of_o hell_n if_o she_o have_v succeed_v in_o her_o design_n instead_o of_o promote_a will_v have_v extinguish_v all_o virtue_n and_o soon_o have_v root_v it_o out_o of_o the_o world_n in_o short_a to_o sum_v up_o what_o have_v be_v say_v upon_o this_o subject_n if_o there_o be_v no_o justice_n natural_o in_o god_n there_o may_v have_v be_v no_o providence_n and_o if_o no_o providence_n than_o man_n may_v have_v be_v leave_v to_o the_o conduct_n of_o their_o own_o giddy_a and_o unruly_a passion_n which_o will_v soon_o break_v through_o the_o restraint_n of_o reason_n and_o when_o man_n be_v thus_o leave_v to_o the_o government_n of_o lust_n and_o sense_n the_o unavoidable_a consequence_n of_o this_o must_v have_v be_v that_o the_o world_n will_v have_v be_v fill_v with_o blood_n and_o murder_n with_o impurity_n and_o uncleanness_n with_o theft_n and_o rapine_n with_o injustice_n and_o oppression_n and_o the_o gentle_a race_n of_o man_n will_v soon_o have_v become_v worse_o than_o the_o worst_a of_o wild_a beast_n prey_v upon_o and_o devour_v one_o another_o and_o to_o suppose_v that_o god_n can_v be_v unconcern_v at_o all_o this_o as_o if_o there_o be_v no_o justice_n in_o he_o which_o incline_v he_o to_o punish_v such_o wickedness_n he_o may_v be_v be_v to_o have_v such_o a_o notion_n of_o god_n as_o it_o be_v report_v lewis_n the_o 11_o the_o of_o france_n have_v of_o his_o leaden_a god_n which_o he_o carry_v about_o he_o and_o when_o he_o have_v cause_v any_o man_n to_o be_v murder_v or_o do_v the_o like_a mischief_n he_o will_v take_v it_o into_o his_o hand_n and_o kiss_v it_o and_o beg_v pardon_n and_o then_o all_o be_v well_o again_o and_o he_o himself_o become_v immediate_o safe_a if_o not_o innocent_a in_o short_a at_o this_o rate_n we_o shall_v not_o dishonour_v god_n if_o we_o so_o conceive_v of_o he_o as_o of_o one_o who_o do_v not_o necessary_o act_v according_a to_o the_o eternal_a and_o unalterable_a rule_n of_o wisdom_n goodness_n and_o righteousness_n that_o he_o may_v be_v a_o god_n not_o of_o order_n but_o confusion_n which_o be_v not_o only_o a_o impious_a but_o a_o blasphemous_a assertion_n 2_o dly_z my_o second_o reason_n why_o i_o account_v this_o position_n of_o socinus_n about_o god_n justice_n to_o be_v false_a and_o dangerous_a be_v because_o it_o take_v away_o the_o distinction_n between_o law_n positive_a and_o natural_a which_o distinction_n have_v hitherto_o be_v look_v upon_o not_o only_o to_o be_v true_a but_o sacred_a sorasmuch_o as_o the_o contrary_n will_v open_v a_o gap_n to_o all_o manner_n of_o impiety_n and_o wickedness_n now_o positive_a law_n be_v account_v such_o as_o owe_v their_o original_n only_o to_o god_n free_a will_n and_o pleasure_n and_o therefore_o as_o they_o can_v be_v know_v so_o they_o can_v oblige_v any_o but_o those_o to_o who_o he_o have_v make_v such_o a_o declaration_n and_o discovery_n of_o his_o pleasure_n 10._o natural_a law_n be_v those_o which_o be_v discover_v by_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n as_o be_v the_o necessary_a result_n of_o our_o constitution_n and_o that_o relation_n which_o we_o hear_v to_o god_n as_o rational_a creature_n many_o of_o which_o though_o reveal_v in_o scripture_n yet_o in_o themselves_o be_v obligatory_a antecedent_n to_o any_o such_o revelation_n now_o these_o law_n do_v necessary_o suppose_v justice_n in_o god_n without_o which_o they_o will_v be_v insignificant_a for_o though_o natural_a law_n owe_v their_o original_a to_o the_o holiness_n of_o god_n as_o be_v but_o a_o transcript_n of_o those_o essential_a rule_n of_o righteousness_n which_o make_v up_o his_o nature_n yet_o all_o their_o force_n and_o obligation_n without_o which_o they_o be_v not_o proper_o law_n result_v from_o his_o justice_n that_o be_v from_o the_o fear_n of_o punishment_n which_o the_o law_n threaten_v and_o justice_n inflict_v without_o which_o they_o will_v be_v perfect_o insignificant_a from_o which_o by_o a_o just_a and_o necessary_a consequence_n it_o unavoidable_o follow_v that_o if_o their_o be_v natural_a law_n there_o must_v be_v justice_n natural_o in_o god_n so_o on_o the_o other_o hand_n if_o there_o be_v no_o justice_n there_o can_v be_v no_o law_n of_o nature_n forasmuch_o as_o without_o the_o former_a they_o can_v have_v neither_o force_n nor_o obligation_n nor_o consequent_o have_v the_o formal_a reason_n of_o law_n 3_o dly_a and_o last_o this_o opinion_n of_o socin_n be_v both_o false_a and_o impious_a because_o it_o tend_v to_o overthrow_v all_o natural_a religion_n by_o supplant_n that_o which_o be_v the_o chief_a if_o not_o the_o only_a support_n of_o it_o in_o the_o world_n and_o that_o be_v the_o fear_n of_o god_n for_o take_v away_o his_o justice_n as_o this_o socinian_n hypothesis_n do_v and_o then_o you_o have_v leave_v nothing_o in_o he_o which_o a_o man_n govern_v by_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n need_v to_o fear_v not_o his_o unity_n nor_o his_o eternity_n nor_o immensity_n not_o his_o holiness_n nor_o his_o goodness_n to_o be_v sure_a nor_o last_o his_o power_n which_o in_o conjunction_n with_o the_o former_a as_o it_o necessary_o be_v in_o god_n be_v as_o harmless_a and_o innocent_a as_o either_o of_o the_o former_a attribute_n when_o it_o be_v not_o move_v nor_o excite_v by_o a_o just_a displeasure_n and_o indignation_n imagine_v therefore_o a_o socinian_n be_v to_o discourse_v a_o pagan_a i_o will_v fain_o know_v how_o upon_o this_o principle_n he_o can_v convince_v he_o that_o it_o be_v his_o duty_n to_o worship_n god_n and_o to_o live_v a_o virtuous_a life_n he_o may_v tell_v he_o indeed_o and_o tell_v he_o with_o great_a truth_n that_o the_o divine_a nature_n and_o perfection_n be_v in_o themselves_o a_o just_a ground_n of_o esteem_n and_o adoration_n that_o virtue_n have_v many_o and_o those_o powerful_a though_o invisible_a charm_n as_o be_v both_o agreeable_a to_o our_o reason_n and_o at_o the_o same_o time_n serve_v to_o promote_v our_o welfare_n and_o happiness_n in_o this_o world_n yet_o all_o this_o will_v lay_v he_o under_o no_o obligation_n to_o do_v that_o which_o otherwise_o will_v be_v high_o reasonable_a and_o fit_v to_o be_v do_v suppose_v it_o be_v honest_a suppose_v it_o rational_a suppose_v it_o his_o interest_n yet_o he_o be_v leave_v to_o his_o liberty_n and_o may_v and_o no_o doubt_n will_v do_v what_o he_o please_v for_o all_o that_o he_o may_v act_v indeed_o like_o a_o fool_n and_o a_o brute_n yet_o he_o be_v guilty_a of_o no_o sin_n in_o the_o mean_a time_n for_o where_o there_o be_v no_o justice_n there_o can_v be_v no_o fear_n of_o punishment_n where_o there_o be_v no_o punishment_n there_o be_v no_o obligation_n nor_o consequent_o law_n and_o where_o there_o be_v no_o law_n there_o can_v be_v no_o transgression_n so_o that_o though_o his_o reason_n may_v upbraid_v he_o with_o the_o folly_n his_o conscience_n in_o this_o case_n will_v never_o check_v he_o for_o the_o guilt_n of_o his_o vice_n which_o if_o the_o law_n of_o his_o country_n do_v not_o take_v some_o care_n to_o prevent_v he_o may_v secure_o practise_v without_o any_o fear_n of_o god_n displeasure_n in_o short_a notwithstanding_o all_o the_o fine_a discourse_n about_o the_o beauty_n and_o amiableness_n of_o religion_n and_o virtue_n the_o inclination_n of_o sense_n will_v soon_o bear_v down_o the_o dictate_v of_o reason_n and_o the_o slight_a temptation_n will_v prove_v too_o strong_a for_o these_o very_a speculation_n and_o as_o to_o the_o generality_n the_o

conclusion_n which_o they_o will_v draw_v from_o this_o principle_n will_v be_v let_v we_o eat_v and_o drink_v for_o to_o morrow_n we_o die_v and_o after_o death_n come_v no_o reckon_v or_o account_n come_v on_o let_v we_o enjoy_v the_o good_a thing_n that_o be_v present_a and_o let_v we_o speedy_o use_v the_o creature_n like_v as_o in_o youth_n let_v we_o fill_v ourselves_o with_o costly_a ointment_n and_o let_v no_o flower_n of_o the_o spring_n pass_v by_o we_o let_v we_o crown_v ourselves_o with_o rosebud_n before_o they_o be_v wither_v let_v none_o of_o we_o go_v without_o his_o part_n of_o our_o voluptuousness_n let_v we_o leave_v token_n of_o our_o joyfulness_n in_o every_o place_n for_o this_o be_v our_o portion_n and_o our_o lot_n be_v this_o wisd_v 2._o ver_fw-la 6_o 7_o 8._o but_o though_o this_o notion_n overturn_v all_o natural_a religion_n yet_o it_o be_v itself_o effectual_o overthrow_v by_o the_o dictate_v of_o natural_a conscience_n which_o be_v a_o unanswerable_a proof_n both_o of_o the_o existence_n and_o the_o justice_n of_o god_n for_o we_o must_v know_v that_o conscience_n be_v something_o more_o than_o bare_a reason_n for_o reason_n may_v direct_v but_o conscience_n will_v prescribe_v reason_n give_v we_o a_o rule_n for_o the_o government_n of_o our_o action_n conscience_n pass_v that_o rule_n into_o a_o law_n give_v it_o its_o force_n and_o obligation_n the_o 4._o prescribe_v of_o a_o law_n be_v the_o act_n of_o a_o superior_a and_o no_o man_n be_v proper_o superior_a to_o himself_o and_o consequent_o no_o man_n can_v by_o his_o own_o act_n peremptory_o oblige_v himself_o except_o that_o act_n be_v enforce_v by_o some_o other_o and_o high_a obligation_n and_o therefore_o conscience_n be_v not_o bare_a reason_n but_o reason_n as_o it_o be_v god_n vicegerent_n clothe_v with_o his_o authority_n arm_v with_o his_o justice_n and_o therefore_o in_o a_o more_o imperious_a way_n it_o command_v our_o obedience_n not_o only_o persuade_v we_o to_o our_o duty_n but_o threaten_v for_o the_o neglect_n of_o it_o it_o put_v on_o a_o majestic_a air_n tell_v we_o this_o must_v be_v do_v or_o refuse_v it_o at_o your_o peril_n indeed_o it_o execute_v the_o office_n and_o sustain_v the_o person_n of_o a_o legislator_n a_o witness_n and_o a_o judge_n first_o prescribe_v a_o law_n then_o accuse_v for_o our_o disobedience_n and_o last_o solemn_o arraigns_n the_o sinner_n for_o his_o guilt_n and_o then_o pass_v sentence_n upon_o he_o so_o that_o these_o action_n of_o conscience_n and_o the_o tribunal_n that_o god_n have_v erect_v there_o be_v one_o of_o the_o clear_a and_o most_o uncontrolled_a proof_n of_o a_o future_a judgement_n of_o which_o the_o former_a be_v a_o kind_n of_o anticipation_n and_o indeed_o if_o we_o look_v back_o to_o former_a time_n and_o consult_v the_o history_n of_o age_n and_o country_n the_o most_o ignorant_a and_o barbarous_a we_o shall_v find_v that_o as_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n have_v direct_v they_o to_o the_o belief_n and_o acknowledgement_n of_o a_o god_n so_o one_o of_o the_o early_a notion_n that_o arise_v in_o their_o mind_n when_o they_o have_v think_v of_o he_o have_v be_v the_o apprehension_n of_o his_o justice_n of_o which_o among_o other_o thing_n the_o numerous_a though_o many_o of_o they_o impious_a and_o ridiculous_a rite_n which_o they_o make_v use_v of_o to_o appease_v the_o anger_n of_o their_o incense_a deity_n be_v a_o irrefragable_a argument_n and_o this_o apprehension_n of_o divine_a justice_n be_v as_o one_o of_o the_o principal_a cause_n so_o one_o of_o the_o chief_a if_o not_o the_o only_a support_n of_o natural_a religion_n in_o the_o world_n now_o to_o apply_v this_o to_o our_o present_a purpose_n and_o to_o bring_v the_o part_n of_o our_o argument_n a_o little_a close_o together_o if_o man_n by_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n can_v discover_v this_o attribute_n of_o justice_n in_o god_n it_o must_v unavoidable_o follow_v that_o justice_n in_o he_o be_v natural_a for_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n can_v discover_v nothing_o in_o god_n but_o what_o be_v so_o whatever_o be_v the_o effect_n of_o god_n mere_a pleasure_n and_o the_o result_n of_o his_o free_a will_n can_v never_o be_v know_v but_o by_o revelation_n and_o it_o be_v impossible_a it_o shall_v be_v otherwise_o discover_v except_o we_o shall_v suppose_v man_n to_o be_v omniscient_a and_o that_o they_o may_v know_v more_o of_o god_n than_o they_o can_v of_o one_o another_o for_o what_o man_n know_v the_o thing_n of_o a_o man_n save_o the_o spirit_n of_o man_n that_o be_v within_o he_o 1_o cor._n 2._o 11._o so_o much_o less_o can_v any_o man_n discern_v the_o thing_n of_o god_n but_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n he_o indeed_o search_v the_o deep_a thing_n of_o god_n such_o as_o be_v the_o result_v of_o his_o free_a pleasure_n and_o the_o counsel_n of_o his_o will_n which_o lie_v hide_v in_o the_o breast_n of_o god_n and_o must_v for_o ever_o have_v do_v so_o have_v not_o he_o who_o lie_v in_o the_o bosom_n of_o his_o father_n reveal_v they_o unto_o we_o and_o therefore_o if_o justice_n be_v as_o the_o socinian_o tell_v we_o the_o effect_n only_o of_o god_n free_a will_n it_o must_v have_v lie_v undiscovered_a to_o the_o gentile_a world_n to_o who_o god_n vouchsafe_v no_o revelation_n of_o his_o will_n which_o yet_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o account_n which_o the_o history_n of_o all_o time_n and_o age_n have_v give_v we_o of_o this_o matter_n from_o whence_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o the_o belief_n of_o god_n justice_n among_o man_n be_v coeval_fw-fr with_o that_o of_o their_o be_v write_v in_o the_o same_o character_n and_o engrave_v by_o the_o same_o hand_n that_o implant_v the_o notion_n of_o a_o god_n in_o the_o mind_n of_o man_n and_o if_o so_o than_o the_o same_o hand_n that_o deface_v the_o notion_n of_o god_n justice_n must_v at_o the_o same_o time_n and_o for_o the_o same_o reason_n erase_n the_o belief_n of_o his_o existence_n out_o of_o the_o soul_n of_o man_n and_o i_o doubt_v not_o if_o the_o socinian_o have_v live_v in_o those_o day_n by_o this_o hypothesis_n of_o they_o they_o will_v have_v be_v extreme_o serviceable_a to_o theodorus_n diagoras_n democritus_n and_o epicurus_n in_o the_o design_n they_o be_v engage_v in_o of_o root_a the_o belief_n of_o a_o god_n and_o religion_n out_o of_o the_o world_n for_o they_o may_v have_v tell_v man_n not_o only_o with_o great_a plausibility_n but_o truth_n if_o this_o opinion_n be_v true_a that_o all_o those_o accusation_n of_o conscience_n and_o anxiety_n of_o mind_n which_o be_v occasion_v by_o the_o belief_n and_o dread_n of_o divine_a justice_n be_v the_o effect_n only_o of_o fancy_n and_o delusion_n and_o do_v owe_v their_o original_a not_o to_o a_o divine_a impress_n but_o to_o the_o craft_n and_o contrivance_n of_o priest_n and_o politician_n who_o instill_v into_o the_o mind_n of_o weak_a and_o unwary_a man_n the_o vain_a fear_n of_o invisible_a power_n represent_v they_o arm_v with_o thunder_n and_o with_o the_o sword_n of_o justice_n in_o their_o hand_n whereas_o real_o there_o be_v no_o such_o thing_n but_o all_o this_o they_o do_v to_o keep_v the_o world_n in_o awe_n and_o thereby_o to_o compass_v the_o design_n of_o their_o interest_n and_o ambition_n what_o further_a design_n socinus_n himself_o may_v have_v or_o whether_o he_o have_v any_o other_o design_n by_o advance_v this_o opinion_n than_o the_o overturning_a that_o great_a article_n of_o our_o faith_n concern_v the_o satisfaction_n of_o christ_n i_o shall_v not_o positive_o determine_v only_o this_o i_o can_v but_o acquaint_v the_o reader_n with_o which_o have_v be_v long_o since_o observe_v likewise_o by_o other_o that_o socinus_n and_o his_o follower_n in_o all_o their_o book_n and_o disputation_n have_v make_v it_o their_o business_n chief_o to_o cavil_v and_o make_v exception_n to_o their_o adversary_n not_o care_v what_o become_v of_o religion_n so_o that_o they_o may_v with_o any_o colour_n avoid_v the_o argument_n with_o which_o they_o be_v press_v as_o be_v in_o some_o measure_n make_v evident_a by_o several_a passage_n which_o we_o have_v quote_v out_o of_o their_o write_n in_o the_o forego_n discourse_n and_o i_o have_v this_o further_a to_o add_v that_o as_o socinus_n by_o deny_v the_o divinity_n and_o satisfaction_n of_o christ_n have_v plain_o overturn_v the_o foundation_n upon_o which_o the_o christian_a church_n and_o religion_n have_v be_v build_v so_o by_o this_o assertion_n about_o god_n justice_n and_o by_o several_a other_o disperse_v and_o sly_o insinuate_v through_o his_o write_n he_o have_v give_v a_o shrewd_a blow_n to_o all_o religion_n whatsoever_o whether_o natural_a or_o reveal_v so_o that_o a_o unwary_a reader_n by_o peruse_v his_o write_n may_v find_v himself_o a_o atheist_n before_o he_o well_o perceive_v