Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	light_n	natural_a	sun_n	1,020	5	9.7836	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A94157	The door of salvation opened by the key of regeneration: or A treatise containing the nature, necessity, marks and means of regeneration; as also the duty of the regenerate. / By George Swinnocke, M.A. and pastor of Rickmersworth in Hertfordshire.	Swinnock, George, 1627-1673.	1661 (1661)	Wing S6272; Thomason E1817_1; ESTC R209823	254,830	512

and therefore as a Deputy Lieutenant it must command its inferiors according to the directions which it receiveth from its superiour otherwise as a King which commands out of his Dominions it is not to be obeyed God hath indeed given conscience a large Commission it is a deputy Deity in the little world man The government of the soul lyeth for a great part upon its shoulders It hath an universal negative voice nothing to be done without its assent Rom. 14.2 ult but not an universal affirmative voice to enjoyn what it pleaseth when it is regulated by Gods Law then and not till then it can govern well our hearts and lives Bernard saith excellently Bern de cons i. l. 1. cap. 9. We must consult with conscience as also to consult with Scripture the Bible is the book of life according to that the books of our consciences may be copied or corrected Let us therefore saith he compare our book with Gods book lest in the last day our books be found false and faulty when they come to be examined Copies are no further valid and authentick then they agree with the Original neither is conscience any farther to be trusted then it accords with the word of truth it is an under-Officer and therefore if it wave its Commission and use its power against its Prince it is to be informed not obeyed The Law natural must be hearkened to so far as it agreeth with the Law moral It is the greatest idolatry in the world saith Reverend Mr. Rutherford to make thy self the idol and as bad a Papacy as that at Rome to make a Pope of thy own conscience The light of Scripture is infallible but not so the light of nature yet how ordinary is it for men in our dayes like the men of Sechem Judg. 9.46.49 to flie for shelter to this hold of the idol Berith and to think themselves safe if they can say the light within them they might more truly say the Prince of darkness moveth them to deny all ordinances to call Christians Devils and limbs of Antichrist to set up a Christ within them in opposition to that righteousness which he wrought without them but as that hold was fired over the Sechemites heads and they perished in it so these men and their consciences if the Lord do not turn them shall burn together Thou seest now Reader that men may follow their natural Judgements into eternal Torments do not therefore follow conscience blindfold but first set that watch by the Sun dial of Gods word for then onely 't will go true and according to it thou maist work Ninethly To joyn with this or that party or to hold this or that opinion is no sure evidence of salvation all the sign which some have of their sincerity is their schism and separation from the people of God and publick Ordinances They fancy for indeed it is but a fancy that to leave the good old way prescribed by Christ and travel●d in by the Saints in all ages and to take a by-way over hedge and ditch found out by themselves or some others whose persons they have in admiration is the nearest surest way to heaven How many list themselves under the colours of Quakers or Anabaptists or Episcopal or Independents or Presbyterians fighting in expressions at least against all that are of a different judgement and being confident of the goodness of their cause think it impossible for them that are engaged in it to miscarry Reader if thou art one of these I must tell thee for all this thou mayst be unconverted whatever thy cause or opinion be or whoever be the head of thy party or file-leader if Regeneratian be not thy Banner and Christ thy Captain thou shalt without question be conquered and as certainly die an eternal death as thou livest a natural life Creeds do not make Christians nor are opinions be they never so new signs of new affections rather è contra Divisions and side-takings do rather speak a brutish and grazing as Nebuchadnezzar's then a gracious heart Godw. Iew. Antiq. lib. 1. How many persons were there in the days of Christ who differed from others in their principles The very Scribes and Pharisees differed in some things the Essenes differed from them both the Sadduces from all three the Herodians from all the former yea the difference amongst many of them was so wide that they could not meet together in divine worship now how weak had it been for either of these from their dividing from men on earth to have inferd their dwelling with God in Heaven When for ought I know he must go beyond them all that will be saved Mat. 5.20 Thou mayst be of that party which hath the greatest name for purity and yet when thou diest not enter into peace I will for thy sake suppose the opinion which thou holdest to be true and sound and the partie to which thou joynest to be holy and solid yet neither of these is regeneration Alas the new birth doth not consist in a sound head though it be a mercy if thou holded the pattern of wholsom words but in a purified heart not in siding with the truth but in being sanctified by the truth The five foolish Virgins associated with the wise and yet were unregenerate and wicked Judas kept company with Christ and his Apostles and joyned with them in Acts of devotion and yet was a son of perdition Vermine crawl among roses but are without their savour and sweetness Spiders fasten on rich hangings yet are full of poison Dross and gold smoke and fire dregs and wine chaffe and corn are joyned together yet do abundantly differ Thou mayst like the mixt multitude seem to turn thy back upon Aegypt and embarque in the same bottom with the true Israelites and yet as they come short of Canaan Tenthly and lastly Some seeming good affections do not necessarily speak a mans good condition Every shining stone is not a Diamond nor is every flashy affection from regeneration Some say there is no precious stone but hath its counterfeit I think there is hardly any grace but hath its Ape I will instance in some few affections which thou mayst have and yet misse heaven Thou mayst wonder at the excellency of the word and yet be a stranger to the efficacy of it Luke 4.22 All bare him witness and wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth All wondred at the saviour but all were not wounded for their sins All wondred at his gracious words but many wanted his gracious work Ezekiels Sermons were to some of his hearers as lovely songs and yet they continued impenitent in their sins Some people nibble at the bait of the preachers oratory when their souls are never caught with the hook and authority of Scripture Ezek. 3● ●1 32. Thou mayst be full of joy under the word and yet be empty of grace Herod heard John gladly Mark 6.20 others received the

time he is at war with them walks contrary to them and is preparing for them the instruments of eternal death Like Agag to the very hour of execution they are confident of a Pardon and go with their hearts full of hopes into the very place of despair They die willingly as they tell us and their neighbours commend them saying they died like lambs when rather like Solomons ox who goeth to the slaughter so died they going to the den of roaring Lions and the place of Dragons They had no Bands in their deaths who were in bondage to the devil Ps 73.4 As a man that is asleep upon the Mast of a Ship he is in a golden Dream and his thoughts upon large Revenues rich treasures Kingdomes and Diadems which he hath already in his own possession but in that very hour wherein he is solacing himself in his vain imaginations a storm ariseth the man is tumbled off the Mast and drowned Thus many have golden dreams strong presumptions of their salvation when alas they do but befool themselves are all the while upon the brink of hell and are tumbled into it before they are aware Reader look to this likewise that thou build not on such a weak bottome for this may happen both to prophane men and to hypocrites It is said of Pigmalion that he drew a picture so lively that he deceived himself and taking the picture for a person fell in love with his own picture I tell thee thou mayst spin so fine a thread and weave so curious a web of painted cloth feigned godliness that thou mayest deceive thy self and take it to be fine linnen the righteousness of the Saints and mayest thence gather that thy soul is safe when in all thou dost thou art unsound If confidence or not doubting our estates will prove them out of danger then the ignorant stupid seared sinners must certainly be saved which the Scriptures flatly deny Socrates who lived according to his natural conscience died with much calmness and confidence speaking of those who put him to death that they might kill him but could not hurt him yet was without the knowledge of Jesus Christ in whose name alone is salvation Eightly To follow the light within thee or to obey the Dictates of a natural conscience is no sound evidence for heaven A man may follow the light within him to the chambers of utter darkness The Jesuite in the Quaker would make this the infallible testimony of a mans uprightness and sincerity nay he plucks Christ from his Throne and sets the light within him in his room making it more then a mark even the meritorious cause of salvation but Reader I shall clearly prove that 't is so far from being worthy of our affiance that it is not so much as an evidence for heaven because conscience by nature is corrupted as much as the other faculties Their minds and consciences saith the Holy Ghost are defiled Tit. 1.15 The nature of conscience is good but the conscience of nature is evil It savours not the things of God it is not purged with the blood of Christ it is wholly blind in the matters of Christianity nay 't is a Rebel against God Now if I follow a blind guide am I ever like to enter in at the straight gate Is it rational arguing that I am in my Princes favour because I obey my Captain when he is a traytor I do not say that a natural conscience hath no good in it but I am sure 't is in the account of God an evil conscience opposing and resisting him Like an ignis fatuus as pure and perfect a light as the Quakers make it it leadeth men out of Gods high way into those bogs and quagmires wherein they sink and perish I question not but the heathens did follow their polluted consciences in their idolatrous practices And sure I am that Paul might thank his corrupt conscience for persecuting Jesus Christ I verily thought saith he that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Christ Acts 26,9 Mark the words they are full of weight Pauls conscience told him 't was his duty to suppress Christianity Was not his obedience to the commands of this conscience a sad sign that he was to be saved Further Christ telleth his Disciples John 16.2 That they who killed them should think they did God good service Observe here was pure light within men that made them think that they did God the greatest service in doing his Church the greatest disservice Tertul. tells us that Maximinian the Emperor esteemed Christianorum sanguinem diis gratissimam esse victimam the blood of Christians to be an acceptable sacrifice to the gods Is any man so mad as not to think that if such a Pilot steer the ship by answering to its motion must needs be cast away Saul would out of conscience have slain the Gibeonites 2 Sam. 21.2 and broken the Covenant which had been sworn to by the Israelites His conscience was evil and could not speak his condition to be good an evil conscience will call bitter sweet darkness light evil good It will leave plain precepts and walk by extraordinary Providences Isa 36.18 19 20. Jer. 50.7 It preferreth a strong impulsion of its own spirit before that word which is the will of Gods spirit Isa 36.9 10. it esteemeth a supposed Revelation above that Scripture which is indoubtedly of Divine inspiration 2 Pet. 1.19 It placeth often most of its Religion in Penance abstinence and outward acts of mortification in external signs of humility will-worship and neglecting the body Col. 2. ult of many of which God may say as to the Jews Who hath required these things at your hands Isa 1.12 It makes men keep a a great stir about cuffs ribbands hatbands as the Pharisees about pots and cups when their hearts are full of pride and malice robbing even Christ of the glory of our redemption and hating Christians for not daring to joyn in their cursed opinion Friend wil following such a conscience speak thee to be a true Christian Conscience is indeed a rule but regula regulata prius quam regulans such a rule as must be ruled by Gods word before it can be a right rule for our works To the Law and to the testimonies if conscience speak not according to this word it is because there is much pretended no true light in it Scripture is the compass by which conscience must bend its course or else 't will never land its passengers at the desired haven It is no farther liberty of conscience but licentiousness then it is regulated by the Scripture One office of conscience is Magistratical and Legislative to command and give Laws to man We read of the heathen that in regard of their consciences They were a Law to themselves Rom. 2.14 Conscientia mille Reges mille leges But though conscience be a King over the other faculties yet it is a subject subordinate to God

creature hath his understanding darkened he walketh in the way of the flesh and the world and believeth that to be the right way to happiness but when the spirit of God enlightneth the mind the man seeth that he was exceedingly mistaken begins to wonder at his own folly and wickedness to abhor himself and change his course I will bring the blind by a way which they knew not Isa 42.16 17. I will lead them in paths that they have not known I will make darkness light before them then what followeth they shall be turned back they shall be greatly ashamed Till the understanding of a man be enlightened to see the deformity of sin and the beauty of holiness he will never heartily loath and grief for the former love and long for the latter As it is in some hot climates though the Sun shine very hot there yet when there is no entrance for it into mens houses t will not scorch or heat the inhabitants sin is of a scorching nature but when the understanding which is the window into the house is kept shut that it can have no entrance into the heart no wonder if the sinner feel no pain God hath made the same organ for seeing and weeping T is the eye of knowledg which affects the heart Zach. 12.10 They shall see him whom they have pierced and mourn sight of sin doth precede sorrow for sin as soon as ever the infant cometh into the light it cryeth though all the time it was in the dark prison of the mothers womb it was quiet Secondly Ioh. 16.9 10. the second step which the spirit takes is conviction to convince the sinner The sun which did before enlighten his mind doth now slide down with its heating and scorching beams into the conscience That knowledge which the sinner had of his sins before was speculative but now becomes practical making sin like a lump of lead upon tender flesh that the conscience is exceeding press'd and oppress'd with it Conviction is the application of the nature of sin and danger of sinners to himself in particular which before he knew in the general as in the twilight before the Sun ariseth a man may see abroad but he cannot see in his own house but when the Sun ariseth a man can see both abroad and at home within his own doors So before the Spirit approacheth the soul in a way of conviction the sinner could see abroad he knew that the soul that sinneth must die that they which do such and such things cannot inherit the Kingdom of God he knew these things in the general but he could not see in his own house in his own heart that he himself was a great sinner a dead a damned creature for though he would in his prayers acknowledge that he had broken the Law and was thereby liable to the wrath of the Lord yet he did it but customarily and formally not beleeving what he spake for should another man come to him and tell him O Friend you daily provoke God and are every hour in danger of hell he would flye in his face and tell others that he was a very uncharitable man and all because the sinner could not see in his own house but when the Sun of righteousness ariseth the sinner can see within as well as without doors he seeth the hainous nature of his own sins and the grievous danger of his own soul The Spirit of God convinceth the sinner of four things First the Spirit convinceth him of his great and innumerable corruptions The man before knew in the general that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and would confess himself a sinner formally and slightly but now he feels himself a sinner and finds experimentally that he is a polluted poisoned creature The Spirit of God holdeth the glass of the law before the eyes of his soul and makes him whether he will or no see what dirt and deformity is in the face of his heart and life Without the law there is no transgression and without the knowledge of the law there will be no conviction As one of the persecutors in the days of Queen Mary searching an house for a Protestant askd an old woman in the house Where is the Heretick she points to a Chest of linnen upon which stood a looking-glass and bid him look there and he should see him he lookt there and still asked Where is he She meant that he himself was the Heretick and in the glass he might see himself So before the Holy Ghost came to convince this sinner if the minister at any time had preached against pride unbelief carnal-mindedness hypocrisie and the like his voice was Where are these men Surely the Minister meets with such and such in his Sermon but now the spirit in his conscience speaketh to him what Nathan did to David Thou art the man Thou art the proud carnal hypocritical cursed sinner which the word of God meaneth the man cannot deny it The Holy Ghost puls off his rags and plaisters and makes him see all his nakedness and sores it lanceth his wounds before his eyes and now he beholdeth the venemous matter and corruption which is in them that he little thought of before Formerly he esteemd himself to be sound comparing himself with them that were worse or not minding the inward meaning and extent of the law of God but now by the law the spirit brings him to the knowledg of sin Rom. 7.7 It sheweth him the depravation of his nature how full it is of pollution even as full as ever toad was of poison how empty it is of all good nay what an enemy it is to God and godliness it sheweth him the abominations of his heart how the imaginat on s and thoughts of his heart have been evil onely evil and that continually the provocations of his life how full that hath been of lusts and sins even as the firmament of stars it sheweth him the evil of his thoughts of his words of his deeds his omissions in his closet in his family his commissions abroad at home it sheweth him his idolatry in setting up Self as his God in bowing down to it and worshiping it his adultery in going a whoring after the creatures loving fearing and trusting them more then the creatour who is blessed for ever It sheweth him how he hath dishonoured the name of God grieved the spirit of God undervalued the Son of God violated every command of God how he hath sinned against the first command in not worshipping and glorifying God as the only true God and as his God and in giving that honour to others which is due to him alone against the second in not worshiping God according to the word but according to the traditions of others or his own inventions against the third in not reverencing the name word and works of God against the fourth in not sanctifying the Sabbath to Gods service but