was not indeed the Mother 1 King 3.26 27. Though you are devout towards God if you are dishonest towards men or dissolute in your selves you have an evil Conscience And though you are upright in your transactions and dealings with men if you are regardless of the truths and duties of godliness or sobriety you have still but an evil Conscience See these instances Mat. 23.14 ch 15.4 5. Isa 58.2 9. Prov. 7.13 16. Luk. 18.11 12. Mat. 19.20 21 22. The good Conscience is not disjunctive but copulative in its duties and will give Christ his due and Caesar his You then that impartially consult both Tables in your practice that knit religion towards God with righteousness towards Men that follow after both things holy and things honest things just and things pure and are taught to live both soberly righteously and godly in this present world your conversations are in godly sincerity and you have a good Conscience May you rejoyce in its testimony Psal 15.2 Isa 33.15 Phil. 4.8 Tit. 2.12 2 Cor. 1.12 II. § 8 'T is good as to all the Commandments The good Conscience is set to do all Gods Commandments God chargeth all his Commandments upon the Conscience Keep and seek for all the Commandments of the Lord your God 1 Chron. 28.8 Deut. 11.8 22. ch 26.18 And the good Conscience chargeth them all upon the godly to keep all the command he knoweth and to seek all the command he knoweth not that he may keep them We are all here present before God saith Cornelius to hear all things that are commanded of God Act. 10.33 The good Conscience countâ— all Gods Commandments to be good Aâ—â— thy Commandments are sure all thy Commandments are faithful It saith not only that they are all truth but all thy Commandments are righteousness Psal 111.7 c. 119.86 151 172. The good Conscience would know all Gods Commandments because good and that he may keep them Oh that my way were directed saith he to keep thy statutes 〈◊〉 let me not wander from thy Commandments O hide not thy Commandments from me Teaâ—â— me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shaâ—â— keep it unto the end Give me understanding anâ— I shall keep thy Law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart Psal 119.5 10 19 33 34 'T is true corrupt flesh may and will ever and anon be retracting and impleading it buâ— the good Conscience fights it out and is finally victorious He hath sworn and he wiâ—â— perform it that he will keep Gods righteouâ— judgments And I will walk at liberty saith this Soul for I seek thy precepts ver 106 45. The good Conscience would keep all Gods Commandments which he knoweth He may be weak in many things but he is willing in all things to live honestly He allows himself in no known aversation from any one of Gods Testimonies His heart is inclined to perform Gods statutes always If the habitual temper be enquired into whatever his declinings be under the heat of tentation with his mind he serves the law of God Heb. 13.18 Rom. 7.15 25. Psal 119.112 How is it with your Consciences then Adhere they closely to the commands and traditions of men but mean while are careless of the Commands and Truths of God Or are they herein observedly strict in Mint Annise and Cummin the lesser matters of the Law while mean time they omit Mercy Judgment and Faith the greater matters of the Law Are they partial and upon reserves in the matters of Piety and of his Precepts And do they ordinarily allow the forbearance of or formality in any self-displeasing secret or inobserved duties You have then an evil Conscience Mar. 7.6 10. Mat. 23.23 Mal. 2.9 1 Joh. 2.4 But do they esteem all Gods Precepts concerning all things to be right Do you walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of God with Zachary and Elizabeth Have you a respect to all Gods Commandments Then shall you not be ashamed it is well with Conscience and shall be well you in the conclusion Psal 119.6 128. Luk. 1.6 Jer. 7.23 The integrity of Davids heart hath the divine impression and allowance or approbation while it was set to do according to all that God had commanded him 1 King 9.4 2 Chron. 7.17 3 'T is good as concerns all Corruptions § 9 which it doth both avoid and abhor He would abstain from and doth hate every false way Psal 119.2 3 128. It refrains the feet from every evil way that we may keep to the Word of God without us and keep up the work of God within us Psal 119.101 104. This Soul may actually and doth often sin but he allows not what he doth and may say with Paul What I hate that do I Rom. 7.15 A good Conscience then will not allow of any evil of corruption not any manner or any measure any kind or to any degree It would have iniquity all iniquity and all of iniquity taken away the pollution and power as well as punishment and will rather choose the greatest suffering than the least sin Hos 14.2 Psal 139.24 Heb. 11.25 How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God This is the reasoning of the good Conscience I will take heed to my ways that I sin not I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress These are the resolutions of the good Conscience Gen. 39.9 Psal 39.1 c. 17.3 How is it with Conscience Happily it hath not with Joab turned after Absalom but hath it turned after Adonijah Vile and refuse sins it will destroy utterly But the fatlings and the best of the sheep that will best serve your carnal pleasures and profits especially Agag the predominant and pleasing sin must they be spared Baals Temple and Priests must fall but must Jeroboams Calves stand Sins against the interest of worldly self be crucified but must sins that feed thy interest be cherished Ah wicked and wretched Conscience 1 King 1.7 1 Sam. 15.9 2 King 10.29 Jam. 4.4 Your Consciences happily strain at Gnats such and such smaller sins But can they swallow Camels greater sins Your Consciences abhor Idols but do you commit Sacriledg You cannot violate a rash Oath with Herod but can you swear rashly and slay the innocent servants of the Lord rather than it shall be said you have not accomplished it Ah deplorable and desperate Consciences Mat. 23.24 Rom. 2.22 Mar. 6.26 27. Again it may be your Consciences cannot but accuse for and do abhor flagitious and open sins You are not extortioners unjust adulterers c. But can they allow those of a fresher dye and less obvious to sight such as are more small or more secret Then surely 't is an evil Conscience Luk. 18.11 Ephes 5.12 Sirs you whose Consciences are both against small and great sins open and in secret against darling sins as well as displeasing sins that would build up as well as such as will break down your fleshes interest You you are the men and women
you Good only till the storms of tribulation arise and then farewell Conscience and the house falls Oh miserable and mistaking Consciences Gen. 49.4 2 Tim. 4.10 Joh. 19.21 2 Chron. 24.2 17 18. Num. 22.16 1 Tim. 1.19 Mat. 7.26 27. Yours is the good and honest heart and conscience who bring forth fruit with patience or perseverance * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 8.15 Review your principles Can you say I have enclined my heart to perform thy Statutes always even to the end Reflect on your purposes and are these your practical and permanent resolutions I will never forget thy precepts I will keep thy Law continually for ever and ever I will walk in the name of the Lord my God for ever and ever And if Religion will make me vile I will be more vile Recall your practice Have you taken his Testimonies as an heritage for ever Many perhaps may have been your Persecutors yet have you not declined from his Testimonies And will you yet keep his Precepts with the whole heart vvhatever be the exigencies befall you or enticements to flatter you And shall this God be your God and your portion for ever Go and glorifie God and congratulate thy self in the happiness of a good Conscience Psal 119.112 93 44. Mic. 4.5 2 Sam. 6.22 Psal 119.111 157 69. 48.14.73.26 Fourthly § 13 By the aspect of a good Conscience you may acquaint your selves whether your Consciences are good This is towards God the creator commander of and that alone infallibly knoweth the Conscience 1 Pet. 2.19 Or if towards Man 't is but secondarily and subordinately and towards God primarily First towards God then towards Man towards Man in and for God towards God above and beyond Man Act. 24.16 Q. § 14 Whether we may argue the goodness of our Conscience from their aspect towards God I answer you may But what you are chiefly to attend and ask after is whether God be chief and principal in its aspect For an evil Conscience may have an eye upon God but God is not highest or upmost Joh. 12.43 Tit. 3.3 And a good Conscience may have an eye upon its own happiness and the approbation of others but 't is upon God first and chiefest Heb. 11.16 2 Cor. 4.2 When God â—s the supream in your intentions and your â—ighest aims and ambitions are to be accepted of him and approved by him it is an argument a good Conscience and affords great confidence 2 Cor. 5.8 9 10 17 18. The good Conscience then is 1 For the Power and Authority of God § 15 as by which it is principally ruled The good Conscience will give unto Caesar the things which are Caesars he shall have our subjection not only for wrath but for Conscience sake But it will not give unto Caesar the things which are Gods or set Christ beneath Caesar Conscience remembers there is one Law-giver and resolves it the Lord is our Law-giver Mat. 22.21 Joh. 4.12 Isa 33.12 The good Conscience is for acts of obedience to Governours but 't is limited therein and led thereunto principally by the authority of God 'T is limited thereby if Governours command what God countermands the good Conscience dares not comply to it saith he We onght to obey God rather than men Daniâ—â— purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the Kingâ— meat prohibited by the law Nor will he decline his prayers to God whatever be the decree and prohibition of the supream Governour Let Baals worship bear the Princes and publick warrant Elijah and seven thousand more dare not bow the knee to him oâ— in it Act. 5.29 Dan. 1.8 c. 6.10 1 King 19.18 'T is led thereby also the good Conscience submits to every ordinance of Man but 't is for the Lords sake It counsels us to keep the King's commandment but it s principally quickned by his obligation from and in regard of the Cath of God 1 Pet. 2.13 Eccles 8.2 How is it then can your Conscience willingly pass the commands of Goâ— for the commands of Men and keep their statutes that are contrary to his Commandment and your knowledg rather than you will come to suffer Or do you obey the commands and take up the ordinances of God as Hamor and Shechem and the men of their City did that of Circumcision But 't is for compassing Dinah and the designs they have for Jacob's substance You own the concernments of Christ and officiously assist to his cause and interest as the people sometimes did the Jews and the rulers of the Provinces brought them their assistance but is it because the fear of the Jews or the fear of Mordecai the Christian Magistrate is fallen upon you This is an evil Conscience Hos 5.11 Mic. 6.16 Gen. 34.22 23 24. Esth 8.17 c. 9.3 You that vail the commands of Men to the commands of God and in fulfilling his or their Commandments which correspond with his have your first respects not to humane commands censures or customs or your carnal ends but to the divine command and constitution with good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men you have one good evidence of a good Conscience Act. 4.19 Isa 26.13 Ephes 6.7 2 § 16 'T is for the presence and all-seeing eye of God which it principally respects The good Conscience eyes principally God's knowâ—edg O Lord saith he thou hast searched me and â—nown me Not a word in my tongue not a working of my thoughts but thou knowest it â—ltogether Unto him therefore he openeth his cause sets him before his face and is not so much over-ruled by this that man seeth as by this ordinarily that God seeth him and searcheth his heart and reins This perfect heart is not only for doing that which is good in it self but for doing it as in God's sight Psal 139.1 14. Jer. 20.12 Psal 16.8 c. 7.3 2 King 20.3 I have kept thy Precepts saith this pious Conscience for all my ways are before thee Psal 119.168 How is it then are you most for God's or most for man's eye You make broad your Phylacteries you do works of Piety perhaps and works of Charity but are they done for to be seen of Men Is this the mark you shoot at principally Oh gross hypocrisie and unsound Consciences Mat. 23.5 c. 6.5 Noah and Enoch walked amongst men but with God God was most in their eye The light of Christians shines before men and as their good works may be seen of them But it stays not here they subordinate this to an higher sight and scope that others seeing their good works may glorifie their Father which is Heaven Gen. 5.22 c. 6.9 Mat. 5.16 You that as of God and as in the sight of God so do and so speak who are more preponderated in the course of their practice by his presence than Mens privity or perswasives that walk as before him and are wrought to a greater willingness in his service by his
never prophesieth good but always evil to me Surely this is an evil Conscience Psal 2.3 Amos 5.10 2 Chron. 18.7 Or how do your Hearts answer and are accommodated to his Testimonies Have God's Commands a counter-part in your Consciences Have you hid his Law in your Hearts that you may not sin against him And are your Hearts enclined to perform his Statutes always even to the end Gods Law commands you Do your Hearts readily accept and return answer to it I will run the way of thy Commandments and have respect unto thy ways I will delight my self in thy Statutes I will not forget thy Word Psal 119.11 15 16 32 112. Gods Law chides and threatens you How do your Hearts rellish it and acquiesce under it Is it a kindness Do you count it an excellent Oyl Do you compose your selves to submission under it and to serve the ends of God by it Psal 141.5 Isa 39.8 1 Sam. 3.18 Mich. 7.9 Here is one answer of a good Conscience 3 To Gods Covenant § 24 The good Conscience gives answer to Gods Covenant 1. to the tenour of it God saith unto them which were not his people Thou art my people The good Conscience speaks back again Thou art my God O my Soul saith David thou hast said unto the Lord thou art my God Hos 2.23 Psal 16.2 Ezek. 11.20 c. 36.28 2. To the terms of it The Lord avoucheth Believers to be his peculiar people and that they should keep all his Commandments The good Conscience restipulates and avoucheth the Lord to be his God and to walk in his ways and to keep his Statutes and his Commandments c. Deut. 26.17 18. Exod. 19 5. 9.3 To the Truths in it The good Conscience hath a Transcript of all the important Truths of Gods Covenant This shall be the Covenant I will make with them after those days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts Jer. 31.33 Heb. 8.8 9 10. Come then who is he that hath engaged his heart to approach unto me saith the Lord Have you taken the Lord for your God and alone chief good and given back your selves unto him his servants to obey and that for ever Have you none in Heaven but God and is there none upon Earth that you desire besides God And have you taken his Testimonies as an Heritage for ever and chosen the way of his Truths This may let you know that you have a good Conscience Jer. 30.21 22. c. 32.28 Psal 73.25 c. 119.30 111. I will give them an heart to know me that I am the Lord and they shall be my people and I will be their God for they shall return unto me with their whole heart Jer. 24.7 Is there a Conversion to God the Conscience is good But no Conversion no good Conscience Hath God commanded you saying Obey my voice and I will be your God and ye shall be my people and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you that it may be well with you But you hearken not nor encline your ears and walk in your own counsels and imaginations refuse Communion with God or reject any of the known Commands of God or regard any iniquity or any interest above God you have then evil Hearts and your Consciences are not right in the sight of God Jer. 7.23 24. c. 3.17 Numb 85.39 Psal 66.18 4 To the cause of God § 25 The good Conscience is for Gods cause above others above its own this is the bottom in which it sails all its concernments and therefore with Paul and with Moses is cool and gentle in transacting his own matters but quick and transported with great heat in the matters of God and Godliness forgives and is submissive to his own enemies but flames with zeal and is stiff and inflexible to Gods enemies Gal. 4.12 cum 5.12 Act. 13.9 c. Num. 12.3 cum Exod. 30.19 If the Cause of God calls for his part in action he is ready and willingly offers himself according to his office and the capacity and circumstances he is in If it calls for a passive part he can for Conscience toward God endure grief suffering wrongfully and is ready not only to be bound but also to die for his sake 2 Cor. 9.2 Judg. 5.2 9. 2 Cor. 8.3 1 Pet. 2.19 Act. 21.13 You that like Gallio care for none of these things that seek your own things not the things which are Jesus Christs whose Spirits are abundantly raised in your own Cause but ordinarily remiss in Gods Cause have no good Conscience Act. 18.17 Phil. 2.21 Psal 137.5 6. But you that prefer Hierusalem to your chief joy that say unto Zion because of the house of the Lord our God we will seek thy good that will very gladly spend and be spent for the good of Souls and glory of their Saviour that sacrifice your own Concernments to those of Christ and his Church and would rejoyce to be offered upon the sacrifice and service of their faith and rejoyce in your sufferings with respect to his service Receive this sign and may you reap the sense of a good Conscience Psal 137.6 122.9 2 Cor. 12.15 Phil. 2.17 Col. 1.24 5 To the counsels of God § 26 and his dispensations towards them The good Conscience would hold Communion with God in his Works as well as in his Word and doth especially consider of and commemorates what God hath done for his Soul Psal 107.43 94.19 66.16 Hath God accepted his person answered his prayers afforded him his presence of Grace c. it binds him the faster to God Blessed be God saith he who hath not turned away my prayer nor his mercy from me He will love God the more choicely live with God the more closely lean on and trust in God the more constantly Ps 66.19 20.116 throughout 146.1 2. Doth God afflict and is angry with him with-draws the sense of his Salvation with-holds the spirit of Peace and the waters are come even into his Soul He considers and confesses his sin communes with himself converts and turns himself to God crieth for his Salvation chargeth his Soul to hope in to obey to remember and to repose it self in God Psal 32.5 c. 38.6 c. 42.5 11. 51.1 12. 77.1 13. 13.1 6. I should be too large if I left particular instances as may concern either the inward or outward man Put it upon the enquiry The Providences of God are various toward you How do you answer the acts of God and his aimes by them What no laying them to heart Happily he may have brought his judgments at the doors and yet do not you lay it to heart not so much as ask what have I done nor hearken to him for all this to observe his Counsels or obey his Commandments Happily he may have multiplied his mercies or you and do you not yet say in your hearts Let us now fear
proceed which the infiniteness simplicity and immutability thereof can no way admit Yet the Father doth beget the Son is begotten and the Holy Ghost doth proceed Think of the Divine essence then 1. As one only one most singly and singularly one But think of the Divine persons as three three distinct subsistents in this Divine essence 2. Think of the Divine essence as only of and from it self but think of the Divine person of the Son as of or from the Father and of the Holy Ghost as from them both 3. Think of the Divine essence as common or communicated to all and to each of the three persons But of the persons as incommunicable and impredicable of one another The Father cannot be the Son nor the Son the Father c. 4. The Divine essence to conclude is of absolute consideration a person is of relative consideration A person in the notion thereof includeth over and above the essence a relation as of the Father to the Son of the Son to the Father of both to the Holy Ghost and of the Holy Ghost to both A person in the Godhead is the Godhead distinguished by an incommunicable relative property These things have received proof already therefore I forbear here Direct 5. Think of this Trinity of persons in the unity of the same essence not only with distinct apprehensions but with dearest appretiations with deepest abasements of thy self with divinest admiration of them with devotedst adhesion with deliciousest affections and with devoutest actions 1 With dearest appretiations The top of your blessedness or felicity is union and communion with this blessed Trin-unity Let your highest thoughts turn in hither and take up here Prefer one God in three persons beyond all other good and price him as your highest and only chief good The glorifying and enjoyment of these three glorious persons in the one glorious Godhead is the business and blessedness of the glorified ones to all eternity as is not obscurely intimated Rev. 4.8 Holy holy holy Lord God almighty Let this mystery therefore have the highest throne in all the thoughts of your mind Say with David Only marg 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my soul waiteth upon God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which noteth the plurality of persons in this one nature Psal 62.1 To have the trin-une God your God is the highest happiness and therefore calleth for your highest appretiations The fellowship of the Father Son and Holy Ghost was the highest felicity the Priests could wish unto the people or Paul unto his Corinthians or John unto the seven Churches Num. 6.23.27 2 Cor 13.14 Rev. 1.4.5 2 With deepest abasements the Angels themselves cover their faces and the four and twenty Elders with their golden Crowns fall down before the Throne of God when they come to see and celebrate this glorious Mystery to cry Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty Isa 6.2 3. Rev. 4.8 10. How much more should we that dwell in Houses of Clay Here if ever should reason lower its Top-sail and strike or stoop rather to Revelation Flesh and Blood cannot reveal nor doth without the spirit of faith receive this mysterious union of three persons in one nature or that other of two natures in one person one Christ Though these are not against yet are they above reason Matth. 16.16 17. 1 Cor. 2.11 12 14. But if reason it self call for Elijahs Mantle wherein to wrap its face from this dazling glory what are our Rebellions our Sins what malignity is in them and what murmuring should be by us while every sin is a dart thrown at this glorious Essence and as it were a study of dissolving the substantial union of these three glorious Subsistents It is enmity against God contrariety to God nor is any one an enemy to God or he to them but by and for sin Rom. 8.7 Levit. 26.23 24. Isa 63.10 This is that which crucified the Son quencheth the Spirit and puts contempt upon the Father Once more your very relation to so high a God should humble you Let my soul boast it self in him but blush and be ashamed in me who am I or what is my life or my Fathers Family in Israel that I should be son-in-Son-in-law to the King Worm that I am and no man not worthy of the least of all thy mercies infinitely below thee as I am thy Creature yet more infinitely as I am a Sinner and yet will this glorious God become my God these glorious Persons become my Portion God the Father become my Father God the Son my Saviour God the Spirit my Sanctifier I have seen thee Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty with the Eye of Faith I have seen thee Behold I am vile what shall I say unto thee Infinitely Infinitely Infinitely am I unworthy of thee I Repent and Abhor my self in dust and ashes compare Isa 6.3 with 5. Job 42.2.7.40.4 But I may not so expatiate 3 With divinest admiration Angels adore this mystery and shall not men admire this mystery Isa 6.3 here are such depths as I cannot wade through can only wonder at One yet Three Three yet one God the Father begetting God the Son and yet the Godhead of the Son unbegotten God the Holy Ghost proceeding from both and yet the Holy Ghost God Coeternal and Coequall with both All these one God in each other Alius alius yet not Aliud aliud these are matters I find beyond my reason to comprehend 't is too short to reach them yet find reason to confess believe because God hath revealed them O that I could more devoutly admire where I cannot distinctly apprehend concerning the Eternal generation of the Son and procession of the Holy Ghost And let my reason never cavil at that which is infinite but remember continually that it self is finite There are fewer difficulties in that than in this subject where the Apostle falls off from a strickt discussion and falls into a devout admiration O the depth O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! How unsearcheable are his judgments and his ways past finding out Rom. 11 33. 4 With the devotedst adhesion of your understanding to this fundamental truth of your will to this fountain-goodness You are baptized in or into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Matth. 28.19 Here abide I exhort you with Barnabas that with purpose of heart you would cleave unto the Lord Act. 11.23 Here is enough in the glorious Trinity to take up every thought of your heart and whereon to imploy every faculty and power that you have Here is the universality of truth to content your understandings and of goodness to content your wills and affections What truth what good what perfection that bears proportion to such an intelligent and immortal nature as your souls are of that is not to be found with this one God in these three persons your blessedness is