they are in will be a bad End God made known his Power and got himself a Name in the destruction of Pharaoh who was a bitter Enemy unto Israel Doct. 6. Those that are truely Conscientious love their Enemies and wish them no worse than if they were their Brethren This is the sixth and last Doctrine Paul said Men and Brethren The Reasons of this Doctrine are these 1. The Command is express and plain to love Enemies Mat. 5. 44. But I say to you love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you 2. Those who now have a good Conscience were once Enemies and yet they were loved though now the Children of God yet there was a time that they were the Children of wrath even as others Eph. 2. 3. Though now they have obtained Mercy yet there was a time wherein they had not obtained mercy They should compassionate Enemies since Divine Compassion was shewed to them even when they were Enemies 3. Enemies may be converted and become Friends to God and to his People Stephen had a Love to his Enemies when Stoning him to death and prayes for them his Prayer was heard and Saul that was consenting to his death was afterwards converted and became an Apostle and laboured more abundantly than all the Apostles to spread the Gospel of Christ Jesus 4. When Enemies are loved there is great Peace and Sweetness in such a temper this is a great Evidence of Sincerity and the Heart is emptied of that Malice Envy Revenge which are greatly torturing as well as very sinfull 5. To Love Enemies makes us very like unto our Heavenly Father for he is kind unto the unthankfull and to the evil he makes his Sun to shine upon the evil and upon the good and sends Rain upon the just and upon the unjust Mat. 5. 45. The Use that I shall make of this Doctrine shall be in these three particulars 1. If the Conscientious love their Enemies surely they will much more love their Brethren How much is Love called for in the Gospel what Motives are used to perswade to it 'T is the Mark upon the Sheep of Christ that they love one another and He that dwells in love dwells in God and God in him 1 Joh. 4. 16. 2. Because so little love we may conclude there is but little Conscience (†) Pigri mortui miseri eritis si nihil a metis Amate sed quid amatis indete Amor Dei amor proximi Charitas dicitur amor mundi amor hujus saeculi Cupiditas dicitur cupiditas refraenetur charitas exicetur charitas bene oper antis dat ei spem bonae conscientiae Augustin Tom. 8. Enarrat in Psal 31. pag. mihi 188. 186. Love is grown cold and therefore surely Iniquity does abound and Conscience is grown dead 3. To revive Conscience is the way to Vnity and Peace 'T is sad to see the Members of Christ at variance among themselves While one cryes out I am of Paul and another I of Apollo and another I of Cephas 't is a sign they are all carnal and walk as men 1 Cor. 3. 3 4. 't is a sign there is little of Conscience Conscience if good is an Enemy to Strife and Division 't is against perverse Disputing and that Pride and Passion and Selfishness with which those Disputes are managed A good Conscience charges them in whom it is as they will approve themselves Subjects of the Prince of Peace and Children of the God of Peace and make it evident that they understand the Gospel of Peace that they take care to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace Eph. 4. 3. The Conclusion THus have I finished all the Doctrines which I raised from the words of my Text. I hope I have not been all this while beating the Air or Plowing upon a Rock and losing my Labour My Hearts desire and Prayer to God for this whole Congregation is that they may be Awakened Converted Built up and Saved I have spoken many words to you Now I shall address my self unto Conscience within you and desire it to speak all my words over again Satan be dumb and tempt no more Or if he will not be dumb be you deaf to his Temptations Be silent O thou Flesh and perswade no more unto that which is unto the Souls Ruine But let Conscience be heard in what it speaks in the Name and from the Word of God O Conscience rouze up thy self understand thy Power know thy Office lift up thy Voyce and do thy Duty Tell this Congregation thou hast something to say to every Mothers Child of them and command them to hear thee or else threaten to Reproach them in Hell for ever for their refusing to hearken 1. Then speak unto the Ignorant Cause a dreadful sound in their Ears (l) Hic consentiamus mala facinora conscientia flagellari multos fortuna liberat poenâ metu neminem quia infixa nobis ejus rei aversatio est quam natura damnavit ideo nanquam fides latendi fit etiam latentibus quia coarguit illos conscientia ipsos sibi ostendit Seneca Epist 97. Tell them that their danger is greater because they do not apprehend their danger and that if they are Ignorant of God and Christ they have none of that Knowledge which is Life Eternal John 17. 3. Say How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and Fools hate Wisdom Turn you at my Reproof and use the means to obtain Understanding and especially ask it of God that he may pour out his Spirit unto you and make known his Words unto you Prov. 1. 22 23. Tell the Ignorant that the Devil is the Ruler of the darkness of this World and therefore those that are in darkness are under the Devils power bid them look unto Christ Jesus for Light and for Redemption that they may be rescued out of Satans hand and made free indeed 2. Speak O Conscience to the Profane tell them that 't is not more certain that God is Holy than that he is their Enemy they Declare themselves open Rebels against the great and glorious Majesty of Heaven and Earth And he has threatned to break such with a Rod of Iron and to dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel Psal 2. 9. Tell the Notorious Drunkards and Swearers and Whore-mongers and Sabbath-breakers that their sins at last will find them out that wickedness will be found and felt to burn as the fire and that God must needs be infinitely too hard for all that harden themselves against him Oh call unto these Frantick self-destroying sinners to stop presently lest the very next step be into the bottomless Pit of woe out of which there can be no Recovery Roar in the Ears of those Ranting Roaring Fellows and let them not Eat or Drink or Sleep much less sin in quiet for thee tell them
shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the Knowledge of God As the Scripture contains such a full discovery of the Will of God so there are several promises made that it shall be a guide unto the Conscience and direct us in a safe way Prov. 6. 22 23. When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee when thou awakest it shall talk with thee for the Commandement is a lamp and the Law is Light and the Reproofs of Instruction are the Way of Life So Prov. 4. 12. 13. Take fast hold of Instruction let her not go for she is thy Life when thou goest thy steps shall not be straitned and when thou runnest thou shalt not stumble 2. That Conscience may be well informed The Spirit of God must be begged for Conscience does very much imitate the Spirit Does the Spirit reprove for sin so does Conscience Does the Spirit Comfort so does Conscience Does the Spirit move us unto our duty so does Conscience And indeed 't is by the aid and Grace of the Spirit that Conscience does all this And as Conscience is a weak thing So also a dark thing without the Spirit Hark to the Apostle 2 Cor. 3. 17 18. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty but we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. The Spirit in the glass of the Gospel does give the Mind and Conscience such a sight of the Beauty of Holiness as that there is a change wrought in the very Heart the Image of God which does consist in Righteousness and True Holiness is instamped upon it We should with great earnestness ask the Spirit for as he is the Spirit of Holiness so also the Spirit of Truth of Wisdom and Revelation who alone can open the Eyes of the Vnderstanding Eph. 1. 17. 18 And besides our Heavenly Father has promised to give the Spirit unto them that ask him with much more willingness than Earthly Parents will give bread to their own Children 3. That Conscience may be well informed We must walk with the wise that 's the way to be wise our selves Prov. 13. 20. He that walketh with the Wise shall be Wise but a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed There is a destructive infection in Sin error therefore those cautions of our Lord. Take heed what you Hear and Take heed whom you Hear And the Apostle tells us that the Words of false Teachers will Eat like a canker or like a Gangreen Gangreens spread strangely and the gangren'd member is cut of for the preservation of the Body On the other side there is a kind of sanative or healing contagion iâ— Wisdome by conversing with Saints and Spiritual guides that are humble and holy and well instructed in the things of God by degrees we shall come to have our senses better exercised to discern both Good and Evil. 4. Let this be your design in desiring that Conscience may be informed well that you may do well according to that information When Christ asked the blind man that had had sight miraculously given to him Dost thou Believe on the Son of God he answers Who is he Lord that I might Believe on him Joh. 9. 35 36. He askes who he was as being very ready to Believe on him So should we inquire Lord what is thy will that we may do it what are thy Commands that we may yeild obedience to them What is the reason why the Lord will teach the humble 't is because these desire to know that they may Do what is required they have submitted themselves unto God and he sees that if they are entrusted with the Talent of Knowledge they will Trade with it 5. Beware exceedingly of false Lights If a false Light get into the Conscience what sad work will it make there When men take a lye to be truth how zealous are they in a bad matter T is a high piece of cursed art in the Devil to winde himself into the Consciences of men he gets into their wills and into their affections more easily He layes before them his ordinary baits of pleasures and profits and preferments And in all this he is no other than the God of this world here is no need of any great Metamorphosis for he knows that these things will easily take with the foolish and corrupt hearts of sinners But that he may get into the Conscience he acts more subtilly He transforms himself into an Angel of light and he transforms his instruments too so that they seem to be the Ministers of Righteousness 2 Cor. 11. 14 15. he puts sheeps cloathing upon the ravening Wolves that they may more easily prey upon the flock of Christ Surely the cunning of this enemy especially since we are warned should make us wary But since every light doth pretend to be true how shall we know which is false Certainly we must try the Spirits by the written Word Esa 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word 't is because there is no Light in them The VVord is of Divine Authority whoever rejects it has no understanding whoever does wrest it that is does make some passages of it to speak against it self and the whole design of it he does it to his own destruction nay though an Angel from Heaven should Preach a Doctrine contrary to it we must stiffly oppose him and boldly say He is accursed Gal. 1. 8. 2. As the goodness of Conscience lies in its illumination and being rightly informed So in the due exercise of its Authority and Power The force of Conscience is very great when 't is exerted so that good men have lookt upon themselves as Debtors and not to have paid their debts unless they have done their duty Rom. 1. 14. I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians both to the wise and to the unwise so as much as in me is I am ready to Preach the Gospel to you that be at Rome also they have lookt upon themselves as bound in Spirit Act. 20. 22. And now behold I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there and being thus bound in Spirit he could not give himself a latitude and dispensation though the Holy Ghost did witnesse in every City that Bonds and Afflictions did abide him Conscience has made good men to conclude themselves under a necessity to obey and they have professed they could not do otherwise 1 Cor. 9. 16. Necessity is laid upon me yea woe is unto me if I Preach not the Gospel and so Act. 4. 20. We cannot but speak the things which we have Seen and Heard Now what that Power and Authority is which a good Conscience exercises I shall shew you 1. Conscience has Authority and Power to
which he thought so good had such bad success and he found himself vanquished by Antonius he Repented of his Vertue and cryed out O Vertue I Served thee as a real thing but thou art onely an empty Name c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Te colui Virtus ut rem ast tu nomen it ane â—s But be you more fixed and better settled and whatever you lose keep a good Conscience And that you may do thus follow these Directions 1. Vigorously maintain the Combat against Corruption Onely sin can harm the Conscience and therefore strive against it Abstain from Fleshly Lusts for these War against your Souls 1 Pet. 2. 11. Have a special Eye to in dwelling sin for that 's a worse Enemy by far than Satan set upon the work of Mortification in good earnest hide the Word in your hearts that it may Antidote you against sin Derive Vertue from Christ Crucified to Crucifie the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts of it and call in the aid of the Spirit against the deeds of the Body Conscience will be kept in greater purity and Peace the weaker sin is and the more it is an underling 2. Sit loose from the World If Galeacius Caracciolus had loved his Honour and great Estate in Italy he would not have kept his Conscience undefiled from Rome's pollutions The Apostle Paul whose Conscience was good professes that he Gloried in the Cross of Jesus Christ by whom the World was Crucified to him and he unto the World Gal. 6. 14. He looked upon the VVorld as a grand Imposter he saw no Form nor Comeliness in it that he should desire it nay he perceived how sin had brought a Curse upon it no wonder if he slighted it You cannot Serve God and Mammon You must cast the VVorld out of your Affections presently and consent to let it go out of your Possession too when called to part withit if you would keep a good Conscience 3. Study the Vanity of Men and be not afraid of them The fear of Man bringeth a Snare says Solomon Fear of the Papists made Spira wound his Conscience and brought him into a fearful Case Cease ye therefore from Man whose breath is in his Nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of Isa 2. ult Be not afraid of the terror of your adversaries neither be troubled but Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts in your hearts let him be your fear and let him be your dread if you would secure your Consciences 4. Pray much to be upheld Commit the keeping of your Souls unto God in well doing for he is Faithful Beg that he would never leave you nor forsake you but keep you by his Mighty Power unto Salvation It is not in vain to seek unto him for he is of Power to establish you Rom. 16. 25. He is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the Presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy Jude 24. 5. Hold fast Faith that you may keep a good Conscience firmly believe that Life and Immortality which is brought to light by the Gospel and then by patient continuance in well doing you will seek for it The Lord grant unto you the Spirit of wisdom and Revelation the eyes of your Understanding being enlightned that you may more thorowly and certainly know what is the hope of your Calling and what the Riches of the Glory of that Inheritance which is above this will be a strong inducement to keep Conscience and heart and Conversation and all clean that you may grow more and more meet for that Inheritance You see the way to keep a good Conscience which was the fourth word of Advice 5. You that have a good Conscience be not Acted onely by Conscience but let Love d constrain you also to Obedience 'T is said of Titus That he accepted the Exhortation but was more forward of his own accord 2 Cor. 8. 17. Heed your Consciences telling you of your Duty but let your hearts be forward b Qui legem dat amantibâ—s Major lex a mor est sibi Boetius of their own accord to perform your Duty The high mettal'd courser does not stand in need of whip or spur loosen the reins he will run swiftly because he does delight in running Oh let your hearts be enlarged by love to the Lord and delight in your duty and then you will run the wayes of his Commands and so running you will at length obtain the prize Thus have I handled at large the second Doctrine To have a good Conscience should be every one 's greatest care This is the point I principally intended to prosecute I shall be very brief in those which do remain Doct. 3. The third Doctrine is this A good Conscience will make men set themselves as before God continually I have lived says the Apostle in good Conscience before God Hark unto David Psal 119. 168. All my wayes are before thee and Psal 16. 8. I have the Lord alwayes before me Job speaks after the same manner chap. 31. 4. Doth not God see my wayes and count all my steps And Elijah speaking of the Lord of hosts adds before whom I stand 1 King 18. 15. These men had a great sense of God upon their Spirits so should we and a good Conscience will still be putting us in mind in whose presence we continually are In the handling of this Doctrine I shall first prove that we are alwaies before God Secondly how we are to look upon God when we set our selves before him Thirdly what it is thus to set our selves before God Fourthly why a good Conscience will make us to do thus And fifthly Apply In the first place I am to prove that we are alwaies before God There are several degrees of the presence of God the highest degree of all is his presence with Christs humane Nature a second degree is his presence with the Angels and triumphant Saints in his Kingdom and Glory by whom he is seen face to face a third degree is his presence vouchsafed unto his Saints Militant on Earth whereby they are quickned strengthned and abundantly incouraged But besides all this there is a general presence of God whereby he fills both Heaven and Earth so that nothing can be hid from him Jer. 23. 24. Can any bide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord Three things are here to be remarked 1. God is so every where present as that he perfectly knows what is in us and done by us He does possesse our very Reins searches our very hearts all the hidden things of darkness will one day be brought to light and the Counsels of mens hearts be made manifest 1 Cor. 4. 5. Though good works are done never so secretly God sees and will reward them openly though wicked works are done never so closely he sees and they shall be openly punished 2. God is so
blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3. 19. The Gospel also does command a sinner to come to Christ to believe in him 1 John 3. 23. This is his commandment that we believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ That is that we receive him as Lord and Saviour and accept those benefits of pardon Grace and Glory which he has purchased and freely proffers to us And thus by this command Conscience is obliged to do that as a Duty which is one of the greatest Priviledges imaginable You see what bindes the Conscience namely the will of God discovered partly by the Light of Nature but principally by the Law and Gospel (f) Constat synteresis latiore sensu partim ex principiis moralibus in natis cum eorum conclusionibus partim ex iis quae Deus insuper homini praescripsit sed utramque partem constituit voluntas Dei revelata quâ homo intelligit fibi suum officium praescriptum esse Hinc lex Dei sola obligat conscientiam per legem autem intelligigimus volunt atem Dei revelatam ità ut contineat etiam illa quae in Evangelio praescribuntur Amas l. 1. De Consc c. 2. p. 5. All these Discoveries of the will of God are to be kept safe in the Conscience one part of which is therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to keep because practical Truths are to be Treasured up there we must be acquainted what is the will of God and do that will as well as understand it The adequate Rule of Conscience is the will of God and of this will in his Word there is the fullest Revelation here mans Duty is prescribed and shewn and so far as the Word commands Conscience is obliged and no further As God alone knows the Conscience and has power to punish it so he alone can bind it I acknowledge that for Conscience sake we are bound to obey the just commands of Men that are in Authority over us but the Obligation upon Conscience to do this comes not from them but from Gods command that we should be Subject to them and to be ready unto every good Work Tit. 3. 1. 3. As Conscience implies a knowledge of the will of God so 't is the Office of Conscience to impell us to comply with his will which is made known to us The Prophet speaking concerning the Spirit bringing the Word to remembrance tells the Children of Israel Isa 30. 21. Thine Ears shall hear a word behind thee saying This is the way walk in it when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left These words may very aptly be applied unto Conscience which is as a Voice within us saying concerning forbidden paths These are not the way and therefore turn out of them but concerning commanded Duties These are the way and therefore practise them When Joseph was sollicited by his Mistress to commit folly and the temptation was strong considering the circumstances which he was in It was Conscience that minded him of his Obligation to his Master which he ought not to requite by defiling of his Bed and especially how evil and hainous such a deed would be in the Lords eyes and he comes to a fixed resolution not to yield not to go contrary to his Conscience and Duty How says he shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God Gen. 39. 9. Conscience is not onely a witness to testifie concerning us nor onely a Judge to pass Sentence upon us but also a Law commanding and stirring us up unto our Duty and when it does thus excite us to Obedience First it uses Gods Name and Authority Secondly it charges under the greatest penalties Thirdly it sets before us the Lords great goodness 1. Conscience to impell us to Obedience uses Gods own Name and Authority Thus saith the Lord says Conscience These commands are the commands of God they are enacted by Him who is the supream Law-giver who hath power to save and to destroy James 4. 12. The Thessalonians when they received the Word of God which they heard of the Apostles they received it not as the word of Men but as it is in Truth the word of God which worketh effectually in them that believe 1 Thes 2. 13. Conscience charged them to receive the Gospel because the Gospel of God and they did receive it though hereupon they were exposed to never so great Afflictions and Tribulations Conscience looks beyond Instruments which are but Earthen Vessels Men of like passions with our selves and eyes that God who employs and sends them In the Publishing of a Proclamation who says Thus saith the Town-Clerk No every one concludes Thus saith the King This is really the will of God says Conscience and therefore do not dare to be obstinate against it It uses the same Language which the Apostle Paul does to Timothy after it has urged unto Duty and to take heed of sin I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall Judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. Here is such a Name and Authority used as may well make us to stand in awe 2. Conscience charges us under the greatest penalties It tells us indeed of temporal plagues and Spiritual Judgments and how much sin may cost us in this present World but that 's not all nor the worst of all it also makes Hell naked before us and takes off that covering which is upon Destruction and bids us look down and then asks this Question How will you be able to dwell with devouring fire How will you be able to inhabit everlasting burnings Is it good says Conscience to Live without God in this World and with a curse to depart for ever from him in the next Isit good to enjoy the pleasures of sin which are but for a season and then to be tormented in those Flames which never can be quenched To run into sin is to rush into a Battel against that God against whom none ever hardned themselves and prospered To run into sin is a mad venturing to leap into Hell think of this when tempted Oh how slender are the penalties wherewith Humane Laws are backed Those Statutes which were made by severe Draco which are said to be writ with Blood because he punished every fault with Death had not such a dreadful penalty annexed to them as the Laws of God For what is the Death of the Body if compared with the Damnation of the Body and Soul for ever Luke 12. 4 5. 3. Conscience that it may perswade us to Obedience sets before us the Lords great goodness bids us behold his goodness as well as his severity Rom. 11. 22. It tells us that if we depart from God we forsake our own Mercies we leave our Rock and Fortress and betray our selves into the hands of Enemies It uses the cords of Love to
nigh him the Bread and Water of life is brought to his very mouth but he will taste of neither though he so much needs both and may have both freely The Conscience therefore is troubled for unbelief for the sinners rejecting Christ in times past that when such great Salvation was offered it should be neglected and that the Lord Jesus should stand so long and knock so often at the door but it was kept shut and barr'd against him Oh 't were just sayes the sinner for Christ to go away and never to give so much as one knock at my Heart again and now I see my Need of his Salvation utterly to deny that Salvation to me 5. When the Conscience is rightly troubled The Anger of the Lord and the Curse of his Law are a very great burthen Sin has been committed Commands Holy Just and Good have been transgressed and Christ who alone can appease Divine Anger satifie for transgression and Mediate a Peace has been contemned well therefore may the Sinner be afraid How great and how fierce is this wrath of the Almighty there is never a single sin but makes the sinner liable to the Curse of the Law and how Cursed a wretch do iniquities ten thousand times ten thousand many times told render him every transgression makes the Lord Angry to how great an height then is that anger by Millions of transgressions raised The awakened sinner sees the Lord whetting his glittering Sword and his hand taking hold of vengeance hereupon fear does come upon him and pain as of a Woman in travel How scalding are the Drops of the Lords wrath what then are the full showers If God run upon any like a Gyant they must needs be broken with breach upon breach I dare not say that the anger of the Lord does lye alike heavy upon all awakened Consciences and truly humbled Souls nor that these terrors of Soul are equal in all that are brought home to Christ Though all humbled sinners are made with Ephraim to bemoan themselves yet some are made to bemoan themselves much longer and much louder than others Levi taken from the Receipt of Custom and Lydia felt not that we read of such Agonies and Terrors of Conscience as Persecuting Saul and the trembling Gaoler All the vessels of Mercy are not of the same temper and that which cannot abide the Fire 't is sufficient that as under the Old Law it passe through the Water Numb 31 23. As to these Legal terrors I would say these five things 1. These terrors in themselves are a punishment and therefore not to be desired in so great a degree we are not to be fond of them though when they are upon us we must desire support under them and that they may prosper unto the end whereunto they are appointed namely to wean us from our lusts and drive us out of our selves unto the Lord Jesus 2. These Terrors being a Punishment surely are not saving Grace Reprobates have had them in a great measure O Judas thou hadst an Hell upon Earth by Reason of legal Horror before thou wentest to thy appointed place and 't is possible to exceed in regard of these Therefore the Apostle takes care in reference to the incestuous Corinthian that he should not be swallowed up with over much sorrow 2 Cor. 2. 7. 3. Barely from these Terrors of the Law none can conclude that they shall certainly be joined to the Lord Jesus They are not alwayes fore-runners of Faith but sometimes they issue in despair and sometimes they wear off and sinners become more hardened and confirmed in their wickedness Thus it was with Pharaoh notwithstanding all his trouble and fear at some times of the Lords anger 4. Those that complain for want of these legal Terrors are really under them in a more remisse degree for those who are perplexed with doubts and fears about their Eternal state and think because they never were sufficiently troubled that they never yet closed with Christ what are these afraid of but Gods anger and his Curse which by sin has been deserved 5. Do not go about to direct or Counsell the Spirit of the Lord. If he bring thee home by a more gentle way give thee a sight of thy Remedy as soon almost as of thy sin misery thou hast the more cause to be thankful but withal to be the more vigilant and watchful for if wrath has not lain so hard upon thee thou wilt be the more subject to make bold with sin afterward and art not likely to be so fearful to incurre Divine displeasure for the future 6. Where the Conscience is rightly troubled the sinner is filled with grief and shame because of ' its iniquities God complains of the Children of Israel that they were Impudent and hard hearted Ezek. 3. 7. But the troubled Soul is confounded before God the humbled sinner thinks thus that if the World did know all the sins which he has been guilty of he should be ready to wish himself out of the World but Gods knowledge signifies more than if All Creatures were acquainted with his abominations I do not wonder at that expression Jer. 3. ult We lye down in our own shame and our confusion covereth us How foul does sin make us how unlike to God! how monstrously to resemble the unclean Spirit what high and horrible ingratitude is there in sin is this the requital for all the Lords goodness is this the return for millions of mercies shame upon this grows great and sorrow goes hand in hand with it We read that a voice was heard upon the high places weeping and supplication of the Children of Israel for they have perverted their way and they have forgotten the Lord their God Jer. 3. 21. Behold O Lord sayes the Church for I am in distresse my bowels are troubled my heart is turned within me why what ails her I have grievously rebelled this made her sighes many and her Heart faint Lam. 2. 20 22. Sin does best deserve sorrow because 't is so great an evil and there is such encouragement in Scripture here to spend our grief And the troubled Soul gives sin the greatest share and is sorry after all that 't is so little sorry Heark to one of our English Poets †Herbert pag. 158. Grief O who will give me tears Come all you springs Dwell in my head and eyes come Clouds and rain My grief hath need of all the watry things That Nature hath produc'd Let every vein Suck up a River to supply mine eyes My weary weeping eyes too dry for me Vnless they get new conduits new supplies To bear them out and with my state agree What are two shallow fords two little spouts Of a less World The greater is but small A narrow Cupboard for my griefs and doubts Which want provision in the midst of all Verses ye are too fine a thing too wise For my rough sorrows cease be dumb and mute Give up your
sees God to be another kind of Foe and Friend than heretofore he thought him and Christ to be a better Lord and Master than heretofore he did imagine He comes to God and says Lord be Merciful be my Father and let the Lord Jesus become a Saviour to me and write down what Articles thou pleasest I will subscribe them onely help me to do it with my very Heart VVhen he hears that Command Cast away every Transgression he presently crys out Lord let not any Iniquity have the dominion over me VVhen he hears that all the Precepts of the Lord are to be kept diligently he crys out Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy Statutes VVhen he hears of the Necessity of Conversion he crys out Turn thou me O Lord and I shall be turned VVhen he hears what 't will cost to be Christ's Disciple and how he must deny himself and take up his Cross he cryes out Oh let me never be Offended but count all things loss that I may win Christ The Chimes do not more presently follow the Clock than the truly humbled Soul does upon its understanding the will of God desire to submit unto it 'T is willing to do any thing to be any thing to bear any thing to forbear any thing so the favour of God and an Interest in the Lord Jesus may be Obtained Thus you see when Conscience is troubled after a right manner In the next place I am to direct How troubled and afflicted Consciences are to be Comforted And before I begin I have need to cry out The Lord give me the Tongue of the Learned that I may know how to speak a word in Season to him that is weary Isa 50. 4. O you Afflicted Souls that are tossed in a Tempest your Affliction is of all the deepest the Tempest that you are in does beat most hard upon you You have not to deal with an Arm of Flesh nor onely with the Powers of Darkness but the Lord himself has bruised you Now for your Relief I am to bring forth the sweetest Comforts of the Gospel I am to Preach unto you the unsearchable Riches of Christ I am to tell you of Love that has Height and Length and Depth and Breadth and passes Knowledge I am to display the Mercy of God which is great towards humbled sinners as the Heaven is high above the Earth But more particularly I would lay these following things before you 1. This trouble of Conscience that you are under is really the work of the Spirit the Comforter Even under Conviction and while in distress of Soul you are really in a Comforters hand There is a great deal of difference between the wounds of an Enemy and the lancings of a Chirurgeon the latter are the better born because in order unto a perfect Cure and Ease and Health Three things are here to be Observed 1. These Convictions of the Spirit are a great mercy The Children of Men would all of them lye still and at last die in their wickedness if the Spirit did not awaken some of them 'T is a kindness to be told of our danger while 't is possible to get out of it You groan and complain because of your Guilt you fear the wrath of God and desire his loving kindness I may say truly you are highly favoured for how many round about you fearlesly provoke the dreadful God to his Face and turn to their wicked course as the horse rusheth into the Battel Now sin is a burthen your condition is much better than when you made light of it and saw no harm like to follow upon it 'T is good for us to see the avenger of blood pursuing us as long as the City of Refuge is open to receive and shelter us from that avenger 2. These convictions are in order unto Consolation Comfort is that which is proper and suitable to the Mourners and rest unto the weary and heavy laden To go by Hell gates to Heaven is not to go at all out of the way The Lord does bring Souls within the Suburbs of Hell sometimes that they may be the more afraid of sin all their dayes that they may value peace of Conscience at an higher rate and adore the Grace of God in catching them as fire brands out of the burning Jonah cryed unto the Lord out of the Belly of Hell and when his Soul fainted within him Chap. 2. 3 7. And surely his being heard and helped did the more affect him Oh do not think much to Sow in Tears as long as the promise is you shall Reap in Joy Psal 126. 5. 3. It may marvellously support you under your trouble that you do Judge and Condemn your selves The Apostle expresly says that such shall not be Judged that is condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 31. They that accuse themselves invalidate Satans accusations against them and they that condemn themselves go the way to prevent Gods condemning them He will not throw into Hell those who are continually sentencing themselves thither and see no possibility of Help but in Rich and Free Grace and who as they Judge themselves for past sins are desirous also for the future to be kept from Offending 2. For the Relief of a troubled Conscience take Notice of the love of God towards the World in sending Christ into it God so loved the World that he gave his onely Begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish John 3. 16. See also 1 John 4. 10. Herein is Love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins This Love of God towards the World is Matter of great Encouragement if it be rightly improved It shews how great a kindness God has for Mankind He has contrived a way for their Redemption and Salvation he has provided a Mediator for them which he did not do for the Angels that fell from him Heb. 2. 16. He took not on him the Nature of Angels or he took not hold on the Angels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but he took on him the Seed of Abraham Whatever Christ did for Mans Salvation 't was the will of God he should do it The whole work of Redemption is called a doing of the will of God Heb. 10. 7. Sacrifices and Offerings being insufficient to take away sin Then said I lo I come in the Volume of thy Book it is written of me to do thy Will O God Nay the Father is said to Love Christ upon this Account partly because he laid down his Life to save Men from Eternal Death John 10. 17. Because I lay down my Life therefore doth my Father Love me Now you know Christ's Life was given that it might be a Ransom for many All this shews the good will of God towards Man and how ready he is that Man should be brought near unto him and enjoy him and be eternally happy in that enjoyment This Amor Benevolentiae