in Christ And secondly that the instruments to obtaine the same righteousnes and life in Christ is onely faith It followeth to shew how Conscience giueth iudgement of all our doings to wit by a kind of reasoning called a Practicall syllogysme wherein Conscience vseth two instruments in making of this reason which are minde and memorie For the minde telleth Conscience what the Law of God is and memorie bringeth to her minde all the particuler actions that men or women haue done or not done that Conscience may determine and giue iudgement thereof So that from these two the ConscieÌ„ce reasoneth after this maner as for example The Conscience of a whoremonger reasoneth thus with himselfe saying All whoremoungers shall be without in the fierie lake that burneth with fire brimstone which is the second death But I am a whoremounger Therefore I shall be there So that hereby we see that the sinnes 13 and conpunctions of the heart are sore and grieuous prickes vnto the minde Conscience of man yea greater then any griefe that can befall him Although Sathan for a time doeth extenuate the same as also corrupt affections doe oftentimes so ouercast this iudgement Gen. 42.21 that it perceaueth nothing for the space of a long time as Iosephs bretheren who were blinded this way for the space of two and twentie yeares or thereby 2. Sam. 24.10 Dauid after his murther adulterie slept without remorse vntill he was wakened by the Prophet Nathan Act. 2.37 and the Iewes who put Christ to death vntil they were pricked with Peters sermon The effects of an accusing ConscieÌ„ce are especially fiue 1. Griefe 2. Sadnes 14 Isa 17.20 Pro. 28.1 2. Cor. 1.12 Pro. 15.15 Pro. 1â— 18 3. Feare 4. Perturbation of the whole man 5. Desperation This much of the accusing and condemning Conscience Now haue wee to speake of the Conscience excusing and absoluing which hath all things contrary to the accusing and condemning as Bouldnes Pro. 15.15 ioy in the Holie-Ghoste Confidence with assurance of mercy For the righteous saith Salomon are boulde as a Lyon 15 Learne heere reader that what is done of a doubting or of an erronious Conscience To doubt erre or do any thing against conscience is sinne Ro. 14.23 14.14 or against Conscience is sinne Because vvhatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne and to the vncleane all things are vneleane Some did iudge fornication in the Primitiue Church not to bee sinne wherein notwithstanding they sinned in respect that their Conscience did erre in her iudgement For euill remains euill albeit Conscience saith the contrarie a thousand times Moste men women are sicke of this disease at this day who thinke sin not to bee sinne in their Consciences c. What is done also against Conscience is sin in the doer albeit it erre and be deceaued 16 What should be our warrant in all our turnes Of al this let vs learne to obserue for a warrant to our Consciences the onely command or contremand of Gods word in all our proceedings and so shall wee walke surely when wee make his worde the onely rule to our Conscience eschew mans inuentions or good intentions and likewise when we vnderstande that it is a moste dangerous and deadly thing to bee ignorant of the knowledge of Gods word which maketh the life of man to abound yea to flow with the sea of al offences against God And there fore we shuld euer pray him of his great mercie to graunt vs aboue al things the true knowledge of him and of his sonne Iesus Christ with the testimony of an excusing and vpright Conscience ruled euer by the square of his worde in the which righteousnes and eternall life is onely to be found throgh faith in Christ The Thirde parte Two parts of our diuisioÌ„ being spokeÌ„ of It followeth 1 the diuision touching the kindes sortes of Consciences thirdly to intreate of the kindes and sortes of Consciences in special first of the Conscience of the regenerate and of all Gods children secondly of that of the wicked For as to Conscience generally 2 it is eyther good or bad and a good Conscience is that which rightly and according to Gods word excuseth and comforteth ConscieÌ„ce is either good or bap the excelâ—eÌ„cie thereof consisteth in excuwng So that the excellencie of Conscience standeth in excusing not in accusing by reason that when we commit any sin we giue then occasion immediatly therafter to our Conscience to accuse and condemne vs wherby we doe wound hurt the same as testifieth the Apostle saying 1. Cor. 8.9.12 that the Corinthians did wound the Consciences of their weake brethren when they vsed their liberty as an occasion of offence to them And againe hee calleth a good Conscience a conscience without offence or accusing of them that haue it Act. 24.16 Againe a good Conscience is of two sorts 3 Good conscience of two sortes by creatioÌ„ and regeneration to wit eyther good by creation or else by regeneration The conscience of our first pareÌ„ts before their fal was good onely by creation therfore could not but excuse them before God in all that they did in the estate of their innocency A good Conscience regenerat is that which being corrupt by nature is renued and purged by faith in the bloud of Christe 4 in all such there is a conuersion or change needefull by grace because by nature all mens consciences through sinne are euill and therfore become good onely by grace in Christ The instrumentall cause seruing to make this change is faith 5 Two cause of a good conscience which purifieth the hearts and the meritorious cause is the bloud of Christ which doth purge consciences from dead works to serue the liuing God A regenerat conscience hath two properties and stayes To wit 6 Two properties or stayes of a regenerat conscience Christian liberty and certaintie of saluation at all times when she excuseth Because that these two propertis haue not their place in the outward man but in the heart spirit or conscience I call Christian liberty 7 Christian liberty what Gal 5.1 the holie and spiritual freedome purchased vnto vs by Christ wherin the Apostle commandeth vs to Standfast and not to bee entangled againe with the yoake of bondage c. It hath three partes 8 Christian liberty hath three parts As freedome from the iustification of the morrall law and the fulfilling thereof For hee who is a member of Christe is not bound in Conscience to bringe the perfite righteousnes of the law in his owne person for his iustification before God but Chritss 9 He also who is a Christian is free from the curse and condemnation of the law for to such as are in Christ There is no condemnation Gal. 3 13. because he hath redeemed them from the curse of the Law 10 The second is
him witnes that he is without sinne Psal 130.3 143. 2 Ezch. 18 21 Zach 1.3 Math 11.28 But because hee dooth acknowledge his sins confesseth them to his God repenteth him therof beleeueth in Christ and submitteth himselfe and his will whollie to the will of his God desiring aboue all things euer to be ruled and gouerned thereby onely Of all this I marke only here 1. Tim 48 The frute both of godlines of sinne what what is the gaine of godlines that is of faith of a good conscience even a promise to haue al things necessarie for this life and likewise to enioy life everlasting made by God himselfe in the scriptures wherin also and in this place especially we finde the crueltie of sinne to bee so huge weighty that by no meanes that man can finde in himselfe he shal euer be able to shake of the intollerabl burthē therof that thereby at one time or another his conscience shall not be fearefully wakened greeued and aboue all thinges burthened therewith and not acknowledge that the wages thereof is death euerlasting both of bodie and soule And therefore they are farre deceaued who flattering themselues in their sinnes goe about to shift themselues from the sense and feeling of Gods wrath and the testimonie of their own conscience to accuse convict and to condemne them before his tribunall seate for the same of which sort notwithstanding there hath bin in all ages an infinite number who as the Prophet sayth Hath made a couenant with deathe Esa 28.15 and are at agreement with Hell That albeit a scourge come it shall not touch them and that by reason of their shifts their refuges their cloaks of falshood and vanitie wherewith they suppose to couer their sinne from God But all in vaine saith the Lorde for the scourge of wrath shal come tredde them downe and vtterlie consume them And yet of this kind of people saith the Lord the world shal be ful in the latter daies 1. Thes 5.3.6 who when they shall looke for nothing but peace and safetie then shall come vp on them vndoubtedly death and endles destruction the which should learne vs not any longer to sleepe in sinne and to contemne wholesome admonitions as doth the moste part of all the worlde at this day to their own losse and perpetuall destruction Ephes 4.16 but haistilie and with diligence to awake as saith the Apostle who hytherto haue without remorse of conscience and true repentance slept in sinne and filthie lustes of our flesh The which at length bringeth forth death both of bodie and soule therefore he commandeth vs to ryse from the same by faith repentance and newnes of life That by Christ we may receaue the light of life euerlasting and the purging of our consciences Heb. 9.4 The deuision of this discourse is foure-folde from dead works to serue the liuing God The which as they are eyther good or bad in all men and women So am I minded first to expresse and set downe the true definition of conscience The which heare the Apostle calleth the Heart of man what a greefe it is to haue the same hurte and wounded with sinne Secondly to shew what are the proper dueties and actions thereof in all persons Thirdly what are the kindes and diuersitie of consciences And last what bee the dueties of al men and women touching their owne consciences how to preuent the troubles therof and also how to releeue the same being troubled Concerning the first I finde this word hearte in the Scriptures 1 The heart of man what to haue diuerse significations therefore placed sometimes for the affections of the hearte as Where your treasure is Mat. 6.21 there vvill your hearte be also Some times for the whole soule of man as Let the hid man of the heart be vncorrupt 1. Pet. 3 4 Some times for the will of man Act. 4 31 as they were all of one heart that is they were all of one minde will or affection and sometimes for mans conscience as in that prayer which Paull maketh for the Thessalonians 1. Thes 3. praying that the Lorde shoulde make their heartes stable and vnblameable in holinesse before God at the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ c. That is their conscience as now in the words and text aboue specified The Apostle Saint Iohn vnderstandeth by the word Heart the onely conscience of man For as hee consisteth of two partes principallie 2 The diuision of the parts of man in body soule that is of bodie soule So doth the soule consist of vnderstanding and will albeit the soule hath no partes properly but onely by analogie and in respect of the diuerse obiects and actions thereof By reason whereof the same is said to bee deuided into diuers parts that is into diuers powers or faculties The vnderstanding 3 vnderstanding what is called that power or facultie of the soule whereby we vse reason which is the more principall part seruing to rule and to order the whole man And therefore it is placed in the soule to guyde and gouerne the whole person The Wil 4 Will what is that facultie and power of the soule whereby we do will or nill anie thing That is chuse or refuse it With the Wil are ioyned certaine affections as Ioy Sorrow Loue Hatred 5 Affections are ioyned with the will and sick-like whereby wee doe eyther imbrace or eschew that which is good or evill Now 6 Cōscience not placed i◠the willing facultie of the soule because the workes and actions of conscience doe stand in the vse of reason it is euident that therefore it is not placed in the affections or willing parte of the soule but in the vnderstanding which hath also two parts The first whereof is 7 Two parts of vnderstanding that which standeth in the view and contemplation of the trueth or falshood of any thinge and goeth no further Theoricall and Practicall wherein conscience is placed The second is that which standeth in the view of euery particular action to search and seeke whether the same bee good or euill The firste is called Theoricall and the seconde Practical Vnder the which conscience is comprehended because her propertie is to iudge of the goodnes or badnes of things or turnes done 8 The definition of Consciēce Tho. aqui part 1. que 79. artic 13 So that of these premisses we haue to vnderstand that conscience is a parte of the minde or vnderstanding in all reasonable creatures determining iudgeing decerning and giuing sentence of all their particular actions thoughts words or deedes eyther with them or against them This definision of conscience doth shew 9 Consciēce is not a bare knowledge with out works of accusing excusing c that it is not a bare knowledge or iudgment of the vnderstanding onely but a naturall power facultie or created qualitie
A SHORT EXPOSITIon of the 20. and 21. verses of the third Chapter of the first Epistle of S. Iohn CONTAINING A VERY PROfitable discourse of conscience and of al the actions sortes and kinds thereof wherby euery man may easily know his estate wherein hee standeth in the sight of his God and whether his conscience be good or euill with all things also belonging either to get a good conscience or else to releiue it out of trouble being grieued and wounded as in the epistle to the reader is more specially mentioned and in the discourse itselfe clearely expressed PROV 15. verse 15. A good conscience is a continuall feast EDINBVRGH PRINTED BY ROBERT WALdegraue Printer to the Kings Maiestie Anno Dom. 1600. Cum privilegio Regio TO THE READER ALbeit the dulnesse of this time be such gentle Reader in the Lord that it rather mooueth manie to content themselues with other mens writings then to take paines to write for the profite of any thing themselues yet such is the zeale of some that they cannot suffer men to sleep in the danger of sinne to their owne destruction but wil if it be possible awake them let them know the deadly danger wherein they stand which is a thing most needful although it be neyther plausible to the worlde nor acceptable to the flesh for who is he that seeth not the security of the world in this age the contempt of God and of his word and doth not sorrow at the heart for it And seeing it is not possible that any can truely sorrow and sit still and say nothing especially when he perceaueth the moste part of all this blind age by the craft of Sathan cast into a deadly sleepe of damnable security So that they neither care for the true knowledge of God while they are young nor think that they stand in neede of it being olde but spend or rather mispend all their time in the vain cares and pleasures of this transitorie world without heedfull care vnto their callings or giuing eare vnto their conscience when the same accuseth them convicteth them and condemneth them before God as guiltie of infinite thinges whereof one day they must giue an exact accounte and at his handes receaue the wages of eternall death for their works vnlesse they awake while time is truelie repent them of their former security trye al their actions thoughts words deedes by euery mans conscience the which the Lord hath giuen him both to be vnto him witnesse and iudge of the same And therfore to the ende that al men may doe this the better to whose hearing or reading this discourse shall come I haue thought it good being mooved in my conscience to write this treatise therof Wherby eueryman may know his owne estate and his God as he hath revealed himselfe in his worde to the worlde Both the which points saith Bernard are aboue all things necessary for all men that desire to escape hell and come to heauen For as of the knowledge of thy selfe commeth the feare of God of the knowledge of God the loue of God so of the ignorance of thy selfe commeth pride and of the ignorance of God of his word desperation saith he Wherefore whosoeuer will avoyde this deadlie dart of desperation in the ende must not neglect the meanes which God hath appoynted to escape it That is first to know his sins and heare his conscience vvhen she accuseth or excuseth him according to the rule of Gods word And next to know the way of deliuerance from them And that he take heed that in seeking a salue for them he be not deceaued therin for conscience being wounded with sin is that thing that neither can bee healed with coulors of Retorick with sweetnes of musick with delicacie of daintie meates with beawtie and pleasant sights with mans inuentions or else with any other thing except onely Christ as he hath offered and revealed himselfe in the Scriptures apprehended by faith receaued and kept with a good conscience without the which if any man liue dye it had bin farre better for him that vvith Kain Iudas he had neuer bin borne Receaue therefore gentle reader this short discourse wherein thou mayest see both what a thing conscience is what an intollerable thing the grief wound thereof is when it is troubled What are all the actions and offices of it in al men and women What are the sorts kinds thereof what is mans duety touching it How to get a good conscience keepe it being gotten and lastly how to relieue helpe it being troubled that it accuse and condemne vs not before our God whose sentence when it accuseth shall euer stand condemne vs without reclamation before the Lord. But if not then shall vve haue boldnes towards our God to whom be glory for euer 1. IOHN CHAP. 3. 20 If our heart condemne vs God is greater then our heart and knoweth all things 21 Beloued if our heart condemne vs not then haue we boldnes toward God THE Apostle in these words doth teach vs that seeing the knowledge of God doth infinit degrees passe the vnderstanding of our harts or consciēce It must needs therfore follow that none can stand before his holie maiesty without the integritie of a pure and good conscience In the testimonie whereof consisteth all our comfort and reioycing saith Paul 2 Cor. 1.12 In this place Iohn doth neither speak of the conscience of reprobates Ephes 4.19 Math. 9.12 who are past feeling and giuen themselues to worke vncleanes euen with greedines Neither yet of Hypocrites who flattering themselues doe boast them of their owne righteousnes But onely of them that haue their conscience drawen forth before the iudgement seate of God by him to make them vnderstand and feele his anger and wrath against them Psal 6.3 38.3 51 4. 1. Sam. 2 6 In respect of some sinnes whereof their conscience dooth accuse them that they should speedely turne vnto him that he may heale them whoe hath wounded them In the 21 verse hee sheweth by the contrarie how greate a treasure it is to men or womē to haue euer the testimonie of a good conscience for then saith he if the same accuse vs not as guiltie of anie offence vnto our God whereof we doe not from our heart repent vs with assurance of pardon for Christ his sake in whome we onely beleeue to finde all that we stand in neede of Then may we without feare both approch with boldnes and come before the throne mercy seate of our God call him our louing father Rom. 5.1 Ephe. 3.12 and assure our selues that he will be fauorable and mercifull vnto vs for his Christs sake by whom we haue both boldnes and enterance with confidence by faith through whome also we haue that peace with him sayth the Apostle in our Conscience that passeth all Treasures yea all vnderstanding Not that anie mans conscience beareth
from whence iudgement knowledge doe proceede as effects This the scriptures doe confirme ascribing sundrie works and actions to conscience as accusing excusing comforting terrifiing which could not proceede from thence if it were no more then an naked and bare action or act of the minde Wherfore 10 As conscience is in all men Angels so doth it apply al principles and conclusions of the minde eyther to accuse or excuse them it is that power of the soule whose propertie is to take the principall conclusions of the minde and apply them either to accuse or excuse So that this is the grounde of all that Conscience is a thing which can neuer bee lost albeit the same may loose the vse for a time as reason in a drunken man for it is in all reasonable creatures both man and Angell as in the proper subiects Therefore all consciences that now doe sleepe shall once be wakened eyther in mercie or in iudgement heere or in hel for the torment of an euill conscience in the wicked Esa 66.24 is a worme saieth the Prophet which shall neuer die and a fire that shall neuer be quenched The ende of conscience is to determine of things done 11 The ende of Conscience and wherein it differeth from other giftes and faculties of the mind whereby it differeth from all other gifts of the minde as are intelligence opinion science faith prudence c. For as to intelligence it simplie conceaueth a thing to be or not be opinion iudgeth a thing to be probable or contuigent Science iudgeth it to be sure and certaine faith is a perswasion whereby we beleeue things that are not but are hid from vs as yet prudence discerneth what is meete to be done or what to be left vndone But Conscience goeth further then all these for it giueth sentence of things done by saying vnto vs shewing vs this was done this was not done This may be done This may not be done This was well done This was euill done 12 3. things to be marked Of Conscience thus described there doe arise three things to be marked Firste that the things wherof Conscience determines are a mans owne actions only for to be certaine what any other man hath done or said is commonly called knowledge but what a man himselfe hath done or said belongeth to Conscience Secondly Conscience meddles not with generals but dealeth onely in particular actions and that not in a few but in all Thirdly that the maner of consciēce is a determination to set downe her iudgement either with the creature or against it and that because it is of diuine nature placed by God in our soules betweene him and vs as an arbitrator to giue sentence and pronounce decreet eyther with vs or against vs to God For sometimes it consents and speaks with God against persons in whome it is placed other times againe it cōsents with them and speaketh for them before the Lorde Examples hereof there bee manie in the Scriptures as of the first sort Kain Iudas and in the latter Peter and the Theefe who albeit their sinnes were greevous because they repented their Conscience assured them of mercie And this is the cause why we call this effect of our minde Conscience 13 Why the Practical parte of the vnderstanding is called conscience For as Scire to know is of one man onely by himselfe So is Conscire when at the least two know some secret thing The which they doe both knowe together Wherfore the name Conscientia or conscience is that thing that maketh two together partakers or partners of the knowledge of things which are secret in the minde of men or Angels Now it is certaine 14 God and man are partners onely in the knowledge of conscience that in this knowledge with man of his secrete deedes thoughts no creatures can be partners with him because neither men nor Angels doe know mans thoughts secrets vnlesse the same be reuealed vnto them and therefore it remaineth that in the knowledge therof conscience hath God onely to be partner with man in all his thoughts words and deeds how secret soeuer they be and man againe by the gift of God doth know the same of himselfe together with God in his Conscience And thus far concerning the word Conscience and the difinition thereof The which heere Saint Iohn calleth the hearte of man 2 What a griefe is a troubled conscience Prouer. 18.14 It followeth to speake next of the greefe of a troubled Conscience which of all others is most intollerable For the spirit of man saith Salomon wil susteine his infirmitie but a wounded spirite who can beare it That is a troubled a wounded conscience is of al greefe the greatest the greeuousest punishment that God at any time layeth vpon either man or Angell So that men to be ridde out of this tormēt doe chuse oftentimes rather death then to liue vnder the misserable and intollerable greife thereof albeit in all other troubles they be able to indure even vnto the ende therof yet this onely is that griefe which they can no waies sustaine As examples both of prophane and diuine histories doe beare recorde For whether we consider this greefe in them who are meere naturall men and neuer knewe God in Christ or in them that are renewed by the holie Ghoste and spirit of regeneration wee shal finde it to bee in either of them the greatest griefe torment of all others As to the first sorte whether the same be heathen people who neuer knewe Gods word or else such as in true Religion did not rightly but superstitiouslie worship God wee shall perceaue if wee list to reade histories that this wound of an accusing heart and troubled spirite coulde not bee healed with any medicine or other comforte whatsoeuer For the hethen Philosophers the wisest of all others among the Gentles as Cato and others who did beare all troubles most patiently to the great admiration of all the world did yet notwithstanding where their cōsciences became troubled and when some great distresse of minde wounded their heart and spirit make an ende of their liues with their owne handes Some by drinking deadlie poyson Some by running themselues voluntarily vpon the weapons of their enemis Some by casting themselues from hie places vnto the deepe of the sea or ouer high rocks to beate and strike themselues all to peeces And some not sticking to stogge themselues through the harts with swords knyues or other such weapons for griefe of this wound of conscience trouble of heart all the which persones so long as other waies their consciēces were not surcharged ouermaistered were in al bodilie troubles invincible c. As Cato Iasson the husband of Medea Lucretia and others As Alexander the greate and Nero who would haue put hand to themselues for greefe of conscience The like we may beholde in persons that either supersticiously worship God
GOD shall iudge the secreits of men by Iesus Christ 5 Three thinges to be learned Of this duety of conscience we learne three things first that there is a God for seeing it beareth witnesse of all our thoghts vnto the which neither man nor Angell is priuie It must needs therefore be that it is to God alone who seeth knoweth all things to whome our Conscience beareth witnesse and record And therefore let Athiests godles persones barke against this as long as they list yet haue they that within them to wit their conscience the which will conuince and conuict them of the trueth of the Godhead will they or nill they eyther in life or in death and that he hath store of torments and of infernall spirits to punnish them in the ende For many Examples heereof one shal serue A certaine Skoffer and filthie gester who this way gate for the moste parte all his liuing was in a Tauerne where manie were drinking and there to play thee sporter did mock the immortalitie of the soule and offered to sell his soule if any he had to them that would giue him an kanne of wine for it The which when one of them that were drinking there had bought from him giuen to him the said Kan of wine Sathan in mans likenes adioyning himselfe to the Table with them that were in the Tauerne and desired to haue the soule of this gester of the same price of him that had bought it The partie who first bought it granted therevnto and deliuered it vnto him as hee had it for another Kanne of wine The which when hee had deliuered hee tooke him from the Table both body and soule See more of this historie and of the like in Historia tragica The prouidence of God ouer all men whose consience will not suffer them to hide any thing from them 2 We learne heerby that God doth watch ouer all men by a speciall prouidence in that he giueth to euery man a particular Conscience to bee his watchman keeper who in this poynte is like vnto a master of prison who giueth to his prisoners keepers to watch thē to bring them home againe into the prison if at anie time they purchase his licence to goe abroad for their particular turns Euen so haue all men and women Consciences to follow them alwaies as at the heeles and to dog them and to trye all their thoughts words works and affections and to beare recorde and true witnes thereof to God and vnto their owne hearts In such sorte that although we may hide our turnes from men yet is it certaine that our Conscience will shew them all before God Therefore we ought to stand aboue al things to do vprightly and to follow the word of God in all that we doe or leaue vndone which is the onely square and rule of our Conscience that the same may excuse vs and not accuse vs before our God for if our heart accuse vs to our God God is farre greater then our harts to condemne vs but if not then we may haue bouldnes towards him Thirdly The goodnes of god in setting our conscience to tell vs what to doe vnder wha◠paines 1 Cor. 12.13 we obserue heere the goodnes and loue of God toward vs who setteth our Conscience to tell vs secretly when we doe amisse to the ende that we should presently repente vs thereof and amend that he may forgiue vs but if not that then oppenly it should accuse vs thereof before God and at the barre of his iudgement seate before al his Angels and saints in heauen Wherefore wee should accuse and condemne our selues heere that we be not accused and condemned there if we desire to be saued in that great day of the Lord. For if we accuse and convict our selues when we doe amisse with repentance amendemēt neither shall our conscience accuse vs to our God nor he condemne vs for the euill which we haue committed And thus much touching the first duety of Conscience which standeth in witnes-bearing to God in accusing or excusing vs. 6 The iudgement of Consciēce what As to the second action or worke of Conscience it is to giue iudgement of things which we haue done and so it is like a iudge causing malefactours to be arraigned at the barre of his iudgement seate and there to suffer for their demerites yea rather it is like a little God sitting in the middle of mans heart araigning and iudging him in this life as hee shal be arraigned and iudged for his offences at the tribunall seate of the Lord God in the day of iudgement So that that iudgement giuen in this life by conscience is nothing else but a certaine and sure fore-runner of the last iudgement to come 7 We are admonished of two thinges 1. Iob 3.20 We are admonished heereby to take heede that nothing past lye vpon vs and that we charge not our Consciences in time comming with any matter whereof they may accuse vs. For if our conscience shall accuse vs much more shall God condemne vs. Because he both seeth all our doings more clearely then doe our Consciences iudgeth more sincerely and secretly then they can do vnto vs. Therefore wee ought to endeuour our selues with Paull to say alwaies 2. Cor. 4.4.18 that we knowe nothing by our selues in our life that wee may euer stand in our Conscience without blame before him Heere we must consider two thinges 8 Two thinges to be considered First the cause that maketh Conscience to giue iudgement and secondly the maner how it giueth i◠The cause is the onely binder of Conscience which is eyther proper or improper The proper binder of Conscience is Gods law 9 Acts. 4. Rom. 13. and the improper the lawes of Princes hauing their authority of God to make such lawes for the good of their subiects as ar agreeable with his law or otherwaies they cānot binde Consciēce Wher we learne that gods word is euer to be obeyed 10 Gods worde euer to be obeyed albeit thereby we shoulde offend all men and also loose our owne liues Because wee are bound and oblished thereto in Conscience Secondly wee must take heede 11 What wee ought to take heede vnto that that which we take in hand to doe haue a warrant in our Conscience out of the word to doe it such like that which we leaue vndone if we may leaue it vndone without the wound of conscience or not As for example The knowledge of God and his worde bindeth vs to learne it in Conscience albeit the knowledge of humaine science doth not the like c. For all persons are bound in Conscience to know God aright We are bounde chiefely in conscience to know two things 12 as he hath reuealed himselfe to the world in his word and especially these two things First that all perfite righteousnes and life euerlasting is to be obtained
of the great and small shal be opened 21 A stirring consciēce hath foure degrees 1 Accuseth for euil doing Lastly a stirring euil Conscience doth eyther accuse or excuse it hath foure seuerall degrees or differences The first that accuseth a man for doing euill is an euill conscience albeit by occasion or accident it serueth to bee a preparation to grace by the goodnes of God As the needle that draweth the thred through the cloath by making a hole in the cloath serueth to sowe it also For to accuse is euer a defect and was not in man by creation And therefore is one of the foure degrees of an euill conscience 22 2. accuseth for well doing 23 3. Excuseth euill doing The second is that which accuseth for well doing and is in Idolaters as not to say or goe to Masse accuseth a Papist The third is that which excuseth euil doing is found likewise in Idolaters who when they slay and burne the Godly their eroneous conscience excuseth them 24 4 Excuseth wel doing in vnregenerate persons The fourth and last excuseth well doing in carnal and vnregenerate persons Example in Abimeleck not committing adulterie with Abrahams wife which was a thing morallie good in it selfe but not in the vnregenerate person whose ciuill good workes are nothing else but glistering sinnes and this Conscience is but Carnall and not regenerate Ro 14 14 For as to the cleane by faith al things are cleane So to the vncleane that want faith nothing is cleane nor acceptable in Gods sight how good soeuer otherwaies the same be morally because the persō who lacketh faith in Christ is vncleane and therefore cannot please God Let vs therfore drawe neere vnto our God with true and penitent hearts 25 in assurance of faith as saith the Apostle being voyde of an euill conscience and washed in our bodies with pure water For it is by faith that the iuste doe liue Heb 10 22 Act. 15.9 Heb 10 38 39 the which wee must follow vnto the conseruation of our soule that all our workes may be acceptable to our God through Christ our Lord. The Fourth parte FOr as much as hytherto wee haue shewed both what consciēce is 1 what the troubles thereof are As likewise what are both the actions and the kinds thereof It remaineth fourthly lastlie to shew what is mans duety concerning Conscience how hee may preuent the troubles thereof and being troubled in his heart and spirit how he may releeue his conscience and exoner the same of all the troubles and wounds wherewith it may be grieued in this life 2 Mans duetie is two fould concerning conscience Mans first duetie is in this behalfe to purchase and get a good conscience for by nature seeing we are all the children of wrath we haue it not And his second duetie is to keepe it well when he hath gotten it 3 three thing are needefull For the getting of a good conscience three things are needefull to wit a preparation to it Secondly the application of the remedy and thirdly prepared the reformation of it 6 Gal. 3.10 Preparation what The preparation to it requireth the knowledge of the law that thereby wee may vnderstand what is good or euill 2. The iudiciall sentence therof which telleth vs that the curse of God is deue to all men for euery sinne 3. An earnest examination of our Conscience by the law that thereby wee may perceaue and vnderstand what is our estate before God and vpon this duety the Prophets doe stand very much For heereby it is that we come to the knowledge of our wretchednes miserable estate before our God Wherefore Lamen 3.40 Ieremie saith Let vs search and trye our waies and turne againe vnto the lord Zephaniah Zepha 2 1 Gather your selues euen gather you O nation not worthy to be loued before the decree come forth and yee bee as chaffe which passeth in a day and before the fierce wrath of the Lord come vpon you c. For the law is a yoake saith the Apostle That neither we nor our fathers we are able to beare Act. 15.10 Hereby all men and women may easily see 5 that by nature we are most miserable because we are vnable in our own defaulte to doe the works of the Law fulfill that obedience which we owe of duetie to our God and that therefore we abid naturallie accursed This our miserable estate when wee know it by the law it bringeth forth in vs a sorrow and griefe in respect of the knowledge of the punishment for sin arysing of the knowledge of our dueties towards God conteined in the lawe of our inability to performe the same And thus much concerning our preparation to obtaine and get a good Conscience 6 The application of the remedy 2 The application or applying of the remedy whereby to heale our sorrow griefe conceiued of our wretched estate by the knowledge of the law which is onely the bloud and merites of Christe who for vs in his Conscience felte Gods wrath and the punishments of all our sinnes requireth two things that is the preaching of the gospell and faith For the gospel is the hand of God the father offering vnto vs grace mercy in christ Rom 3.20 Rom 10 4 1 Cor 1 3 Gal. 3.24 And faith is our hand whereby wee lay holde on him and receaue him with all his benefits For as by the law commeth the knowledge of sinne so is the righteousnes of God by faith in Iesus Christe made manifest without the law vnto al and vpon all that beleeue For hee is the ende of the Law for righteousnes to euery one that beleeueth and the ende of the law is to iustifie them that obserue it Wherefore Christ hauing fulfilled it for vs is made our righteousnes wisedome sanctification redemption This much of the application of the remedy against the sorrow desperation arysing of the knowledge of our miserable estate by nature when wee doe beholde the same in the and mirrour of the law Where wee haue to learne 7 two things needefull to apprehende and keepe Christ that two things are most needefull for vs who desire truly to enioy and possesse this remedy The first is seriously to humble our selues before God for all our wants and especially for such as lye open in our Cōscience accusing and condemning of our selues before his holie maiestie For so shall we put Conscience out of office performe that work our selues in this life which Conscience would performe to our eternal damnatiō in the life to come For if we iudge our selues saith the Apostle we shal not be iudged 2. We must oftē with grones and earnest prayers humblie beseech the Lord for Christs sake to forgiue vs our sins that so wee may be sure of his fauour and forgiuenes of them all And because that this humiliation standing in these two poyntes there are
promised by God in his word beleeued and put in practise by the faithful preached set down by the Prophets as at what time soeuer a sinner doth repent from the bottome of his heart the Lord will put away all his iniquities c. And last of all let them that bee thus troubled say with the Prophete Lorde because there is mercie with thee that thou mayest be feared I will wait vpon thee as the eye of the seruant wayteth vpon the hand of his Master and I will condemne my selfe of folly and say ô my soule why art thou so heauy why art thou cast downe within me still trust in the Lord for he is thy health thy saluation therfore thou wilt trust in him albeit he should slay thee They that sute and seeke for these means in the trouble of ther conscience with earnest prayer and feruent supplications vnto his holy maiesty in the name of his Christ shall neuer but finde comforte to their wearied soules and a full remedie to their wounded Consciences in the ende Question Last of all before I conclude this questiō may be moued That if the troubles of conscience be so feareful a thing a quyet conscience so excellent a treasure why then is it that so manie are so carefull to preuent the troubles of the bodie and so few carefull for the troubles of their soules and consciences For to provid remedies for povertie Physick for sicknes we doe perceaue few to be slack or slouthfull and yet to prouide any remedy in time for a sick woūded Conscience we see few so carefull as will loose an houres sleepe Example hereof wee may perceaue in Iosephs brethren who sleeped with wounded and guiltie consciences securely for the space of many yeares albeit they were very carefull so soone as they were punished with famine to prouide a hasty remedy therefore but regarded not the sin committed against Ioseph guiltines of their cōsciences vntill the Lord wakened them to their griefe So did Dauid forget his murther and adulterie for a years space and ay while the Lord wakened him vp to repentance by his Prophet Nathan For answer to this question I say Answer that it is because we desire to colour our sinnes and hyde the same as did our first parēts vntill God himselfe did reueale them this chiefely doe all Adams children that are not renewed by Christ and so shal all such doe as haue a sleeping and carelesse Conscience as haue moste men at this day vntill they be eyther wakend vp by gods Prophets and his word to try their consciences or else by God himselfe by some inwarde griefe or outward trouble before their death or in death to their endles griefe or then after death to their euerlasting damnation Let vs therefore know what thinge Conscience is in time What are the torments of an euill Conscience what are the exercises or workes of Conscience What are the kinds sortes of Consciences and lastly what are mens dueties concerning conscience and how he may get a good Conscience preserue the same when it is gotten and preuent the troubles thereof and being troubled after what maner he may be releiued out of the troubles of it All the which things are expresly to be found in Gods word and therefore let vs endeuour our selues seriously with earnest prayer to seeke them and search them out of the same That we may through patience Comforte thereof conceaue an assured hope with the testimony of an excusing conscience Rom 15 4 squared rightly with the rule of the word of euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord To whome be all honour prayse and glory for euer Amen FINIS M. John Howesoun
as Papists or yet in the common sort of people that in mouth professe Christ but yet in works doe deny him who are all cast into the spirite of slumbering numnes or hardnes of hart who hearing hear not nor seeing cannot perceaue but are sensles and blockish vnto the time that God doth loose the brydle of their consciences and setteth before them their sinnes committed and the punishmente due vnto them Then may we see in many of them how greeuously they are tormented and what sorrowfull ends they doe make while some of them doe hang themselues Some drowne themselues Some cutte their owne throtes some of them doe stogge themselues to the hearts with kniues daggers or swordes And all to rid themselues out of the intollerable and feareful griefe of conscience as they doe falsly suppose vnto whome Iudas and Kain are fearefull patrons and teachers As to that wicked Spaniyard Alphonsus who when he could not by any meanes disswade his brother Diasius by faire meanes from the profession of the gospell to embrace Papistrie anno 1551 hee cruellie murthered him And therefore greeued in Conscience there after did hang himselfe at the councel of Trent The like also did Robert Long a man at armes in Calice a false witnes against William Smyth preacher anno 15â—â— who grieued in conscience therefore did immediately thereafter runne to the water and drowned himselfe So heauie lay that sinne of false witnesse bearing vpon his conscience And what shall wee say of George Brodway suborned by the councell of Calice about the same time to beare also false witnes against Thomas Brooke Who therefore went about to cutte his owne throate for griefe of conscience when he was stayed to doe the same and the knyfe taken from him wherewith he had wounded himselfe he became stark madde and so dyed Sir Iames Halles also Knight and iustice of the common place for greefe of conscience that he had denied the knowen trueth and embraced papistrie at Queene Maries commande drowned himselfe Gregory the seuenth as witnesseth Benno dyed desperatlie at Salernum of the onely greefe of conscience vnto whome we may adde Latimus Eckins and Thomas Blaverus Scotus who all miserablie and in desperation ended this life for onley griefe of conscience and who list to read moe of this number and of all sortes both of men women he shall finde many that miserablie for griefe of conscience in desperation haue ended their liues in that booke which is intituled Historia Tragica Therefore of all burthens the griefe of conscience is the greatest But heere the question may bee demanded 5 Question why some of all these sortes of people do dispatch theÌ„selus of this life by so violent death and some others againe do dye so quiet or rather sencelesly with out griefe Answere Answer that the cause is in respecte that some feeling no sinne in this life do departe like drunken and brutish swine and waken not out of their hellish sleepe vntill they be in hell and the tormentes thereof fully sease vpon them Some are surcharged with the deadly sleepe of sinne vnto the end of their life and vthers overburthened with sinne are wakened in this life throgh the weight thereof And the others being surcharged ouerburthened with sinne in this life doe dye like barking madde dogges in desperation without Christ and true repentance with Kain Iudas Iulian the Apostate and others Of these two sortes there bee most of the firste in this last age wherein Christ shal finde no faith at his comming but all persons for the moste parte sleeping in that deadly security wherin they shall assure themselues of peace when as nothing is neearer hand vnto them then fearefull and endlesse torment of conscience the worme whereof shall neuer die c. Wherfore the Lord as saith the Apostle commandeth all such to waken and ryse vp from the sleepe of sinne by faith repentance and holie conversation that while they haue time Christ may giue them light Thus much touching the griefe of conscience both in the heathen and also in the prophane and superstitious professors of Religion Secondly we finde that the tormente of Conscience 1 Examples of Gods children ConscieÌ„ce is a wound which no Physitian can heale euen in Gods children in such as are renewed with his spirit is a greefe intollerable and so greate both in all Christs members vpon whome it is layde and also in their head Christ him selfe that it is heauier then a thousande deaths and yet no wayes to be relieued with any comforte or solace vnder the heauen as all other griefes may bee bee they neuer so great for example let vs take Iob Iob. 3. who for the losse of all his substance authoritie children and health of body neuer shrunk nor quailed vntil his vnhappy friends wounded his Conscience and then he affirmed and complaned that God had fastened in him sharp arrowes sette him as a butte to shute at and made him to possesse the sinnes of his youth So heauie a burthen was this wounded hearte and Conscience vnto him who vnder all other troubles was a patterne of al vprightnes and patience neuer beeing mooued therewith anie thinge at all as it were vntill this griefe did prick him The like may we also beholde in many others of the peculiar seruantes of God as in Dauid Ezechias and Ieremie 2 who neuer did faint vnder any griefe notwithstanding of all their infinite troubles but onely vnder the burthen of a wounded Conscience wherwith when they felte themselues surcharged they then were like Cranes chattering Sparrows mourning and Pellicants casting out fearefull cryes So that with mourning like Doues their hearts did cleaue to the duste and their tounges to the roofe of their mouthes Yea euen the Lorde our Maister and Sauiour Christ 3 the true Image of his Father God and man when in his manhoode he felt this wound his Godhead lurking for the time albeit vnder all his other troubles which hee sustained for our sakes he was couragious yet heerein feeling his fathers wrath for our iniquities the which for them he was to sustaine he complained that his soule was heauie vnto the death and earnestly prayed that if it were possible that that cuppe should passe away from him which was so bitter that while he prayed hee sweate bloud and before he departed this life pitefully cryed three seuerall times that God had forsaken him What a â—â—â—efe is a â—â—oubled â—â—nscieÌ„ce Of these premises al men may vnderstand that are not a sleepe vnto euerlasting condemnation what a thing it is to possesse a grieued condemning heart or troubled Conscience For there is no sicknes which is not vnto death but Physick is provided or may be had for it no sore but Chirurgerie wil aforde a salue for it Friendship helpeth pouertie hope of libertie imprisonment sute and fauour recouer men from banishment and time and authority weares away reproch