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Wherefore we may see by this, which hath been spoken, that the word of God only pricketh our consciences, as plainly may here appear by the Jews, who cared not for the Apostles nor made any conscience, until their hearts were pricked. In the second place we must note, that they were rightly pricked. For many often times are pricked, which kick against the prick, and having their consciences galled by the word, they murmur either against the preacher of the word, or against the word itself. Here then is the difference between the godly and the wicked, the one is pricked and is made more careful in a godly conscience; the other more hardened then before. But this is a godly sorrow, when we love the man, that rebuketh us, and reverence the word the more being by it reproved in our conscience. Do we love him then that rebuketh us? then we hear profitably. Let us examine our selves in this sort: I see God hath wounded me by him, he is the instrument, whereby God doth humble me, I will therefore love him. Contrary if we be often touched & amend not, we are in danger of Gods wrath. Many indeed are pricked, with poverty, many with sickness, & some with other like afflictions, but few with their sins, which is the ⟨p. 183⟩cause of their poverty, sickness, and other afflictions. Let us then learn a willingness to offer our selves to be taught and to be pricked for sin, as these men were. The wicked also are pricked sometimes for sin: but it is rather for fear of punishment, then for conscience to displease God, as were Cain and Judas. Some men are pricked, and to put away their sorrow, they will go sleep, they will go play, they will go sport, they will get to merry company, and pass away the time, and so, as they term it, they will purge & drive away the rage of melancholy, they never go to any Preacher, to ask of the Lord, or at the mouth of his spirit. They never respect to prayer, nor seek any comfort in the word of GOD. But to put away sorrow on this sort is to call it again, and to feel it more freshly either in the hour of death, or in hell. Contrariwise if our sorrow doth drive us to prayer or to the word of God, it is good. As for the wicked and profane worldlings, though as the wise man saith, Ecclesiast. 11.

Wherefore wee may see by this, which hath beene spoken, that the word of God onely pricketh our consciences, as plainly may here appeare by the Iewes, who cared not for the Apostles nor made any conscience, vntill their hearts were pricked. In the second place we must note, that they were rightly pricked. For many often times are pricked, which kicke against the pricke, and hauing their consciences galled by the word, they murmur eyther against the preacher of the word, or against the word itselfe. Here then is the difference betweene the godly and the wicked, the one is pricked and is made more carefull in a godly conscience; the other more hardened then before. But this is a godly sorrowe, when we loue the man, that rebuketh vs, and reuerence the word the more being by it reprooued in our conscience. Doe we loue him then that rebuketh vs? then we heare profitably. Let vs examine our selues in this sort: I see God hath wounded me by him, he is the instrument, whereby God doth humble me, I will therfore loue him. Contrary if we be often touched & amende not, we are in danger of Gods wrath. Many indeed are pricked, with pouerty, many with sicknes, & some with other like afflictiōs, but few with their sins, which is the