That it bears witness of our secret thoughts, it appears by the solemn protestation which at some time men use; In my conscience I never thought it: whereby they signify that they think something, or they think it not, and that their consciences can tell what they think. Neither must this seem strange. For there be two actions of the understanding, the one is simple, which barely conceiveth or thinketh this or that: the other is a reflecting or doubling of the former, whereby a man conceives or thinks with himself what he thinks. And this action properly pertains to the conscience. The mind thinks a thought, now conscience goes beyond the mind, and knows what the mind thinks; so as if a man would go about to hide his sinful thoughts from God, his conscience as it were another person within him, shall discover all. By means of this second action conscience may bear witness even of thoughts, and from hence also it seems to borrow his name,1 because conscience is a science or knowledge joined with an other knowledge: for by it I conceive and know what I know.
That it beares witnesse of our secret thoughts, it appeares by the solemne protestation which at some time men vse; In my conscience I neuer thought it: whereby they signifie that they thinke something, or they thinke it not, and that their consciences can tell what they think. Neither must this seeme strāge. For there be two actions of the vnderstanding, the one is simple, which barely conceiueth or thinketh this or that: the other is a reflecting or doubling of the former, whereby a man conceiues or thinks with himselfe what he thinks. And this action properly pertaines to the conscience. The minde thinkes a thought, now conscience goes beyond the minde, and knowes what the mind thinkes; so as if a man would goe about to hide his sinfull thoughts frō God, his conscience as it were another person within him, shall discouer all. By meanes of this second action conscience may beare witnes euen of thoughts, and from hence also it seemes to borrow his name,1 because conscience is a science or knowledge ioyned with an other knowledge: for by it I conceiue and knowe what I knowe.
- 1Conscientia i. scientia con alia scientia.Conscientia i. scientia cū alia scientia.
