There is no one doctrine revealed in the word of God, or dispensed by the Prophets and Apostles, of greater use and consequence in the life of man, then is that, which prescribeth a form of relieving and rectifying the conscience. The benefit, which from hence issueth unto the Church of God, is unspeakable. For first, it serveth to discover the cure of the dangerousest sore that can be, the wound of the Spirit. Which how great a cross it is, the wise man reporteth out of true experience, when he saith, that the Spirit of a man 1will sustain his infirmity, but a wounded Spirit who can bear it? And his meaning is, that no outward grief, can fall into the nature of man, which will not be with patience endured, to the utmost, so long as the mind is not troubled, or dismayed. But when once the Spirit is touched, and the heart, (which, being well appalled, is the very fountain of peace to the whole man,) smitten with fear of the wrath of God for sin; the grief is ⟨image 3⟩so great, the burden intolerable, that it will not by any outward means, be eased or assuaged. Secondly, it giveth for all particular Cases, special and sound direction; whether man be to walk with God, in the immediate performance of the duties of his service, or to converse with man according to the state and condition of his life, in the family, in the Church, or in the Commonwealth. The want of which direction, of what force it is, to turn the actions of men, which are good in themselves, to sins in regard of the agents, S. Paul affirmeth in that general conclusion, Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin. Wherein he2 would teach us, that whatsoever is done, or undertaken by men in this life, whether it concern the knowledge and worship of God, or any particular duty to be performed, by virtue of their callings, for the common good; whereof they have not sufficient warrant, and assurance in conscience, grounded upon the word, that it is to be don, or not to be done; to them it is a sin. Thirdly, it is of all other doctrines, (if it be rightly used) the most comfortable. For it is not founded in the opinions, & variable conceits of men, neither doth it consist, of conclusions and positions, that are only probable and conjectural: (for the conscience of the doubting or distressed party, cannot be established and rectified by them:)
THere is no one doctrine reuealed in the word of God, or dispensed by the Prophets and Apostles, of greater vse and consequence in the life of man, then is that, which prescribeth a forme of releeuing and rectifying the conscience. The benefit, which from hence issueth vnto the Church of God, is vnspeakable. For first, it serueth to discouer the cure of the dangerousest sore that can be, the wound of the Spirit. Which how great a crosse it is, the wise man reporteth out of true experience, when he saith, that the Spirit of a man 1will sustaine his infirmitie, but a wounded Spirit who can beare it? And his meaning is, that no outward griefe, can fall into the nature of man, which will not be with patience indured, to the vtmost, so long as the minde is not troubled, or dismayed. But when once the Spirit is touched, and the heart, (which, beeing well apa•ed, is the very foū taine of peace to the whole man,) smitten with feare of the wrath of God for sinne; the griefe is ⟨image 3⟩so great, the burden intolerable, that it will not by any outward meanes, be eased or asswaged. Secondly, it giueth for all particular Cases, special and sound direction; whether man be to walke with God, in the immediate performance of the duties of his seruice, or to conuerse with man according to the state and condition of his life, in the familie, in the Church, or in the Commonwealth. The want of which direction, of what force it is, to turne the actions of men, which are good in themselues, to sinnes in regard of the agents, S. Paul affirmeth in that generall conclusion, Whatsoeuer is not of faith, is sinne. Wherein he2 would teach vs, that whatsoeuer is done, or vndertaken by men in this life, whether it concerne the knowledge and worship of God, or any particular dutie to be performed, by vertue of their callings, for the common good; whereof they haue not sufficient warrant, and assurance in conscience, grounded vpon the word, that it is to be don, or not to be done; to them it is a sinne. Thirdly, it is of all other doctrines, (if it be rightly vsed) the most comfortable. For it is not founded in the opinions, & variable conceits of men, neither doth it consist, of conclusions and positions, that are onely probable and coniecturall: (for the conscience of the doubting or distressed partie, cannot be established and rectified by them:)
- 1Prou. 18. 14.
- 2Rom 14 2• ▪
