A discourse of conscience wherein is set down the nature, properties, and differences thereofA discourse of conscience wherein is set downe the nature, properties, and differences thereof

❧ TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR WILLIAM PIRIAM Knight, Lord chief Baron of her Majesties Exchequer. Grace and peace.

❧ TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR VVILLIAM PIRIAM Knight, Lord chiefe Baron of her Maiesties Exchequer. Grace and peace.

Right Honourable, it can not be unknown to your self, or to any man of a days experience, that it is thought a small matter to commit a sin, or, to lie in sins against a mans own conscience. For many when they are told of their duty in this point, reply and say, What tell you me of conscience? Conscience was hanged long ago. But unless they take better heed, and prevent the danger by repentance, Hanged-conscience vvill revive and become both gibbet and hangman to them either in this life or the life to come. For Conscience is appointed of God to declare and put ⟨image 3⟩in execution his just judgement against sinners: and as God cannot possibly be overcome of man, so neither can the judgement of conscience being the judgement of God be wholly extinguished. Indeed Satan for his part goes about by all means he can, to benumb the conscience: but all is nothing. For as the sick man, when he seems to sleep and take his rest, is inwardly full of troubles: so the benumbed and drowsy conscience wants not his secret pangs and terrors; and when it shall be roused by the judgement of God, it waxeth cruel and fierce like a wild beast. Again, when a man sins against his conscience, as much as in him lieth, he plungeth him self into the gulf of desperation: for every wound of the conscience, though the smart of it be little felt, is a deadly wound: and he that goes on to sin against his conscience, stabs and wounds it often in the same place: and all renewed wounds (as we know) are hardly or never cured. Thirdly, he that lieth in sins against his conscience, cannot call upon the name of God: for guilty conscience makes a man fly from God. And Christ saith, God heareth not sinners, understanding by sinners, such as go on in their own ways against conscience: and what can be more doleful then to be barred of the invocation of Gods name? Lastly, such persons after the last judgement, shall have not