Seeing then that the wrath of God is thus insupportable, this should teach us in all things especially 1to labour to keep a good conscience, and to labour to be free from the guilt of sin: if the wrath of God be the greatest evil, then should the whole stream of our endeavours be to take heed thereof, by labouring for to keep a pure conscience: Proportion your care herein to the good that will ⟨p. 47⟩come thereby; it will bring the unspeakable comfort; without this labour to keep a good conscience, thou wilt never have thy heart perfect; therefore labour for it, consider the good it bringeth: Men busy their heads here to the utmost for other things, as for Learning, Credit, Riches, Honour, and all because they think that they are worthy their labour; Let us then but consider the fruit that this peace of conscience will bring; let us but gather up our thoughts that are busied so much about other things, and but consider this a little; which if men would but do, they would spend more time about it then they do; for now these things are done but by the bye, and have not that tithe of the time spent about them that should be, which we spend about other things: But let such know, that it is but a folly to go about that work with a finger which requires the strength of the whole body: When this work of the building of grace doth require the whole strength of a man, and we put not our whole strength thereto, it is no marvel if we do not prosper therein. Let us therefore seriously consider our ways, let us consider with what tentations the Devil daily assayeth us; Consider that it were as good get ground of the raging Sea, as of raging lusts; Consider these things with thy self; I am verily persuaded, that the chiefest cause why there is so much deadness in those that belong unto Christ, is, because they consider not their ways. Take time therefore to consider thy ways. It is no wonder to see men complaining ⟨p. 48⟩of their weakness, when as they will not labour to keep a good conscience; it is all one as if a sluggard should complain of his poverty, or an idle scholar should complain of his ignorance. Be exhorted therefore to prize the peace of conscience, spend the chiefest of your cares for it; what if you loose some few other things, so you get that, they are all nothing in comparison to that;
Seeing then that the wrath of God is thus insuppartable, this should teach us in all things especially 1to labour to keepe a good conscience, and to labour to be free from the guilt of sinne: if the wrath of God be the greatest evill, then should the whole streame of our endevours be to take heed thereof, by labouring for to keepe a pure conscience: Proportion your care herein to the good that will ⟨p. 47⟩come thereby; it will bring the unspeakeable comfort; without this labour to keepe a good conscience, thou wilt neuer have thy heart perfect; therefore labour for it, consider the good it bringeth: Men busie their heads here to the utmost for other things, as for Learning, Credit, Riches, Honour, and all because they thinke that they are worthy their labour; Let us then but consider the fruit that this peace of conscience will bring; let us but gather up our thoughts that are busied so much about other things, and but consider this a little; which if men would but doe, they would spend more time about it then they dee; for now these things are done but by the bye, and have not that tithe of the time spent about them that should be, which we spend about other things: But let such know, that it is but a folly to goe about that worke with a finger which requires the strength of the whole body: When this worke of the building of grace doth require the whole strength of a man, and we put not our whole strength thereto, it is no marvell if we doe not prosper therein. Let us therefore seriously consider our wayes, let us consider with what tentations the Devill daily assayeth us; Consider that it were as good get ground of the raging Sea, as of raging lusts; Consider these things with thy selfe; I am verily perswaded, that the chiefest cause why there is so much deadnesse in those that belong unto Christ, is, because they consider not their wayes. Take time therefore to consider thy wayes. It is no wonder to see men complaining ⟨p. 48⟩of their weaknesse, when as they will not labour to keepe a good conscience; it is all one as if a sluggard should complaine of his poverty, or an idle scholler should complaine of his ignorance. Be exhorted therefore to prize the peace of conscience, spend the chiefest of your cares for it; what if you loose some few other things, so you get that, they are all nothing in comparison to that;
- 1Use 1.Vse 1.
