A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 2 Of the meritorious cause of a good conscience.

The meritorious cause of it, is God the Son, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who satisfying Gods justice, and appeasing his wrath by his death and obedience, freed us from the guilt and punishment of our sins, reconciled us unto God, and made our peace with him; upon which, followeth peace of conscience, and freedom from the accusations and terrors of it. For when by the Law of God, or light of nature, it is set a-work to ⟨p. 70⟩¹affright and disquiet us in regard of our sins, then showing our pardon sealed by the blood of Christ, it is calmed and quieted, having nothing to lay to our charge, which Christ our surety hath not satisfied for us. Whereof it is that our Saviour was prophetically named, The Prince of peace, and prefigured under the type of Melchizedek, because he is not ²only the King of righteousness, by whom we are justified, but also King of ³peace, as the Apostle speaketh, who making our peace with God, did thereby also procure for us peace of conscience. For the Judge hath no authority to condemn, nor the witness to accuse, nor the Jailer to imprison, nor the executioner to punish and torment, when the supreme Sovereign King of heaven and earth, being satisfied by the sufferings of his Son, hath sent us his free pardon, and we have pleaded it in the Court of conscience: Yea, rather the Judge doth then acquit and absolve us, and the witness saith nothing against us, but as a messenger of good things, doth testify unto us this joyful tidings. And hence it is, that our Saviour was no sooner borne unto us, but the holy Angels were sent as Gods Heralds to proclaim this peace; Glory be unto God in the highest, and in earth peace, good will towards men. The which peace, our Saviour ⁴