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

Finally, the conscience is made quiet, and at peace, when men are wholly taken with worldly vanities, both in their hearts and affections doting upon them, and in their actions and employments in seeking after them. For Satan, seeing conscience placed in man by God, as his Deputy and Vice-roy to govern him, as his Judge to absolve or condemn him, and as a witness, to give evidence of all his particular actions, and having no power to depose it, or to put it out of its place and office, doth labour by all means to pervert and corrupt it, that it either may be silent, or give unjust judgement and false evidence. And to this purpose, he offereth worldly honours, riches, and pleasures, that by these bribes he may stop the mouth of conscience, so as it may either say nothing, or speak as he would have it: And with Satan joineth the world and our own flesh; for no sooner doth conscience begin to awaken out of the sleep of security, and to stir and move, speaking something that concerns its office ⟨p. 77⟩(as it were) between sleeping and waking, but presently they endeavour all they can to bring it asleep again, by rocking it in the cradle of worldly prosperity, and singing unto it the bewitching songs of carnal pleasures. And if conscience will needs start up and be meddling, either accusing or condemning them for sin, or terrifying and tormenting them with the guilt and punishments due unto it; then do they corrupt this Judge and witness with carnal pleasures; and when they cannot be rid of their Jailer, but they must needs go abroad under his custody, they will make him drunk with these alluring cups of worldly delights, that they may have more liberty to do what they list, without check and controlment. And thus when conscience groweth melancholy through the neglect of duty, they cheer it again, that it may still go on with them in carnal courses, by feasting and revelling, music and merry company, sporting and gaming, jesting and wanton dalliance, stage-plays, unchaste sonnets, and pleasant histories. And if, notwithstanding all these, conscience stirreth and beginneth to speak, then doth the world give such a Plaudit to these pastimes, and the flesh entertain them with so loud an outcry of clamorous lusts and passions, that the voice of conscience being quite drowned, it becometh silent, because it speaketh to no purpose.