And as the conscience thus beareth witness of our justification, and reconciliation, so also of our sanctification, namely, that being freed from sin, we are become servants of righteousness, and not only delivered from the guilt and punishment of sin, but also from the corruption, power, and dominion of it, so that though it dwell in us, as a traitorous slave, yet it doth not reign and rule in us, as in times past. And though we be not wholly freed from all relics of sin and corruption, nor can perform unto God that perfect obedience which the Law requireth; yet our consciences give in evidence with us, that we are in part sanctified, and shall in Gods good time have this work thoroughly perfected, and that in the mean while, we hate the evil we do, and love the good we do not, delighting in the Law of God in the inner man, even when we 1are led captive unto sin; that we desire and resolve to please God in all things, and endeavour in the use of all good means, to have our desires satisfied; and consequently, that we perform that Evangelical obedience which God requireth, and are through Christ accepted of him. In which regard we may say with Paul, from the time of our effectual calling, that we have lived with all good conscience until this day. Again, a good conscience is our warrant for all our actions, testifying unto us, that what we 2have done, and are about to do, is commanded of God, whereby we are comforted in those duties which we have performed, and encouraged to proceed in well-doing, because we do not our own will, but the will of God. And though our actions be imperfect in themselves, yet being done in sincerity and with upright hearts, we shall not be discouraged in the sight and sense of our imperfections, yea, rather we shall find cause of rejoicing and glorying in them, because being done with a good conscience, it will justify and give witness unto us, that we are also justified and approved of God, and have both our persons and works accepted of him through Jesus Christ; according to that of the Apostle John, If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God. And this 3made the Apostle Paul most gladly to glory in his infirmities, which otherwise in themselves would have been a cause of grief and mourning;
And as the conscience thus beareth witnesse of our iustification, and reconciliation, so also of our sanctification, namely, that being freed from sinne, we are become seruants of righteousnesse, and not onely deliuered from the guilt and punishment of finne, but also from the corruption, power, and dominion of it, so that though it dwell in vs, as a trayterous slaue, yet it doth not raigne and rule in vs, as in times past. And though we be not wholly freed from all reliques of sinne and corruption, nor can performe vnto God that perfect obedience which the Law requireth; yet our consciences giue in euidence with vs, that wee are in part sanctified, and shall in Gods good time haue this worke thorowly perfected, and that in the meane while, we hate the euill wee doe, and loue the good we doe not, delighting in the Law of God in the inner man, euen when we 1are led captiue vnto sinne; that we desire and resolue to please God in all things, and indeuour in the vse of all good meanes, to haue our desires satisfied; and consequently, that we performe that Euangelicall obedience which God requireth, and are through Christ accepted of him. In which regard we may say with Paul, from the time of our effectuall calling, that we haue liued with all good conscience vntill this day. Againe, a good conscience is our warrant for all our actions, testifying vnto vs, that what wee 2haue done, and are about to doe, is commanded of God, whereby we are comforted in those duties which we haue performed, and incouraged to proceede in well-doing, because we doe not our owne will, but the will of God. And though our actions bee imperfect in themselues, yet being done in sincerity and with vpright hearts, we shall not be discouraged in the sight and sense of our imperfections, yea, rather we shall find cause of reioycing and glorying in them, because being done with a good conscience, it will iustifie and giue witnesse vnto vs, that wee are also iustified and approoued of God, and haue both our persons and workes accepted of him through Iesus Christ; according to that of the Apostle Iohn, If our heart condemne vs not, then haue wee confidence towards God. And this 3made the Apostle Paul most gladly to glory in his infirmities, which otherwise in themselues would haue beene a cause of griefe and mourning;
- 1Rom. 7. 15.
- 2Act. 23. 1.
- 31. Job. 3. 21.
