A25470:435
The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved
The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved by sundry ministers, September 1661.
London: printed for Joshua Kirton and Nathaniel Webb, 1661
Sermon 5: How may we be so Spiritual, as to check Sin in the first risings of it?
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
See, where thy greatest discrepancy, and non conformity to these from time to time ariseth, and this (like Pathology or understanding the disease, and the constitution of the patient) will hugely minister and conduce to the exact method of Physic, either for prevention, or for cure.
See, where thy greatest discrepancy, and non conformity to these from time to time ariseth, and this (like Pathologie or understanding the disease, and the constitution of the patient) will hugely minister and condence to the exact method of Physick, either for prevention, or for cure.
Rule. 4 Get and keep a tender Conscience. Be sensible of the least sin. As the apple of the eye (the fittest Emblem, in the world, of a tender conscience) is not only offended, with it blow or wound, but if so much as a little dust or smoke get in, it weeps them out. Some mens consciences are like the stomach of the Ostrich which digesteth iron, they can swallow and concoct the most notorious sins, swearing, drunkenness, &c. without regret, their consciences are seared as with an hot iron, as the Apostle phraseth it, 1 Tim. 4.2. they have so inured their souls to the grossest wickedness as the Psylli a people of Africa whom Plutarch mentions, had their bodies to the eating poison, that it becomes ⟨p. 93⟩as it were natural. But a good conscience hath a delicate sense, it is the most tender thing in the whole world, it feels the least touch of known sin, and grieves at the grieving of Gods good Spirit, not only for quenching, or resisting, or rebelling against the Holy Ghost, but even for grieving the holy Spirit of promise whereby it is sealed to the day of redemption, Eph. 4.80. The most tender hearted Christian, he is the stoutest and most valiant Christian. Happy is the man that feareth always, but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief, Prov. 28.14. it is the truest magnanimity, and heroic courage in our spiritual warfare to tremble at the least iniquity. A Christian is never fitter to endure hardness as a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ,