Secondly, Herein is the corruption of the conscience naturally seen, That though it doth apply, yet it is in so weak and cold a manner, that it hath lost its activity and predominancy over the affections and the will of a man: insomuch that though conscience do speak, do rebuke, do apply, yet a man careth not for it; The affections and the will are not kept in awe by it: Thus although conscience in many doth not so much as stir, it is stark dead, yet in many it doth sometimes apply, bringing home the Word of God to the heart, so that he cannot but confess, if he doth thus and thus he sinneth, but then conscience is too weak, affections and passions like Amnon to Tamar are too strong, and consuperate her, whether she will or no: Is not this the dreadful condition of many, who frequent our Congregations, whose consciences condemn them daily? Thou art such a sinner, thy ways are damnable, but they slight and despise these applications of conscience, as rude Scholars the authority of their Master; what care they for the Monitor in their breast? Like Balaam they will press forward to their wickedness, though conscience stand like an Angel with a sword in his hand to stop in the way. Rom. 1. 18. The Apostle speaketh excellently to this purpose, They detain the truth in unrighteousness, they keep conscience a prisoner, gladly would that do its duty, but they imprison and shackle it; now this weakness is come upon conscience by original sin, otherwise Samson like, nothing could bind that, but it would command the will and affections, yea the whole man to obey it: Oh the pitiful estate then of such men, who are sinners against conscience, profane against conscience, whose lusts are stronger then their conscience! As it is with some poor prisoners, they go up and down with their Keeper; Thus do these men, they go from place to place, from company to company to commit their sins, and conscience as their keeper followeth them up and down, only they despise and contemn the dictates of it, which will be woeful in the later end.
Secondly, Herein is the corruption of the conscience naturally seen, That though it doth apply, yet it is in so weak and cold a manner, that it hath lost its activity and predominancy over the affections and the will of a man: insomuch that though conscience do speak, do rebuke, do apply, yet a man careth not for it; The affections and the will are not kept in awe by it: Thus although conscience in many doth not so much as stirre, it is stark dead, yet in many it doth sometimes apply, bringing home the Word of God to the heart, so that he cannot but confesse, if he doth thus and thus he sinneth, but then conscience is too weak, affections and passions like Amnon to Tamar are too strong, and consuperate her, whether she will or no: Is not this the dreadfull condition of many, who frequent our Congregations, whose consciences condemn them daily? Thou art such a sinner, thy wayes are damnable, but they slight and despise these applications of conscience, as rude Scholars the authority of their Master; what care they for the Monitor in their breast? Like Balaam they will press forward to their wickedness, though conscience stand like an Angel with a sword in his hand to stop in the way. Rom. 1. 18. The Apostle speaketh excellently to this purpose, They detain the truth in unrighteousnesse, they keep conscience a prisoner, gladly would that do its duty, but they imprison and shackle it; now this weaknesse is come upon conscience by original sinne, otherwise Samson like, nothing could bind that, but it would command the will and affections, yea the whole man to obey it: Oh the pitifull estate then of such men, who are sinners against conscience, prophane against conscience, whose lusts are stronger then their conscience! As it is with some poor prisoners, they go up and down with their Keeper; Thus do these men, they go from place to place, from company to company to commit their sins, and conscience as their keeper followeth them up and down, only they despise and contemn the dictates of it, which will be wofull in the later end.
