A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is

They do not, they cannot find their consciences so purely and sincerely drawn out to God, in the duties they perform, as they do desire. Paul indeed 2 Cor. 1. 12. saith, Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, we had our conversation in the world. And again, 2 Cor. 2. 17. As of God in the sight of God we speak in Christ; Here was conscience and pure conscience, as to any fundamental deficiency, yet not perfectly pure, for Gal. 5. he saith, The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, so that wheresoever the Spirit is, there the flesh in some measure lusteth against it: Oh them let even the most holy bewail original sin in their consciences, even in this respect! That counsel given by Paul to godly servants, Colos 3. 17, 18. That what they did, they should do it in singleness of heart, fearing God; They should do it heartily, as unto God, not unto men. The same are all the people of God bound to do in their service to God: Oh how unworthy is it in religious duties to have an eye to man! who will praise or dispraise, if conscience were the motive, thou wouldst neither care for good or bad report; And this pure conscientious working is especially to be attended unto by such who are in public Office; The Civil Magistrate, if he punish an offender, not because he deserveth it, but from malice, or other sinister respects; Though he cry out and pretend conscience and justice a thousand times over, yet God looketh upon him as an unjust Magistrate, though the thing he doth is just. Thus it is also in the Ministers of the Gospel, if they preach the Word diligently and constantly, but yet the principal motives, are either vain glory, or a mercenary respect unto the profit and temporal advantage more then the souls of people, and the glory of God, here also that is done, which conscience requireth, but not upon conscientious motives; we do not these things as of God, in the sight of God. But I must not be too long in this particular, although indeed we can never say enough herein, it is such a close insinuating sin into all mens breasts.

They do not, they cannot find their consciences so purely and sincerely drawn out to God, in the duties they perform, as they do desire. Paul indeed