In the next place therefore, This pollution of a troubled conscience is seen, In it's opposition to Christ, to an Evangelical Righteousness, and the sway of believing. Conscience is far more polluted about Christ and receiving of him, then about the commands and obedience thereunto; for naturally there is something in conscience to do the things of the Law, but the Gospel and the Doctrine about Christ is wholly supernatural and by revelation: Hence although it is clear, That the conscience truly humbled for sin ought to believe in Christ for expiation thereof; Yet how long doth the broken heart continue ignorant of this duty? Their conscience troubleth them, accuseth them for other sins, but not for this, of not particularly applying Christ to thy self for comfort, whereas thou art bound in conscience to believe in Christ, as well as repent of sin; I say, thou art bound in conscience, and if thou doest not by particular acts of faith receive Christ in thy arms, as Simeon did bodily, but then spiritually, thy conscience is to trouble thee, and to accuse thee for it; But how averse and froward is the troubled conscience in this particular? How hardly instructed evangelically? How unwilling to rest upon Christ only? Their conscience that is very tender about other sins, thinketh it no sin not to apply Christ, yea it disputeth and argueth against it; but at last such broken hearts know, that they are to make conscience of the premisses, as well as the precepts, conscience of faith as well as repentance, Heb 9. 14. The Apostle there teacheth us, That it is the blood of Christ, which purgeth the conscience. Run not to any thing, but to the blood of Christ; when thou art slung, behold this Serpent; Let thy conscience be Evangelical, as well as Legal; The Gospel is Gods Word, as well as the Law, and by that thy conscience is obliged to lay hold on Christ for pardon.
In the next place therefore, This pollution of a troubled conscience is seen, In it's opposition to Christ, to an Evangelical Righteousnesse, and the sway of believing. Conscience is farre more polluted about Christ and receiving of him, then about the commands and obedience thereunto; for naturally there is something in conscience to do the things of the Law, but the Gospel and the Doctrine about Christ is wholly supernatural and by revelation: Hence although it is clear, That the conscience truly humbled for sinne ought to believe in Christ for expiation thereof; Yet how long doth the broken heart continue ignorant of this duty? Their conscience troubleth them, accuseth them for other sins, but not for this, of not particularly applying Christ to thy self for comfort, whereas thou art bound in conscience to believe in Christ, as well as repent of sinne; I say, thou art bound in conscience, and if thou doest not by particular acts of faith receive Christ in thy arms, as Simeon did bodily, but then spiritually, thy conscience is to trouble thee, and to accuse thee for it; But how averse and froward is the troubled conscience in this particular? How hardly instructed evangelically? How unwilling to rest upon Christ onely? Their conscience that is very tender about other sinnes, thinketh it no sinne not to apply Christ, yea it disputeth and argueth against it; but at last such broken hearts know, that they are to make conscience of the premisses, as well as the precepts, conscience of faith as well as repentance, Heb 9. 14. The Apostle there teacheth us, That it is the blood of Christ, which purgeth the conscience. Run not to any thing, but to the bloud of Christ; when thou art slung, behold this Serpent; Let thy conscience be Evangelical, as well as Legal; The Gospel is Gods Word, as well as the Law, and by that thy conscience is obliged to lay hold on Christ for pardon.
