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

These things explained, Let us return to consider the pollution of natural conscience in the two particulars mentioned, whereof

THese things explained, Let us return to consider the pollution of natural conscience in the two particulars mentioned, whereof

The first is, That the wounded conscience for sin is very ready to use false §VIremedies for its cure. These stings he feeleth are intolerable, he cannot live and be thus, he taketh no pleasure in any thing he hath, but he cometh not to true peace, for either they go to carnal and sinful ways of pleasure, so to remove their troubles, or to superstitions and uncommanded ways, of devotion, thinking thereby to be healed: The former too many take, who when troubled for sin, their hearts frequently smite them, they call this Melancholy and Pusillanimity; Tush, they will not give way to such checks of conscience, but they will go to their merry company, they will drink it away, they will rant it away, or else they will go to their merry pastimes and sports: Thus as Herod sought to kill Jesus as soon as he was borne, so do these strive to suffocate and stifle the very beginnings and risings of conscience within them: Oh wretched men prepared for hell torments! Though now thou stoppest the mouth of conscience, yet hereafter it will be the gnawing worm; It's this troubled conscience that makes hell to be chiefly hell; It's not the flaming fire, it's not the torments of the body that are the chiefest of hells misery, but the griping and torturing of conscience to all eternity; This is the hell of hells.

The first is, That the wounded conscience for sinne is very ready to use false §VIremedies for its cure. These stings he seeleth are intollerable, he cannot live and be thus, he taketh no pleasure in any thing he hath, but he cometh not to true peace, for either they go to carnal and sinfull wayes of pleasure, so to remove their troubles, or to superstitions and uncommanded wayes, of devotion, thinking thereby to be healed: The former too many take, who when troubled for sinne, their hearts frequently smite them, they call this Melancholly and Pusillanimity; Tush, they will not give way to such checks of conscience, but they will go to their merry company, they will drink it away, they will rant it away, or else they will goe to their merry pastimes and sports: Thus as Herod sought to kill Jesus as soon as he was borne, so do these strive to suffocate and stifle the very beginnings and risings of conscience within them: Oh wretched men prepared for hell torments! Though now thou stoppest the mouth of conscience, yet hereafter it will be the gnawing worme; It's this troubled conscience that makes hell to be chiefly hell; It's not the flaming fire, it's not the torments of the body that are the chiefest of hels misery, but the griping and torturing of conscience to all eternity; This is the hell of hels.