The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs

Quest. But may not natural Conscience help men through much difficulty in the way of deliverance from this spiritual Egypt? Many come to see their bondage by sin, and seem to be delivered, and may be it is only the strength of Natural Conscience, and not Faith.

Quest. But may not natural Conscience help men through much difficulty in the way of deliverance from this spiritual Egypt? Many come to see their bondage by sin, and seeme to be delivered, and may be it is only the strength of Natural Conscience, and not Faith.

Answ. It is acknowledged that natural Conscience may in a great degree deliver men from some hind of ⟨p. 190⟩bondage under sin, and may deliver from a great deal of the power of their sin, but you shall observe the difference to be thus.

First, Natural conscience may help men to abstain from sin, and set upon many duties, that it may seem they are delivered from this bondage, but whatsoever they abstain from, and whatsoever duties they do, It is rather because conscience urgeth the necessity of it upon them, then any inward principle to approve, and like of the duties they perform, or to dislike and disapprove of the sin they abstain from, they are forced out of Egypt: But Faith it doth not make men only abstain from sin, but is gives them a principle to make against sin; and it doth not only perform duty, but the heart is for that duty, and there is an agreeableness, and suitableness in the heart unto that duty.

First, Natural conscience may help men to abstaine from sin, and set upon many duties, that it may seem they are delivered from this bondage, but whatsoever they abstaine from, and whatsoever duties they do, It is rather because conscience urgeth the necessity of it upon them, then any inward principle to approve, and like of the duties they performe, or to dislike and disapprove of the sin they abstaine from, they are forced out of Egypt: But Faith it doth not make men only abstain from sin, but is gives them a principle to make against sin; and it doth not only perform duty, but the heartt is for that duty, and there is an agreeableness, and sutableness in the heart unto that duty.