A30570:724
The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs
The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs ; published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]
London: printed by Peter Cole and Edward Cole, 1661
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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.
Secondly, Where it is only natural conscience, that carries through many straits, it doth enable to do outward things, and abstain from outward things, but there is but little inward change of the heart, it may keep them from some actions, they dare not commit such and such sins, no not in secret, though none in the world know it, but there is not an inward change in the heart.