Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. These operations of Conscience, are when the wickedness is most secret. These tormenting fears of Vengeance, have been frequent in men, who have had no reason to fear man, since their wickedness being unknown to any but themselves, they could have no accuser but themselves. They have been in many acts which their companions have justified them in: Persons above the stroke of human laws, yea such as the people have honoured as Gods, have been haunted by them. Conscience hath not been frighted by the power of Princes, or bribed by the pleasures of Courts: David was pursued by his horrors, when he was by reason of his dignity above the punishment by the Law, or at least was not reached by the Law; since though the Murder of Uriah was intended by him, it was not acted by him. Such examples are frequent in human Records: When the crime hath been above any punishment by man, they have had an Accuser, Judge and Executioner in their own breasts: Can this be originally from a mans self? He who loves and cherishes himself, would fly from any thing that disturbs him: Tis a greater Power and Majesty from whom man cannot hide himself, that holds him in those fetters. What should affect their minds for that which can never bring them shame or punishment in this World, if there were not some supreme Judge, to whom they were to give an account, whose instrument Conscience is? Doth it do this of it self; hath it received an Authority from the man himself to sting him? It is some supreme power, that doth direct and commission it against our Wills.

2. These operations of Conscience, are when the wickedness is most secret. These tormenting fears of Vengeance, have been frequent in men, who have had no reason to fear man, since their wickedness being unknown to any but themselves, they could have no accuser but themselves. They have been in many acts which their companions have justified them in: Persons above the stroak of human laws, yea such as the people have honoured as Gods, have been haunted by them. Conscience hath not been frighted by the power of Princes, or brib'd by the pleasures of Courts: David was pursued by his horrors, when he was by reason of his dignity above the punishment by the Law, or at least was not reacht by the Law; since though the Murder of Ʋriah was intended by him, it was not acted by him. Such examples are frequent in human Records: When the crime hath been above any punishment by man, they have had an Accuser, Judge and Executioner in their own breasts: Can this be originally from a mans self? He who loves and cherishes himself, would fly from any thing that disturbs him: Tis a greater Power and Majesty from whom man cannot hide himself, that holds him in those fetters. What should affect their minds for that which can never bring them shame or punishment in this World, if there were not some supream Judge, to whom they were to give an account, whose instrument Conscience is? Doth it do this of it self; hath it received an Authority from the man himself to sting him? It is some supream power, that doth direct and commission it against our Wills.