Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

3. His dominion is seen in regard of Terror or Comfort. The Heart or Conscience is Gods special Throne on Earth, which he hath reserved to himself, and never indulged humane Authority to sit upon it. He solely orders this in ways of conviction or Comfort. He can flash terror into mens Spirits in the midst of their Earthly jollities, and put death into the pot of Conscience, when they are boiling up themselves in a high pitch of worldly delights; and can raise mens Spirits above the sense of torment under Racks, and Flames. He can draw a hand Writing not only in the outward Chamber but the inward Closet, bring the Rack into the inwards of a Man. None can infuse Comfort, when he writes ⟨p. 721⟩bitter things, nor can any fill the heart with Gall, when he drops in Honey. Men may order outward duties, but they cannot unlock the Conscience, and constrain men, to think them duties, which they are forced by humane Laws, outwardly to act. And as the Laws of earthly Princes are bounded by the outward man, so do their executions and punishments reach no further than the case of the Body. But God can run upon the inward man as a Giant, and inflict wounds and gashes there.

3. His dominion is seen in regard of Terror or Comfort. The Heart or Conscience is Gods special Throne on Earth, which he hath reserv'd to himself, and never indulg'd humane Authority to sit upon it. He solely orders this in ways of conviction or Comfort. He can flash terror into mens Spirits in the midst of their Earthly jollities, and put death into the pot of Conscience, when they are boyling up themselves in a high pitch of worldly delights; and can raise mens Spirits above the sense of torment under Racks, and Flames. He can draw a hand Writing not only in the outward Chamber but the inward Closet, bring the Rack into the inwards of a Man. None can infuse Comfort, when he writes ⟨p. 721⟩bitter things, nor can any fill the heart with Gall, when he drops in Hony. Men may order outward duties, but they cannot unlock the Conscience, and constrain men, to think them duties, which they are forced by humane Laws, outwardly to act. And as the Laws of earthly Princes are bounded by the outward man, so do their executions and punishments reach no further than the case of the Body. But God can run upon the inward man as a Gyant, and inflict wounds and gashes there.