An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…

Again, though some wicked men have not this dreadful sound in their ears; yea though they have pleasant sounds in their ears, like them who sang to the Vial, &c. (Amos 6.) yet first, their peace is not a true peace; secondly, it is not a lasting peace; thirdly, that which they have, ariseth from one of these two grounds; either from neglect of their consciences, or from some defect in their consciences. The neglect of conscience from whence this ariseth is twofold, either first, when they neglect to speak to conscience; conscience and they never have a word, much less any serious conference, or discourse; either concerning the state of their hearts, or the course of their lives, and then all's peace with them. Secondly, when the speakings of conscience are neglected, conscience hath a double voice of direction, and correction; conscience tells a man what he ought, and what he ought not to do: conscience checks a man for not doing what he ought, or for doing what he ought not. Yet many over power and restrain conscience from this office, and never leave opposing, till they have silenced, yea conquered it: Such as these have peace, such a one as it is, and hear nothing but a sound of delight in their ears, while this silence lasteth.

Againe, though some wicked men have not this dreadfull sound in their eares; yea though they have pleasant sounds in their eares, like them who sang to the Viall, &c. (Amos 6.) yet first, their peace is not a true peace; secondly, it is not a lasting peace; thirdly, that which they have, ariseth from one of these two grounds; either from neglect of their consciences, or from some defect in their consciences. The neglect of conscience from whence this ariseth is twofold, either first, when they neglect to speake to conscience; conscience and they never have a word, much lesse any serious conference, or discourse; either concerning the state of their hearts, or the course of their lives, and then all's peace with them. Secondly, when the speakings of conscience are neglected, conscience hath a double voice of direction, and correction; conscience tells a man what he ought, and what he ought not to doe: conscience checks a man for not doing what he ought, or for doing what he ought not. Yet many over power and restrain conscience from this office, and never leave opposing, till they have silenced, yea conquered it: Such as these have peace, such a one as it is, and heare nothing but a sound of delight in their eares, while this silence lasteth.