A37045:110
Heaven upon earth in the serene tranquillity and calm composure, in the sweet peace…
Heaven upon earth in the serene tranquillity and calm composure, in the sweet peace and solid joy of a good conscience sprinkled with the blood of Jesus and exercised always to be void of offence toward God and toward men : brought down and holden forth in XXII very searching sermons on several texts of Scripture ... / by James Durham.
Edinburgh: printed by the heir of Andrew Anderson, 1685
Title page typeset from the transcription.
HEAVEN upon EARTH in a Serene and Smiling good Conscience. › Sermons on acts n24.16 › Sermon 2
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.
The Third Question is, May not even Conscience sometimes err and go wrong? May it not pouse to that which is evil and sinful? and should it then be followed? Ans. Conscience may err, or go wrong two ways, 1. In respect of Light, by thinking that which is wrong to be right, 2. In respect of Practice in application of the Rule: And therefore it is needful to speak a word for clearing of both; And First, In the general, when we say that men should walk according to their Conscience, we understand it of a Conscience well informed, and in the exercise of Duty, as knowing its Masters will and doing it; for a wicked man may have a good Conscience in respect of Light to tell him what he shall do, and to challenge him when he doth wrong, though yet he will not obey it; Therefore we say for a man to have a good Conscience, is, to have a well informed Conscience, and doing duty accordingly.
The Third Question is, May not even Conscience sometimes err and go wrong? May it not pouse to that which is evil and sinful? and should it then be followed? Ans. Conscience may err, or go wrong two wayes, 1. In respect of Light, by thinking that which is wrong to be right, 2. In respect of Practice in application of the Rule: And therefore it is needful to speak a word for clearing of both; And First, In the general, when we say that men should walk according to their Conscience, we understand it of a Conscience well informed, and in the exercise of Duty, as knowing its Masters will and doing it; for a wicked man may have a good Conscience in respect of Light to tell him what he shall do, and to challenge him when he doth wrong, though yet he will not obey it; Therefore we say for a man to have a good Conscience, is, to have a well informed Conscience, and doing duty accordingly.
For further clearing of this, There are Ten sorts of Consciences that men ought not to be guided by; Whereof Five fail in the Major or First proposition, in respect of Light; and other Five fa•l in the Minor, or Second Proposition, in respect of Practice or Application: The Five sorts that fail in the Major Proposition or in respect of Light, are these. 1. An Erring Conscience, when the Judgement is mis-informed, and accounteth Duty to to be Sin, and Sin to be Duty, as it was with these of whom the Lord speaketh,