A third Case is, When Conscience is provoked by mens former miscarriages, then it may be silent, and not answer: Now the Conscience may be provoked these •wo ways amongst others. 1. When People use not ordinarily ⟨p. 120⟩to consult Conscience, but at some particular, and solemn times only, and when they are brought to some pinch, or put to a stand; but as for the ordinary course of their Life, they follow Inclination, or a common Light, without advising with Conscience; In that case, when such persons come to advise with Conscience, and to seek clearness from it, about such a thing; the Lord may say to them, as he did to his People, Judges, 10. 19. Go and cry to the gods whom ye have chosen, go advise with them; or as Elisha said to the King of Israel, 2 Kings, 3. 3. What have I to do with thee? get thee to the Prophets of thy father, and to the Prophets of thy mother: Even so, if Conscience be passed by, and miskent by People in the ordinary course of their life, it will readily misken and slight them, when they are in a strait, and come to seek Counsel and Clearness from it, and will, on the matter say to them, ye followed the counsel of flesh and blood, in your ordinary walk, and course of life; therefore in this particular, I will not answer you, go and seek Clearness from them whom ye use to consult. 2dly. Conscience is provoked, when me have formerly thwarted with some clear intimations, or answers of Conscience, and have some way detained the truth in unrighteousness, making, as it were, a Prisoner of it, and setting a guard of corrupt affections about it; when such come again to enquire at Conscience, what they shall do in this, or that particular, they may justly get such an answer▪ as is given, Prov. 1. 24. Because I called▪ and ye refused, I stretched out my hand, and no man regarded, but ye set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof, I will laugh at your calamity, they shall call, but I will not answer: I gave you answers before, and ye thwarted with them, therefore when ye seek again, ye shall get none: And hence floweth much blindness, and be nummednesse of Conscience in men and women, because they put out the eyes thereof, and frequently repel, and beat back what it says, or answers; so that it becometh cauterized, and the feeling of it weareth almost, if not ⟨p. 121⟩altogether, away;
A third Case is, When Conscience is provoked by mens former miscarriages, then it may be silent, and not answer: Now the Conscience may be provoked these •wo wayes amongst others. 1. When People use not ordinarily ⟨p. 120⟩to consult Conscience, but at some particular, and solemn times only, and when they are brought to some pinch, or put to a stand; but as for the ordinary course of their Life, they follow Inclination, or a common Light, without advising with Conscience; In that case, when such persons come to advise with Conscience, and to seek clearnesse from it, about such a thing; the Lord may say to them, as he did to his People, Iudges, 10. 19. Go and cry to the gods whom ye have chosen, go advise with them; or as Elisha said to the King of Israel, 2 Kings, 3. 3. What have I to do with thee? get thee to the Prophets of thy father, and to the Prophets of thy mother: Even so, if Conscience be passed by, and miskent by People in the ordinary course of their life, it will readily misken and slight them, when they are in a strait, and come to seek Counsel and Clearness from it, and will, on the matter say to them, ye followed the counsel of flesh and blood, in your ordinary walk, and course of life; therefore in this particular, I will not answer you, go and seek Clearness from them whom ye use to consult. 2dly. Conscience is provoked, when me have formerly thwarted with some clear intimations, or answers of Conscience, and have some way detained the truth in unrighteousness, making, as it were, a Prisoner of it, and setting a guard of corrupt affections about it; when such come again to enquire at Conscience, what they shal do in this, or that particular, they may justly get such ane answer▪ as is given, Prov. 1. 24. Because I called▪ and ye refused, I stretched out my hand, and no man regarded, but ye set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof, I will laugh at your calamity, they shall call, but I will not answer: I gave you answers before, and ye thwarted with them, therefore when ye seek again, ye shall get none: And hence floweth much blindnesse, and be nummednesse of Conscience in men and women, because they put out the eyes thereof, and frequently repell, and beat back what it sayes, or answers; so that it becometh cauterized, and the feeling of it weareth almost, if not ⟨p. 121⟩altogether, away;
