A 3d. end is, To abbreviate (as it were) Gods process in judging men, to justify and clear him, and to make way for his Sentence whatever it be; 1. It conduceth […] it were, to the opening of the Books, to the sisting and putting of all persons in a posture before him to be Sentenced by him; it doth in a manner all, so that God hath little or nothing to do, as it were, for it discovers to a man what was his Duty, and his Sin. 2. It citeth him to compear and answer for neglecting such and such a duty, and committing such and such a Sin, and he cannot possibly shift compearance. 3. When he doth compear, it giveth in a L•bell of Accusations against the Man, and a Catalogue of all his Sins, in thought word and deed, this and this (will it awfully say) thou didst at such and such a time, in such and such a place, aggravated by ⟨p. 10⟩such and such circumstances. 4. It serveth to be a witness, yea in place of a thousand witnesses, and there is no denying or shifting of what ever it beareth witness to; All which we may see in Josephs brethren, Gen. 42. 21. who say one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us and we Would not hear, therefore is this distress come upon us; The Law discovereth that it was a Sin, Conscience challengeth and accuseth, they are cited, the accusation is given in and proven, this and this they did, and did it with all these circumstances; not a pitiful word that Joseph spoke, nor a tear that he shed in the anguish of his Soul, beseeching them to desist, but they remember it now; and there is no shifting of the challenge and accusation, nor covering of it, as they had done before to their aged Father Jacob; but they must needs now take with all, and confess we have sinned, and are very guilty concerning our Brother, &c. 5. It passeth Sentence, and in this respect, the heart is said to condemn when the thing is evil, and to absolve or not condemn, when the thing is good, 1 John 3▪ 20, 21. 6. When it hath Sentenced and Condemned, it leaveth not the man so, but goeth on and executeth the Sentence, and turneth a gnawing worm to bite and gnaw, and as an Executioner to Buffe• and Smite, to Damp and Torment the Man; Thus ye may see how useful Conscience is to help forward Gods Judgement, and to vindicat him in his Sentence:
A 3d. end is, To abbreviat (as it were) Gods process in judging men, to justifie and clear him, and to make way for his Sentence whatever it be; 1. It conduceth 〈…〉 it were, to the opening of the Books, to the sisting and putting of all persons in a posture before him to be Sentenced by him; it doth in a manner all, so that God hath little or nothing to do, as it were, for it discovers to a man what was his Duty, and his Sin. 2. It citeth him to compear and answer for neglecting such and such a duty, and committing such and such a Sin, and he connot possibly shift compearance. 3. When he doth compear, it giveth in a L•bell of Accusations against the Man, and a Catalogue of all his Sins, in thought word and deed, this and this (will it awefully say) thou didst at such and such a time, in such and such a place, aggravated by ⟨p. 10⟩such and such circumstances. 4. It serveth to be a witness, yea in place of a thousand witnesses, and there is no denying or shifting of what ever it beareth witness to; All which we may see in Iosephs brethren, Gen. 42. 21. who say one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us and we Would not hear, therefore is this distress come upon us; The Law discovereth that it was a Sin, Conscience challengeth and accuseth, they are cited, the accusation is given in and proven, this and this they did, and did it with all these circumstances; not a pitiful word that Ioseph spoke, nor a tear that he shed in the anguish of his Soul, beseeching them to desist, but they remember it now; and there is no shifting of the challenge and accusation, nor covering of it, as they had done before to their aged Father Iacob; but they must needs now take with all, and confess we have sinned, and are very guilty concerning our Brother, &c. 5. It passeth Sentence, and in this respect, the heart is said to condemn when the thing is evil, and to absolve or not condemn, when the thing is good, 1 Iohn 3▪ 20, 21. 6. When it hath Sentenced and Condemned, it leaveth not the man so, but goeth on and executeth the Sentence, and turneth a gnawing worm to bite and gnaw, and as an Executioner to Buffe• and Smite, to Damp and Torment the Man; Thus ye may see how useful Conscience is to help forward Gods Judgement, and to vindicat him in his Sentence:
