Heaven upon earth in the serene tranquillity and calm composure, in the sweet peace…

But ye will Object and say, seeing every one hath a Conscience, what can be the reason that many care so little for Conscience?

But ye will Object and say, seing every one hath a Conscience, what can be the reason that many care so little for Conscience?

Answer, 1. What is the reason that men care so little for God? If they care not for the Lord and Master, it's no wonder they care so little for the Deputy and Servant; shall we therefore think that there is not such a thing at all as a Conscience in such? No, by no means; it will prove indeed, that they slight Conscience, but not that they want a Conscience. 2. There is in many men a contending with and provoking of Conscience, which in Gods righteous Judgement maketh a silent Conscience; when the Lord maketh Conscience quick, and sets it on to reprove and check for Sin, and men do not listen to it's checks and reproofs, Conscience offendeth, and will not reprove: Conscience being Gods Deputy, taketh Orders from him, and when God will •ot vouchsafe a word of reproof on a man, neither will it; Ephraim is joined to idols let him alone, saveth the Lord, Hos. 4. 17. And from Rom. 1. 20, 21. We may see the cause why God giveth up the heathen to a reprobate mind, to do things that are not convenient, To be their going cross to the light of nature, and their natural Conscience, and not only doing things sinful, but taking pleasure in them that did them; therefore they are given up to do greatest things without check or challenge: Hence it is thus in part at least, with many Professors within the visible Church, for ⟨p. 13⟩thwarting with Conscience; and indeed a silent and dumb Conscience is a great plague, for if it cease to be a reprover, and speak not, men, nay, even godly men, may and will sleep on, as David, after the going over the belly of his light, and blunting the edge of his Conscience slept long enough, till Conscience at last roused him up: Hence also the Apostle speaketh of some Consciences which were seared with an hot iron; which is not so to be understood, as if Conscience were flesh, or of a fleshly substance, only he maketh the comparison, that as a mans flesh is sensible of, and affected with the prick of a pin, so is Conscience with Sin, while tender; But as the flesh of a Man or Beast, when it is seared or burnt, a considerable thirst will not much, if at all affect it; So is Conscience, when stupefied, and made senseless, by multiplied Sins against light, it groweth so cauterized and seared, that hardly any Sin, or challenge for Sin is felt. 3. Men want not a Conscience, though they hear it not always speaking;