1First, The Dictates of your own Consciences, they are still prompting and exciting of you to work. Conscience it is God's Deputy, and Vicegerent in the Soul, that rules and governs in his Name and by his Authority. Now of all the Faculties in Man this was the least corrupted by his Fall; though the Will be wholly corrupted and perverse that it will not obey the Commands of Conscience, yet Conscience still continues the performance of its Office, still it informs, and urgeth, and threatens, and tormenteth; and thus may you see it ⟨p. 157⟩busily working even in those that never had the Law of God to direct Conscience. The Gentiles, says the Apostle to the Romans, that have not the Law, 2do by Nature, that is, by natural Conscience, the things contained in the Law, their Consciences bearing witness, and their Thoughts, in the mean while, accusing and excusing one another. And because they had not the Law, therefore Conscience in them was like an Officer walking in the Dark, apprehending the Innocent and letting the Guilty escape: But yet this was from the beginning so deeply implanted in the Heart of Man, that something must be done and avoided for to obtain Happiness, which could never yet be obliterated. Tho' our knowledge of what is Duty and what is Sin be in a great part defaced, yet this knowledge the Scripture doth abundantly supply to us, and gives Conscience a perfect Draught of all the Duties that God requires, and bids it be Overseer and look that the Work be done. How? is it not a great Help when you have somewhat within you that stands for, and takes part with what is Good and what is your Duty? Conscience secretly bids you beware of such and ⟨p. 158⟩such Sins that will bring Ruin, Destruction and Vengeance upon you, and perform such and such Duties, Pray, Hear, Meditate, and be more fervent and affectionate in all your Services; this is the way that tends to Life and Happiness. Thus Conscience daily and hourly is following of you, with Counsels and Chidings, and with Threatenings, denouncing Wrath and Vengeance against you; and though it speaketh these Things with so low a Voice that others, though they lay their Ears to your Soul cannot hear it, yet in your Ears it speaks as loud as Thunder, and no less terrible; it is in vain to wound it, it is in vain to stop its Mouth, for that will but make it break out with the more violence and out-rage;
1First, The Dictates of your own Consciences, they are still prompting and exciting of you to work. Conscience it is God's Deputy, and Vicegerent in the Soul, that rules and governs in his Name and by his Authority. Now of all the Faculties in Man this was the least corrupted by his Fall; though the Will be wholly corrupted and perverse that it will not obey the Commands of Conscience, yet Conscience still continues the performance of its Office, still it informs, and urgeth, and threatens, and tormenteth; and thus may you see it ⟨p. 157⟩busily working even in those that never had the Law of God to direct Conscience. The Gentiles, says the Apostle to the Romans, that have not the Law, 2do by Nature, that is, by natural Conscience, the things contained in the Law, their Consciences bearing witness, and their Thoughts, in the mean while, accusing and excusing one another. And because they had not the Law, therefore Conscience in them was like an Officer walking in the Dark, apprehending the Innocent and letting the Guilty escape: But yet this was from the beginning so deeply implanted in the Heart of Man, that something must be done and avoided for to obtain Happiness, which could never yet be obliterated. Tho' our knowledge of what is Duty and what is Sin be in a great part defaced, yet this knowledg the Scripture doth abundantly supply to us, and gives Conscience a perfect Draught of all the Duties that God requires, and bids it be Overseer and look that the Work be done. How? is it not a great Help when you have somewhat within you that stands for, and takes part with what is Good and what is your Duty? Conscience secretly bids you beware of such and ⟨p. 158⟩such Sins that will bring Ruin, Destruction and Vengeance upon you, and perform such and such Duties, Pray, Hear, Meditate, and be more fervent and affectionate in all your Services; this is the way that tends to Life and Happiness. Thus Conscience daily and hourly is following of you, with Counsels and Chidings, and with Threatnings, denouncing Wrath and Vengeance against you; and though it speaketh these Things with so low a Voice that others, though they lay their Ears to your Soul cannot hear it, yet in your Ears it speaks as loud as Thunder, and no less terrible; it is in vain to wound it, it is in vain to stop its Mouth, for that will but make it break out with the more violence and out-rage;
- 11. The Dictates of Conscience.
- 2Rom. 2.14, 15.
