The fourth (and last) volume of discourses, or sermons, on several scriptures

¹Thirdly, A clear Conscience gives boldness of access unto God. Guilt is the only thing that abashes the Soul, and makes it both ashamed and afraid to appear in the Presence of God; and therefore we find that as soon as Adam had sinned against his Maker, he hides himself from him. We may observe it in our selves: What slavish deadness and dejectedness of Heart seizeth upon us when we come to God in Duty, after that we have wronged him by any known Sin? We come with such a misgiving kind of Fear, as if we would not have God take notice that we are before him, and we are still in pain till the Duty be over. But when our Consciences ⟨p. 351⟩are clear, O with what delight do we hast to God, and with what content do we stay with him! How doth the Soul dilate and spread it self under the Smiles of God, beating full upon it? Lo, O Lord, here's a Heart that I labour to make and keep void of Offence, do thou fill it with thy promised Grace and Spirit; it is not indeed a Mansion pure enough for the pure and holy God, yet is it such as thou wilt accept of and dwell in; there are still many hidden Corruptions in it, but do thou search them out, and thou who hast kept thy Servant from presumptuous Sins, do thou also cleanse me from secret Faults. Thus a clear Conscience, with a holy and reverend Boldness, addresses it self to God, and sweetly closeth up every Duty and every Prayer, with full assurance of being heard and accepted, and that it shall obtain Mercy from God. So the Apostle tells us,² Heb. 10.22. Let us, says he, draw near in full assurance of Faith. How may we gain this full assurance, when we draw near to God? How, says he? Why, by having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience; get but a pure and clear Conscience, and that will enable you to draw near to God in full assurance of ⟨p. 352⟩Faith. And so in the like parallel place,³ 1 John 3.21. Beloved, if our Hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God. If Conscience be not evil to accuse us, then have we confidence towards God: When the Face of a Man's Conscience looks cheerful and hath no Frowns and Wrinkles upon it, this makes us joyfully to apprehend that God's Face to us is calm and serene too, and that we shall be welcome at all times into our Father's presence; this Conscience suggests to us, and makes us come with a holy, yet with an awful boldness unto God.