This part of Prophecy hath hitherto been less practised in the Schools of the Prophets, because our Captains were necessarily enforced to fight always in the front against the enemies to defend the Faith, and to purge the floor of the Church; So that they could not plant and water the Fields and Vineyards as they desired; as it useth to fall out in time of hot wars. They thought with themselves in the mean while (as one of some note writes) If we have that single and clear eye of the Gospel if in the house of our Heart the candle of pure Faith be set upon a Candlestick, these small matters might easily be discussed. But experience hath taught at length, that through neglect of this husbandry, a famine of Godliness hath followed in many places, and out of that famine a grievous spiritual plague; insomuch that the counsel of Nehemiah had need be practised; namely, that every man should labour in this work with one hand, holding in the other a Spear or a Dart, whereby he may repel the violence of the enemies. The same Experience hath likewise taught, that these small matters (if so be that so necessary things may be so called) are despised with ⟨image 4⟩no less madness, then if one would suffer the fingers and toes of his hands and feet to be cut off, as some small things, without which he hoped to walk and use his hands well enough. All things therefore being rightly weighed, I have taken in hand (God also liking it, as J am persuaded) these instructions touching the power of Conscience. Not that I hope that any perfect thing, in this kind, can come from me: (for there are more kinds of things this way, then that certain answers can be given (by me at least) to every one) but that I might do something, whereby the unlearned, and such as are destitute of better help, might somewhat be helped; and that the more learned might be excited to set forth some more perfect and exact thing. Of which duty the godly, learned, grave ancient Preachers are properly the Debtors, whose daily labour it is to deal with the Consciences of men; who through their experience have learned much better, what those questions are, in which the Conscience useth most to doubt, and out of what grounds they may be best unfolded; then can easily be understood by one that lives privately in an Academical profession.
This part of Prophecie hath hitherto beene lesse practised in the Schooles of the Prophets, because our Captaines were necessarily inforced to fight alwaies in the front against the enemies to defend the Faith, and to purge the floore of the Church; So that they could not plant and water the Fields and Vineyards as they desired; as it useth to fall out in time of hotte warres. They thought with themselues in the meane while (as one of some note writes) If we haue that single and cleare eye of the Gospel if in the house of our Heart the candle of pure Faith be set upon a Candlesticke, these small matters might easily be discussed. But experience hath taught at length, that through neglect of this husbandry, a famine of Godlinesse hath followed in many places, and out of that famine a grievous spirituall plague; insomuch that the counsell of Nehemiah had need be practised; namely, that every man should labour in this worke with one hand, holding in the other a Speare or a Dart, whereby he may repell the violence of the enemies. The same Experience hath likewise taught, that these small matters (if so be that so necessary things may bee so called) are despised with ⟨image 4⟩no lesse madnesse, then if one would suffer the fingers and toes of his hands and feete to bee cut off, as some small things, without which he hoped to walke and use his hands well enough. All things therfore being rightly weighed, I haue taken in hand (God also liking it, as J am perswaded) these instructions touching the power of Conscience. Not that I hope that any perfect thing, in this kinde, can come from me: (for there are more kinds of things this way, then that certaine answers can be given (by me at least) to every one) but that I might doe something, whereby the unlearned, and such as are destitute of better helpe, might somewhat be helped; and that the more learned might bee excited to set forth some more perfect and exact thing. Of which duty the godly, learned, graue ancient Preachers are properly the Debtors, whose dayly labour it is to deale with the Consciences of men; who through their experience haue learned much better, what those questions are, in which the Conscience useth most to doubt, and out of what grounds they may be best unfolded; then can easily be vnderstood by one that liues privately in an Academicall profession.
