2. If so, then Conscience, that was a Monitor, now turns ⟨p. 14⟩Accuser in the minor Proposition; before it was only Gods Herald to forewarn him, but now it is become a Pursuivant and Sergeant to Arrest him: it follows him to the Alehouse, and pursues him home, then takes him in his bed, and Arrests him in his sleep; there (by a Meditation) it hales the soul before the Tribunal seat of God, saying, Lo, Lord, this is the man, this is the Drunkard, Adulterer, Blasphemer, this is he, Lord; an enemy to thy Servants, an hater of thy Truth, a despiser of thy Ordinances; at such a time, in such a place, with such a company this man despised thy Truth, this is he, Lord, this is the man. And when Conscience hath thus dragged him before God, and accused him, then Take him, Jailer, take him, Devil (saith the Lord) and imprison him; let vexation, and horror, and trouble, and anguish lie upon his soul, until he confess his sins, and resolve to forsake them. In this case was David, when he was forced to say, My bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long; for day and night thy hand was heavy upon me, my moisture is turned into the 1drought of summer: What then? O then (saith David) I acknowledged my sin unto thee,—I confessed my transgressions unto thee, O Lord, and so thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. David he folded up his sins at the first, and therefore his bones were consumed, and he roared continually; when the Lord had him on the Rack, he made him roar again, and would never leave tormenting, till David came to confessing; but when he confessed this sin, and the other sin, then the Lord forgave him the iniquity of his sin. Thus Conscience brings the soul of a sinner on the Rack (as Traitors are used, that will not confess otherwise) and makes him to confess his sins, and then he cries, O the abominations I have committed which the Sun never saw; in such a place, at such a time, O then I railed on Gods servants, & blasphemed Gods Name, I profaned Gods Sabbaths, and contemned his Ordinances: what then? Conscience will make him confess more yet, to the Rack again with him; and then he cries and roars for anguish of spirit, then he confesses all, and resolves to amend, then he will pray, and hear, and sanctify Gods Sabbaths, and lead a new life. Thus Conscience receives some satisfaction, and begins to be quiet;
2. If so, then Conscience, that was a Monitor, now turns ⟨p. 14⟩Accuser in the minor Proposition; before it was onely Gods Herald to forewarn him, but now it is become a Pursevant and Sergeant to Arrest him: it follows him to the Alehouse, and pursues him home, then takes him in his bed, and Arrests him in his sleep; there (by a Meditation) it hales the soul before the Tribunal seat of God, saying, Lo, Lord, this is the man, this is the Drunkard, Adulterer, Blasphemer, this is he, Lord; an enemy to thy Servants, an hater of thy Truth, a despiser of thy Ordinances; at such a time, in such a place, with such a company this man despised thy Truth, this is he, Lord, this is the man. And when Conscience hath thus dragged him before God, and accused him, then Take him, Jaylor, take him, Devil (saith the Lord) and imprison him; let vexation, and horror, and trouble, and anguish lie upon his soul, until he confess his sins, and resolve to forsake them. In this case was David, when he was forced to say, My bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long; for day and night thy hand was heavy upon me, my moisture is turned into the 1drought of summer: What then? O then (saith David) I acknowledged my sin unto thee,—I confessed my transgressions unto thee, O Lord, and so thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. David he folded up his sins at the first, and therefore his bones were consumed, and he roared continually; when the Lord had him on the Rack, he made him roar again, and would never leave tormenting, till David came to confessing; but when he confessed this sin, and the other sin, then the Lord forgave him the iniquity of his sin. Thus Conscience brings the soul of a sinner on the Rack (as Traytors are used, that will not confess otherwise) and makes him to confess his sins, and then he cryes, O the abominations I have committed which the Sun never saw; in such a place, at such a time, O then I railed on Gods servants, & blasphemed Gods Name, I prophaned Gods Sabbaths, and contemned his Ordinances: what then? Conscience will make him confess more yet, to the Rack again with him; and then he cryes and roars for anguish of spirit, then he confesses all, and resolves to amend, then he will pray, and hear, and sanctifie Gods Sabbaths, and lead a new life. Thus Conscience receives some satisfaction, and begins to be quiet;
- 1Psa. 32. 3, 4, 5.
