A88592:252
The souls cordial in two treatises. I. Teaching how to be eased of the…The souls cordiall in two treatises. I. Teaching how to be eased of the…
The souls cordial in two treatises. I. Teaching how to be eased of the guilt of sin. II. Discovering advantages by Christs ascension. The third volum. / By that faithful labourer in the Lords vineyard Mr. Christopher Love, pastor of Lawrence Jury, London.The souls cordiall in two treatises. I. Teaching how to be eased of the guilt of sin. II. Discovering advantages by Christs ascension. The third volum. / By that faithfull labourer in the Lords vineyard Mr. Christopher Love, pastor of Lawrence Jury, London.
London: printed for Nathaniel Brooke, 1653
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. 3 Thirdly, take this by way of answer, that the conscience of a pardoned sinner, may be so far benumbed, that a man may continue under the guilt of known sins, and conscience never check him for it for a long time; this is a further gradation, that when he knoweth he sins against God, yet I say conscience may be so far benumbed, that for a season he may not be tortured and smitten in conscience for his sin: David could not be so ignorant of Gods Law that lying with another mans wife was a sin, yet David did continue nine months at least without remorse for it; when Nathan came and reproved him, then said he, I have sinned, I have sinned. O beloved, if God doth but let a sinners conscience ⟨p. 101⟩alone, though he be a good man, yet he may continue for a long time under a known sin, and conscience not work remorse or trouble in him.
Answ. 3 Thirdly, take this by way of answer, that the conscience of a pardoned sinner, may be so farre benummed, that a man may continue under the guilt of known sins, and conscience never check him for it for a long time; this is a further gradation, that when he knoweth he sins against God, yet I say conscience may be so farre benummed, that for a season he may not be tortured and smitten in conscience for his sin: David could not be so ignorant of Gods Law that lying with another mans wife was a sin, yet David did continue nine moneths at least without remorse for it; when Nathan came and reproved him, then said he, I have sinned, I have sinned. O beloved, if God doth but let a sinners conscience ⟨p. 101⟩alone, though he be a good man, yet he may continue for a long time under a known sin, and conscience not work remorse or trouble in him.
Answ. 4 Fourthly, take this for comfort, that there is no godly mans conscience in the world, that is always alike in office; but sometimes it may be in office, sometimes out of office; sometimes a roaring, galling, awakening conscience; and sometimes a stupefied, a benumbed, and a seared conscience: no mans conscience is always alike in office, it is sensible at one time, and seared up another time. Pregnant instances, David, at one time his heart smote him for but the appearance of an evil, yet at another time, his conscience did not smite him for murdering Uriah. Again at another time Davids conscience smote him but for vain-glory in numbering the people: it was only vain-glory that he would please himself in a mustered Army; yet at another time Davids conscience did not smite him for adultery. O beloved, how will a mans conscience lye asleep, and not trouble him for an evil if God lets him alone!