This conviction implieth two things. 1. The opening of the Conscience, Rev. 20. 12. The books were opened, that is, the book of Conscience, and the book of Gods remembrance; the consciences of men shall then be extended to an exact view of all their works and deeds past; 'tis wonderful, but it shall be done by the mighty power of God; for 'tis said here, he shall convince them of all their ungodly deeds, and hard speeches; their works and words are not lost and forgotten, but do follow them into the other world, and stand ⟨p. 442⟩in the view of Conscience, challenging the sinner, tu nos 1egisti, opera tua sumus; sinner, these are the things which thou hast done and spoken, we will not leave thee, but bring thee to judgement; then is that expression made good, *their iniquities shall find them out, our old sins, and carnal practises were long since forgotten and worn out of memory, so that we think we shall never •ea• of them more, but there they find us out, and pursue us to Christs Tribunal. 2. There is an outward publication and manifestation of all these sins, or of most of them, before the world; for the Apostle saith, 1 Cor. 4. 5. hidden things shall be brought to light in that day; that is, not only called to remembrance by the sinner himself, but exposed to the notice and censure of others, as the context there showeth: so Eccles. 12. 14. 'tis said, secret sins shall be brought to judgment, if only discovered to the conscience of the sinner, they are still kept secret: wicked men are already in a great measure convinced, yea & condemned in their own consciences, 'tis then Gods design to shame them before all the world, how otherwise shall the suspected innocency of his servants be vindicated, and Saints and Angels applaud the equity of his judgements, unless they have some cognisance of the matter for which wicked men are condemned? Now these sins may be discovered many ways, either by their own confessions, and pitiful complaints extorted from them by the power of God, they shall wail and bemoan their case thus probably, Oh that ever I despised Christ, oppressed his servants, opposed his truth, slighted the seasons of grace, &c. see Rev. 6. 16, 17. or by the sentence of Christ, in the pronouncing of which, there is some repetition of their sins, see Matth 25. 41, 42, 43. and also by the testimony of the good and bad Angels against them:
This conviction implyeth two things. 1. The opening of the Conscience, Rev. 20. 12. The books were opened, that is, the book of Conscience, and the book of Gods remembrance; the consciences of men shall then be extended to an exact view of all their works and deeds past; 'tis wonderful, but it shall be done by the mighty power of God; for 'tis said here, he shall convince them of all their ungodly deeds, and hard speeches; their works and words are not lost and forgotten, but do follow them into the other world, and stand ⟨p. 442⟩in the view of Conscience, challenging the sinner, tu nos 1egisti, opera tua sumus; sinner, these are the things which thou hast done and spoken, we will not leave thee, but bring thee to judgement; then is that expression made good, *their iniquities shall find them out, our old sins, and carnal practises were long since forgotten and worn out of memory, so that we think we shall never •ea• of them more, but there they find us out, and pursue us to Christs Tribunal. 2. There is an outward publication and manifestation of all these sins, or of most of them, before the world; for the Apostle saith, 1 Cor. 4. 5. hidden things shall be brought to light in that day; that is, not only called to remembrance by the sinner himself, but exposed to the notice and censure of others, as the context there sheweth: so Eccles. 12. 14. 'tis said, secret sins shall be brought to judgment, if only discovered to the conscience of the sinner, they are still kept secret: wicked men are already in a great measure convinc'd, yea & condemnd in their own consciences, 'tis then Gods designe to shame them before all the world, how otherwise shall the suspected innocency of his servants be vindicated, and Saints and Angels applaud the equity of his judgements, unless they have some cognisance of the matter for which wicked men are condemned? Now these sins may be discovered many ways, either by their own confessions, and pitiful complaints extorted from them by the power of God, they shall wail and bemoan their case thus probably, Oh that ever I despised Christ, oppressed his servants, opposed his truth, slighted the seasons of grace, &c. see
- 1See Hosea 7. 2. Psalm 49. 5.
- *Numb. 32. 23.
