The truly blessed man

1. That the great burden lying on the Conscience that distresseth it for Sin, is the Guilt. A gracious Soul indeed is humbled and put into mourning by reason of the pollution that cleaveth to his Sin; and it is the principal ingredient of a kindly godly Sorrow for sin: but, though that abaseth the man, and makes him vile in his own sight, yet it doth not fill him with those perplexities we are now considering of: The terrors of Conscience ⟨p. 219⟩arise from the apprehension of Gods Wrath, and the impression which the Curses of the Law make on the Soul: he seeth God coming against him as an enemy armed with revenge, and is in fearful expectation of falling into his hand; it is this anger that overwhelmeth him, Psal. 38.2.88.7. And it is the apprehension of Guilt that produceth it. God appears to him terrible in his Holiness and Justice, and he doth not apprehend the comfort of a Sealed Pardon, hence arise all his Soul agonies.

2. That hence as long as this Guilt lieth upon the Conscience, the distress must abide. A man indeed may be under Guilt, and yet have much seeming quiet: and how many have a stupendous load of Guilt lying on them, and do not groan under it, because they feel it not, because Conscience is asleep, and senseless: and many get ease again, though their Guilt abideth, because they have baffled their Consciences, and charmed them into a false persuasion; but this is certain, while the Conscience hath the remorse of the Guilt upon it, and apprehends it, the man can have no rest: all the diversions he can turn to, all the carnal delights he seeks to content himself withal, give him no relief, the Arrow of Gods wrath abides on his Conscience, and festers there, his pain is not in the least abated; and how is it possible, that whiles a man is dogged up and down with an accusing, condemning Conscience, charging on him the Guilt of Death, and threatening him with Eternal Damnation, he should ⟨p. 220⟩