The Souls Looking Glass 2, Tract 2 · Proposition 3 · Part 1
The Adjuncts of conſcience, which ſhew themſelves in the diſcharge of this dutie of judging and counſelling.
THe adjuncts are of two ſorts:The adjuncts of conſcience. 1. ſuch as reſpect conſciences abilitie to …iſcharge its duty; 2. ſuch as accompanie conſcience in the diſcharge thereof.
darkneſſe knoweth not whither he goeth John 12.35. O labour therefore to get a conſcience illightened. It is true, a man may have an illightened conſcience and yet go to hell: but this is moſt certain; without an illightened conſcience a man cannot go to heaven. And if thy conſcience be ſomething illightened, yet labour for more light. It will prevent many a ſtumble, ſave thee from many a knock. Thou knoweſt not what caſe thou mayeſt be in, what difficult ſtraits thou mayeſt be put unto: if thou haſt not light in thy conſcience to direct thee, what wilt thou do?
II. An erroneous conſcience.
SEcondly, an erroneous conſcience is,2. An erroneous conſcience when conſcience not underſtanding Gods law, or miſapplying it, doth judge amiſſe and direct amiſſe. So Joſephs conſcience for a while was in an errour when Mary was found with child:Matth. 1.19. His conſcience informed him that he muſt either make her a publick example or put her away privily. Here his conſcience erred about this particular untill the Angel had better inform…d him. There is a queſtionQueſt. here rai…ed by Divines, and it is, Whether we …ught to follow conſcience erring or …o? A queſtion very neceſſary to be …andled, partly becauſe of mens igno…nce in this kind, and partly becauſe of …e frequency of the caſe. I anſwer …us;
Anſ. 1 Firſt, we muſt not obey conſcience …ing or counſelling to that which is …l; For our errour of conſcience doth …t make the tranſgreſſion of the law … be no ſinne; though an erroneous …nſcience lead us to tranſgreſſe it.
Becauſe the law of God is above conſcience; and therefore the com…andment of Gods law ſtandeth in full …rce though conſcience command …ntrary to it. Suppoſe a man ſhould …ink in his conſcience he might not …ke an oath though never ſo lawfully …lled thereunto by the magiſtrate and … never ſo neceſſary a caſe, when as the …ord of God commandeth us to ſwear … truth, in righteouſneſſe, and in judge…ent; I muſt follow the commandment page missing different to do or not to do which yet is not indifferent but abſolutely commanded, then it is alwayes a ſinne not to do it, but it is no ſinne to do it. The third propoſition is this, If conſcience hold a thing neceſſarie which God hath left indifferent, as if a man in conſcience thought that he ought to pray foure times a day (which thing yet God hath left indifferent;) in this he is bound to obey conſcience though it erre. And it is no ſinne to obey conſcience thus erring; though it be a ſinne in conſcience thus to erre.
Vſe 1 The uſe of this is, I. to let us ſee what a ſacred ſovereigne thing a mans conſcience is. It is alwayes a ſinne to diſobey conſcience whether it erre or no, as it is alwayes a ſinne to diſobey God. A man can never go againſt his conſcience but he ſinneth. 1. Becauſe conſcience is our guide: It is our inward and our inſeparable guide; we can never come by any direction but by conſcience; we can never let in the commandment of God but onelyonly by conſcience: and therefore the Lord hath made it a very ſovereigne thing. 2. Becauſe we break a commandment through the loyns of a ſinne, when we go againſt conſcience. Ajax light upon a beaſt and ſlew it: his conſcience thought verily it was a man; Kill it not, ſaith conſcience, it is a man: he goeth againſt his conſcience and killeth it. His conſcience here was in an errour, yet he as truly guilty of murder before God as if he had indeed ſlain a man, becauſe he ſlew a man through the loyns of this beaſt: His bloudy mind looked at a man, and ſmote at a man, and ſlew a man. So when conſcience is erroneous, and thinketh this is a commandment of God; it is not ſo, but he thinketh it ſo in his conſcience; if he do contrary he breaketh a commandment though it be none, becauſe the errour of his conſcience made it one to him. Was not Herod truly guilty of the murder of Chriſt? He thought in his conſcience that Chriſt had been among the infants ſlain at Bethlehem. Thus conſcience is a ſovereigne thing: It is alwayes a ſinne to go againſt it, erre or not erre: and if it be a ſinne to go againſt page missing one doubteth of the lawfulneſſe of playing at cards and dice; he is ſure it is no ſinne not to play, but whether he may lawfully play he doubteth: in this caſe he is bound not to play. So when one doubteth whether it be a ſinne not to call his familie together every day to prayer; Gods miniſters tell him he muſt or he ſinneth: I doubt of that, ſaith he. Do you ſo? but you are ſure it is no ſinne to do it: Therefore you are bound to do it, becauſe you are bound to decline the doubtfull part and take that which is certain. And ſo of all other the like particulars.
Rule 2 2. When conſcience doubteth on both ſides which is the ſinne and which not, then a man ought to do that which is moſt void of offenſe. As for example; Say an Anabaptiſt amongſt us doubteth whether it be a ſinne in him to bring his child to church to be baptized, or a ſinne to refuſe; here his rule is, That that which is moſt void of offenſe, and moſt agreeable to brotherly unity and concord, is to be taken, the balance hanging otherwiſe even; and the arguments to urge both the one or the other ſeeming of like weight, then this muſt be put into the ſcale and reſolve the doubt.
Rule 3 3. It is lawfull to do ſome things when yet our conſcience doubteth of the lawfulneſſe of them. For we muſt conſider there are two kinds of doubting: there is a ſpeculative doubting, and there is a practicall doubting. Speculative doubting is to doubt of the lawfulneſſe of the thing it ſelf to be done: Practicall doubting is to doubt of the lawfulneſſe of the doing of it. Now this latter is not alwayes a ſinne, but the other is: As for example; If a ſervant be commanded of his maſter to attend on him on the Lords day, he knoweth not what his buſineſſe ſhould be, and perhaps doubteth it is not of ſuch moment as to be done on that day; yet he hath no reaſon to deny his attendance: in this caſe though he doubt of the lawfulneſſe of the thing done, yet he need not doubt of the doing of it, becauſe he knoweth not what the buſineſſe is, and hath no reaſon whereby he is able to page missing doubts and ſcruples whether he is right or no, eſpecially in matters of greateſt moment. It is a great miſery to have our conſciences blind, which ſhould be our guides, and which it is a ſinne to diſobey. This is the reaſon why St Paul doth ſo often ſpeak, I would not have you ignorant, 1. Cor. 10.1. and 11.3. It is a very great miſery that ones conſcience ſhould be ignorant what to do, what to hold, what to follow: I ſay, it is a lamentable miſerie, that many who have followed the directions of conſcience, ſhould by it be led to death and damnation, to do things contrary to Gods word. What a miſery was it for the Jews to have zeal and not according to knowledge? &c.
Vſe 2 II. This ſhould teach us to uſe the means truly to inform conſcience▪ Without knowledge the heart is not good; Prov. 29.1that is, it is moſt profane. There be three means to get knowledge.Means to get knowledge. 1. Let us pray unto God that he would ope… our underſtandings; that as he hath given us conſciences to guide us, ſo alſo he would give our guides eyes that they may be able to direct us aright. The truth is, it is God onelyonly that can ſoundly illighten our conſciences: and therefore let us pray unto him to do it. All our ſtudying, and reading, and hearing, and conferring will never be able to do it: it is onelyonly in the power of him who made us to do it.Pſal. 119.73. Thy hands have made and faſhioned me: O give me underſtanding, that I may learn thy commandments. He who made our conſciences, he onelyonly can give them this heavenly light of …rue knowledge and right underſtanding: and therefore let us ſeek earneſtly to him for it. 2. We muſt ſeek it in humility, alwayes ſuſpecting our own knowledge. We are not too confidently and preſumptuouſly to truſt to our …wn judgement, and deſpiſe or neglect …he judgement of others.Pſal. 25.9. The humble …od will teach: Pride and ſelf-conceited…eſſe blindeth exceedingly. 3. We muſt …eek with ſobriety, alwayes contenting …ur ſelves with that knowledge which …s moſt neceſſarie, and not be curious a…out vain and idle-braind queſtions, or ſolicitous to anſwer every objection page missing ty, offendeth conſcience; and conſcience will keep a grudge a long time, and will give many a ſecret wound, deading the heart to duty, making faith and confidence in God dull: we cannot pray with courage, nor come before God with boldneſſe. If our hearts condemn us not, we have confidence, ſaith John.1. John 3.21. An erroneous conſcience will defile you; a doubting conſcience diſtract you; a ſcrupulous conſcience unſettle you: but above all other, an illightened conſcience, if it have any thing againſt you will exceedingly diſable you; this ſtabbeth at the heart your confidence towards God. Go then and labour to purge conſcience, elſe conſcience will hinder you; whether you pray, or heare or receive the Sacrament, &c. it will deprive you of comfort.Matth 5.23. If thou bring th… gift to the altar, and there remembreſt tha… thy brother hath ought againſt thee, leav… there thy gift before the altar: firſt go an… be reconciled to thy brother, and then com… and offer thy gift. The caſe is greater an… more dangerous when conſcience hat… ſomething againſt us: there is no offering will be accepted untill conſcience be ſatisfied. If thou ſhouldeſt be about to pray, and conſcience ſhould ſtand up againſt thee as an adverſary, and tell thee thou haſt been vain, and looſe, and carnall all this day, thou haſt not ſet thy ſelf to keep cloſe to God this day, thou haſt fallen into this and that ſinne this day; thou art not fit to pray till thou haſt reconciled thy ſelf to conſcience: Alas, thy conſcience will ſecretly undermine all thy praying. Firſt, …herefore reconcile conſcience by hum…ling thy ſelf, and breaking thy heart, and reſolving, I have ſinned, I will do no more. When conſcience can ſay thy ſorrow, and repentance, and reſolution for new obedience is ſincere, then thou …rt fit to pray, but not before. So what…ver other duty thou goeſt about, be …ure to reconcile conſcience; elſe all will miſcarry.
V. A faithfull conſcience.
THus I have expounded the adjuncts of conſcience which ſhew themſelves in the diſcharge of its duty, page missing every motion and inclination to evil: it is awake to ſee when evil is conceived, to tell us of it, to oppoſe it, and to diſſwade us from it: like a watchman on the top of a tower, alwayes awake to ſee when any danger approcheth. It is Gods miniſter with eyes on every ſide, to eſpie ſeaſons of good, and ſtirre up to make uſe of them; and of evil, and give warning to avoid them.
2. As a faithfull conſcience is watchfull, ſo alſo it is rigid and ſevere.2. It is ſevere. In every cauſe it delivereth its judgement: nothing can eſcape its ſentence: it will not favour our luſts in any particular. If there be any opportunity of duty to God or man, it maketh us to heare of it; though it be ſuch a duty as none other will call upon us for, or it may be dare not put us in mind of; as of love, and care, and help towards inferiours: yet conſcience will: It titheth mint and cumine, and will tell us of the leaſt duty. And ſo on the other ſide, it will not ſwallow the leaſt ſinne. As it will not ſwallow a camel, Luke 16.10.ſo it will ſtrain at … gnat. A faithfull conſcience is faithfull in the leaſt. If David ſinne but in the lap of a garment, conſcience ſmiteth him for it. It made Abraham ſo preciſe to a thread or a ſhoe-latchet; he would not take ſo much as that of the king of Sodom. It made Moſes ſtrict to a very hoof: It made Paul find fault with the Corinthians about their hair: It made Auguſtine condemn himſelf for an apple.
3. As a faithfull conſcience is watchfull and ſevere, ſo alſo it is importunate3. It is importunate. … all its counſels. It doth not onelyonly deliver its judgement, but doth with importunitie urge the following of its counſel. It will have no nay, but will be obeyed. It leadeth us bound in the Spirit to do it; as Paul ſaid,Acts 20.22. I go bound … the ſpirit. See how importunate this …ithfull conſcience was with the Pſal…iſt: I will not give ſleep to mine eyes, Pſal. 132.4.nor …mber to mine eye-lids, untill I find out a …ace for the Lord. It will not take any …y, ſay we what we will: ſay we be …epie, ſay we be buſie, ſay we be loth …d full of excuſes, it will be importu…te, and that with vehemencie. It will page missing omitting good or committing evil, will not let thee ſlumber and ſleep in ſecuritie, but continually joggeth and awaketh thee? Hath he given thee a ſevere, a preciſe conſcience, that will not favour thee in the leaſt evil? It is a moſt comfortable ſigne that the Lord meaneth well unto thy ſoul.
Vſe 3 III. Labour to be a friend unto conſcience, that it may continue faithfull unto thee. True friends will deal faithfully and plainly one with another, and will be importunate to do one anothe… good: Conſcience will not deal thus with thee unleſſe thou be a friend unto conſcience. Now then are we friends unto conſcience when we do what conſcience requireth. As our Saviour ſaid to the Diſciples,John 15.14. Ye are my friends if y… do whatever I command you; So I may ſay of conſcience. For conſcience if i… be truly illightened will command nothing but what Chriſt commandeth. I… we deal ſo in our conſtant courſe with conſcience, be willing to hearken to it and be ruled by it, then if we be out o… the way now and then, conſcience will be true to us, and be importunate with us for our good.
Vſe 4 IV. Be ſure thou ſtand not out a…ainſt conſcience when once it is im…ortunate. It is a great ſinne to ſtand …ut againſt conſcience though it be not …mportunate; but it is a ſinne a thouſand …mes greater to ſtand out againſt it when it is importunate.Maxima violatio conſcientiae eſt maximè peccatum. The greateſt ſtanding out againſt conſcience is the greateſt ſinne: it is a ſinne which cometh neareſt that againſt the holy …hoſt, which accompanied with ſome other adjuncts is the greateſt ſtanding out againſt conſcience. There is no ſinne that doth more harden the heart then to do evil when conſcience is importu…ate to diſſwade from it. This ſinne …as the cauſe why Saul was rejected of …od; I forced my ſelf, ſaith he:1. Sam. 13.12. He for…d his conſcience; his conſcience was …portunate to have him ſtay accord…g to the commandment of God, but … forced himſelf to the contrary. I …nfeſſe, if conſcience be importunate …o the utmoſt, as it is with Gods chil…en, men cannot with any force put it page missing zealous in Gods cauſe againſt the houſe of Ahab and the prieſts of Baal;2. Kings 10.29. but it ſuffered him to maintein the high places which Jeroboam had ſet up. Thus Gamaliel's conſcience made him ſpeak well for Paul, and yet continue (it ſeemeth) in much other evil. This conſcience will reſtrain from great ſtaring ſinnes, or from ſuch ſinnes as the man hath no naturall propenſity unto: but others which ſeem of a lower nature, or which are ſuitable to a mans particular deſires, theſe conſcience will ſwallow without remorſe. As civil people, that cannot ſwallow down couzenage and injuſtice, and yet neglect of prayer and other religious duties never troubleth them. And ſo ſome profeſſours, who cannot omit hearing ſermons and talking of religion, and yet can reſt without the power thereof.
3. It is remiſſe;3. It is remiſſe. that is, though it doth counſel and direct, yet it doth it with ſuch coldneſſe & remiſſeneſſe that it is eaſily anſwered and put off. Thus it was with David. It cannot be thought but his conſcience ſaid, Plot not againſt Vriah's life: But he would; and ſo conſcience let him do it. This conſcience will be anſwered with every ſlight and …dle excuſe: As when conſcience tel…eth one, Your wayes are not good: I wiſh you to repent, and make your peace with God; it may be the man anſwereth, Yea, ſo I mean to do; but I cannot yet intend it: when I have diſpatched ſuch and ſuch buſineſſe then I will do it. If conſcience ſpeak again, Yea, but you were beſt to do it now; True, ſaith he, I know it, I know it. If God would give me repentance I would repent: It is his gift; of my ſelf I cannot do it. Or when it telleth him of family-duties, it may be he anſwereth, I have no leiſure; ſo long as I go to God by my ſelf, I hope it will ſerve turn. Or when it telleth him of his wickedneſſe, …t may be he anſwereth, Many worſe then I have found mercy; and I hope ſo ſhall I. This is the conſcience that letteth a mans heart ſay, I ſhall have peace. Deut. 29.19.Now …onſcience being remiſſe and cold, it is …aſily put off and anſwered with theſe idle and fooliſh excuſes, or with ſome other pretenſes like theſe, and ſo letteth the man go and live as before. This conſcience is like Eli, which ſaid, Ye do not well, my ſonnes, but exerciſed no ſeverity to cauſe them to do otherwiſe.
Vſe.By this we ſee the dangerous eſtate of thoſe men who have ſuch a conſcience. There be many who live in many ſinnes, in carnall courſes, ſome in company-keeping and drunkenneſſe, ſome in hatred and variance, ſome in chambering and wantonneſſe, ſome in covetouſneſſe & love of this preſent world… your conſciences no queſtion can ſay Ye ſhould do well to be more godly, to look more after Chriſt and after heaven, and ye ſhould do well to get the truth of ſaving grace; yet it may be they ſay nothing or nothing to the purpoſe in this behalf. Therefore is theſe mens caſe ſo dangerous becauſe their conſciences are ſo ſilent and ſo remiſſe. They have loſt the moſt ſovereigne remedy, namely conſcience. Conſcience is the moſt ſovereigne means (under God and his holy Spirit) to work repentance in men that can be; and is it not dangerous to have it prove traiterous and unfaithful? What good can the miniſterie of the word do unto you when every idle and falſe excuſe or pretenſe which the wiſdome of the fleſh can deviſe can ſtop …he mouth of your conſcience when it …alleth upon you to do what the word …equireth? It muſt needs be dangerous, …nd ſo much the more becauſe it is ſo pleaſing unto you: ye take delight in ſuch ſilent, and large, and remiſſe unfaithfull conſciences; ye love not to have your conſciences too buſie with …ou; ye like not that your conſciences …hould be too clamourous and importunate with you; ye would have them not too rigid and vehement againſt your ſinnes. It fareth with you as with many young men who have ſold themſelves unto folly, and think none their friends but paraſites that flatter them, or thoſe who connive and wink at their folly: but ſuch friends will ſoon prove foes, and ſo will ſuch moderate and quiet conſciences. It is a dangerous …hing to have ſuch a ſilent conſcience; to want the chief means under God of doing a man good. It was conſcience that told the lepers,2. Kings 7.9. We do not well to hold our peace: It was conſcience that never would let the prodigall ſonne be quiet till he returned to his father, and ſaid unto him, I have ſinned againſt heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy ſonne: It is conſcience that is the moſt powerfull means under God to quicken a man up… to repentance and obedience; and therefore they are in a miſerable caſe that want this great help.
Queſt.But what are the cauſes why mens conſciences be ſo evil and unfaithfull?
Anſw.The cauſes hereof are chiefly theſe foure:
1. Ignorance is one cauſe why a mans conſcience is unfaithfull, when we do not labour to have conſcience throughly illightened and informed. Who are more careleſſe and negligent of their duties both to God and man? who can with more freedome lye, ſteal, covet, ſinne, &c. then thoſe that are ignorant of the law of God? They know not that they do ſo much hurt to their own ſouls as they do. An ignorant mind hath alwayes an evil conſcience. …t is impoſſible conſcience ſhould be …ithfull where it is not illightened: and …ence it cometh to paſſe that conſcience i… ſo negligent and unfaithfull, becauſe …e have been ſo careleſſe of informing …. Thy conſcience muſt needs be ſilent … long as thou art ignorant.1. Pet. 2.15. Ignorance … ſoon put to ſilence.
2. A ſecond cauſe is often ſlighting of conſcience. It may be conſcience ſpeaketh not, or but coldly and remiſſely, becauſe when it hath adviſed, and c…unſelled, and admoniſhed, thou haſt neglected it and diſregarded it from time to time. Though it judge and counſel, yet thou wilt not liſten: Like Caſſandra the propheteſſe, who though her predictions were true and certain, …t were they never believed: ſo though …nſcience ſpeaketh true, yet men fol…w it not; and therefore it becometh …ent when it is not regarded, but all … counſel, and adviſe, and perſwaſions …ghted and neglected. Hence, I ſay, it …meth to paſſe that for want of im…loyment it is ſtill and falleth aſleep, till the time come that it muſt be awaked.
3. The third cauſe is that violence that is often offered unto it. Many times when conſcience perſwadeth to any good duty, or diſſwadeth from any evi… courſe, men will do againſt it and withſtand it violently, & put off the wholeſome adviſe of it: hence it cometh to paſſe that conſcience having ſo many injuries offered unto it, beginneth to provide for its own eaſe, and ſo either it is ſilent and ſaith nothing, or elſe i… ſoon anſwered and rebuked; as it was with Moſes: When Pharaoh would never hearken unto Moſes, but ſtill fell to excuſes, and at laſt to deny all, he would not let Iſrael go notwithſtanding all that Moſes could urge, but ſaid to Moſes,Exod. 10.29. Get thee from me; take heed to thy ſelf; ſee my face no more; Moſes then anſwered, Thou haſt ſpoken well: I will ſe… thy face no more. So it is with conſcience; When men have been obſtinate and have refuſed to heare it, and woul… have it ſpeak no more, Thou haſt wel… ſpoken, ſaith conſcience: henceforth I will trouble you no more, but let you alone to take your courſe: I will adviſe you no more; or if I do I will not be any more impor…unate.
4. A fourth cauſe is, that men do wilfully ſtop the mouth of conſcience: …f it beginneth to ſpeak, preſently they …uſie themſelves about other things; or if that will not do, they runne into companie, and there ſpend their time, that the howlings of conſcience may not be heard; and if ſtill it be loud, they ſtrike up the drumme, and ring all …e bells, that the voice of it may be …terly drowned: and ſo conſcience at laſt is content to ſtand by, to heare and ſee & ſay nothing. By this means many …mes it falleth out that thoſe who …ave had very turbulent and clamou…us conſciences not ſuffering them … be quiet, have at laſt tamed them …d put them quite to ſilence; or if …ey do ſpeak, it is ſo coldly and re…iſſely that they care not whether they … obeyed or no. Oh theſe are damna…e and deviliſh deviſes! Whoever ye …e that do thus, ye are in a dangerous eſtate, and ye carry the brands of hell and damnation upon you. If ever you deſire to avoyd this dangerous eſtate, then ſhun the cauſe: Labour to have your conſcience throughly illightned and informed by the word of God, that it may reade you your duty. A friend that knoweth but little can give but little counſel. Again, give heed evermore to the counſel of conſcience. You know Achitophel took it ill that his counſel was not followed; therefore he made away himſelf in diſpleaſure: So conſcience will take it very ill if its counſel be not followed: it will ſtrangle it ſelf, and ſmother it ſelf; you ſhall hear no more of it. Eſpecially take heed you do not reject conſcience, nor offer violence to it: If you do, you will make it unfaithfull and remiſſe; and then you loſe the beſt means under heaven of your good: Then deadneſſe of ſpirit ſucceedeth, and hardneſſe of heart taketh place, and you deprive your ſouls of all poſſibility of cure. As long as a ſick man hath any poſſibility of cure he is ſtill under hope; but if ever he loſt that he is gone: Conſcience is the poſſibilitie of the ſoul to amendment; and therefore if you dull conſcience, and make conſcience remiſſe and unfaithfull, you take the ready way to deprive your ſelves of all poſſibility of riſing again. Conſider theſe things, and have a care of your conſciences.
And thus we have handled the office of conſcience about things to be done and omitted, with its adjuncts, affections, and properties in that behalf. I …ome now to conſider the office of conſcience about things already done or omitted, together with the affections of conſcience in the diſcharge of that office.