Christian See to Thy Conscience, Treatise · Chapter 26
CHAP. 26. Of the ſleepy Conſcience.
THe ſleepie conſcience is the ſtill ill conſcience, doing it office after the nature of one habitually ſlothfull and lazie.
There is a difference between a ſleepy conſcience, and the conſcience a ſleep, as much as between a ſleepy and drowſie fellow, and he that is diligent and yet ſome time falleth a ſleepe.
A good man may hauehave ſometime his conſcience a ſleep, as Dauid had, as the fiue wiſe Virgins had, Mat. 25. 5, and as we read of theCant. 5. 2. Spouſe in Canticles.
This happeneth of weakneſſe and infirmity, through ſome violent and preualent temptation: but it will quickly awaken upon the leaſt knock of the voice of Chriſt, Cant. 5. 2, vponupon a Nathans application, or upon a light affliction.
But the ſleepie conſcience, which is the conſcience of eueryevery drowſie and lazie Chriſtian, who takes no paines for Religion, but is like a ſleepie natured fellow: who is ſoone aſleep, hardly awakened, lazie in working, ſoone weary, ready to giuegive ouer, and no ſooner left off but aſleep againe, doing nothing but by enforcement, So fareth it with a ſleepy Conſcience, which ſoone ceaſeth it worke, is hardly rouſed, worketh but weakely, ſoone giuing ouer, and aſleepe againe, and cannot be kept on working, but by hearing of threats, and beholding, but eſpecially feeling the iudgements of God.
Section 1. What makes this ſleepy Conſcience.
THis ſleepy Conſcience commeth, firſt, from a lazie indiſpoſition to get knowledge. Secondly, From coldneſſe in Religion, as ſleepe from cold humours, and vaporous repletion of the braine. Thirdly, from doing our duties to God perfunctorily reſting vponupon the worke wrought, without ſpirit or life in the performance, as a lazy perſon doth his work. Fourthly, from an auerſeneſſe of all good meanes, which may rouze vp the Conſcience from its ſleepineſſe, as hearing of ſinne ſharpely rebuked, and threats denounced. Fifthly, from earthly contentment in pleaſure, eaſe, profit, aduancement, and vaine company, which rock the ſoule a ſleepe, making the minde and ſpirit drowzy in Chriſtianduties, whereby the Conſcience is lulled a ſleepe.
Section 2. The remedies.
TO heale this drowzie ſleepineſſe of Conſcience, and thorowly to awaken it, is, firſt, to get the right knowledge of God, with a conſideration of his all-ſeeing preſence before vsus, of his anger againſt ſin, and power to puniſh, and that hee will doe it iuſtly without reſpect of perſon. Secondly, to ſet before vsus Gods threats, the truth of his Word, puniſhments inflicted duplicate page duplicate page vponupon others, not only ſinnes committed, but ſeuerely for duties omitted. Thirdly, to pray for a quickned ſpirit, and the ſpiritIoh. 6. 63. Rom. 8. 11. that quickneth. Fourthly, to doe euer our ſeruice to God, as in his preſence, with our minds raiſed vp, our hearts awed with reuerence of his Maieſtie; ſo as in hearing we rouſe vp our ſpirits to heare attentiuely, to pray feruently, to doe what wee doe chearefully. Fifthly, to make an holy vſe of eueryevery croſſe, euen the leaſt that may befall vsus, to prouoke vsus to our duties. Sixthly, to heare willingly wordes of reproofe, and to admit of admonitions and exhortations, as ſpurres to take off our dulneſſe. Seuenthly, to keepe in remembrance our duties, and to lay vp in our hearts Gods Commandements, as Dauid did; and to ponder them, as Marie the Virgin did. Eighthly, to make ſome, and in ſome caſes, vowes vntounto God, to pricke vsus on in thoſe neceſſary duties, which we finde our ſelues too ſlacke in, as Dauid did, Pſal. 119. 106. By theſe forcible meanes, through Gods bleſſing, wee ſhall awake our Conſciences, to doe their offices liuely.