Christian See to Thy Conscience, Treatise · Chapter 44
CHAP. 44. Of the tender Conſcience.
THe tender conſcience is the paſſible conſcience eaſily touched with the leaſt ſin, in thought, word, and deed, as well in omiſſion, as commiſſion.
Section 1. In whom it is.
THis is the Conſcience of a Dauid, whoſe heart ſmote him in cutting off but the lappe of Sauls garment. This is the Conſcience of a ſoft hearted Ioſias, which will tremble and melt at the word. This is the Conſcience of ſuch as be eaſie to be intreated, endued with wiſedome from aboue, gentle and mercifull; This is the Conſcience of all ſuch as hauehave bin wounded in ſpirit, ſuch as hauehave felt the ſmart for ſin, anguiſh of heart, and the burthen of Gods diſpleaſure by former follies.
Section 2. Of the effects hereof.
THis tender conſcience, ſo rarely to bee found in theſe our daies, hath ſingular effects; Firſt, it makes a man humble in his owne eyes; willing rather to condemne himſelfe for eueryevery ſinne, then to excuſe, colour, or defend any ſin. Secondly, it makes a man watchfull; for it hath a quick ſight and diligently attendeth vntounto the rule, carefully thereby to guide all his actions. It is like the beaſts in Reu. 4. full of eyes before, to preuent ſinne, behind, to recall our ſelues, if any ſinne hath of infirmity beene committed. Thirdly, it makes a man fearefull to offend, and therefore moues him to auoid the very appearance1. Theſ. 5. 22. of euill, and to flie the occaſions of ſinning, as Ioſeph did, who would not be in the roome with his Miſtreſſe. Fourthly, It makes him vponupon this feare to walke preciſely, not doingforeign. Eph. 5. 15. Mat. 2. 8. any thing but vponupon a diligent inquiſition; it will not permit a man to fall vponupon a buſineſſe raſhly, at an hap hazzard. This cauſeth a man to be nice in that, which other make a ieſt of; This tenderneſſe made Daniel to refuſe to eate ofDan. 1. 6. the Kings meat, to pray three times a day, when it indangered his life. This made Dauid, that he would2. Sam. 23. 16. not drink of the water of the wel of Bethlehem: this made the ſons of Ionadab toIer. 35. 14. dwel in Tents, and to drink no wine: this made Mordecai Eſter 3. 2.not to bow his knee to Haman; Naboth not to ſell to Ahab his Garden, and old Eleazer not to diſſemble2. Mach. 6. the eating of a little ſwines fleſh. Fifthly, this will make a man carefull to auoid offence in things queſtionable, whether good or ill, if it be in a mans own power to doe, or leaue vndone at his owne pleaſure. Sixthly, this will make1. Cor. 8. 13 a Paul auoid offence in things indifferent, not to eate fleſh all his life, rather then ſcandalize an other. Seuenthly, it makes a man peaceable, eaſily to be intreated, to heare wholſome counſell, & repoofes, and to be glad to bee preuented in euill, as Dauid was, when Abigail met him. Laſtly it makes himLuk. 1. liue like a Zachary and an Elizabeth, and as Paul exhorteth, blameleſly, andPhil. 2. 15. harmeleſly, among others.
Section 3. Meanes to get and keepe it.
THis rare and moſt ſingular bleſſing of God may, through the Lords grace and helpe, be gotten, Firſt, by daily encreaſing our knowledge in eueryevery particular duty diſtinctly: Secondly, by continually remembring what wee are to doe. Thirdly, by examining eueryevery day before we take our reſt, wherein we hauehave failed in any duty, not onelyonly for ſubſtance, but alſo for circumſtance; Fourthly, by not letting ſlip any of our faults, nor ſleightly paſſing them by till wee feele ſorrow of heart for them, and till we find in vsus a holy reſolution to amend the ſame.
Thus ſhall we come in time vntounto a tender conſcience; now as thus we may get it, ſo by the ſame means and practiſe we may keepe it. Here theſe foure queſtions may fitly be propounded.
Section 4. Of the firſt queſtion.
WHether a tender Conſcience may not ſometime he ouerbuſie with a man, and in ſomething ſcrupulouſly trouble him?
Anſw. Yes verily, and that firſt, through feare of ſinning vponupon iealouſie and ſuſpicion, not knowing Chriſtian libertie in things indifferent. Rom. 14. 1. Secondly, through doubtfull diſputations, & none able, at the preſent, to determine and decide the queſtion: of which diſputes the Apoſtle in that fourteenth of the Romanes forwarneth. Thirdly, through falſe teachers, ſeeking to entangle, to inſnare, and beguile ſimple ſoules and tender hearts. Theſe brought the Galathians to the obſeruing of daies, and moneths, and times, and yeeres, Gal. 4. 10. being tenderly affected at the firſt to the truth, Verſ. 15. Theſe, it may ſeeme, ſought by vaine Phyloſophy and Traditions to trouble the Coloſſians with ſuperſtition in worſhipping Angels, in a will-worſhip, with touch not, taſte not, handle not, after the commandements of men, Col. 2. Fourthly, through weakeneſſe of iudgement to ſee and diſcerne betweene things lawfull and vnlawfull, lawfull1. Cor. 10. 23. and conuenient: which differences not well obſerued, the tender conſcience is troubled with ſome ſerupulouſneſſe.
Section 5. Of the ſecond queſtion.
WHat difference there is betweene tendernes of Conſcience, and ſcrupuloſitie of Conſcience.
Anſw. Betweene theſe two there is great difference in many things.
1. In the cauſes; for tenderneſſe is wrought by the grace of Gods Spirit, thorow the binding power of Gods Word. Scrupuloſitie ariſeth vponupon an ouer-inquiſitiueneſſe of naturall wit, inuenting of vnneceſ ſary queſtions, and buſily putting troubleſome caſes to intangle conſcience. The tender Conſcience is from a ſettled mind vponupon truths ſoberly receiued, and vponupon mature deliberation: Scrupuloſitie is from fickleneſſe of ſpirit vponupon various conceptions of a mans owne brarne ouer-haſtily approued, or vponupon other mens opinions raſhly beleeued and ſettled.
2. They differ in the ſubiect matter about which they are exerciſed. A tender Conſcience, if it bee troubled, it is about neceſſary duties to God or Man, of concerning themſelues. Scrupuloſitie is buſied about trifles, vnneceſſarie matters, and more concerning others then themſelues. The tender Conſcience, if it be vnquiet, it is by reaſon of ſome faire probabilities conceiued in the vnderſtanding, and the caſe very diſputable. Scrupuloſitie is diſquieted by coniectures, looſe imaginations, bare opinions of others, & in matters which might eaſily bee decided. The tender Conſcience keepes within the bounds of a mans owne Calling; and ſeeth that all bee right there. Scrupuloſitie is ranging abroad, makes a buſie body, and an Intermedler without warrant, while much is amiſſe at home.
3. They differ in their concomitants. Tenderneſſe of Conſcience is euer accompanied with humilitie, meekeneſſe, peaceableneſſe, with ſinceritie, and with charity towards their oppoſites. Scrupuloſity is high-minded, fierce, impatient at oppoſition, wanting louelove to Oppoſites, and is often tainted with hypocriſie.
4. They differ in their effects; for the tender Conſcience makes a man to louelove peace, to auoide vaine diſputations, and caſting forth vnneceſſary doubts, it hateth alſo ſingularitie, and cannot abide to be cenſorious. Scrupuloſitie is contentious, factious; it is fed with diſputes; it delighteth in doubtfull caſes, affecteth ſingularity, is troubleſome, and ouer-cenſorious.
5. They differ in the end: a tender conſcience aimeth at the pleaſing of God, Rom. 14. 6. and quiet liuingHeb. 12. 14 with others, as much as is poſſible, in holineſſe; being euer loth to trouble others, or to be troubleſome to it ſelfe. Scrupuloſitie ſeeketh it owne ſatisfaction, and applieth it ſelfe to ſide with others to make a faction. Thus they differ.
Section 6. Of the third Queſtion.
HOw the tender Conſcience may be preſerued againſt ſcrupuloſitie?
Anſw. To preuent this ſcrupuloſitie, firſt, auoide the cauſes of a ſcrupulous Conſcience, of which before in the 35. Chapter, and alſo in anſwer to the firſt of theſe queſtions in this Chapter, Sect. 4. Secondly, labour to hauehave theHeb. 5. 14. vnderſtanding exerciſed to diſcerne both good and euill, and to approue by knowledge the things thatPhil. 1. 9. 10. are different. Thirdly, cleaue cloſe to reſolued caſes, and be not carried away with eueryevery winde ofEph. 4. 14. doctrine. So ſhalt thou preuent this ſcrupuloſitie.
Section 7. Of the fourth queſtion.
BVt if a tender Conſcience hauehave a ſcruple, how may it be freed from it?
Anſw. 1. Vſe the remedies before preſcribed to cure the ſcrupulous Conſcience, Chap. 35. Sect. 4. Secondly, let not any ſcruple ſettle it ſelfe in the tender Conſcience, but goe forth with to ſome godly and learned Diuine, that can and will remoue it. Thirdly, in ſeeking reſolution, obiect freely, but ſo as there bee an honeſt deſire to receiue ſatisfaction of Conſcience. Fourthly, meditate afterwards much duplicate page duplicate page and more of the anſwers giuen, then ſtill how to inuent more obiections; and beware of cauilling againſt the anſwers, but rather preſſe Conſcience daily with them, and vſe them as weapons againſt ſuch ſcruples ariſing, and againſt other which ſeeke to vphold the ſcruple. And thus much of the tender Conſcience.