Christian See to Thy Conscience, Treatise · Chapter 25
CHAP. 25. Of the blind Conſcience.
THe blind conſcience is the ſtill ill conſcience, called the blindneſſe of the heart, Eph. 4. 18. for blindneſſe properly cannot bee aſcribed to the heart; but to the mind or conſcience which is here ment by the heart, becauſe the mind is mentioned before in the text.
This is the conſcience of all before conuerſion, liuing in groſſe ignorance without vnderſtanding, of which there beetwo ſorts.
Section 1. Of the blind Conſcience of Heathen.
THe firſt ſort are the Gentiles of whom the Apoſtle properly ſpeakes in Eph. 4. The cauſes of which blindneſſe he there ſets downe, to be their vnderſtanding darkned, their ignorance, and their vnſenſiblenes, being paſt feeling, verſ. 18. 19.
The wofull effects whereof were theſe, they gaue themſelues ouer to laſciuiouſneſſe; and they wrought all vncleanneſſe with greedineſſe, as the text ſheweth.
Section 2. Of the blind Conſcience of Chriſtians.
THe other ſort of ſuch as hauehave this blind conſcience are the groſly ignorant Chriſtians, ſuch as liue in willfull and affected ignorance,Pro. 1. 29. & 19. 2. hating inſtruction, whoſe mind is not good; whom the Lord threats to ſhew neither fauour norEſay 27▪ 11 mercy vntounto.
Of theſe blind Conſcienced people there be two ſorts. the ſtone-blind, and the pur blind.
The ſtone-blind are ſuch as hauehave loſt the very light of nature, as ſauage, as heathen, who are called Darkneſſe. Theſe can ſee no moreEpheſ. 8. then men can ſee in darkeneſſe. Such be they as neuer had Gods ſunne-ſhine of his Word among them; but through rudeneſſe are beaſtlike, and through ignorance, but for onelyonly name of chriſtians, are no better then heathen in brutiſh qualities.
The Pur-blind are ſuch as ſee onelyonly great things, and the ſame not farre off neither, of ſuch ſpeakes Saint Peter, 2. Pet. 1. 9.
Theſe ſpeake of God, of Chriſt, and the holy Ghoſt onelyonly by heare ſay. They know Gods will onelyonly in groſſe in ſome generals; their beſt rule is ſome common principles in nature, experience, and what they ſee others do, further they cannot go.
Now as their vnderſtanding is, ſo is their conſcience: which happens to them, through want of knowledge and other graces, 2. Pet. 1. 5. 9. by their mind defiled, and vnbeliefe ſetled in them, Tit. 1. 15. By their ſelfe conceitedneſſe,Reu. 3. 17. which is the propertie of the blind and ignorant, andMat. 23. 16 19. of enuious and malicious perſons, who alſo are blind.
The effects of this blindneſſe of mind and Conſcience are, to be giuen ouerRom. 1. 22. to vile affections, idolatry, and filthy vncleaneneſſe of body. To be diſobedientTit. 1. 16. and to eueryevery good worke voide of iudgement and reprobate denying God, very Atheiſts, and abominable perſons.
Section 3. Of the miſery of ſuch.
SVch as be blind in mind, and ſo hauehave a blind conſcience, are miſerable, whoſe miſery may be liuely ſet out by one that is bodily blind. This man, firſt, hath no direction by eyeſight; no more the other by conſcience. Secondly, He goeth whithen his will and affections lead him without ſight, ſort his without conſcience. Thirdly, when he goeth whither hee intendeth, by himſelfe, it is either by meere imagination, or by hearſay, as he is told of others, or by cuſtome, through often going, or by feeling; ſo is it with him that hath a blind conſcience. His ſeruice to God is imaginary, or by tradition, or by cuſtome, but not by direction of Cōſcience ſeeing the rule, or from his feeling of Gods common fauours and outward bleſſings; which failing, they are at their wits end, and make an end of their deuotions. Fourthly, he needeth a leader, and is guided by him, but cannot iudge well of him: So the blind conſcience is led by his miniſter, or by others, but cannot iudge aright of them. Fiftly, he, tho in danger neere a pit, yet feares not, till hee be in: no more this, till he be in Hell. Sixthly, he wil, by others telling vntruly, feare, where no danger is; ſo this will be terrified by doctrines and commandements of men, as blind Papiſts be. Seuenthly, he cannot ſee his vncleaneneſſe, nor diſcerne how it is with him: no more can this, who thinks, through his blind conſcience, that all is well with him, hee is cleane enough. Laſtly, he is neuer the better for ſunne ſhine: no more is this for the ſhining light of the Goſpell.
The remedy to cure this blindneſſe of mind and conſcienceRēu. 3. 18. (for both euer goe together) is that which
Chriſt preſcribeth to annointPſal. 19. 8. Epheſ. 1. 17. 18. the eie with eieſalue: which is Gods Word and Spirit, by which the eies be opened: and with which S. Paul was ſent to open peoples eyes, Act. 26. 18.