Christian See to Thy Conscience, Treatise · Chapter 42
CHAP. 42. Of the regenerate Conſcience.
MAn through his fall loſt the excellency of a good Conſcience, which in the regenerate man is in part renewed.
Section 1. What it is.
THis regenerate Conſcience, is the Conſcience reformed and informed by the renewed mind in the ſauing knowledge of Gods will vntounto all ſincere obedience to the law and to the Goſpell.
1. It is reformed, as be all other faculties of the ſoule, in a regenerate man: for Conſcience by ſin was defiled, Tit. 1. 14. and therfore is to be purged and ſanctified. Heb. 9. 14.
2. It is informed by the mind renewed, which is a better intelligencer then the morall conſcience hath: for the moraliſt hath not his mind renewed, as the regenerat man hath, who knoweth what that good, acceptable, and perfect will ofRom. 12. 2 God is.
3. This Conſcience is informed by the renewed mind, in the ſauing knowledge of Gods will, according to the law written anew in the mind and heart, Heb. 8. 10.
4. This works ſincere obedience, ſo that in ſimplicity & godly ſincerity the regenerate hauehave their conuerſation in the World. 2. Cor. 1. 12.
Laſtly, this obedience is performed both to the law and Goſpell. For the regenerat mans Conſcience is bound as well by the Goſpell, as by the law, vntounto all holy obedience: and the mind renewed propounds the precepts of the one, as well as of the other vntounto Conſcience to worke obedience.
Section 2. In whom it is.
THis Conſcience regenerate is in all the Elect of God, called by the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt; ſuch as be borne againe of water and the Holy Ghoſt, Ioh. 3. 5. and are made new Creatures in Chriſt, 2. Cor. 5. 17. hauing Gods image repaired in them, in knowledge, holineſſe and righteouſneſſe. Eph. 4. 24. Col. 3. 10. whereby they do wholy & entirely reſigne vp themſelues in obedience and humility to be guided by ſuch a Conſcience without reſtriction or euaſion, in reſpect of pleaſure, profit, or preferment, thoroughout the whole courſe of their liues.
Section 3. Of the cauſes hereof.
THis regenerat Conſcience is wrought by Gods Spirit which reneweth vsus, Tit. 3. 5. The inſtrumentall meanes is the Goſpel, called the miniſtration of the ſpirit, 2. Cor. 3. 8. becauſe the ſpirit is receiued by it. Gal. 3.
Section 4. Of the excellencie of it.
THis Conſcience ſo regenerate, Firſt, hath acquaintance with Gods ſpirit. Rom. 9. 1. 2. Secondly, vponupon this holy acquaintance they ioyne together to beare the regenerat man witneſſe, that hee is the Child of God, Rom. 8. 16. that hee is deſirous of others ſaluation, and grieued for their obſtinacy and blindneſſe. Rom. 9. 1. 2. Thirdly, Farther vponupon this acquaintance the Regenerat man hath now a kind of holy familiarity with God, yet ſo as it is with all reuerence and humility: Hee can now heare Gods law laid open without terrour: He now can poure out his ſoule before God, lay open all his ſinnes in the ſight of God with hope of remiſſion, which before he durſt not, though neuer ſo morally honeſt. Fourthly, This Conſcience, through ſuch ſpirituall acquaintance, is alwaies accompanied with ſpirituall graces, with vnfaigned faith, a pure heart, Chriſtian charity, 1. Tim. 1. 5. with willingneſſe to liue honeſtly, Heb. 13. 18. with ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, 2. Cor. 1. 12.
Section 5. Of the effects hereof.
SO as the effects of it cannot but bee admirable; For, firſt, it exacts of vsus attendance to Gods ſeruice, and herein it cannot endure dead workes, from which it is purged, Heb. 9. 14. ſo as it puts life in vsus, and cannot endure to hauehave vsus heare, read, pray, ſing, nor preach, coldly, drowſily, deadly, nor to reſt vponupon the worke wrought. Secondly, it requireth vniuerſall obedience, for matter in all things, for time alwaies. Heb. 13. 18. Act. 23. 1. Thirdly, it diſcouereth vntounto our ſelues the moſt ſecret and intricate cloſet of the heart; whatſoeuer is ill, it purſueth it, till it worke in the heart deteſtation. Fourthly, it lets not the regenerat man ſlip without a caueat, and remurmuration; and if he fall, it lets him not reſt but pincheth and nippeth him till hee take knowledge of his ſinne, till he ſee it, ſorrowes for it, and returneth. It cannot endure to hauehave him ſinke vnderunder ſinne; nor ſleep ſecurely till he hath ſought reconciliation with God. Fifthly, If it find him to grow ſlack in good duties, it will euer be telling him of it, it lets him not wax remiſſe and careleſſe, but by ſtinging inſtigations pricks him forward to his due obedience. duplicate page duplicate page And therefore ſhould we ſtriue to get this Conſcience, and hauing it, to make much of it, as that which will guide vsus well, worke vsus peace, and neuer leaue vsus, but will be our comfort in aduerſity, in temptation, in death, and at Chriſts appearing.