Christian See to Thy Conscience, Treatise · Chapter 45
CHAP. 45. Of the wounded Conſcience.
THis wounded Conſcience is that affliction of ſpirit which man cannot beare, Prou. 18. 14.
This may happen to good and holy men, as to a Iob, Chap. 6. 4. in whom the arrowes of the Almighty ſtucke, the poyſon wherof dranke vp his ſpirit, and the terrours of God ſet themſelues in aray againſt him. It may befall a Dauid, as we may reade in Pſal. 38. 1. 5. and 102. 1. 10. and 88. 7. 15.
Section 1. Of the Cauſes.
THis wound of Conſcience ariſeth of ſinne againſt Conſcience, 1. Cor. 8. 12. ſuch was Dauids great2. Sam. 12. Pſal. 51. ſinnes of adultery and murther: or for breach of ſome vow ſolemnely made, which God will require, Deut. 23. 21. Eccleſ. 5. 4. 5. 6. or for breach of a faithfull promiſe made in matter of moment to another. Of great affliction of Conſcience, for both theſe, home examples may bee brought both of men and women, and the wound hardly cured. The remembrance of ſinnes paſt, in youth committed, in time of great affliction may cauſe trouble; Iob, Chap. 13. 26. The Law powerfully enforced and applyed, without meditation of the Goſpell, may cauſe this affliction vponupon leſſer ſinnes committed, then thoſe condemned by the letter of the Law, eſpecially if the Conſcience be tender, euen for inward thoughts of heart, conceiued to be a mans owne, when they bee but meere ſuggeſtions, and Satanicall blaſphemies, as may be ſeene in that wounded ſpirit, and moſt lamentably diſtreſſed ſoule here not farre from vsus in this Countrie.
Section 2. Of the ſhort continuance of this wound in ſome.
THis Soules ſickneſſe,Pro. 18. 14. greater then any bodily ſickneſſe, hath not a like continuance in all. In ſome it is but for a while, in Peter ſhort; after he went out and wept bitterly, hee could ſpeake comfortably to Chriſt, after his reſurrection, of his louelove to him. Dauid had a bitter conflict after Nathan had reprooued him, and the Childe ſtrucken with ſickneſſe; ſo for numbring the people, after Gad had done the Lords meſſage to him: but he recouered in ſhort ſpace. Paul, who was called Saul, lay inAct. 9. 9. 17 18. affliction of ſpirit three dayes; but after Ananias came to him, he was refreſhed and comforted.
Thus it pleaſeth God to deale with ſome, leſt they ſhould be ſwallowed vp of2. Cor. 2. 7. too much ſorrow. And thoſe, which he thus ſheweth mercy vntounto, are ſuch as hauehave ſinned, and greatly tranſgreſſed in ſome odious ſinne, as adultery, murther, wilfull periury, inceſt, or bloodily perſecuting Gods people, which are vaſt ſinnes deadlily wounding the Conſcience. They are ſuch as thorowly and deepely can, and doe lay to heart their ſinnes, with paſſionate apprehenſion of Gods wrath, being quickly, and in a ſhort ſpace, at the depth of ſorrow, and neere the gulph of deſpaire. Therefore God will not ſuffer ſuch long to continue ſo, that they periſh not: for God is gracious, and of great compaſſion, aboundantExo. 34. 6. Pſ. 86. 5. Ioel 2. 13. in goodneſſe, and ready to forgiue.
Section 3. Of the long continuance in this wound.
AS God ſpeedily eaſeth ſome, ſo he lets other, who hauehave not fallen ſo fearefully, nor apprehend in ſo violent a manner their offences (though they bee made ſad, and alſo be much perplexed with ſorrow and griefe for ſinne) to lie longer vnderunder it. And it happeneth thus vntounto theſe:
1. Sometime from Gods reſtraining of his comfort for cauſes, beſt on owne to himſelfe; yet let theſe cry to God, and beg of him, as Dauid did, to ſay vntounto theirPſal. 35. 3. ſoule, I am thy ſaluation.
2. Satans working what hee can to make them deſpaire, by caſting into them impure and blaſphemous thoughts, and ſeeking to perſwade them, that theſe are not his, but the filth of their hearts, and malice againſt God; by telling them, that they hauehave ſinned the ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt: by aggrauating their ſinnes, endeauouring thereby to perſwade them, that their ſinnes are hainous in Gods ſight, though hid from man; and therefore God hath left them, heareth them not, helpes them not; becauſe of the greatneſſe of their ſinnes. Theſe, and other falſe ſuggeſtions hee troubles them with; with which they ſhould not bee troubled, becauſe the Diuell is a lyar, and euer a deceiuer.
3. This affliction ſometime continueth longer, for want of timely comfort from ſuch as ſhould afford him comfort. Therefore the Apoſtle had great care2 Cor. 2. 7. 8. 11. of this, leſt the man, which had committed ſo foule a fact, ſhould hauehave been ſwallowed vp of too much ſorrow becauſe the Church failed to ſhew him grace and fauour: Hee therefore perſwades them to forgiue him, and to comfort him, leſt Satan ſhould get aduantage: of whoſe deuiſes, in this caſe, Gods Miniſters, & Gods faithfull people ſhould not be ignorant.
4. This continuance is in part from the party afflicted, and that many waies. Firſt, through ignorance and errour of iudgement in their owne ſpirituall eſtate with God, falſely ſuppoſing themſelues to bee worſe then they are, becauſe of their often failings, as if Paul Rom. 7. 19failed not in that which he would hauehave done: becauſe of their falls, as if excellent men had neuer fallen, not a Noah, Lot, Moſes, Aaron, Dauid, Peter, and others, Becauſe the affliction continueth Pſ. 13. & 77. 7. 8. 9. & 88. 14. 15. 16.and they not deliuered, as if Dauid neuer ſaid, ſhall I neuer be remembred; and why caſteſt thou off my ſoule? Let the Pſalmes quoted in the margin bee read, and ſee how he held himſelfe as almoſt a forſakenPſal. 22. 1. man, who alſo cried out, my God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken mee.
2. Through the weakneſſe of their faith during the affliction, not being able to apply the promiſes ſo comfortably, as they ſhould: when yet, in this ſtate, they ſhould remember what the Father of the Child ſaid, Lord I beleeueMark. 9. help my vnbeliefe, & found acceptance with Chriſt; they ſhould ſay with Dauid, why art thou diſquieted, O my ſoule, truſt inPſal. 42. 5. God.
3. Through their falſe cenſure vponupon themſelues, as, that they want graces, becauſe they be weake in them, or that they feele them not to worke ſo liuely, as formerly they hauehave felt them, or now perceiue them to bee in others: or that their graces, which they hauehave, are not true, but ſhadowes, and the coun…erfeit of graces, or that they are hard hearted, that they cannot repent vnfaignedly, but are full of hipocriſie. But this falſe and too baſe eſteeme of themſelues muſt they lay aſide, and conſider, Firſt, that they ſhew to much vnthankfulneſſe to God for that which they hauehave; when it becommeth the vpright toPſ. 33. 1. be thankfull; Secondly, that they ſinne in belying themſelues. Thirdly, that they take parte with Satan againſt their owne ſoules: for this is that which hee doth ſtriue for, to make them to condemne themſelues, thus falſely to bring them to deſpaire, and therfore ſhould they not thus vntruly be accuſers of themſelues, and bee their owne enemies.
4. They continue thusSee the remoouing of theſe in the booke intituled, The Chriſtians daily walk in holy ſecurity and peace: 2. part, from pag. 39. to 174. through manifold falſe feares, as that God will not pardon thē that God loues them not, that they are caſt-awaies, that it is too late to repent, that if they could repent, it would be held hipocriſie, and ſo to no purpoſe, that their caſe is worſe then any mans, and many ſuch like.
5. Their replies which they make againſt offered comforts to preuent their owne peace and deliuerance, of which, and how to anſwer them, ſee the forenamed booke, and the firſtFol. 409. volume of Maſter Perkins, touching conſolations to a troubled Conſcience.
6. And laſtly, is their ignorance of the true remedies, or inability to apply thsm rightly.
Section 4. Of the effects of Conſcience afflicted.
THe ſorrowfull effects of a wounded ſpirit are not a few, as a deiection of ſpirit without cheerefulneſſe in religious exerciſes, as in hearing the word, praying, receiuing the Sacrament, Chriſtian conference and the like. Terrours and feare beſet them ſometime, and they are troubled with terrifying dreames; ſorrow of heart alſo oppreſſeth their ſpirits. Hence is it that they neglect their callings, lay aſide the duties therof, are careleſſe of their verie neceſſarie worldly buſineſſe, and much addicted to ſolitarineſſe, and to ſit muſing in a dump. Their ſoule is vexed, and finds no reſt: Dauids ſoule wasPſal. 6. 3. 6. & 31. 10. troubled within him, hee was full of griefe & ſighes, wearied with groanes, and waſhed his couch with teares. This was it that made Peter to goe out,Matth. 27. and weepe bitterly. This weakeneth the bodie: yea Dauid telleth vsus, that hisPſ. 31. 10. ſtrength failed him, and his bones were conſumed by reaſon of his ſinne; for a broken ſpirit dryeth th… Pro. 17. 22.bones. It will make a man weary of his life, and to vtter ſometimes very vncomfortable words, ſuch asPſal. 77. 7. 8. 9. theſe, will the Lord caſt off for euer? will he be fauourable no more? Is his mercy cleane gone for euer? Doth his promiſe faile for euermore? Hath God forgot to bee gracious? and hath he in anger ſhut vp his tender mercies? Yea, hee will cry out, My God, my God, why haſt thou for ſakenPſal. 22. 1. mee!
Theſe & other ſuch like bee the lamentable effects of the wounded ſoule: and therefore let vsus beware of wounding it; and if it be wounded labour the curing of it. Now for the curing of it, note two things, the preparatiues and the Remedie.
Section 5. Of the preparatiues to the curing of the wound.
THere are excellent preparatiues which help to make way to the remedy, and they be theſe.
1. Reſiſt the Diuell and that in three things, neuer diſpute with him, beleeue him in nothing hee ſaith, and caſt backe his ſecret blaſphemous ſuggeſtions vponupon himſelfe, when hee would make them thine: thus reſiſting he will flieIames 4. from thee.
2. Beware of all cauſeleſſe feares, and groundleſſe ſuſpicions of Gods fauour and louelove.
3. Do not deny Gods graces in thee, extenuate them not, nor vnderualue any of his gifts, whereby thou ſhouldeſt falſely miſtake thy ſelfe, and iudge of thy ſelfe worſe, then thou haſt cauſe to do.
4. Know and beleeue, that it is not ſinning, but the not repenting of ſinne that damneth man. For the beſt hauehave ſinned: and note alſo a difference betweene the regenerate and vnregenerate in ſinning: for in the one the man ſinneth; in the other, it is not hee that doth it, but ſinne that dwelleth in him. Rom. 7. 20.
5. Vnderſtand that weakneſſe and imperfection of graces and heauenly gifts makes not a nullity therof, not that therefore they are not true graces in them.
6. Conceiue thus much that the leaſt degree and meaſure of Gods graces, are true graces, are a teſtimonie of Gods good fauour, and aduanceth a man aboue his naturall condition and ſtate.
7. Take heed of making ſenſe and feeling the Iudge of thy ſpirituall eſtate with God, whilſt thou art in affliction of Conſcience, and in perplexity of ſpirit: forCant. 3. 1. & 5. 6. the Spouſe may ſeeke her beloued, and not find him for a while; hee may withdraw himſelfe for a ſpace, and not bee found, nor anſwer. And conſider withall, that it is one thing to hauehave graces, and an other to feele them liuelie at the preſent. Graces in their working are ſometimes weak, it ebbes, and flowes; waxeth & waineth; is more ſtrong & liuely at one time, and leſſe at an other: ſo that a good Chriſtian prayeth not, beleeues not, heares not, ioyeth not, loueth not goodneſſe nor good men euer a like. For he that faith he is alwaies the ſame in all holy duties did neuer any ſuch duty well, and much deceiueth himſelfe.
8. Thou muſt know a comfortable leſſon, which is this, that a Chriſtian mans obedience to the law is not legall now, but Euangelicall, performed vnderunder the Couenant of grace, and not from the Couenant of of works, which lieth not vponupon any in Ieſus Chriſt.
9. When any comfortleſſe or deſperate thoughts moleſt thee, checke thy ſelfe with Dauid, and ſay,Pſ. 77. 10. It is my infirmity, I will remember the yeeres of the right hand of the moſt Higheſt: call to mind thy former comforts, thy foretaſte of Gods fauour, and experience of his louelove, and meditate and ſtay on that. 10. And laſtly, in what anguiſh ſoeuer thou be, yet ceaſe not, neglect not to pray, to cry and call, to caſt vp eiaculations from thyPſal. 77. 2. heart vntounto God: for Dauid ſought God, when his ſoule was without comfort, yea, in the ſorrowes of death, and paines of Hell, euen then he prayedPſ. 116. 4. and ſaid, O Lord, I beſeech thee, deliuer my ſoule. By theſe preparatiues the Medicine for the ſoule will worke.
Section 6. Of the ſoueraigne ſalue to cure the wound.
THe afflicted and ſicke Patient hauing receiued theſe ten preparatiues, the Medicine will worke well. In the miniſtring whereof note, firſt, what it is; ſecondly, who muſt adminiſter the Phyſicke; thirdly, what is the inſtrumentall meanes for it; fourthly, after the receipt, what bee the Cordials for comfort.
The remedy for curing fully the wound is onelyonly one, and that is the ſauing knowledge of Ieſus Chriſt with faith in him. For if wee bee truly informed in theſe things, firſt, what Chriſt is in his perſon; ſecondly, what hee was ordained to be for vsus; thirdly, what here he hath done for vsus; fourthly, what hee now doth for vsus; and fifthly, what he will doe for vsus hereafter, at his ſecond comming: Then knowing, firſt, what wee by him are freed from; ſecondly, what wee are made by him; thirdly, what we hauehave here attained vntounto by him; fourthly, and what in the end we ſhall be by him:
By the knowledge of all theſe things, diſtinctly marked and vnderſtood, our faith will wholly reſt vponupon him, our Conſcience will be greatly comforted, and all the obiections met with, and fully anſwered, which may bee made by Satan, or by man himſelfe, and ſo the wound perfectly cured.
Section 7. By whom to be adminiſtred.
THe Phyſitian to adminiſter the Medicine, is inward and outward. The inward and principal is Gods holy Spirit, who begets faith, confirmeth it, makes man to take hold on Chriſt, and giueth him ſpirituall comfort; this is hee that is called the Comforter, without whom no comfort ſpirituall; we muſt therefore pray for this holy Spirit, becauſe God hath promiſed him, Luk. 11. 13.
The outward, is Gods2. Sam. 12. Act. 2. 37. 38. & 16. 2. King. 22 Miniſter, a Nathan to Dauid, Peter and the other Apoſtles to the Iewes, Paul and Sylas to the Gaoler, Huldah to Ioſias. For the Miniſter muſt be a faithfull Meſſenger from God, to whom God hath giuen miniſteriall authority to bind and to looſe. He muſt be learned in the SchooleEſay 50. 4. of temptations, and know how to deliuer a word in ſeaſon to the wearied ſoule. He muſt be one that vnderunder afflictions hath taſted of Gods comforts, ſo as he can tell to comfort others2. Cot. 1. 4. with thoſe comforts wherewith he himſelfe hath been comforted. Such a one knowes how aptly to apply the ſalue to the wound, for the beſt working of it.
Section 8. Of the inſtrumentall meanes.
THe meanes to be vſed in adminiſtring this ſpirituall phyſick, is onelyonly the Goſpell of Chriſt, from out of which all thoſe former things touching Chriſt and our ſelues are to bee learned. For this is the power of God to ſaluation;Rom. 1. 16. this is the miniſtration of the ſpirit and righteouſneſſe; this is it by which2. Cor. 3. 8. 9 Eph. 1. 13. faith is wrought, and wee made to truſt in the Lord Ieſus. And therefore to heale the wounded Conſcience the Goſpell muſt be well knowne.
Section 9. Of the Cordials to ſtrengthen the heart ſettled vponupon Chriſt.
FOr the better working of the heauenly and pretious Potion, and for the comforting of the heart vponupon the receipt more and more, theſe Cordials muſt be giuen, which are meditations full of conſolation.
1. That we are not vnderunderRom. 6. 14 the Law, but vnderunder Grace; we are in the couenant of Grace.
2. That this couenant is confirmed to eueryevery true Chriſtian by an oath, andHeb. 6. 18. ſealed by the pretiousHeb. 9. 12. blood of Ieſus Chriſt.
3. That parte of this couenant is, that Gods law ſhould be written in ourHeb. 8. 10. hearts, to make vsus affect it, and in our minds, to cauſe vsus to vnderſtand it, and that God will remember ourHeb. 10. 17 ſinnes and iniquities no more.
4. That Ieſus Chriſt, vponupon this his Fathers couenant and promiſe, inuitethMat. 11. 28 all that trauell, and are heauy laden, promiſing to refreſh them.
5. That now wee may boldly goe to him, beleeue1. Ioh. 3. 23 in him, not thinke it preſumption to take hold of him, for wee are commanded to beleeue in him, in whom God is euer wellMat. 3. 17. pleaſed.
6. That God in Chriſt is become our Father, full of compaſſion to pittie vsus, gracious to heare our requeſts,Pſ. 86. 15. long-ſuffring to forbeare vsus, and plentifull in mercy to pardon, and plentifull in truth, to keep with vsus what he hath promiſed: Hee will not the death ofEzech. 33. 11. a ſinner, but rather that hee ſhould liue. If wee confeſſe1. Ioh. 1. 9. our ſinnes, wee are bound to beleeue them pardoned, as he is faithfull and iuſt, who hath promiſed to forgiue them. Hee will looke vponupon the humble & pooreEſay 66. 2. & 57. 15. in ſpirit, the contrite heart, and one that trembles at his word will hee dwellPſ. 11. 27. with, and will not deſpiſe ſuch a one.
7. And laſtly, meditate vponupon the holy ſacrament; and vſe it often; for great comfort may an afflicted ſpirit reape thereby, if men did well know how to vſe it aright.
Section 10. How to keepe vsus from the wound of Conſcience.
IT is not enough to bee nealed, but when wee are ſound ſo to keepe vsus. It is here then fit to know how wee may keepe our Conſcience from wounding. And this is to keepe our ſelues from ſinne; for this onelyonly wounds it. Now to doe this,
1. Make Gods word euer the rule of all our actions; and enquire from it, what warrant for the matter, for the manner, for the end, how conuenient and ſeaſonable, and how lawfull for thee. Then in doing ſee and obſerue the agreement touching theſe things with the rule;
2. Bridle will and affections, and keepe them euer vnderunder reaſon, and this vnderunder religion.
3. Hearken to the dictate of Conſcience, and take heed of ſinning againſt the light thereof.
4. Make not light of any ſinne, the verie leaſt ſin, ſeeme it neuer ſo little in thine owne, or in the eyes of other men: for the not auoiding little ſinnes, is to make way for greater tranſgreſſions. And heere note fiue things not to bee careleſſe of the leaſt ſinne. Firſt, that Gods wiſdome is in the Law forbidding that ſinne. Secondly, that God hath power to maintaine his Law. Thirdly, that hee is iuſt to puniſh the contempt of his wiſedome and power. Fourthly, that not the leaſt ſin can bee redeemed but by the precious bloud of Chriſt. Laſtly, that little ſinnes, in mans conceit hauehave been moſt ſeuerely puniſhed, as Lots wife for looking back, Vzzah for touching the Arke; all mankind for Adams eating of the forbidden fruit.
5. Be very willing and glad to be preuented in ſin, by check of Conſcience, by reproofe of thy Teacher, by Chriſtian admonition, by any croſſe in the way, and by others example. And if thou beeſt ouer-taken, ly not in it, return ſpeedily, and aske heartily forgiueneſſe. Thus ſhalt thou preſerue thy Conſcience from any deadly wound.