Christian See to Thy Conscience, Treatise · Chapter 48
CHAP. 48. Of the quiet good Conſcience.
WE may ſee by that which hath before been deliuered in the 44. Chapter, that a good Conſcience regenerated may bee yet ſometimes troubled, which is as a diſeaſe for a time, till it be healed, and made a quiet Conſcience. Which is the peaceable Conſcience clearing, acquiting, and abſoluing, like Saint Pauls, who knew1. Cor. 44. nothing by himſelfe. This is the Conſcience of an Henoth walking with God; of an Abraham, vpright in his walking before God; and of a Zachary and Elizabeth, liuing blameleſſe in all the Commandements of God.
Section 1. How come by.
THis peaceable Conſcience is attained by hauing Ieſus Chriſt, Melchizedech Heb. 7. 2.for our righteouſneſſe, and our King ofMat. 11. 28 peace, for he it is, that giueth his reſt and peace. Secondly, by iuſtifying faith,Ioh. 14. 27 apprehending, and applying his righteouſneſſe, for ſo hauehave wee peace withRom. 5. 1. God, which workes peace of Conſcience. Thirdly, by aſſurance of pardon for ſinne, through Ieſus Chriſt: for what can then diſquiet Conſcience? Dauids Conſcience was quiet after hee had obtained pardon; and where there is remiſſion,Heb. 10. 2. 18. there is no more ſacrifice for ſinne, nor conſcience of ſinne to vexe and trouble the penitent. Fourthly, by being a liuely member, and ſubiect of the Kingdome of God, and of Chriſt: becauſe there is ioy and peaceRo. 14. 17. in the holy Ghoſt. Fifthly, by God Spirit, the fruit whereof, among other, is peace. Sixthly, by the exerciſeGal. 5. 22. of praier, & making our requeſts known vntounto God, ſo ſhall the peace of GodPhil. 4. 6. 7. keepe our minds and harts through Chriſt: and God will be fauourable to vsus; and the light of his countenanceIob 33. 26. will afford vsus peace; ſo as we may then ſay with Dauid, Returne to thy reſt,Pſ. 116. 4. 7 O my ſoule, when we perceiue that God hath heard our prayers. Seuenthly, by walking in the old way,Ie…. 6. 16. and good way; for ſuch ſhall find reſt. Eighthly, by the worke of righteouſneſſe, which is peace, and the effect, quietneſſe and aſſurance for euer, Eſay 32. 17.
Section 2. Of the effects of it, and how to keepe it.
THe quiet Conſcience is a continuall Feaſt; it comforts vsus in going to God, & it makes vsus chearefull in holy duties, and in performing the duties of our Calling, and therein to2. Cor. 1. 12 reioyce. Therefore muſt we take care to keepe it, which is by auoiding all ſinne (for that onelyonly diſquiets it) and by ſeeking reſt and comfort euer in Ieſus Chriſt his righteouſneſſe; we liuing in all holy obedience, to the adorning of our Chriſtian profeſſion.
Section 3. Of the difference of this good quiet Conſcience, from the euill quiet Conſcience.
IT ſhall not bee impertinent here to ſet downe how theſe two may be diſcerned one from the other, leſt men deceiue themſelues.
The euil quiet Cōſcience ariſeth of ignorance and preſumption of Gods mercy in Chriſt. It commeth through cuſtom of ſinning, by an impenitent hard hart; often vponupon worldly proſperity, earthly contentment in pleaſures, profits, and preferments; but chiefly for want of ſearching their waies; for a man of an ill Conſcience dares not make a diligent ſearch into his ſoule touching his eſtate betweene God and him, becauſe hee hath not an acquittance to ſhew for his diſcharge.
But the quiet good conſcience ariſeth vponupon ſound knowledge, from aſſurance of Gods fauour through Chriſt, the ſoule being a dorned with graces, and the life of the man vertuous; it commeth through a thorow ſearch of his wayes, and an acquittance obtained for a full diſcharge of all his debt vntounto God. Other differences may bee collected out of the former Sections in this Chapter, and from the 23. Chapter, Section 3. and 4. where is handled the ſtill and quiet ill Conſcience.
Section 4. Whether this Conſcience neuer ſtirreth.
HEre it may be demanded, Whether this ſo quiet a Conſcience euer reſteth quiet?
Anſw. It is quiet, but yet ſo, as it will not faile to performe it duty to him whoſe it is, when hee is either ready to fall, or hath ſlipped a little out of the way: but it doth it friendly, as I may ſay; it flyeth not furiouſly into the face of the offender, as the ill quiet Conſcience will; but louingly with a quiet check ſeekes to preuent ſin, or to recall one backe for ſinne, and hauing obtained the effect of reproofe, it reſteth, and is quiet; yea, it comforteth, and encourageth to well-doing, which the other ill conſcience cannot, nor doth not.