A Treasury of Similes, Part C · Part 26
Conſcience good, or euill.
1 LIke as the body, when it is in good health is ſtrong, and able to beare the great ſtormes and colde of winter, and likewiſe the exceſſiue and vntemperate heate of the Sommer: Euen ſo a Conſcience that is whole, and fully reſolued, can beare ſtoutly all accidents, without yeelding or ſhrinking vnderunder the burthen and waight of any thing whatſoeuer may happen vntounto it. Act. 24.16. Pro. 15.15. 2. Cor. 1.12. 1. Timo. 1.5. 2. Timo. 1.3. Heb. 13.18. 1. Pet. 3.16.21.
2 And as a good Conſcience is as Sugar to ſweeten and mollifie all our affections: Euen ſo the other is as ſharp Vinegre, which ſowreth and troubleth all our ioyes and conſolations: and as the one is ſufficient to reſiſt all tentations, euen ſo the other is ſoft, cowardly, and vanquiſhed, aſſoone as it is aſſayled. 1. Timo. 4.2. Tit. 1.15.
3 As we are curious in looking to the health of our bodies, obſeruing for that purpoſe, the dyet and gouernment that is deliuered and appointed by the Phiſition vntounto vsus, and contrariwiſe, abſtaining from all thoſe meates and exceſſe which may offend and alter our health: Euen ſo, to the end that we may hauehave the ſame deſire and care to preſerue that health for our ſoules, it is conuenient that we marke diligently all the rules and ordinances of good life, which God the moſt high and ſoueraigne Phiſition, hath appointed vsus: and on the contrary ſide, to take heede, to auoyde and ſhunne all that which he hath prohibited and forbidden vsus.
4 Like as it is a great pleaſure and ioy for a man, who returning home, after alōg & wearifome iourney vntounto his owne houſe, findeth there his wife, who commeth to take him about the necke, and embraceth him, kiſſing, and making much of him: this courteous entertainment maketh him by and by to forget all his trauell which he hath endured in his iournie. And contrariwiſe, if he find his wife, after his returne, brawling, riotous, froward, and who in ſtead of comforting him, would all maner of wayes vexe and torment him: this doing, no doubt would encreaſe and double his paines and torments, which he hath endured in his long iourney: Euen ſuch is the eſtate of the Conſcience. Although that our enemies commit a thouſand outrages, violences, and villaines againſt vsus, if we returning from our ſelues, and entering into our own Conſcience, finde there one with a chearefull & merrie countenance, which doth comfort and content vsus, it maketh vsus in a moment to forget all our enemies: but on the other ſide, if we hauehave an euill Conſcience, it wearieth vsus in ſuch ſort, that we ſhal not find any houſe worſe then our owne, nor any place where we may worſe quiet our ſelues then with our ſelues.
5 Lke as an euill Conſcience is as a ſtraight bedde, in which a man cannot ſtretch himſelfe, nor turne himſelfe at pleaſure, becauſe it is a hard thing for a man there to ſleepe wel, and reſt quietly: Euen ſo likewiſe a man which hath a feſtered Conſcience, he cannot finde any place or condition to content him, and which is not altogether too ſtraight for him.
6 As there is no other meane to anſwere to the iudgement of God, & that can pacifie our Conſciences, but the righteouſneſſe and innocencie of Ieſus Chriſt, and not our owne; Euen ſo is it he alone, which can ſtand vsus in ſtead to ſatisfie the iudgement of our Conſciences.
17 Euen as vntamed horſes ſet to a chariot do ouerturne the ſame: So vnbridled and vnmortified affections ouerruling the vnderſtanding, doo cleane ouerthrow a good Conſcience.
8 Euen as our firſt Parents Adam and Eue, were caſt out of Paradice for taſting the forbidden fruite: So our Paradice is a good Conſcience; the forbidden fruite, are riches, honour, and pleaſure: and therefore if we ſet our affections vponupon riches, honour and pleaſures, we muſt needs be caſt from the fruition of our Paradice a good Conſcience.
9 Euen as two Turtle Doues, when one eateth, the other eateth, they ſleepe together, yea and die together: Euen ſo a good Conſcience and the graces of God in vsus, they encreaſe together, and die together.
10 As a faire and bewtifull countenance is pleaſant and gracious in a mans eyes: Euen ſo a good and purified Conſcience, is acceptable and delightſome in the ſight of God.
11 As ouermuch fulneſſe of the ſtomack, and ſuperfluitie of meates, groweth that obſtruction which the Phiſitians do call oppilation, or ſtopping, wherevpon breedeth a continuall headach, and that frenzie, which bringeth men to a madneſſe: Euen ſo, of a depraued and diſhoneſt louelove of this life, of the corruption of maners, of gluttonie and exceſse eating: doth ſpring an vnbridled and vntamed luſt, whereof ariſeth that phereneticall madneſſe of heretickes, and a corruption of their vnderſtanding in matters of faith: ſo that they which care not to keepe a good Conſcience, do at length fall to an incurable contempt of faith. 1. Timo. 1.5.19.
12 Like as if we hauehave a childe, that by crying is grieuous vntounto vsus, wee ſeeke to appeaſe and ſtill him, either by threates or promiſes, by gifts or ſtripes, but if hee will not be ſo ſtilled, either wee can ſend him away from vsus, or wee our ſelues go from him, that wee may not be troubled with his crying: But our Conſcience once feeling or apprehending the wrath of GGD euen but a little, will neuer ſuffer vsus to be quiet, promiſe, threaten, giuegive, ſtrike, what euer you do, ſtill it cryeth louder and louder, and ſtill it tormenteth: yea when you ſeeke to ſend it away, it ſticketh cloſer vntounto you, neither can you depart from it, for beeing in you, it is alwayes at hand.
13 Euen as he which is troubled with a burning feauer, is hotter then he which is parched with the Sunne: So is that man more troubled which hath a guiltie Conſcience, then a good man by all outward afflictions.
14 As the ſicke man, when he ſeemes to ſleepe and take his reſt, is inwardly full of troubles: So the benummed and drouſie Conſcience, wants not his ſecret pangs and terrors; and when it ſhall be rowſed and wakened by the iudgement of God, it waxeth cruell and fierce like a wilde beaſt.
15 Euen as all renued wounds, are hardly or neuer cured: So likewiſe when a man ſinnes againſt his Conſcience, as much as in him lyeth, he plungeth himſelfe into the gulfe of deſperation: for eueryevery wound of the Cōſcience, thogh the ſmart of it be litle felt, is a deadly wound: and he that goes on to ſinne againſt his Conſcience, cannot call vponupon the name of God, for a guiltie Conſcience makes a man flie from God.
16 As a Notarie or a Regiſter that hath alwayes the penne in his hand, to note and record whatſoeuer is ſaid or done, who alſo becauſe he keepes the Rolles and Records of the Court, can tell what hath bene ſaid and done many hundred yeares paſt: Euen ſo the Conſcience obſerues and takes notice of all things that we do, and inwardly and ſecretly within the heart, doth tell vsus of them all.
17 Like as the Maiſter of a priſon is knowne by this to hauehave care ouer his priſoners, if he ſend keepers with them to watch them, and to bring them home againe in time conuenient: Euen ſo Gods care to man, is manifeſt in this, that when he created man and placed him in the world, he gaue him Conſcience to be his Keeper, to follow him alwayes at the heeles, and to dogge him (as we ſay) and to prie into his actions, and to beare witneſſe of them all.
18 Euen as a man being to make an vnknowne iourney, ſhould finde one that would go with him, and ſhewe him the way, with all the turnings thereof, he could not but take it for a great point of curteſie: So likewiſe ſeeing we are Pilgrimes in this world, our life is our iourney, and God alſo hath appointed our Conſcience to be our companion and guide, to ſhewe vsus what courſe wee may take, and what we may not.
19 As a wilde beaſt, which ſo long as he lyeth a ſleepe ſeemes very tame and gentle, & hurts no man: but when he is rowzed, he then awakes and flies in a mans face, and offers to pull out his throate. So likewiſe it is the maner of a dead and benummed Conſcience, to lye ſtill and quiet, euen through the courſe of a mans life: and heerevpon a man would thinke (as moſt doo) that it were a good Conſcience indeede: but when ſickneſſe or death approacheth and commeth, it being awaked by the hand of God, begins to ſtand vponupon his legs, and ſhews his fierce eyes, and offers to rend out euen the very throate of the ſoule. Gene. 42.2.
20 As all the vertues of naturall men are indeed bewtifull ſinnes, and their Righteouſnes but a carnall Righteouſnes: So the Conſcience alſo of a carnall man, though it excuſe him for well dooing, is but a carnall Conſcience.
21 Like as when a man enters into his houſe at midnight, he findes or ſees nothing out of order: but let him come in the day time when the Sunne ſhineth, and hee ſhall then eſpie many faults in the houſe, and the very moates that flie vp and downe: Euen ſo let a man ſearch his heart in the ignorance and blindneſſe of his minde, he will ſtraightway thinke all is well: but let him once begin to ſearch himſelfe with the light and lanterne of the Law, and ſo he ſhall finde many foule corners in his heart and Conſcience, and many heapes of ſinnes in his life.
22 As ſome men ſeeke day and night, from yeare to yeare, for honours, riches, and pleaſures, which they muſt leaue behinde them: So much more ought we to ſeeke for renued and reformed Conſciences: conſidering that Conſcience will be with vsus in this life: in death, at the laſt iudgement, and for euer.
23 As a man arrayed and apparrelled in cloath of Tiſhue, ſet in a chaire of eſtate, hauing before him a table furniſhed with all daintie delicates: his ſeruants, Monarches, and Princes, his riches, the chiefeſt treaſures and Kingdomes of the world: but withal, ſuppoſe there were one ſtanding by with a naked ſword to cut his throate, or a wilde beaſt readie euer and anon to pull him in peeces, we cannot otherwiſe ſay, but that this mans eſtate, and all his happineſſe, is yet nothing but woe and miſerie: Euen ſo ſuch is the eſtate and condition of all men, that abounding with riches, honors, and pleaſures, carrie about them an euill Conſcience, which is a ſword to ſlay the ſoule, or as a rauenous beaſt, readie to ſuck the blood of the ſoule, and to rend it in peeces.
24 Like as in gouerning the Ship on the Sea, the Pilot holding the helme in his hand, hath alwayes an eye to the compaſſe: So we likewiſe in the ordering of our liues and conuerſations, muſt alwayes hauehave a ſpeciall regard to the Conſcience.
25 As God giues to the eye certaine lids of fleſh, to defend and couer it from outward iniuries: Euen ſo muſt we vſe meanes to auoyd whatſoeuer may offend or annoy Conſcience.
26 Euen as a paire of Turtle Doues, when the one feedes, the other feedeth; when one likes not, the other likes not; when the one dies, the other dies: So where good Conſcience is mainteined, there are many excellent gifts of God flouriſhing, and where Conſcience decayes, they alſo decay.
27 As diſeaſes if they be long neglected become incurable: So the Conſcience much and often wounded, admits no comfort; neither will it alwayes boote a man after many yeares to ſay, at the laſt caſt, Lord be mercifull vntounto me; I hauehave ſinned. Though ſome be receiued to merciemercy in time of death, yet farre more periſh in deſperation, that liued in their ſinnes wittingly and willingly againſt their owne Conſcience. Pharao, Saul, and Iudas, cried all Peccaui, I hauehave ſinned againſt God: yet Pharao is hardned more and more, and periſheth: Saul goeth on in his ſinnes and deſpaireth: Iudas made made away himſelf: And no maruell, for the multitude of ſinnes oppreſſe the Conſcience, and makes the heart to ouerflowe with ſuch a meaſure of grief, that it can faſten no affiance in the merciemercy of God.
28 As a Ship is on the Sea, if it be not well gouerned, or if there be a breach made into it, it draws water and ſinks, and ſo both men and wares, and all in likelihood are caſt away: So we are all as paſſengers: the world is an huge Sea through which we muſt paſſe: our Ship is the Conſcience of eueryevery man. 1. Timo. 1.19. &. 3.12. the wares are our Religion and ſaluation, and all other gifts of God. Therfore it ſtands vsus in hand to be alwayes at the helme, and to carrie our Sip with as euen a courſe as poſſibly wee can, to the entended porte of happineſſe, which is the ſaluation of our ſoules.