A Guide to Godliness, Book 1 · Chapter 17
CAP. XVII.
Of the meanes whereby we may get a good Conſcience; and preſerue it being gotten.
§. Sect. 1 The firſt meanes of getting a good conſcience, is highly to eſteeme it.
NOw when by theſe ſignes we hauehave examined our ſelues, wee ſhall finde, either that we hauehave a good conſcience, or that we want it. If we hauehave it not, then are we carefully to vſe all good meanes, whereby we may attaine vntounto it; but if vponupon triall we find, that we hauehave it, then are we to reioyce in it, vſing all good meanes, whereby wee may preſerue and keepe ſafe ſo precious a Iewell. The meanes by which we may get a good conſcience, if we want it, are diuers. The firſt is, in our iudgements highly to eſteeme it, as one of Gods ſpeciall graces and richeſt gifts, and in our hearts and affections, to louelove and deſire it aboue all earthly things. And ſo will the Lord be more willing to beſtow it vponupon vsus, when we eſteeme and deſire it, according to the worth and value of it, and we alſo ſhall be more earneſt in vſing all good meanes to get it, and more thankefull vntounto God for it, when wee hauehave obtained it. Now that wee may eſteeme and deſire this gift of God, let vsus conſider, Firſt, that it is moſt excellent, and one of the chiefeſt parts of our happineſſe, giuing vsus a taſte and entrance into the ioyes of heauen, euen whileſt we are vponupon earth. For (as the Apoſtle ſaith) The Kingdome of God is not meates and drinkes, but righteouſneſſe, and peace, and ioy in the holy Ghoſt. But to what end ſhould I ſpeake of the excellencie Rom. 14. 17.of it which is vnſpeakeable, or labour to ſet foorth the beauty and brightneſſe of this heauenly light, which no mortall eye can behold in its perfect glory, ſeeing as the Apoſtle telleth vsus, it paſſeth all vnderſtanding? Phil. 4. 7.And therefore I will content my ſelfe to ſhaddow it darkely, and to giuegive ſome glimpſe of it (as of the Sunne in the water) by touching briefly the profit and neceſſitie of it. And for the vtility of this grace, that may bee ſaid of it, which the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of godlineſſe, that it is profitable vntounto all things, hauing the promiſe of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Like a witneſſe it giueth euidence on our ſide before God, and excuſeth vsus of all thoſe faults which Satan accuſeth vsus of, or the Law layeth to our charge; like an Aduocate it pleadeth our cauſe, and prooueth that wee are iuſt and innocent, through the righteouſneſſe and obedience of Ieſus Chriſt. As a iuſt Iudge, vponupon this euidence and plea it abſolueth vsus, and the iudgement thereof ſhall neuer bee trauerſed or reuerſed in this world, nor in the world to come. But looke what ſentence good conſcience paſſeth on earth, the ſupreme Iudge will ratifie at the great Day of aſſiſes, in which reſpect, if it condemne vsus not heere, then may wee hauehave confidence towards God, that hee will not condemne vsus hereafter. As a 1. Joh. 3. 21.comfortable and true friend, it alwayes beareth vsus company, incouraging vsus when we doe well, and reproouing vsus when we doe amiſſe, admoniſhing and warning vsus to looke to our footing, when wee walke in ſlippery places, and are in danger of falling, and to riſe, if wee doe fall for want of care in taking warning, by renewing our repentance. In our proſperity it is our guide to leade vsus on, and direct vsus in the right vſe of it; in our afflictiō it is our comforter, which ſpeaking peace within, doth make vsus with patience and ioy to beare all outward croſſes and calamities. In time of peace, or rather ceſſation of that conflict with the ſpirituall enemies of our ſaluation, it is a faithfull Watch-man, which leaues vsus to inioy our reſt and quiet when there is no danger, but yet admoniſheth vsus to ſleepe in our Chriſtian armour, ſeeing they are not gone, but hauehave onelyonly withdrawne their forces for their greater aduantage; and in time of warre Si rectè facies, hic murus abeneus eſto: nil conſcire ſibi, nulla palleſcere culpa. Horat. ad Moecenet. Ep. 1.when the enemie approcheth, and is ready to incounter vsus, it not onelyonly ſoundeth the alarme, that we may ſtart vp and ſtand in readineſſe, but alſo is armour of proofe, and euen a brazen wall to keepe vsus from danger when they aſſault vsus. Finally, it performeth all good duties, to all ſorts of men, at all times, and all places, accompanying the Iudge to the bench, the Lawyer to the barre, the Diuine both in his Study and Pulpit, the Tradeſman in his ſhop, and the Buyer and Seller in the market, teaching and admoniſhing them how they ſhall carry themſelues in all caſes, and both approouing them when they performe their dutie, and rebuking them, when for feare or fauour, glory or gaine, they doe neglect it. And from hence alſo the neceſſity of a good conſcience appeareth, ſeeing it bringeth with it ſo much good, of all which they are deſtitute that liue without it. Yea they are ſubiect to the contrary euils, hauing in them a witneſſe that daily accuſeth them, and a Iudge that condemneth them, no guide to leade them, no friend to admoniſh them, to incourage them in good, or diſcourage them in euill. Neither can they doe any thing pleaſing vntounto God: for the end of the Commandement is louelove, out of a pure heart, a good conſcience, 1. Tim. 1. 5.and faith vnfained; of which end they faile, that are deſtitute of it, and can doe nothing but ſinne againſt God, and bring vponupon themſelues fearefull condemnation: for if our corrupt conſciences condemne vsus, God the righteous and vnpartiall Iudge, who is greater then our conſciences, 1. Joh. 3. 20.will much more condemne vsus, as the Apoſtle Iohn ſpeaketh.
§. Sect. 2 Of the ſecond meanes to obtaine a good conſcience.
Secondly, we muſt labour to know the will of God reuealed in the Scriptures, and to apply what we know, vntounto our ſelues, for our owne vſe. For the conſcience iudgeth and witneſſeth with God, for vsus, or againſt vsus, and therefore we muſt know what he approueth and condemneth, if we would hauehave our iudgement and euidence to agree with his; otherwiſe our conſciences being vniuſt and erronious, will iudge vniuſtly of our actions, and giuegive in falſe euidence, when wee put our ſelues vponupon them for triall. More eſpecially, we muſt labour after the knowledge, both of the Law and the Goſpell; for the Law, as it is the rule of our actions, according to which they ought to be wholy conformed, ſo alſo it is the rule of our conſciences, whereby they diſcerne whether they be right or crooked, good or euill. It is the municipall law for the peculiar gouernement of Gods ſubiects, and the booke of Satutes, ſet out by our Soueraigne, according to which, conſcience is bound to iudge and giuegive euidence, which it cannot doe, vnleſſe it know, and be able to examine our actions according vntounto this law. In which regard, the conſciences of ignorant men do in moſt things miſleade them into manifold errours, becauſe they are not able to iudge of their actions according to Gods Law, which they know not, but giuegive ſentence of them according to their owne wills, humane traditions, and their owne inuentions, ſuperſtitious conceits and good meanings. And the like may be ſaid of thoſe, who hauing ſome knowledge of Gods Law, doe through negligence or prophaneneſſe neuer examine their actions by it, yea, rather being carried through the violence of their carnall luſts and paſſions, into all diſobedience and ſinne, and reſoluing in themſelues to goe on in their courſe, doe caſt the Law out of their ſight and remembrance, leſt conſcience hauing it to iudge by ſhould accuſe and condemne their euill actions, and ſo abate their pleaſure which they take in them. But eſpecially if we would hauehave good conſciences, we muſt apply vntounto our ſelues the ſentence of the Law, which condemneth Deut. 26. 27. Gal. 3. 10.all of ſinne, and ſubiecteth them vnderunder the curſe, who doe not continue in all that is written in the booke of the Law to doe it. For vntill the Law doe conuince vsus of ſinne, and that we cannot be iuſtified before God in our own righteouſneſſe, we ſhall reſt in it, & neuer ſeeke to be partakers of the righteouſnes of Chriſt, by which alone we can be iuſtified before God, and conſequently by it only obtaine peace of conſcience. In which regard it is not ſufficient to know, and apply the Law vntounto vsus; for this will worke in the conſcience terrours and feares, and no peace: but onelyonly vſe it as a ſchoolemaſter to teach vsus our owne vileneſſe and ſinfull corruption, and that we are in our ſelues moſt miſerable, & in the feareful ſtate of death and condemnation, that ſo it may bring vsus vntounto Chriſt, in whom alone we can be iuſtified and obtaine ſound and ſecure peace. And therfore if we would hauehave good conſciences, wee muſt alſo know the Goſpell, in which God of his free grace doth offer vntounto vsus peace and reconciliation in Ieſus Chriſt; wee muſt acquaint our ſelues with the couenant of grace, which is the maine foundation of all our peace, when as thereby wee are aſſured, not onelyonly that Gods mercies are infinite, and Chriſts merits all-ſufficient, but that they belong vntounto vsus, performing the condition of the couenant, that God for Chriſts ſake will forgiue vsus our ſinnes, be reconciled vntounto vsus, and Eſa. 32. 40.write his Law in our hearts, that we may not depart from him.
§. Sect. 3 The third meanes of a good conſcience is a liuely faith.
Thirdly, we muſt not, for the obtaining of a good conſcience, only know the Goſpell and Couenant of grace, with the ſweet promiſes therein contayned, but alſo apply them by a liuely faith, and in a ſpeciall maner intereſſe Rom. 5. 1. Heb. 9. 14. Col. 1. 20.our ſelues in them, by performing the condition of the couenant, which is our reſtipulation that we make with God. For we muſt be iuſtified by faith, before we can hauehave peace with him, or peace of conſcience. Our conſciences muſt be purged by the blood of Chriſt, from dead workes, and from the guilt and puniſhment of all our ſinnes, before they will ſpeake peace vntounto vsus. The Charter of our peace muſt be drawne vponupon the Croſſe, & ſealed with the effuſion of Chriſts blood, and muſt be receiued and pleaded by faith, before our conſciences will ceaſe accuſing and condemning, or ſtand with vsus vponupon any tearmes of peace. Now this faith muſt be approued to be vnfayned & ſound by the fruits which it bringeth forth in vnfained repentance, by the changing of our hearts, and renewing of our mindes, our hatred of euill, and louelove of good, our ſorrow for our ſinnes paſt, and reſolution to leaue and forſake them for the time to come, and to ſerue the Lord in the contrary duties of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe; without which fruits, faith is no liuing Tree, but a dead ſtocke, which will giuegive vsus no aſſurance of peace with God in the remiſſion of our ſinnes, and conſequently will bring with it no peace of conſcience. And hereof it is, that the promiſes of the Goſpell are as often made to repentant ſinners, as to thoſe that beleeue in Chriſt, becauſe though faith only be the condition of the Couenant, yet it is ſuch a faith alone, as is fruitfull in repentance. Neyther can this faith be ſo eaſily ſeene and diſcerned in it ſelfe, but onelyonly by the fruits that ſpring from it, which neceſſarily inferring this good Tree from which they ſpring, the promiſes are made to them, becauſe theſe being more ſenſible, they may be more eaſily applied.
§. Sect. 4 That the exerciſes of repentance are notable meanes to get a good conſcience, & alſo the louelove of God and our neighbours.
Fourthly, the exerciſes of repentance are notable meanes to worke peace of conſcience; as our often humbling of our ſelues before God in Luk. 1. 53. 1 Pet. 5. 5. Eſa. 57. 15. Pro. 28. 13.the ſight and ſence of our vileneſſe and vnworthineſſe, whereby our ſtony hearts are broken, and our ſpirits made contrite; our dayly confeſſion of our ſinnes vntounto God, and earneſt crauing of pardon for them, ſeeing our fayth will aſſure vsus, and anſwerably our conſciences will witneſſe with vsus, according to the rule of Gods Word, that humbling our ſelues, we ſhall be exalted; that being empty of all grace and goodneſſe, and hungring after it, we ſhal be filled and ſatiſfied; that the God of peace wil dwell with vsus, and bring his peace vntounto vsus, being of broken hearts and contrite ſpirits: and finally, that confeſſing and forſaking our ſinnes, we ſhall finde mercy, ſeeing it ſtandeth vponupon the truth of Gods promiſe, according to that of the Apoſtle, If we acknowledge and confeſſe our ſinnes, he is 1. Ioh. 1. 7, 8.faithfull and iuſt to forgiue vsus our ſinnes, and to cleanſe vsus from all vnrighteouſneſſe. Of which we hauehave experience in the example of Dauid, who being afflicted in the ſight and ſence of his ſinne, with terrours of conſcience, vſed this meanes to quiet it and get peace, I acknowledge (ſaith he) my ſin Pſal. 32. 4, 5.vntounto thee, and mine iniquity hauehave I not hid: I ſaid, I will confeſſe my tranſgreſſions vntounto the Lord, and thou forgaueſt the iniquity of my ſinne. Laſtly, the vnfained louelove of God and of our neighbours is a notable meanes for the obtayning of a good conſcience; for if we louelove God, our conſciences will witneſſe vntounto vsus that he loueth vsus, ſeeing his louelove ſhed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghoſt, worketh this louelove in vsus, and is that diuine fire and flame from which this heate commeth: for we louelove him, becauſe he loued 1. Ioh. 4. 19.vsus first, as the Apoſtle teſtifieth. And this louelove of God towards vsus, and our louelove towards him, will make vsus carefull to keepe our conſciences vnſpotted of any knowne ſinne, and zealous in doing all things which may be pleaſing in his ſight. From which ſenſe of our mutuall louelove, duplicate page duplicate page will ſpring peace vnſpeakeable, wee reſting ſecurely vponupon him who ſo loueth vsus, and whom we ſo louelove. According to that of the Apoſtle; Aboue Col. 3. 14, 15.all things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectneſſe, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts.
§. Sect. 5 Of the meanes whereby a good conſcience may be preſerued.
And theſe are the meanes of getting a good conſcience. The meanes of preſeruing it being gotten, are diuers. Firſt, the often renewing of our couenant of peace with God, by renewing the condition of it, on our part, faith and repentance. For as wee daily wound our conſciences through our frailty in falling into ſinne, whereby the peace of them is diſturbed, and defile them, by caſting vponupon them the filth of our corruptions: ſo our care muſt be, to heale daily theſe wounds, by applying vntounto them afreſh by the hand of faith, the ſoueraigne ſalue and balſam of Chriſts blood, which is of ſufficient and ſole vertue, and nothing elſe in the world, to heale theſe wounds; and alſo to waſh them as often in the teares of vnfained repentance, which will giuegive vsus aſſurance that they are purged and clenſed from all filth of ſinne. Secondly, being clenſed, our continuall care muſt be to keepe them cleane from all ſinne, eſpecially in our deſires, reſolutions, and indeuours, and howſoeuer we cannot hinder Rom. 6. 12.it from dwelling in vsus, yet we muſt take heede that it doe not ſo raigne in vsus, that we ſhould obey it willingly in the luſts thereof; for ſinne willingly nouriſhed, cannot poſſibly ſtand with this peace, ſeeing they doe wound and waſte the conſcience; which ſores, if they feſter and putrifie with corruption, will breed in them ſuch a gnawing worme, as will giuegive vntounto vsus no peace or reſt; but night and day will torture and torment vsus. Thirdly, let vsus daily mortifie all our ſinfull luſts, as wrath, enuie, malice, vncleane concupiſcence, pride, and the reſt, which will betray conſcience vntounto ſinne, and with their loud cries and tumultuous clamours, hinder it of all ſound peace and quiet. But eſpecially, we muſt crucifie all worldly luſts of ambition, couetouſneſſe, and voluptuouſneſſe, and weane our hearts from the louelove of earthly vanities: which otherwiſe if it be entertained, will ſet the peace of conſcience vntounto ſale, for the baſe price of pleaſure, profit, and preferment, as the miſerable experience of theſe times doe too plainely teach vsus. Fourthly, we muſt often examine our conſciences by the rule of Gods Word, whether they giuegive vntounto vsus true euidence and iudgement, the which muſt be done in the preſence of our ſupreme Iudge, who perfectly ſeeth all ſecrets, and giueth righteous iudgement, not onelyonly of all our actions, but euen of conſcience alſo, which as his Deputie iudgeth of them: Euen as the Iudges of the Kingdome, according to law, call to account all ſubiects, and paſſe ſentence of their actions, but yet are accountable to their Soueraigne, and hauehave all their iudgements and determinations ſubiect to his cenſure. And this is that anſwere 1. Pet. 3. 21. Act. 24. 16. & 23. 1.of a good conſcience towards God, whereof S. Peter ſpeaketh, which the Apoſtle Paul by continuall exerciſe indeuoured ſo to make, as he might be accepted of him. Which that we may the better doe at the great Day of reckoning, we muſt often put conſcience to iudge and examine it ſelfe, according to the rule of the Scriptures, that the Booke of Gods Law, and the booke of conſcience may agree together; and alſo deſire the Lord in priuate, often to try and examine vsus and it, that all things being cleered Pſal. 26. 1, 2.betweene vsus and him, we may not come to publike ſhame, when wee are called to giuegive an account in the Starre-chamber of heauen. Fifthly, we are to keepe our conſciences cleane and vndefiled from dead workes, and not to ſmother any ſinne in them without iudgement and execution, though for life and liberty, it offer to bribe vsus with all the honours, riches, and pleaſures in the world. For if conſcience be not pure and vnpartiall, in condemning all ſinne, it can neuer be peaceable, ſeeing it will be bound ouer to anſwere before the ſupreme Iudge, for conniuencie and partiall iudgement; and for not condemning and puniſhing ſinne as his Vicegerent, according to law, ſhall it ſelfe be found an acceſſary, and guilty of that ſinne which it tolerated in vsus, and ſo ſhal be condemned and tortured with that gnawing worme which neuer dieth. Laſtly, we muſt continually meditate of the day of Iudgement, when as a cleere and good conſcience will be better vntounto vsus then ten thouſand worlds. The which will make vsus carefull to preſerue our conſciences in their purity and peace, ſeeing if they doe not approue vsus at that day, we can neuer be iuſtified before the tribunall of Gods Iudgement. And as Iudges and Notaries, knowing that their wiſe, iuſt, and iudicious King will exactly view and examine their Bookes and Records, are made thereby carefull to keepe them faire, and without the aſperſion of any faultineſſe, and, if they hauehave failed in the iuſt executing of their office, will doe what they can to bee free from all imputation; ſo wee being to ſhew our bookes of conſcience before the King of heauen and earth, are to be much more carefull, that they may be vnblemiſhed, and without all ſpots of ſinne; and becauſe wee often blot and blemiſh them in this life, and hauehave our faults and ſinnes often interlined; we muſt labour to get out all theſe blots and ſtaines, by waſhing them often with the hand of faith in the blood of Chriſt, and in that aqua fortis, and powerfull water, which flowed out of his ſide; that ſo our ſinnes not being found in theſe bookes of account, may not be imputed vntounto vsus, nor bring vponupon vsus that iuſt condemnation which they hauehave deſerued. And ſo much concerning a good conſcience, and thoſe fundamentall vertues, which are the maine grounds of a godly life.