Two Treatises, Treatise 1 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
The comfort and benefit of a good conſcience in the dayes of Death and Iudgement.
IN the fourth place, The time of death is a time wherein the benefit and comfort of a good conſcience is exceeding great. Death hath a ghaſtly looke and 4. The comfort of a good conſcience at the day of Death.terrible, able to daunt the proudeſt and braveſt ſpirit in the world, but then hath it a ghaſtly looke indeed, when it faces an evill conſcience. Indeed ſometimes, and moſt commonly, conſcience in many, is ſecure at the time of death. God in his juſtice, ſo plaguing an affected ſecurity in life, with an inflicted ſecurity at Death. And the Lord ſeemes to ſay as once to the Prophet, Go make their conſciences aſleepe at their death, as they have made it aſleepe all their life, leſt conſcience ſhould ſee and ſpeake, and they heare, and be ſaved. God deales with conſcience as with the Prophet, Ez. 3. 26. I will make thy tongue cleave to the roofe of thy mouth, that thou ſhalt be dumbe; therefore they die, though not deſparately as Saul, and Achitophel, yet ſottiſhly without comfort, and feeling of Gods love as Nabal. But if conſcience be awakened, and have its eyes, and mouth opened, no heart can imagine the deſparate and unſufferable diſtreſſes of ſuch an heart, Terrours take hold of him, as waters, Iob 27. 20. Terrours make him afrai: on every ſide, Iob 18. 11. Then is that true, Iob 25. 23, 24. Hee knowes that the day of darkneſſe is ready at hand. Trouble and anguiſh ſhall make him afraid, they ſhall prevaile againſt him, as a King ready to the battell. And no wonder, for hee is now brought unto the King of Terrours, as Death is called, Iob 18. 14. A man that hath an ill conſcience, if his eyes be opened, and his conſcience awakened, he ſees death in all the terrible ſhapes that may bee. Sometimes he ſees death comming like a mercileſſe Officer, and a cruell Sergeant, to arreſt, and to drag him by the throat to the priſon and place of Torment, Pſal. 55. 15. Let death ſeize upon them. They ſee it comming like that cruell ſervant in the Parable to his fellow, Math. 18. catching them by the very throat.
Sometimes he ſees death in the ſhape of ſome greedy Lyon, or ſome ravening Wolfe ready to devour him, and to feed upon his carkaſſe, Pſ. 49. 14. Death ſhall feed on them, even as a ravenous beaſt ſhall feed upon his prey. Imagine in what a terrible plight the Samaritans where in when the Lyons ſet upon them, 2 Kin. 17. and by it imagine in what caſe an ill conſcience is, when it beholds the face of death. It puts an ill conſcience into that caſe in good earneſt that David was in, in the caſe of triall, Pſ. 55. 4, 5. My heart is ſore pained within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me, fearfulneſſe and trembling are come upon mee, and horrour hath overwhelmed me.
Sometimes againe he ſees death as the Iſraelites the fiery ſerpents with mortall ſtings; Sometimes as a mercileſſe landlord, or the Sheriffe comming with a Writ of Firmae ejectione, to throw him out of houſe and home, and to turne him to the wide Common; yea he ſees death as Gods executioner and meſſenger of eternall death, yea, hee ſees death with as much horrour as if hee ſaw the Devill. In ſo many fearfull ſhapes appeares death to an evill conſcience upon the death-bed. So as it is indeed the King of terrors to ſuch an one that hath the terrors of conſcience within. There is no one thought ſo terrible to ſuch an one, as the thought of death, nothing that hee more wiſhes to avoid. Oh, how loath, and unwilling is ſuch an one to dye.
But come now to a man that hath lived as Paul did in all good conſcience, and how is it with him upon his death-bed? His end is peace; ſo full of joy and comfort; ſo is hee raviſhed with the inward and unſpeakable conſolations of his conſcience, that it is no wonder at all that Balaam ſhould wiſh to dye the death of the righteous, the death of a man with a good conſcience.
The day of a mens mariage, is the day of the joy of a mans heart, Can. 3. 11. and the day of mariage is not ſo joyfull a day, as is the day of death to a good conſcience. There are but few that can marry with that joy wherewith a good conſcience dies.
It enables a man not onelyonly to looke Ananias and the Councel in the face, but even to look death it ſelfe in the face, without thoſe amazing terrours, yea, it makes the face of death ſeeme lovely, and amiable. Hee whoſe conſcience is good, and ſees the face of God reconciled to him in Chriſt, hee can ſay as Iacob did when he ſaw the face of Ioſeph, Gen. 46. 30. Now let me dye, ſince I have ſeene thy face. It is the priviledge of a good conſcience alone, to goe to the grave, as Agag did to Samuel, and to ſay that truly, which he ſpake beſides the booke, 1 Sam. 15. 32. Hee came pleaſantly, and hee ſaid, Surely the bitterneſſe of death is paſt. Hee was deceived, and therefore had no ſuch cauſe to be ſo pleaſant, but a good conſcience can, yea, cannot chuſe but be ſo pleaſant, even when going out of the world, becauſe the guilt of ſinne being waſhed away in Chriſts blood; it knowes that the bitterneſſe of death is paſt, and the ſweetneſſe of life eternall is at hand.
A man whoſe debts are paid, he dares goe out of doores, dare meet and face the Sergeants, and the conſcience purged by the blood of Chriſt, can look as undauntedly on the face of death. He that hath forgotten the ſting, that is, the guilt of conſcience, taken away by faith in Chriſt, he lookes not upon death as the Iſraelites upon the fiery Serpents, but lookes upon it as Paul doth, 1 Cor. 15. O death where is thy ſting? Who feares a Bee, an Hornet, a Snake, or a Serpent, when they have loſt their ſting. The guilt of ſinne is the ſting of conſcience, its the ſting of death that ſtings the conſcience. The ſting of death is ſinne, 1 Cor. 15. Plucke then ſin out of the conſcience, and at once the conſcience is made good, and death made weake, and diſarmed of his weapon. And when the conſcience ſees death unſtinged and diſarmed, it is freed of feare, and even in the very act of death, can joyfully triumph over death, oh Death where is thy ſting?
A good conſcience lookes upon death, as upon the Sheriffe that comes to give him poſſeſſion of his Inheritance, or as Lazarus upon the Angels that came to carry his ſoule into Abrahams boſome, and therfore can welcome death, and entertaine him joyfully. And whereas an ill conſcience makes a man ſee death as if he ſaw the Devill, a good conſcience makes a man ſee the face of death, as Iacob ſaw Eſau's face, Gen. 33. I have ſeene thy face, as the face of God; they ſee the face of death with unſpeakeable joy, raviſhment of heart, and exultation of ſpirit.
Well now, what a motive have wee here, to make us labour for good conſcience. Even Balaam himſelfe would faine make a good end, and die in peace: and who wiſhes not his death-bed may be a mount Nebo, from whence he may ſee the heavenly Canaan? Lo here, Balaam, the way to dye the death of the righteous, I have lived in all good conſcience untill this day. They that have conſcience in their life, ſhal have comfort at their death; they that live conſcionably, they ſhal dy comfortably; they that live in all good conſcience till their dying day, ſhall depart in the abundance of comfort at their dying day.
There will come a day wherein wee muſt lay downe theſe Tabernacles, the day of death will aſſuredly come. How lamentable a thing will it then be, to be ſo deſtitute, and deſolate of all comfort, as to be driven to that extremity, as to curſe our birth day? oh! what would Comfort be worth at our laſt houre, at our laſt gaſpe, whilſt our deareſt friends, ſhall be weeping, wringing their hands and lamenting; then, then what would inward comfort be worth? Who would not hold the whole world an eaſie price for it then? Well then, would wee then have Comfort and Ioy, oh then get a good conſcience now, which will yield comfort, when all other comforts ſhall utterly faile, and ſhall be life in the middſt of death. How happy is that man, that when the ſentence of death is paſſed upon him, can ſay with Hezekiah, Iſ. 38. 3. Remember now O Lord, I beſeech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy ſight. Indeed the text ſayes, that Hezekiah wept ſore, but yet, not as fearing death, for hee could not feare death, who had thus feared God, but becauſe the promiſe was not yet made good to him in a Son and Heire of his kingdome; hence came thoſe teares. It is otherwiſe an unſpeakable joy, that ſuch a conſcience as Hezekiahs was, will ſpeake to a man upon his death-bed.
Every one profeſſes a deſire to make a good end: Here is the way to make good that deſire, to live in all good conſcience. Alas how pittifull, and miſerable a condition live moſt men in; All the dayes of their life and health, they have no regard of a good conſcience. Notwithſtanding that men are preſſed continually to this one care, by the inſtancie and importutunitie of Gods Miniſters, yet how miſerably is it neglected? Well, at laſt the day of death comes, and then what would not they give for a comfortable end? If the gold of Ophir would purchaſe comfort, it ſhould flie then. Then poaſt for this Miniſter, and run for the other, as in the ſweating ſickneſſe in King Edwards dayes, then for Gods ſake but one word of comfort, then O bleſſed men of God, one word of peace. Now alas what would you have them to doe? Are they or your own courſes in fault, that you want comfort at your death? What would you have us doe? Wee muſt referre you to your owne conſciences, we cannot make oyle of flint, nor cruſh ſweet wine out of ſowre Grapes, we dare not flatter you againſt your cōſciences. If you would give us a world, we cannot comfort you when your owne conſciences witneſſe againſt you, that ſuch comforts belong not to you. Doe not idely in this caſe hope for comfort from Miniſters, be it knowne unto you, you muſt have it from your owne conſciences. Many on their deathbed cry to the Miniſter, as ſhe did to the King, 2 King 6. 26, 27. Helpe my Lord O King. But marke what hee anſwers, If the Lord doe not helpe thee, whence ſhall I helpe thee, out of the barne floore, or out of the Wine preſſe? So muſt wee anſwer to ſuch as cry, Helpe, helpe, O man of God: If God and your owne conſciences helpe you not, whence ſhall we help you? If there had beene Corne within the barnes, the King could eaſily have helped her, but he could not make corne: So if men have carryed any thing into their conſciences, if they themſelves have inned any proviſion and comfort, by being conſcionable in their lives, then we can helpe and comfort them, but otherwiſe doe not thinke that we can make comforts, and make good conſciences upon your death-beds. If your conſciences can ſay for you, that you have beene carefull in your life time to know God, to walke holily and religiouſly before him, &c. then wee dare be bold to comfort and cheere you, then dare wee ſpeake peace confidently to you. But if your conſciences accuſe you of your ignorance, your oathes, Sabbath-breaches, worldlineſſe, rebellion, uncleanneſſe, oppreſſion, drunkenneſſe, &c. and finally, impenitencie: What is it you would have us to doe? What can wee ſay, but as the Prophet to Zedekiah, Ier. 37. 19. Where are now your Prophets that propheſied unto you, ſaying, the King of Babylon ſhall not come againſt you? So, where be thoſe that in your life time told you, ye need not to be ſo careful and preciſe to keep good conſciences, leſſe ado will ſerve the turne, now what think ye of them? now what peace have you in thoſe wayes, what comfort can theſe give you now? Or elſe what can we ſay when men in anguiſh of conſcience lye toſſing upon their beds, but what Reuben ſaid to his brethren when they were in diſtreſſe, Gen. 42. 21, 22. Did not I warne you, ſaying, Sin not, &c. So muſt wee, what doe ye call to us for comfort? did not wee warne you many a time and oft, ſaying, Sinne not, nor live in thoſe dangerous courſes? Did not wee warne you? Oh to have our conſciences and Gods Miniſters thus to grate upon us, what an uncomfortable condition will this be? Would wee then prevent ſuch ſorrow, and be cheerfull, and cheered at our latter ends? lay up a good conſcience, then, lay in ſomewhat for conſcience, and Gods Miniſters to worke upon, and from which they both may be able to raiſe comfort to you. Get a good conſcience, and live in it all thy dayes, and then though thou ſhouldeſt want the benefit of a comforting Miniſter, yet thy conſcience ſhall doe the office of a comforting Miniſter, and ſhall be the ſame unto thee that the Angel was unto Chriſt in his agony, Luke 22. 43. and ſhall miniſter ſuch comfort unto thee, as ſhall make thee ready to leap into the grave for joy. This ſhall be as another Iacobs ſtaffe for thee to leane & reſt upon, when thou ſhalt be upon thy death-bed. If men knew but the worth of a good conſcience at the houre of death, wee ſhould need no other motive to worke mens hearts to be in love therewith.
Fiftly and laſtly, the benefit and comfort 5. The comfort of a good conſcience at the day of Iudgment.of a good conſcience is great at the day of judgement. Oh the ſweet comfort and confidence of heart that a good conſcience will yield unto a man at that day. What will become of all the Gigantean ſpirits, and the brave fellowes of the earth then? Alas for their yellings, and curſing of themſelves, and their companions! what howling and crying to the mountaines, as they did, Revel. 6. Hide us, Cover us, yea, daſh and quaſh us in a thouſand pieces. When an ill conſcience is awakened, it is not to be imagined how ſmall a thing will gaſtre it. The ſound of a ſhaken leafe ſhall chaſe them, and they ſhall fly, as flying from a ſword, and they ſhall fall when none purſues, Levit. 26. 36. A dreadfull ſound is in his eares, Iob. 15. 21. Hee heares nothing, but he thinkes he heares alwaies ſome terrible and dreadfull noiſe. And then if a ſhaken leafe ſhall chaſe, and ſhall put them into a ſhaking feare, what caſe will ſuch be in, when as Iob ſpeakes Iob 26. 11. The pillars of heaven ſhall tremble, and when the powers of heaven ſhall be ſhaken, Luke 21. 26. When the heavens ſhall ſhake and flame above them, when the earth ſhall quake, and tremble under them, what caſe will they be in then? If meere imaginations fill their eares with dreadfull ſounds where there is no ſound at all: Oh what a dreadfull ſound ſhall be in their eares when the Sea ſhall roare, Luk 21. 25. when the laſt trumpe ſhall ſound, 1 Cor. 15. when they ſhall heare the ſhout and voyce of an Angel, 1 Theſ. 4. 16. what dreadfull ſounds will theſe be in the eares of ill conſciences? How will theſe dreadfull ſounds confound their ſoules with horrour and amazement.
But now for a good conſcience, how is it with it then? Even amiddſt all theſe dreadfull ſounds it lookes up, and lifts up the head, Luke 21. 28. and enables a man with a cheery confidence to ſtand before the Son of man, Luke 21. 36.
The Malefactor who looks for the halter, how dreadful is the Iudges cōming to the Aſſiſes, attended with the troopes of halberds, in his eye; but the priſoner that knowes his owne innocencie, and that he ſhall be quit & diſcharged, his heart leaps at the Iudges approach, how terrible ſoever he come attēded to the bench, it glads his heart to ſee that day, which ſhalbe the day of his liberty & releaſe. An hypocrite ſhall not come before him, Ioh. 13. 16. much leſſe, ſhal look up, & lift up his head, or ſtand before him, Pſ. 1. 5. But the righteous, and the man with a good conſcience, he ſhall hold up, and cheerfully lift up his head, when all the ſurly, and proud Zamzummins of the earth, that here lifted up their heads and nebs ſo high, ſhall become howling and trembling ſuitors to the deafe mountaines to hide them from the preſence of the Lambe on the throne. Oh! they that feare the Lambe on the throne, how dreadfull unto them will be the Lyon on the throne?
It will be with good and evill conſciences in that day, as it was with Pharoahs Butler, and Baker, on Pharaohs birth-day. The Butler he knew hee ſhould be reſtored to honour, and go from the Priſon to the Palace, therefore he comes out of the priſon ful of joy, & jollity, he holds up his head, and outfaces the proudeſt of his enemies. But the Baker hee knowes his head ſhall be lift from off him, and therefore when Pharaohs birth-day comes, wherein all others are in jollity, yet hee droopes and hangs downe the head, hee knowes it would prove an heavie day of reckoning with him.
Such will the apparition of Chriſt unto judgement be, unto good and evill conſciences, as was the apparition of the Angel, Math. 28. 2, 3, 4, 5. There was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord deſcended frō heaven, his countenance was like lightening, and his rayment white as ſnow. Here was a terrible ſight, but yet not alike terrible to all the beholders. For, for feare of him the keepers did ſhake, & became like dead men. But the Angel ſaid unto the women, feare not ye, for I know that ye ſeek Ieſus. So at the laſt day when Chriſt ſhall come to judgment, evill conſciences ſhall be as the Keepers, whilſt all good conſciences ſhall heare that comfortable voice, Feare not yee, for I know that you have ſought for God, & all your daies ye have ſought to keepe a good conſcience. How effectuall a motive ſhould this bee, how ſtrongly ſhould this work with us. As we ſhould be glad to hold up our heads, when the glorious ones of the earth ſhall hang them down, to leape for joy, when others ſhall howle for bitter anguiſh of ſpirit, ſo now whileſt wee have the day of life and grace, labour we to get and keepe good conſciences.