The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 58
Gods Justice Conscience accusing for sin.
COnscience is a part of the underst…nding in all reasonable Creatures, d…t…r. mining of their particul…r actions either with them, or against them, excusing or accusing: excusing, in assuring man that his person stands righteous before God,Rom. 2. 15. making him to say with Hezekiah: Lord remember me, how I have walked before thee in Truth. Accusing for mans particular slips, as also for the wants that be inIsai. 38. 3. his good actions.
Conscience is like the poyse of a Clock, which being downe, all motions cease, the wheeles stirre not, &c. but being wound up, all is set on going. So Conscience being down there is no noise, but being wound up by Gods Justice, all wheel…s work: The tongue confesseth: The eyes weepe: The hands wring: The heart akes: and the voice cryes: no part can be at …ase, according to Iuvenal:
Cur tamen hos evasisse putes, quos diri conscia facti; Mens habet attonitos, & surdo verbere coedit, Occultum quatienti animo terrore flagellum?
How deem'st thou them acquit, whom guilty mind of fact so foule doth fright,
And scourge unseene doth beate with unheard blow their Hang-man restlesse Conscience biting so?
Conscience accused
Adam flying from God: and Ahab for Naboths vineyard.Gen. 3. 1 Kin. 21. 2 Sam. 1…▪ Chap▪ 24. Chap. 12.
Ahithophel of his vvicked counsell; and David of adultery and pride.
The Gentiles having no law; doing the things by nature in the Law.Rom. 2. 15. Dan. 4. 5 2 King. 2…. Esth. ….
Hezekiah for shewing his treasur…s: and Haman of evill to the Jewes.
Herod for Iohn beheaded: and Iudas for Christ betrayed.Luke 19.
Ionah flying from God: and Iudah for incest committed.Mat. 27. I…. 1. G…. 36. Iob 40. 4.
Iob hearing God: and Kaine having not rightly offered.
Laban pursuing Iacob: and Nabal for churlishnes to David.Gen. 4. Gen. …1. … Sam 29.
The Lepers for their long tarrying in the campe of the Assyrians.2 Kin. 7. Iohn 8 9. Ez…a …. M…. …. ….
The men accusing the adult…rous vvomen, and that tooke strange vvomen.
Patriarches selling their brother: and of ingratitude Pharaohs Butler.Gen. 43. Chap. 4….
Saul sparing Agag: Shimei cursing David: the Jewes that cryed.1 Sam. 1….
Simon Magus …fter he had desired to buy the Holy Ghost.2 Sam. 19.
A wounded spirit no man can beare: A conscience touched doth fore-cast cru…llAct. 3. …7. Ch. 8. 24. things, an… is the accuser, witnesse, juror and judge; testifying against man,Prov. 28. 1. Wisd. 17. 11. Isai. 3. 9. Syr. 14. 2. declaring his sins, though they lie hid in him.
Use.
Seeke then to get a good conscience, which is a continuall feast: the Title ofProv. 18. 14. S. Bernard. Religion, the Temple of Solomon, the fi…ld of blessing, the garden of delight, the joy of Angels, the Arke of the Covenant, the Kings Exchequer, the Court of God and mansion of the Holy Ghost.
Looke then to your selves what Conscience you have, 1 Pet. 3. 21.For Conscience will damne, and Conscience will save.
Study then with Paul a good Conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.H…b. 13. 8. Act. …1. 1. Ch…p. 24. 16.
Gods Justice Godly men punished with wicked children.
As a Punishment for sinne
Adam Had wicked Kaine, Gen. 4. Abraham a mocking Ishmael.Gen. 21.
Aaron Had wicked Nadab and Abihu, who offered strange fire.Levit. 10. 1.
Had wicked Ammon, who incestuously ravished his sister.2 Sam. 13.
David Had wicked Absolom, who stole the hearts of the Israelites from2 Sam. 15. him.
Had wicked Adonijah, who exalted himselfe for to be King.1 Kin. 1.
Eli the Priest Had wicked Hophni and Phineas, who abused Gods ordinances.1 Sam. 2.
Hezekiah Had wicked Manasseh, vvho filled Jerusalem vvith bloud.2 Chro. 32.
Iudah Had wicked …r and Onan, vvho did wickedly before God.Gen. 38.
Iacob Had wicked Simeon and Levi, by vvhom the Shechemites vvereGen. 34. slaine.
Had wicked Reuben, vvho lay vvith Bi…ha… his Concubine.Gen. 35.
Isaac Had wicked Esau, who hated Iacob for his blessing.Gen. 27.
Iosiah Had wicked Iehoash, vvho died evill in the sight of the Lord.2 King. 23.
Iehoshaphat Had wicked Iehoram, vvho slew his brethren with the sword.2 Chro. 21.
Just Lot▪ Had wicked Daughters, vvho making him drunke, lay …vvithGen. 19. him.
Noah Had wicked Cham, who discovered the nakednesse of him.Gen. 9.
Samuel Had wicked Ioel and Abiah, who tooke bribe… of men.1 Sam. 8.
Solomon Had wicked Rehoboam, who provoked God vvith Idolatry.1 King. 14.
Prophets Had wicked Children, vvhichwhich mocked Elisha passing by.2 King. 2.
A wise sonne maketh a glad father: but a foolish sonne is a heavinesse to his mother.
Prov. 10. 1.Better it i… to die without children, then to leave behinde him ungodly children.
Eccu…. 16. 1.Gods Justice Sinne punished with Famine.
There was a Famine in the daies of
Adam for the sinne of Adam, for that he had transgressed the CommandementGen. 3. 17. of God: Cursed therefore is the ground (saith the Lord.)
Kaine for the sinne of Kaine, for that he murthered Abel: When thou tillest Gen. 4. 12.the ground, it shall not yeeld her strength.
Abraham for the sinne of The people; because they had forgotten the floud.Gen. 12. 10.
Isaac for the sinne of Ishmael: for his backsliding from the Lord.Gen. 26.
Iacob for the sinne of The Patriarches partly, who sold their brother Ioseph, Gen. 42.and partl▪ for P…tiphers vvives sinne, who accused Ioseph.
Ruth for the sinne of The people: in that they forgot God and served Idols.Ruth 1.
David for the sinne of Saul: And that because he had slaine the Gibeonites.2 Sam. 21.
Elias for the sinne of Ahab and Iezebel: who had slaine Naboth.1 Kings 18.
Elisha for the sinne of The Jewes: transgressing Gods Laws.2 Kings 6.
Zedekiah for the sinne of Zedekiah; breaking with Nebuchadnezar his Covenants.Lam. 4. 4.
Glaudius for the sinne of The Jewes; putting to death Christ Jesus.Acts 11. 25.