The Cause and Cure of a Wounded Conscience, Dialogue 15
XV. Dialogue. That is not alwayes the greatest sinne whereof a man is guilty, wherewith his conscience is most pained for the present.
Tim.
IS that the greatest sin in a mans soule, wherewith his wounded con cience, in the agony thereof, is most perplexed?
Phil.
It is so commonly, but not constantly. Commonly indeed, that sin most paineth and pincheth him, which commands as principall in his soule.
Tim.
Have all mens hearts some one paramount sinne, which rules as Soveraigne over all the rest?
Phil.
Most have. Yet as all Countries are not Monarchies, governed by Kings, but some by free-States, where many together have equall power; so it is possible (though rare) that one man may have two, three, or more sinnes, which joyntly domineer in his heart, without any discernable superiority betwixt them.
Tim.
Which are the sinnes that most generally wound and afflict a man, when his Conscience is terrified?
Phil.
No generall rule can exactly be given herein. Sometimes that sin, in acting whereof, he took most delight, it being just, that the sweetnesse of his corporall pleasure, should be sauced with more spirituall sadnesse. Sometimes that sinne, which (though not the foulest) is the frequentest in him. Thus his idle words may perplex him more, then his oathes or perjury it selfe. Sometimes that sin (not which is most odious before God, but) most scandalous before men, doth most afflict him, because drawing greatest disgrace upon his person and profession. Sometimes that sin which he last committed, because all the circumstances therof are still firme and fresh in his memory. Sometimes that sin, which (though long since by him committed) he hath heard very lately powerfully reproved; and no wonder, if an old gall new rubbed over, smart the most. Sometimes that sinne which formerly he most slighted and neglected, as so inconsiderably small, that it was unworthy of any sorrow for it, and yet now it may prove the sharpest sting in his conscience.
Tim.
May not one who is guilty of very great sinnes, sometimes have his conscience much troubled onelyonly for a small one?
Phil.
Yes verily: Country Patients often complaine, not of the disease which is most dangerous, but most conspicuous. Yea sometimes they are more troubled with the symptome of a disease (suppose an ill colour, bad breath, weak stomach) then with the disease it selfe. So in the soule, the conscience oft-times is most wounded, not with that offence which is, but appeares most, and a sinne incomparably small to others, whereof the party is guilty, may most molest for the present, and that for three reasons.
Tim.
Reckon them in order.
Phil.
First, that God may shew in him, that as sinnes are like the sands in number, so they are farre above them in heavinesse, whereof the least crum taken asunder, and laid on the conscience, by Gods hand, in full weight thereof, is enough to drive it to despaire.
Tim.
What is the second reason?
Phil.
To manifest Gods justice, that those should be choaked with a gnat-sinne, who have swallowed many Camel-sinnes, without the least regreat. Thus some may be terrified for not fasting on Friday, because indeed they have been drunk on Sunday: They may be perplexed for their wanton dreames, when sleeping, because they were never truly humbled for their wicked deeds, when waking. Yea those who never feared Babylon the Great, may be frighted with little Zoar; I meane, such as have been faulty in flat superstition, may be tortured for committing, or omitting a thing, in its owne nature, indifferent.
Tim.
What is the third reason?
Phil.
That this paine for a lesser sinne may occasion his serious scrutiny, into greater offences. Any paltry curre may serve to start and put up the game out of the bushes, whilst fiercer, and fleeter Hounds are behind to course and catch it. God doth make use of a smaller sinne, to raise and rouze the conscience out of security, and to put it up, as we say, to be chased, by the Reserve of far greater offences, lurking behind in the soule, unseene, and unsorrowed for.
Tim.
May not the conscience be troubled at that, which in very deed is no sinne at all, nor hath truly so much, as but the appearance of evill in it?
Phil.
It may. Through the error of the understanding such a mistake may follow in the conscience.
Tim.
What is to be done in such a case?
Phil.
The parties judgement must be rectified, before his conscience can be pacified. Then is it the wisest way to perswade him to lay the Axe of repentance, to the Root of corruption in his heart. When reall sinnes in his soule are felled by unfained sorrow, causelesse scruples will fall of themselves. Till that root be cut downe, not onelyonly the least bough, and branch of that tree, but the smallest sprig, twig, and leafe thereof, yea the very empty …hadow of a leafe (mistaken for a sinne, and created a fault by the jealousie of a misinformed judgement) is sufficient intollerably to torture a wounded conscience.