The Hue and Cry of Conscience After Secure Sinners, Part

The Hue and Cry of Conscience After Secure Sinners · Part

p. 57GEN. xlii. 21.

Therefore is this Diſtreſs come upon us.

WE are now come to the ſecond part of the Text, (viz.) The Reflection, or Accuſation of Joſeph's Brethren, their Conſciences now being awakened by their Affliction, they now jointly draw up this Conoluſion and Indictment againſt themſelves: O, Therefore is this Diſtreſs come upon us.

p. 581. We have the Reflection it ſelf. O how quick was Conſcience now! What quick work ſometimes doth, ſence of Guilt make? O now they cry out with an Aſſeveration, Verily we are guilty, &c.

2. We have the occaſion of this Reflection, (viz.) Their preſent Diſtreſs. Now they were under Affliction. (For their being all this while in the hand of Joſeph was an unknown Buſineſs to them). Their diſtreſs and ſtrait was great, and now they as one Man conclude for their guilt, this Diſtreſs was come upon them.

The Truth the Text preſents us with, is this: In a day of Affliction, p. 59Gonſcience is very quick and active in its Reflections.

This is a profitable Truth, and worth inquiring into, ſuch Days as theſe, when ſo many are hardned in their ſins. Poor Sinners ruffle it out, and ſtout it out againſt God in a a day of Proſperity. O who but they! with Pharaoh, ſaying, Who is the Lord? Thus he ſwaggers it out: but ſtay until an Hand of God be upon him, and then you will find him of another mind; O then, Send for Moſes to pray for me! Then he confeſſes, I and my People are wicked. Thus the Prophet Jeremiah makes the wild Aſs an Emblem (and that very fitly) of a wicked Man in his proſperous p. 60condition, running on in Sin: As the wild Aſs ſnuffs up the Wind at her pleaſure. Jer. 2.24.Jer 2:24All Counſel, all Inſtruction, all Advice is loſt: All that ſeek her, do but weary themſelves. But ſtay until her Months of Affliction and Diſtreſs come, and then they may be ſpoken with. In their Months one ſhall find them. O now Conſcience begins to talk with them, and call them to a ſerious debate concerning their paſt lives and Tranſactions, God often ſets Conſcience to diſcourſe with Sinners, in the day of their Diſtreſs. We have plentiful Inſtances of this Truth in holy Writ. You may find it proved of the worſt of Men, as well as of God's own People. The caſe of p. 61Gain, what a quick Reflection was that of his, All that meet me will ſlay me. His ſin and guilt walked in his Conſcience. Abel's Ghoſt (as I may ſay) he haunted Gain's Conſcience. Alas! Who was in the World to ſlay him? It was only the concluſion of his guilty Conſcience. Ahab had ſinned highly againſt the Lord, he was a Non-ſuch for a Sinner.1 King. 21.24.1 Kgs 21:24 There was none like unto Ahab, which did ſet himſelf to work wickedneſs in the ſight of God. Yet when this poor Wretch came to hear of God's Threatnings, how quick was Conſcience in making Reflections upon him, he humbled himſelf before the Lord. Manaſſeh for all his Abominations, when God brought him into the p. 62Briars, then Conſcience fell to work; O now Manaſſeh came to know the Lord! O now he humbled himſelf! How ordinary is this? How many wicked Men ſometimes upon a ſuppoſed Death-bed, ſometimes upon a real Deathbed, have confeſſed that guilt which hath laid dormant in their Conſciences a very long time? How have they had all their Sins ſet in order before their Eyes? O how have all their former committed Wickedneſſes (though never ſo ſecret) taken hold of them!

Now for the Proof of it, as to the Godly in particular, they contribute witneſs abundantly to this Truth; therefore when we find them under the Hand of God, what p. 63confeſſion do they make to God? What ſupplications do they pour out to God at ſuch times? How do they mourn like Doves? and, as the Church ſaith, roar like Bears, accuſing themſelves now in a day of Diſtreſs:Iſa. 59.12, 13.Isa 59:12Isa 59:13 As for our Iniquities, they teſtifie againſt us, &c. It is ſaid of Iſrael, That God ſlew the fatteſt of them, and ſmote the choſen Men of Iſrael. O, what did they then in this ſad day? Then they returned to the Lord. Pſal. 78.31, 34.Ps 78:31Ps 78:34But alas, all this was but while the Affliction was upon them. David, when under Affliction, O how he Reflects, There was no reſt in his Bones, becauſe of God's Anger, and his Sin. And Jonah, guilty Jonah! when God had found him out, how quick was Conſcience p. 64with him? For my ſake is this evil come upon you: Gaſt me over-board. He acknowledges himſelf to be the Storm-breeder.

Now, Firſt, We ſhall enquire what a Reflection of Conſcience is.

Secondly, What Conſcience doth Reflect upon in a day of Diſtreſs.

Thirdly, What kind of Reflections theſe reflections of guilty Conſciences are.

Fourthly, Why Conſcience is ſo quick with Sinners, in a day of Affliction and Diſtreſs.

Fifthly, We ſhall improve all by way of Application.

Firſt, What a Reflection of Conſcience is. Here we p. 65muſt enquire what Conſcience …. We reade often of it in Scripture:Heb. 10.22.Heb 10:22 Having our Hearts …rinkled from an evil Conſcience. Heb. 9.14.Heb 9:14And Conſciences pur…ed from dead Works, to ſerve the Living God. I will not …rouble you with any Nicity …bout Conſcience, becauſe …he Truth is purely practical. It is indeed diſputed, whether Conſcience be a Power, or in Habit, or an Act only. Some of late have called it an juſtinct, or a Principle in Man impreſſing upon his Mind a future Judgment.Dr. Barthog in his Cauſa Dei pag. 404. Or an Habit, a Natural Habit. [An Habit] becauſe it was at firſt in Adventitious Impreſſion. [Natural] becauſe now it is Original, and tranſmitted in …he ſame way as other Natural Qualities, (thus one upon p. 66it). But I will apply my ſelf to thoſe things that have no perplexity in them to underſtand.

Conſcience is a very buſie faculty in the Soul of Man, or a Practick and Reflexive Power of the Mind; and its Operations are theſe.

1. It takes notice of Mens Actions, what we do we do under the Eye of Conſcience. A Heathen could ſay, It is God's Regiſter, and a ſtrict Obſerver of our ways.

2. It doth teſtifie either with us, or againſt us; ſo it acts the part of a Witneſs. And ſo it is ſaid to Excuſe, or Accuſe.Rom. 2.15.Rom 2:15 It ſpeaks ſometimes for poor Souls; this is our rejoycing,2 Cor, 1.12. the teſtimony of our Conſciences. I doth ſometimes Accuſe. Thus p. 67it did in Joſeph's Brethren, then they cried out of their Guilt.

3. It doth torment. O what …orment like that of a griping …uilty Conſcience! How did Cain's Conſcience torment him? and Judas his Conſcience torment him? How did Spira his Conſcience torment him? This is a piece of Hells Torments begun here. This Conſcience in Men, is Judge, Witneſs, and Executioner.

Now we muſt underſtand, …here is a two-fold Conſcience.

1. A ſeared Conſcience, Having their Conſciences ſeared with an hot Iron: 1 Tim. 4.2.1 Tim 4:2Cauterized (as hath been hinted before) whereby it is made brawny and inſenſible. Now while p. 68thus, it is not a Reflecting Conſcience. Here is no walking Guilt, though abundance of dormant and ſleepy Guilt And for the preſent, had no Joſeph's Brethren ſeared Conſciences, when they did … down to eat after ſuch a Fact as caſting their Brother into the Pit:Gen. 37.25.Gen 37:25 And they took him and caſt him into a Pit: and the Pit was empty, there was no Water in it. And they ſa… down to eat Bread, &c. Her was little Senſe upon them no Reflection yet upon them.

2. There is a ſoft and tender Conſcience, and this is the Conſcience that make Reflections Conſcience is awakened before it be thus ſoftned. It muſt know i… hath doue evil, before it ſay What have I done? David's p. 69Conſcience was thus tender, when it ſmote him for cutting off the Lap of Saul's Garment.

Now for the better underſtanding, what is meant by theſe Reflections of Conſcience, we muſt inquire by what Expreſſions the Scripture ſets them out.

1. Reflections of Conſcience are ſet forth by Conviction. We reade of them that brought the Woman to Chriſt taken in Adultery: They were convicted in their Conſciences, John 8.9.John 8:9they went out one by one. — It is a Law-term, The Priſoner ſtands Convict. Now theſe Perſons applied Guilt to themſelves, They were guilty in their Conſciences. Thus Joſeph's Brethren were guilty, and cried out as Men p. 70convict in their own Conſciences. Convictions (ſay one) is the light of the Underſtanding reflecting upon the Guilt diſcovered to it whereby it makes a deep impreſſion upon the Spirit. S… that one piece of Reflection conſiſts in conviction … Guilt.

2. Another expreſſion ſetting forth the Reflections … guilty Conſciences, is wounded Spirit: It is now wounded Conſcience. Now Joſeph's Brethren were wounded in their Conſciences: … wounded Spirit, Prov. 18.14.Prov 18:14who can bea… or lift up (as ſome reade it) A Metaphor taken from Bodily Wounds. O, how will a Wound ſmart and throb So doth Guilt in an awakened Sinners Conſcience when p. 71it makes Reflections, O! now it is pained under the ſenſe of Guilt. Thus David, Pſal. 38.5.Ps 38:5My Wounds ſtink, and are corrupt.

3. Another expreſſion ſetting forth the Reflections of guilty Conſciences, is the reproaching of Conſcience: My Heart ſhall not upbraid me, as long as I live, Job 27.6.Job 27:6(or from my days). Concerning my manner of Living, my Heart ſhall take no ſhame from my Days (ſays Mr. Broughton). Viz. From thoſe things I have done in my Days, or from my whole Converſation. He had lived in good Conſcience before God and Man:Acts 23.1.Acts 23:1 But now when Conſcience reflects upon a Man under ſenſe of Guilt, it reproaches him, it upbraids him, it is always chiding him.

p. 724. Another expreſſion ſetting forth the Reflections o… guilty Conſciences, is, Th… Conſcience ſmiting him. A… David his Heart ſmote him when he cut off the Lap o… Saul's Garment. Tende… Conſciences find this inwar… ſmiting, either upon th… commiſſion of Evil, or th… omiſſion of Good. Ah! now how did Joſeph's Brethren's Conſciences ſmite them? It is ſet forth by the poor Publican ſmiting on his Breſt And ſometimes with Ephraim's ſmiting upon his Thigh. O, now Sinners reflect upon their Sins, as tha… word, No Man repented, and ſaid, what have I done?

5. It is ſet forth by bringing again to mind, which is the proper notion of Reflection: p. 73Remember, and ſhew your ſelves Men: Iſa. 46.8.Isa 46:8and bring it again to mind, O ye Tranſgreſſors. Therefore we have frequently ſuch Expreſſions. Remembring their evil ways: 1 Kings 8.47.1 Kgs 8:47and if my People ſhall bethink themſelves. Theſe are properly the Reflex Acts of the Mind and Conſcience.

6. It is ſet forth by Accuſing: The Conſcience draws up an Accuſation againſt the Sinner, as here Joſeph's Brethren did: it Reflects when it Accuſes. We reade of the Gentiles, who only had the Law of Nature, and yet their Conſciences did accuſe them.

7. It is ſet forth by Condemning, which is higher than Accuſing; it paſſes Judgment, as well as it witneſſes: p. 74If our own Hearts condemn us, 1 John 3.20.1 John 3:20God is greater than our Hearts, (viz.) our Conſciences. We may ſpell out of all theſe, ſome things of the nature of Reflection of Conſcience.

Second Inquiry is, What this awakened Conſcience reflects upon. For we muſt underſtand that Conſcience doth never bear falſe Witneſs, for in this caſe the voice of Conſcience is the Voice God. Conſcience's Teſtimony holds true in the caſe of Joſeph's Brethren.

1. Conſcience in a day of Affliction, reflects upon matters of Fact. It may be at the preſent commiſſion of the Sin, the Sinner takes no notice of it; in an hurry and huff of Temptation, all is p. 75forgotten. O! but there is … Book of Remembrance that Conſcience keeps, and all your Sins are regiſtred there; and though it be a ſealed Book at preſent, you know not …ow ſoon it may be opened, and you judged out of it, according to what you have …one. O, how many Sinners may now deny matter of fact, but when Conſcience …hall be awakened to lay it …ome, and charge them plain…ith it (ſaying as Nathan to David) Thou art the Man: Then there will be no denying of it. The witneſs of …es own Conſcience, is an …deniable Teſtimony. Cain …ould not deny this Teſtimony, therefore his Guilt cri'd, all that meet me will ſlay me. … aoh could not deny this p. 76Teſtimony, I and my People are wicked. Judas could nodeny this Teſtimony, I have ſinned in betraying innocent Blood. The People of God could not deny this Teſtimony, when they cried out Our Iniquities teſtifie again us, &c.

2. Conſcience doth no only reflect upon matter o… Fact, but upon Circumſtances and Aggravations of the Fact, Conſcience when awakened becomes tender, and calls every particular Circumſtance to remembrance that did heighten, or any way aggravate the matter and thus did they in the Text: Wherein lay the aggravation of the Guilt? You have heard hinted before [I that we ſaw the anguiſh of h… p. 77Soul, and he beſought us, yet we would not hear].

1. They ſaw the anguiſh of his Soul, and yet their Eyes did not affect their Hearts.

2. It was their Brother too.

3. He beſought us.

4. They would not hear. All of them great Aggravations. Saw it. The anguiſh of a Brothers Soul. A beſeeching Brother, and would not hear. Deaſned their Ears to his lamentable Cries. O, how do their Conſciences Reflect upon all theſe!

There are ſeveral things that Conſcience when awakened, reflects upon, with reference to the Circumſtances of matter of Fact.

1. Sometimes Conſcience p. 78tells the Sinner, it is againſt Light: Thou hadſt ſo much Light as to conceive this before commiſſion, that it was a Sin, that it was a Violation and Tranſgreſſion of an holy Law; and ſays Conſcience, this thou kneweſt, yea, this thou kneweſt beforehand, and yet contrary to the diſcovery of this Light, thou didſt run violently into it, and rebelledſt againſt the Light (as Job's phraſe is).Job 24.13.Job 24:13

2. Sometimes Conſcience tells the Sinner, he hath ſinned againſt Reſolutions; and this is an aggravating Circumſtance. O how often (ſays Conſcience) haſt thou broken thy ſerious Purpoſes and Vows, when it may be you have been in imminent dangers and diſtreſſes. Now p. 79Conſcience regiſters and records the very Reſolutions of poor Sinners, it being privy to all the ſecret Purpoſes. When ſome of you are at Sea, ready to be ſwallowed up of the Belly of Hell (as Jonah phraſes it) O then you pray to God, and purpoſe againſt Sin, if God will bring you off with your Lives at this time. Or, it may be, others of you at Land, upon a ſuppoſed Death-bed, O, if God will ſpare you, How do you reſolve againſt Sin, yea, againſt thoſe Sins that ſting your Conſciences moſt? But alas, after all this, do not you break your Bonds? Now Conſcience books all, and at one time or other, will remember you of all theſe things.

p. 803. Sometimes Conſcience in its Reflections, tells the Sinner of ſinning againſt its Warnings and Dictates. To ſin againſt the dictates of Conſcience, is a very great Aggravation. O Sinners! how often hath Conſcience warned you? As you love your Peace, as you love your Souls, as you will anſwer it at the great Tribunal of God, that you go not on in ſuch a Courſe, or that you commit not ſuch a Sin at your Peril (ſays Conſcience): but not withſtanding all this, the Sinner blunders on. I tell you Sinners (from the Lord) there is never a Warning an awakened Conſcience hath given any of you, but it will riſe up againſt you another p. 81Day; either here or, hereafter.

4. Sometimes Conſcience in its Reflections, tells Sinners of their ſinning againſt its Reproofs; which is an aggravating Circumſtance. To run into Sin after long reproved, hence you have that terrible word,Proy. 28.1. He that being of ten reproved, hardens his Heart, ſhall ſuddenly be deſtroyed, and that without remedy. O, ſays Conſcience, is not this thy Caſe? Haſt thou not often been reproved? Have not I often reproved thee, and God often reproved thee? and Miniſters often reproved thee? Yet haſt thou gone on, &c. And will not every Reproof walk in your Conſciences another day, that you ſin againſt now?

p. 825. Sometimes Conſcience in its Reflections, tells Sinners of ſinning againſt Mercy, which is another aggravating Circumſtance. How many Mercies (ſays Conſcience) have you ſinned againſt? ſparing Mercy at Sea, and at Land? preventing Mercy, preſerving Mercy? O what a life of Mercy hath thy Life ſeen! Nothing but a Series of Mercy, a large Tract of Mercy, a Line of Mercy, and yet thou haſt ſinned againſt all. This will grieve thee another Day, when thou ſhalt have all thy Mercies as well as Sins, ſet in order before thee.

Thirdly, Conſcience reflects upon the diſhonour Sin brings to God, as well as upon the Fact, and the circumſtances p. 83of the Fact. When Conſcience begins to be enlightned and awakened, O then it begins to think what diſhonour Sin hath brought upon God; for as Sin brings guilt upon the Soul, ſo it brings diſhonour upon the Name of God. And thus David's Conſcience reflects, Againſt thee, againſt thee have I ſinned; this laid uppermoſt on the Heart of David. He ſinned againſt his Soul, he ſinned againſt his own Body, he ſinned againſt Bathſheba, he ſinned againſt the whole Church of God; but of all (ſays he) Againſt Thee, againſt Thee have I ſinned. O, ſays Conſcience to the Sinner, how haſt thou opened the Mouths of the Enemies of God and his People, to p. 84blaſpheme? and cauſed the Ways of God to be evil ſpoken of? Thou haſt wounded and ſtabb'd the Honourable and Bleſſed Name of God: and ſhould not the Honour of that God that created thee be dear to thee? who hath preſerved thee in a thouſand Dangers, and hath provided for thee in a thouſand Wants, ſhould not his Honour lie near thy Heart? Did not this make Joſeph ſay, How can I do this Wickedneſs, and ſin againſt God?

Fourthly, Conſcience when awakened reflects upon Times and junctures of Time, in which Perſons have ſinned. There is a great deal in the Time of Sin, as well as the Act of Sin, to reflect upon. Therefore it was taken notice p. 85of in that black Brand upon Ahaz: 2 Chron, 28.22.This is that King Ahaz that ſinned more and more, in the time of his Diſtreſs. O what a monſtrous thing was it to ſin then? There are three Times that Conſcience takes ſpecial notice to reflect upon, when we ſin in them.

1. A time of common Calamity, when God's Judgments are abroad. To ſin when God is ſmiting for Sin, when God ſmites on, and Sinners they ſin on, They returned not unto the Lord that ſmote them. O now, cries Conſcience, did not you commit ſuch a Sin in the time of the Plague? in the time of the Fire? How durſt you ſin when God's Sword was drawn, and ſheathed in p. 86the Bowels of ſo many thouſand Sinners? This was to ſin when the Judge was upon the Bench. And while he was paſſing Sentence againſt poor guilty Malefactors, and O what impudence was this in Sinners!

2. A time of Perſonal Affliction. This is a Juncture of Time for an awakened Conſcience to reflect upon, and tell you of, when any of you have laid under the Hands of God; and what! then to lift up your Heel againſt God? This is not only Sinning, but daring Sin, and Conſcience takes notice that that was your Sinning Time, which ſhould have been your Humbling Time for Sin.

3. A Time of receiving eminent and particular Mercies p. 87from God, then to Sin againſt God; O! how will Conſcience take its opportunity and tell you of it another Day? For Hezekiah to ſin againſt God, when God had ſo lately raiſed him up, and recovered him from a Sentence of Death: O what will Conſcience ſay to this, when Hezekiah comes to be humbled for it? What! for David to ſin after God had brought him through all his Dangers and Difficulties, and put him in poſſeſſion of the Kingdom, for him to ſay, Thou haſt made my Mountain ſtrong, and I ſhall not be moved; O how will David's Conſcience reflect upon this another Day!

4. When God hath graciouſly viſited the Soul, with p. 88ſmiles of his Love, then to ſin, Conſcience will be ſure to reflect upon this. To return to Folly after God hath ſpoken Peace, O! how will Conſcience tell thee of this another Day, and tell thee what Diſingenuity and Ingratitude there was in it. Is this a time to ſin? Is not this like a fooliſh People, to requite the Lord with evil, for ſo much Good as you have received from him?

5. To ſin after thou haſt humbled thy ſelf for Sin, this is a time Conſcience will Reflect upon. What will Conſcience ſay to theſe things? Is this thou that lately wert upon thy Knees, bemoaning thy Sin before the Lord? What, thou who haſt ſo lately confeſſed and acknowledged p. 89thy Sin, and now running into Sin, yea, into the ſame Sins you have mourned over, and repented of? O! how will Conſcience ſadly animadvert upon theſe things, in the day of its dealing with you, poor Sinners!

Fifthly, Conſcience when awakened, will Reflect upon loſt means and ſeaſons of Grace. Chriſt conſidered this, when he preached that doleful Sermon to Jeruſalem: O! Luke 19.29.Luke 19:29that thou hadſt known in this thy day, the things that concern thy Peace. He knew it would cut to the Conſcience to tell them of loſt Seaſons, and loſt Advantages for Heaven and Eternity. And indeed this makes up much of the Torments of Hell. Theſe Reflections upon the p. 90laſt motions of the Spirit, laſt convictions of Conſcience laſt Sermons, Ordinances, and Sabbaths. Nay, when God comes to awaken Conſcience how doth it reflect upon theſe things in this preſent Life. As one ſaid when a Miniſte… came to comfort her, Call Time again, call Time again. Implying, ſhe thought it was as impoſſible to apply Come fort to her, as to call time again. So, poor Sinners, how ſad will this be for you another Day, to cry, Call Sabbaths again, Miniſtry again a day of Grace again, motions of the Spirit again. Alas (Sirs) now you think theſe things may be dallied and trifled with, and it is indifferent whether you lay hold of ſuch opportunities to improve p. 91them, or no. O, but when they are gone, how will theſe things ſting? A Man who hath been under good opportunities to arrive at a great Eſtate in the World, and when he is brought by his bad Husbandry and Prodigality, to Penury and Poverty, O! how doth he then Reflect upon himſelf (if he be ſenſible) and upon his fair Opportunities that now are paſt recalling. O then, what a Mad-man was I? What fair Opportunities have I loſt? Thus it is in this Caſe with Guilty Conſciences, when awakened. O, what a fair way was I once in for Heaven, and eternal Life! What Seaſons had I to enrich my Soul in Grace? O! what a Fool was I, that had ſo many p. 92Prizes put into my Hand, and had not an Heart to make uſe of them! theſe will be ſad Reflections.

Sixtly, An awakened Conſcience will Reflect in a day of Affliction, upon the ſad Effects and Conſequences of Sin; what Sin brings along with it, what follows and treads upon the Heels of it.

1. Sad effect of Sin Conſcience reflects upon, is God's diſpleaſure. O! who can bear it? Angels could not it caſt them out of Heaven. Adam could not, it caſt him out of Paradice: He drove out the Man. Nay, the moſt holy Servants of God could not bear it: It made David cry out,Pſal. 38.3.Ps 38:3 There was no reſt in his Bones, becauſe of God's Anger. Nay more, It made the p. 93Lord Jeſus Chriſt cry out, when he endured it for our Sins, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? And, ſays Conſcience, can you bear it? can you ſtand under his Anger? According to thy Power, ſo is thine Anger.

2. Conſcience reflects upon the Soul's Pollution and Defilement; another ſad effect of Sin. That a Soul which came out of the Hand of God ſo pure, ſo ſpotleſs a Being, ſhould be ſo deformed and defiled: O, how ſad is this!

3. Another ſad effect of Sin, that the awakened Conſcience reflects upon in a day of Affliction, is the withdrawment of God's comfortable Preſence from the Soul. O! how did the Spouſes Conſcience p. 94Reflect, when ſhe ſaid, My Beloved hath withdrawn himſelf. Sin makes God hide himſelf from his deareſt Children. And, O what temptations are God's Children expoſed unto, when their Father is withdrawn. O, how eaſily then are they drawn in to think hardly of God, to be jealous of God, to queſtion his Promiſe! I might name many other ſad Effects and Conſequences of Sin, that awakened Conſciences Reflects upon. (But I will forbear).

The Third Query is this, What kind of Reflections theſe Reflections of awakened Conſciences are?

1. Theſe Reflections are home Reflections. O Sinners! when Conſcience Reflects p. 95and charges it home, (this was the caſe of my Text) it was a home charge, Verily, we are guilty concerning our Brother. O, how quick was Conſcience now with them! And ſo when David reflected upon his Sin, charged upon him by Nathan: Thou art the Man, (ſays Nathan). I have ſineed (ſays David). It may be for the preſent, your Conſciences ſay little to you, are very ſilent; but ſtay until God ſhall awaken them, O then, until your Sin be pardoned, it will be a Terror to you, and cauſe you to mediate Terror. What though this Lion ſleep, day will come that God will rouze him up, and then he will be a Roaring Lion. O, what an home p. 96Reflection was that of Judas I have ſinned, in betraying innocent Blood. And ſurely Peter's Conſcience charged him home, when he went out and wept bitterly.

3. Theſe Reflections of awakened Conſciences, they are juſt and righteous Reflections. O! Conſcience doth not reflect without a Cauſe; doth not accuſe or ſting without a Cauſe. Was then not a Righteous Cauſe for this Reflection in the Conſciences of Joſeph's Brethren. Was there not great Guilt a the bottom? Did Cain's Conſcience afright him without a cauſe? had not he killed h… Brother Abel? Did David Conſcience ſmite him with out a cauſe, when he cried out, I have ſinned? Did Jud… p. 97his Conſcience torment him without a cauſe, when he cri'd out, I have ſinned, in betraying Innocent Blood? Oh Sinners! When you look into your paſt Lives, and turn over the Book of your Converſations Page by Page, Leaf by Leaf, and obſerve Page and Margin well, you will ſind both full of cauſes for theſe Reflections: May not you charge your ſelves for this Sin and the other? for this unknown Guilt to the World, and the other? O then you will ſay, it is a righteous thing that Conſcience ſhould Condemn, and that the Sentence thereof is a juſt and righteous …entence. We reade of him that had not on the Wedding Garment, his Mouth was p. 98ſtopt, he ſtood ſpeechleſs. So will it be in this Day, with all poor guilty Sinners, they will not have a word to ſay for themſelves, why Sentence ſhould not be Executed upon them.Rom. 2.19.Rom 2:19 Every Mouth muſt be ſtopt, that all the World may become Guilty before God.

3. Theſe Reflections are full of Horrour and Dread. Fear naturally reſults from them, and you know Fear hath Torment in it. Theſe Reflections become great Torments to guilty Conſciences; the inward gnawings of this Worm are very terririble. Alas, what can ariſe out of Guilt (Sinners) but Dread and Horror? Guilt we ſay, makes a Man affraid of his own Shadow. O, what p. 99a torment is this when a Man …omes to be dogg'd and haunted where-ever he goes, with with his own guilty Conſcience! He needs no other Executioner, or Tormentor. The …aſe of Spira is a dreadful …anding Inſtance. Herod heard …f the Fame of Jeſus, and …id unto his Servants,Mat. 14.2, 3.Matt 14:2Matt 14:3 This … John Baptiſt, he is riſen …m the Dead, therefore might. Works do ſhew themſelves in …. What was the matter …ith Herod, that he was thus …tled, and crys it was …hn? He had killed John, …d now John, though dead, …lk'd in his guilty Conſcience, and as a Spectrum …eadfully affrighted him.

4. Theſe Reflections of …ty awakened Conſcience are not eaſily quieted. p. 100Conſcience is not eaſily pacified. Luther hath this paſſage, It is as hard a thing t… comfort an afflicted Conſcience… as it is to create a World. God ſays he,Iſa. 57.19.Isa 57:19 created the fruits of the Lips, Peace, peace; (viz.) in his Miniſter's Mouths when they are Barnabaſſes Sons of Conſolation to troubled Souls. O! Who ca… ſpeak Peace to a Wounde… Conſcience, but God? H… only can ſay to poor Souls i… danger of being Shipwrack… with theſe Storms of Conſcience's Troubles, Peace, and b… ſtill. The Lord Jeſus can only command theſe Wind and Storms to obey him. Thus it was with David, th… the Lord had ſent Natha… the Prophet to him, to te… him, God had put away h… p. 101Sin, yet all this would not do, until the Lord told him ſo himſelf; which occaſioned that Prayer of his: Lord, make the Bones which thou haſt broken, to rejoyce: Pſal. 51.8Ps 51:8Make thou me to hear the Voice of Joy and Gladneſs.

5. Theſe Reflections of awakened Conſciences, are ſuch as conſtrain the Sinner to ſeek out for eaſe. Poor Souls now dwell in little eaſe, they are diſquieted and diſtreſſed, and therefore look out for a Remedy. A wounded Spirit, who can bear? Wounded Men, you know, groan for eaſe: So do theſe wounded Souls. Hence it was that Cain, under the horrour of his awakened Conſcience, begins to build Cities, to divert the rage of his throbing p. 102Conſcience. Many Sinners, when awakened and troubled, they go to the Muſick (with Saul) to play the evil Spirit down. It is ſaid of Charles the 9th, King of France, after that dreadful Maſſacre in Paris, which was in his Reign; He never durſt awake out of his ſleep without Muſick. So many go to ſinful Company, and ſinful Recreations, to make uſe of them as a ſleepy Sop, to allay the rage of an accuſing tormenting Conſcience, as tho they had a deſign to Conjure down the Guilt that walks in their Conſciences. But now, when a poor Soul is truly awakened with a clear ſight of Guilt in the Glaſs of the Goſpel, O then he begins to pray, to ſeek out after Chriſt, p. 103to enquire what he ſhall do to be ſaved, to be pardoned. O! how do ſuch poor Souls, like the ſtung Iſraelites, under the ſmart and pain of the Wound, run up and down to look towards the Brazen Serpent for Healing? And like thoſe prickt in the Heart, cry out, Men and Brethren, what ſhall we do?

Firſt Reaſon, Why Conſcience in a day of Affliction, is quick at Reflections: Becauſe days of Affliction, are days of Remembrance. Conſcience ſets Memory now at work, and now Memory turns over the whole paſt Life of a Sinner. O, ſays Conſcience in the day of Diſtreſs, Didſt not thou commit ſuch a Sin at ſuch a time? in ſuch a place? Doſt thou not remember p. 104it? And didſt not thou think thou ſhouldſt never hear of it again, though I told thee, and warned thee to the contrary? but now I am come to call thy Faults into remembrance this day. In a day of Affliction, Conſcience is our Monitor, and Remembrancer. It remembers the Sinner of two things,

1. Of his paſt Convictions.

2. Of his broken Reſolutions. And it is upon this account, that Repentance is called, A remembring of our evil ways.

You have, Sinners, committed many a Sin, and forgotten it, and buried many a piece of Guilt in the grave of Oblivion; and becauſe you had forgotten theſe p. 105things, you thought God had forgotten them too, and Conſcience had forgotten them, but you will find your ſelves miſtaken. When a day of Affliction comes, then Conſcience will remember you of all, and ſet all in order before your Eyes. David calls ſome of his Pſalms, Pſalms of Remembrance; To call to Remembrance. So Conſcience will ſing you a ſad Song of Remembrance (as I may ſay); it will remember ſome of you, how often you were Drunk, and where; how often others of you have been Unclean, and where; with all the Circumſtances of matters of Fact.

Secondly, Becauſe in a day of Affliction, Conſcience is awakened, at other times it p. 106is aſleep, and ſo cannot be quick and active. Men lull Conſcience aſleep with their Enjoyments, or with their Affairs and Employments; but now in a day of Affliction, the Lord takes them off theſe. They then are at leiſure to reckon with their Conſciences: as they awake, they begin to call themſelves to an Account. Afflictions are great Awakeners. It may be, the poor Sinner is like Peter, aſleep between two Souldiers, when the Angel came and ſmote him. So Conſcience doth with Sinners. O! how quick is Conſcience with them, when they are awakened? O! what a ſleepy Fit for three quarters of a Year did David fall into, until God made uſe of p. 107Affliction to awaken him? Joſeph's Brethren, what a Lethargy were their Conſciences in for many years together, until this Affliction awakened them? And ſo, How did Manaſſeh his Afflictions awaken his guilty Conſcience?

Thirdly, Becauſe a day of Affliction is a day of ſerious Conſideration; Men go on inconſiderately in the Ruffe of their Proſperity, while they are (as I may ſay) in their hot Blood: but when they conſider with themſelves better, then they change both their Minds and Courſes. I conſidered my Ways, Pſal. 119.59.Ps 119:59and turned my Feet to thy Teſtimonies. But now, What brings in this day of Conſideration? Is it not a day of Affliction? p. 108In a day of Adverſity, Eccleſ. 7.14.Eccl 7:14conſider. What brought the poor inconſiderate Prodigal to a ſtand and ſo to a return, was it not a day of Affliction? His conſideration is expreſt by this: He came to himſelf. Now Conſcience being awakened, Sinners begin to come to themſelves, and then they ſay,Jer. 8.6.Jer 8:6 What have I done? Whither have I been going? O! what will follow upon this Courſe of mine? what will be the effects of this Sin and Guilt? If Men did conſider theſe things, and ask their Souls ſuch Queſtions, how would it be a means to ſtop them in their carreer and courſe of Sin? O now,

1. A Sinner begins to think how he hath diſhonour'd God.

2. How he hath diſpleaſed God.

p. 1093. How he hath wounded his own Conſcience.

4. How he hath led others into Sin by his example.

5. How he hath aggravated his Sin, by ſinning againſt Mercies and Deliverances.

Theſe, and many more, Conſiderations are called over in the Conſcience, when awakened in a day of Diſtreſs and Affliction.

Fourthly, Becauſe a day of Affliction, is a Day that puts the Sinner upon a diligent ſearch. O, how quick is Conſcience upon the ſearch! Now Sinners are ſet upon ſearching & trying their ways (with the Church): Let us ſearch and try our ways, and turn again unto the Lord. Lam. 3.Lam 3This put Heman upon a diligent ſearch: I communed with my p. 110own Heart, Pſal. 77.5, 6.Ps 77:5Ps 77:6and made a diligent ſearch. As the Woman did ſeek for her loſt Groat, did ſweep the Houſe, and lighted a Candle: So now, the Soul in a day of Affliction, ſeeks and ſearches for this Sin, and the other. Surely (ſays the awakened Conſcience) there is ſome Provocation, there is ſome Wedge of Gold, ſome allured Thing, ſome right Eye, ſome right Hand, which puts the Lord upon contending with me, and upon thus afflicting of me. Thus Joſepb's Brethren, they ſearch and find out their Guilt in the day of their Diſtreſs and Affliction.

Fifthly, Becauſe a day of Affliction, is a Day of plain and impartial dealing with ones own Soul. We are p. 111prone to be Partial at other times, and flatter our ſelves; but now Conſcience being awakened, it deals faithfully, as the Matter requires. O! now Conſcience in the day of Affliction, tells the Sinner a plain ſtory. Sinner, thou haſt ſinned, and thou canſt not deny it; and thou muſt repent of it, or elſe periſh to all Eternity: Except you repent, you ſhall likewiſe periſh. Now this is a plain Sermon; and thus did Joſeph's Brethren, Their Conſciences in their Affliction, told them a very plain Story: We are verily guilty concerning our Brother, &c. And, ah Sinners! had not your Conſciences better be plain with you now, than be plain with you in Hell; O what plain Sermons doth Conſcience p. 112preach to the Damned! You will not, many of you, bear plain Preaching now; But, O remember, what a plain Preacher Conſcience will be when awakened in a day of Affliction!

Now we come to the Improvement of what hath been ſaid upon all the Doctrinal part.Application.

Is it ſo that Conſcience is ſo quick and active in a day of Affliction? Then

1. Learn we hence that many Souls have great cauſe to bleſs God for Afflictions. They may ſay (with David) Before they were afflicted, Pſal. 119.67.Ps 119:67they went aſtray. Joſeph's Brethren (for any thing I know) had died under this Guilt, if God had not brought them into this Diſtreſs. Had not p. 113Manaſſeh cauſe to bleſs God for his Affliction? They were bleſſed Bryars he was caught …. Hath not the Lord o…ened the Ears of many by Affliction? and commanded …hem to return from Iniquity? Yea, great Perſons, when they have been bound in Fetters,Job 36.8, 9, 10.Job 36:8Job 36:9Job 36:10 …nd holden in Cords of Affliction, then God ſheweth …hem their Work and their Tranſgreſſions, that they have exceeded. O! what a Mercy was it to the Church, when God hedged up her. Ways with Thorns? Is it not a mer…y to be kept from drowning … a Pit, though it be by a Thorn Hedge? How many …inners had gone on in Sin, …nd had been drowned in …ell, if God had not ſtopt …hem by a ſharp Thorn Hedg p. 114of Affliction? O! What would have become of the Prodigal in a far Country, it the Lord had not found him out by Affliction? It is ſaid There is an antipathy betwixt the Serpent and the Nightingal; and while the Serpenlies in wait for the Nightingal, ſhe ſets a ſharp Thorn to her Breſt, leſt ſhe ſhould ſleep and ſo be ſurprized, and when ever ſhe is heavy, the Thorn pricks her, and make her ſing with renewed Chear… fulneſs. O poor Souls! how many have cauſe to bleſs God for putting a ſharp Thorn to their Breſts, to keep them awake, leſt they ſhould be ſurprized by the wily Serpent that lies in wait for precious Souls.

2. Learn we hence not to p. 115conclude, becauſe Conſcience ſleeps at preſent, that it will always do ſo. Though it ſleep now, a day of Affliction will come, and then it may awake, and tell you many a ſad ſtory. You think, poor Sinners, all is well after the Fact is committed, if Conſcience ſay nothing to you: But alas, the worſt is to come, the Reckoning Day is yet to come. Stay until God bring thee into the Bryars, or upon a Death-bed, and it may be thou wilt then tell another ſtory: The longer Conſcience ſleeps, the louder will its Noiſe be when once it awakes. But what if it do not awake at all here? Then it will awake hereafter, it will awake in Hell. There is not one ſleepy Conſcience p. 116ſcience there. But, O Sinners! had not your Conſciences ten thouſand times better awake here, when and while there is Hope?

3. Learn we hence what a ſad Judgment a ſeared Conſcience is, which makes no Reflection at all; which never ſmites a poor Sinner, but lets him run headlong to Hell. O what Wrath like this! what Plague like this! to have an hardned Conſcience, a Conſcience paſt feeling? Such as can boaſt of Sinning, and their Conſcience, never trouble them, God hath ſaid to ſuch, as once to Ephraim, He is joyned to Idols, Hoſ. 4.17.Hos 4:17let him alone. And, O what a Judgment is this, for God to wink at Sinners Damnation! (as Luther ſays) Wo to that p. 117Man whoſe Sins God winks at.

4. Learn we hence, what a Mercy a tender Conſcience is; a Conſcience that reflects in a day of Affliction, that ſmites a Man for what he doth. Theſe Smitings and Reflections are great Mercies, for they are in order to bring Souls to Repentance, whereas you might elſe have died in your Guilt unpardoned. O! Bleſs God when your Conſciences recoil upon you, and tell you, you have Sinned. It was the commendation of Joſiah, that he had a tender Heart.2 Chron. 34.27.2 Chr 34:27

5. Learn we hence the Reaſon why many Sinners have confeſſed that under Affliction, that they never did, nor never would confeſs p. 118before. Conſcience would not let them alone, they could not be quiet. Guilt was like Poyſon to them, if the Party do not Vomit, he dies for it; all comes out in a day of Affliction, that lay hid before. Afflictions are great Diſcoverers. Nay, how do ſome guilty Sinners in this caſe, like Sea-men, that caſt that over-board in a Storm, that they wiſh for again in a Calm. O, do not many confeſs and diſcover that in a ſtorm of Conſcience, that they wiſh they had concealed and kept in? Horror of Conſcience extorts many a Confeſſion from guilty Sinners.

The ſecond Uſe. Is it ſo that Conſcience is very quick and active in its Reflections p. 119in a day of Diſtreſs and Affliction? Then it is a word of Caution:

1. Take heed of not heartening in a day of Affliction …o the voice of Conſcience. O, take heed of turning a deaf Ear to a ſpeaking Conſcience! If ever it will ſpeak in this Life, it will ſpeak then when thou art in a day of Affliction. Do not as theſe Brethren did, who heartened not to the anguiſh of their Brother's Soul, when he beſought them. O, do not ſo with your Conſciences! O, do not ſay in this matter, as he did to Paul, Come again at a more convenient time, and I will hear thee. O poor Sinners! there can be no more convenient time in the World than a day of Affliction.

p. 1201. Sinners, know if you hear it not now, it may be it will ſpeak no more. Hearken to it while it is to Day the Oracle will be ſilent to Morrow. O! What if this ſhould be the laſt time, the laſ… words that ever your Conſcience will ſpeak to you, and yet you ſhould be deaf to it would not this be ſad?

2. Sinners, what if th… next time that Conſcienc… ſhould ſpeak to you, it ſhould be in another World? What i… thou ſhouldſt hear a voic… from the Damned, ſay, a… was ſaid to Saul, To Morrow thou ſhalt be with us? What if thou ſhouldſt not live til… to Morrow, and thou be dea… to Conſcience to day? Had not you better hear you… Conſciences now, than hea… them in Hell?

p. 1213. Sinners, know the Voice of Conſcience is the Voice of God, it hath its Commiſſion from God. He hath bid Conſcience ſpeak to you, convince you, warn you, caution you, ſmite you. Go (ſays God) to Conſcience, and talk with ſuch a poor Sinner, who hath wronged and wounded his own Soul, and diſhonoured my Name, and warn him from …e: And tell him from Me, Except he repent, he ſhall …eriſh in his Sins. And will …ou refuſe to hear ſuch a …eſſage from God in a day …f Affliction?

4. Sinners, know this, It …ill aggravate your Guilt exceedingly, to be deaf to …e Voice of Conſcience in a …y of Affliction. Indeed p. 122it is ſo at any time, but much more in a day of Diſtreſs. Such Reflections as you have turned a deaf Ear to, will be great Aggravations againſt you another day.John 15.22.John 15:22 If I had not come and ſpoken to them (ſays Chriſt) they had not had Sin. Their Sin had not been ſo circumſtantiated; as may be ſaid in this caſe. If Conſcience had not Reflected upon you, convinced you, reproved you, you had not had Sin, but now your Sin remains.

5. Sinners, if you hearken not unto your Conſciences in a day of Diſtreſs, it i… an argument you are hardned in your Sins; if thus deafned, then hardned: If … deafned Wretch, thou wil… prove an hardned Wretch p. 123O now, if Sinners would put all theſe together, they would ſee need of this Caution, to take heed leſt they ſhould turn a deaf Ear to Conſcience in a day of Diſtreſs.

Second Branch of the Caution. Take heed of ſtifling and ſtrangling the Reflection of Conſcience in a day of Affliction: This is very dangerous, and yet very ordinary. The Lord made Man Righteous, but he hath found out many Inventions. And ſome of theſe Inventions are to ſtiſle and ſtrangle Conſcience, to overlay the Reflections of awakened Conſcience; as the Woman overlaid the Child. O, how many Sinners have overlaid their Convictions! Some go to their Comforts, ſome p. 124to their Cares, ſome to their Pleaſures, and all to ſmother Conſcience. Some Sinners take theſe following Courſes to murder their Convictions.

1. They run further into Sin. Will this ever prove a Remedy? Will not this make the Wound to bleed ſo much the more? To run into ſinful Company when wounded in your Conſciences, will not this inflame the Reckoning? Is not this to run ſo much the more upon the ſcore with God? O, Sinners, let me tell you, all theſe Arrears muſt at the long run be reckoned for.

2. Others they run to lawful Comforts and Enjoyments, and ſo labour to ſtifle the Reflections of their guilty Conſciences.

p. 1253. Others they run to their lawful Employments, as Cain did to build Cities; ſo ſome go to their Trades to their Shops, on purpoſe to drown the convictions of their own guilty Conſciences.

4. Others go to their ſinful Recreations, Carding, and Dicing, and Gaming.

5. Others make Charms of their Duties and Forms, as Papiſts go to their [Pater Noſters], and their [Ave Marys]; nay may not this piece of refined Popery be in the Heart of ſuch as call themſelves Proteſtants? But alas, all theſe cannot bear down an awakened Conſcience when God ſets Guilt on.

The Third Uſe, Is a word p. 126of Exhortation to poor guilty Sinners: O! then yield an Ear to the Reflections of your own Conſciences. Many a Man's Conſcience cannot be heard by him; it checks him, and chides him, and reproves him, but yet all this while the Sinner ſtops his Ear, as the deaf Adder, of which ſome write, That ſhe claps one Ear to the Earth, and covers the other with her Tail. O, hear Sinners, then what Conſcience hath to ſay. Hearken to the Preacher in your Boſoms. Turn you about, Sinners, once before you die, and liſten to this Preacher.

1. Sinners, if you will not hear it now, you muſt hear it whether you will or no hereafter: And, O how ſad will p. 127it be to hear it there, Where the Worm never dies, and the Fire never goes out. This Worm is the guilty Conſcience, which Sinners muſt hear in Hell, if they will not hear it here. Guilty Conſciences preach in Hell, and the Sermon is as long as Eternity it ſelf;Maak 9.44. and happy were the Damned, if they could run away from theſe Sermons. O Sinners! you cannot ſtop your Ears in the other World againſt your guilty Conſciences, as you do in this.

2. Sinners, hearken to the Reflections of your own Conſciences; for your hearing them will be in order to the getting of your Sins pardoned. Its Reflections are in order to your Repentance, and your Repentance will be p. 128in order to your Remiſſion. They are both put together, and preached in the Name of Chriſt together: And would not you be glad to have your Sins pardoned? Would not you be glad to have your Sins waſhed away in the Blood of Chriſt? Would not you be glad to have this heavy and inſupportable burden of Guilt removed off the back of your Conſciences? Are your Sins gone over your Heads as a Burden, yea, as too heavy a Burden for you to bear, and would not you rejoyce to be led to Safety and Reſt, under all your Loads and Preſſures?

3. Be ſure you attend to the Reflections of your Conſciences, for the Rod joyns iſſue with Conſcience; the Rod p. 129ſets Conſcience on work, and they preach the ſame Doctrine. Therefore we are called, and ſtrictly charged to hear the Rod. It may be, Sinners,Mic. 6.9.Mic 6:9 God hath tried other Preachers, and they have done little good, to make you ſenſible of your Guilt, then God commiſſions theſe Preachers, Conſcience, and the Rod. If a Man cannot come abroad and hear a Miniſter, then Affliction ſhall preach to him at Home. Now the Rod is aſſiſtant to Conſcience,Job 24.13.Job 24:13 the Preacher in your Boſoms.

4. Sinners, be not deaf to the Reflections of your Conſciences; this is to ſin againſt your Light, nay, to …ebel againſt your Light. And is not this ſad? and the guilt of this Rebellion p. 130you will be charged with another day.

5. (Poor Sinners!) Be not deaf to the Reflections of your own Conſciences; uſually God follows ſuch with his ſevereſt Judgments.

1. Sometimes Temporal. Many times God makes that threatning good upon ſuch: I will wound the hoary Scalp of every one that goes on in his Treſpaſſes. Pſal. 68.21.Ps 68:21If Men will walk on in their Sins, contrary to all checks and convictions of Conſcience, let them look for ſome ſevere blow of the Hand of God upon them, ſooner or later; for tho the Sentence be not ſpeedily executed, it is not ſaid, it never ſhall. Tho Execution day be for a while deferred yet it will come.

p. 1312. Spiritual Judgments, which are the worſt and ſaddeſt of Judgments. Many times Sinners deaf to their Conſciences, are given up to a ſeared Conſcience, to a reprobate Mind, to vile Affection, to their own Luſts, to hardneſs of Heart: And is not the judicially hardned Sinner, the half-damned Sinner?

The Second Branch of Exhortation is, To ſuch as have Reflecting tender Conſciences. O then, bleſs the Lord for ſuch awakened Conſciences! It is a greater Mercy than you think of, to have ſuch a Monitor and Remembrancer in your Boſoms.

1. Is it not a Mercy to be way-laid in a ſinful Courſe? To be prevented in Sin? To p. 132be ſtopt in a Carreer and full Gallop for Hell? This, this is the end why God ſets Conſcience at work with a poor Sinner; Had not many poor Sinners run headlong to utter Deſtruction and Damnation elſe. May not many a poor Sinner ſay to Conſcience, as David did to Abigail, Bleſſed be the God of Iſrael,1 Sam. 25.32, 33.1 Sam 25:321 Sam 25:33 that ſent thee this day, to prevent me from ſhedding innocent Blood. When thou haſt had rebukes of Conſcience, haſt thou not ſaid,Numb. 22.34.Num 22:34 as Balaam to the Angel, in his way to ſtop him, If my way be perverſe before the Lord, and diſpleaſe thee, I will get me back again. And is not this a Mercy?

2. Is it not a Mercy to be raiſed to Re entance after falling into Sin? The Sinner's p. 133Sinning is his Fall, the Sinner's Repentance is his Riſing. And are not all Conſcience's Reflections, when it is awakened in order to Repentance? (as hath been already hinted): and is not this a Mercy to be pluckt as a Firebrand out of the midſt of the burning? O! how doth Conſcience give many a pull at ſome Sinners, to get them out of the Fire, leſt it ſhould prove the Fire that never goes out!

3. Is not this a Mercy to have thy Soul lie in the way of a Pardon? Canſt thou, O poor Sinner! expect Remiſſion without Repentance? Haſt thou any Promiſe for it in all the Bible? Produce it if thou canſt? O! whoever told thee ſo, but Satan and p. 134thy own deluding Heart? Do not all Offenders that receive Pardons from their Princes, receive them upon their Knees? Whither is it thy awakened guilty Conſcience would ſend thee, but to the King of Iſrael, that Merciful King, with Sackcloth upon thy Loins, and an Halter about thy Neck, in order to the receiving of thy Pardon?

Third Branch of the Exhortation. O then, bleſs the Lord for days of Affliction and Diſtreſs! Becauſe theſe are the eſpecial times when Conſcience makes ſuch q …ck Reflections upon Souls. Are not ſuch afflictions great Mercies, as are ſanctified means in the Hand of God, to awaken poor guilty Souls? Had not you better be awakened by p. 135Afflictions, than periſh in your Sins? O, how many poor Souls had run headlong to Hell, if a Thorn Hedg of ſmarting Affliction, had not ſtopt them? (as hath been noted already) Are not Afflictions Mercies which are means to awaken ſleepy Conſciences, which otherwiſe might have ſlept on to Hell elſe? Is it not a Mercy to be rouzed out of our Security? Suppoſe a Man ſleep upon the Bank of the River, had not he been better awakened, tho it be by pinching, than ſleep on until he drop in and be Drowned? Is not this the Caſe? There are many poor Souls that lie aſleep on the brink of the Pit, one turn by Death on the other ſide, and the Sinner is gone, and gone for ever.

p. 136But, me-thinks, I hear a poor Soul ſay, What ſhall I do? what Courſe ſhall I take? The guilt of my Conſcience lies like an heavy Load and Weight upon me. I am dogg'd with the ſenſe of my guilt Day and Night. My Sin is ever before me. Let ſuch troubled Conſciences take theſe Directions.

1. Freely confeſs thy guilt to God. Thus Joſeph's Brethren did in the day of their Diſtreſs. Thus all Conſciences when wounded, ſhould bleed by Confeſſion. Thus David: I have ſinned, &c. Thus the poor Prodigal: Father, I have ſinned againſt Heaven, and againſt thee, &c. The Promiſe runs to confeſſion of Sin:Prov. 28.13.Prov 28:13 He that confeſſeth, and forſaketh his Sin, p. 137ſhall find Mercy. 1 John 1.9.1 John 1:9If we confeſs our Sins, God is Faithful and Juſt to forgive us our Sins.

2. Be much upon your Knees, praying for Pardon. O, what will make a Man pray, if ſenſe of Guilt will …ot! Need any put words …nto the Mouth of a condemned Malefactor, to beg the …udge to be good unto him? How ready is he to cry, Good …y Lord, have Mercy? O, …hat Petitioning will there …e to the Judge! O, poor …uilty Sinner, ſee this Courſe …ken by David; Lord, have …dercy upon me, &c.

3. O, run believingly to …e Blood of Chriſt! Your …onfeſſions, your Prayers, …ur Tears, will not do without the Blood of Chriſt; thou p. 138muſt get further (viz.) To the Blood of Sprinkling. This is the Blood that cleanſeth from all Sin, and all Unrighteouſneſs. Here, here is the Fountain for guilty and for filthy Souls to waſh in.

4. Defer not your Repentance, this is dangerous when under ſenſe of Guilt. You can ſay in other Caſes, there is danger in delays: O, why do not you ſay ſo in this? O, poor Sinners, ſleep not in your Guilt! A wounded Spirit muſt be taken betimes, a… well as a Wound in the Body the Wound will get win… elſe, and will feſter; thi… will make dreadful work i… once Guilt gangreen and feſter. O, how hard will gangreen'd Conſcience be t… Cure.

p. 1395. Direction is, Lay hold by an hand of Faith, upon your precious Promiſes in the Goſpel held out to you. O, poor guilty Sinners are all for application of Threatnings, and alas, this makes the Wound deeper and wider. O, how do ſuch Sinners when they neglect Goſpel-Promiſes! Hath Chriſt purchaſed ſuch precious Promiſes to lie by you? O, what a ſin is Unbelief, to null the Promiſes of God! to make them void, and of none effect. Are theſe Cordials provided for Sin-ſick Souls, and will they not ſo much as taſte of them? Will not God take this ill at your Hands? Is not a Goſpel-Promiſe, a proper Plaſter for a wounded Conſcience? O, that all guilty Sinners p. 140were well ſtudied in Goſpel-Promiſes! Might not they then eſpie a door of Hope,Iſa. 1.Isa 1 concerning their pardon of Sin and Guilt? Yea, tho their Sins were as Scarlet, (ſuch were Joſeph's Brethren, in my Text) yet they ſhould be as white as Snow. And the they were as Crimſon, they ſhould be as white as Wooll O, what a Mercy, poor Sinners, would this be, to be awakened by the Reflections of your own guilty Conſciences in a day of Affliction and for all to end and iſſue in Remiſſion and Pardon!

FINIS.

End of the text · John Ryther, The Hue and Cry of Conscience After Secure Sinners (1680)