Conscience the Best Friend Upon Earth, Sermon 1
SERMON I.
JOB 26. 7.
My Righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my Heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
MY Righteousness I hold fast. His Friends would have robb'd him of it, would have persuaded him out of it, would have argued and disputed him out of it, but you shall not do it saith Job; I stand up in the defence of it, I hold it fast, I will not let it go… Say what you will, do what you can, I will maintain my Integrity, I am not an Hypocrite as you would have me think I am; I am not an unrighteous man as you would speak me to be, and as you would have me take my self to be; no, my Righteousness I will hold fast, I will duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page not let it go; pull while you will, I will hold it fast. Take we up the like Resolution: there are some that pretend to be friends, pretend friendship and kindness, but act the part of Job's friends here. Oh how many are there that would spoil us of our Righteousness! The World, the Flesh, and the Devil, pull to take it away; Hold we our Resolution not to let it go. Should I let it go, (saith Job) my Heart would reproach me, would upbraid me; my Conscien…e would accuse me of wrong done to my self, which is worse then doing wrong to others. It is bad to wrong others much worse to wrong our selves: therefore he is resolved, My Heart shall not reproach me, no not so long as I live. In which words you have Job's Holy resolution, My Heart shall not reproach me. My Heart, that is, my Conscience, for so Heart is to be understood; If ou heart condemn us, … John 3. 20, 21.Go is greater then our heart: And if our heart condemn us not, &c. that is, our Conscience. So that by Heart you must here understand Conscience. Conscience! Is there any such thing in the World? Sure one would think that Conscience had been dead long ago, and that there was no Conscience now alive in the World. But (Sirs) it will have a Resurrection assure your selves, for it is of an Immortal Nature; and though it may seem … die, it will have a real Resurrection. Sleep is the image of Death, and Conscience may for awhile be asleep, but as sure as ever thou didst awake when thou wast asleep, Conscience will awake ere long; and when it shall awake it will make you look about. My Conscience shall not reproach me, shall not upbraid, shall not accuse me of any wrong done to mysel…, nor of any omission of what is my Duty, nor of any commission of what is. Transgression, it shall not accuse me, either for omitting what God hath commanded, (and God hath commanded me to preserve my own Integrity, and to seek my own peace and quiet;) or accuse me for committing what God hath forbidden. God hath forbidden me the wronging of my self, and Conscience shall not accuse me for doing what God hath forbidden, so long as I live. Hitherto his Conscience accused him not. O Excellent Job! A man more righteous then his Neighbour. Indeed he was one that had the Commendation of God himself; no wonder he doth stand up in his own justification, being a person that had Gods so great commendation: Job 1. 1. There was a man in the land of Vz, whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, one that feared God and eschewed evil. And a further Commendation the Lord gave him ver. 8 Hast thou not considered my serva Job, that there is none like him in the earth? &c. No wonder that he stands upon his own justification. Hither to I have so lived that my Conscience cannot accuse me, and he was resolved so to live. I will have a care (whatever I suffer) to have Conscience on my side; I will have Conscience to be my Friend; I will not do any thing that shall occasion Conscience to be my Foe; for I were better to have all the World, yea if there were ten thousand Worlds, it were better for me to have them all to be my mortal enemies, than to have Conscience to be mine enemy.
Now it will be needful to consider what Conscience is that is so great a Friend or Foe: it will be the best Friend, or the worst Enemy, according as your carriage towards God and Man shall be. I shall shew,
1. What Conscience is.
2. About what it is imployed.
… is implo▪
And then when I have so done, I shall tell you and prove it, that it should be your greatest care so to live, that Conscience may not reproach you whilest you live; and then give you reasons of it, and then Apply it.
1. General. What Conscience is.
Briefly, Conscience is a mans Judgment of himself: i.e. Of his Estate and Actions; this is Conscience. Or thus, if you will; Conscience is a Power of the Soul; for the Soul is endowed with Noble Powers and Faculties, Vnderstanding, Conscience, Memory, Will, and Affections: and Conscience is not the least of them. I say, Conscience is a Power of the Soul taking notice and bearing witness of all a mans Thoughts, Words, and Actions; and as it finds them, either to agree or not agree with the Rule, it accuses or excuses, absolves or condemns comforts or torments. This is Conscience. Do you think there is any such Inhabitant in you? It may be some have taken no notice of any such Inhabitant in the House of their Soul, whether there be any such Power of the Soul, or no. I say it again, Conscience is a Power of the Soul, taking notice, and bearing witness, (it takes notice that it may bear witness) of all a mans Thoughts, Words, and Actions; and as it finds his Thoughts, Words, or Actions, to be either agreeing or not agreeing with the Rule, so it doth excuse or accuse, absolve or condemn, comfort or torment. This is Conscience.
1. It is a Power of the Soul; it is called Heart 1 John 3. 20. For if our heart coudemn us, &c. and Eccles. 7. 22. For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth, &c. It is called likewise the Spirit of a man, Prov. 18. 14. The Spirit of a man will sustain his infirmities, but a wounded Spirit who can bear?
2. Conscience is a Power of the Soul taking notice; it is a most Curious Observer. Conscience is very quick sighted. It is continually prying, though we do not observe and take notice of it; yet so it is. What is said of God Psalm 139. 3, 4. is true of his Deputy: Who is that? It is Conscience. Conscience is no mean thing, it is Gods Deputy, and what is said of God in that place is true of Conscience: Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and thou art acquainted with all my ways, for there is not a word in my mouth, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether: Thou hast beset me behind and before. So that a man cannot stir but God seeth and Conscience seeth, and knoweth and taketh notice of it; and one would wonder how Conscience will revive what was done seven years, and three times seven years, ago. Conscienc… will whisper in your ear, this was your heart, and this was in your tongue, and this was in your hands, this was thought by you, that was spoken by you, and that was done by you; that which we had utterly forgotten. How fresh many years after doth Conscience bring it to mind? Conscience took notice of it, and did well observe it. Thus Coscience is a Power of the Soul taking notice.
3. And bearing witness, it taketh notice that it may bear witness, if it should not take notice it could not bear witness. Can a man bear witness that which he never knew, which he never saw, nor heard? Rom. 2. 14. The Apostle speaking of the Gentiles saith, Having not the Law, they do by nature the things contained in the Law: these having not the Law, are a Law unto themselves, which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts, their Conscience also …eiring witness. It is an old Prover…ial speech, Conscience is a thousand Witnesses; nay it's more then a thousand or ten thousand Witnesses; that one Witness is enough to cast us. If Conscience be a Witness, there is no need of any further Witness. As they said of Christ, What need we any further witness, we have it from his own mouth? So will the Lord say to the Sinner, What need any further Witness, his own Conscience is Witness? You read of the Testimony of Conscience, sometimes it is for, and sometimes against.
1. It is sometimes for us, as 2 Cor. 1. 12. This is our rejoycing (saith the Apostle) the testimony of our Conscience, that in all simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world.
2. And sometimes against us, and then 'tis a Hell above ground, a Hell on this side Hell.
3. It further follows, that Consc… ence is a Power of the Soul takin… notice of, and bearing witness of a mans Thoughts, Words, and Actions, so that the Thoughts shall not escape Consciences observation, nor shall a Word escape Consciences hearing, nor a Work Consciences recording. And as Conscience finds the Thoughts, Words, or Actions, either agreeing or not agreeing with the Rule, it will excuse or accuse. Conscience cannot be a Witness of our Thoughts, Words, and Actions, whether they be according to the Rule, or contrary to it, whether they agree with the Rule, or warp from it, unless it be a strict Observer. And if it find our Thoughts, Words, and Actions to agree with the Rule, it excuseth; if not to agree with the Rule, it accuseth: Rom. 2. 15. Their thoughts in the mean while accusing or excusing one another.
4. And then it follows, absolving or condemning. For the truth is, Conscience is a Judge, a Deputy Judge, which God hath set up and given Power to, that according as it finds Thoughts, Words, and Actions, to be according to Rule, or not according to Rule, it may either acquit or condemn.
5. And then, it comforteth or tormenteth also, as it findeth thoughts, words, and actions, either to agree or not to agree with the Rule. 2 Cor. 1. 12. This is our rejoycing the Testimony of our Conscience; there is the comfort of Conscience. And Mark 9. 44. It is a Worm that never dieth; there is the torment of it. Thus you see Conscience is a Power of the Soul, taking notice and bearing Witness, of all a mans thoughts words and actions; and as it finds them either agreeing or not agreeing with the Rule, it excuseth, or accuseth, absolveth or condemneth, comforteth or tormenteth. This is called Conscience … It is called Conscience some think …cause it is a Knowledge with oth… Pray observe God knows, Angels know, Devils know, Men know, and all these witness, and Conscience knows and witnesseth with them. 1. God knows if you read Job 16. 19. My witness is in Heaven, my record is on high. There is one in Heaven that knows, and one in Heaven that can witness; though the husband doth not know, though the wife doth not know, and father and friend doth not know, yet God knows, and there is one on earth knows, and that is Conscience. God is my witness, saith Paul, Rom. 1. 9. God doth know it, and can witness it. All things are naked and open to him with whom we have to do, Heb. 4. 13. It is a notable Scripture, Hos. 7. 2. And they consider not in their hearts, that I remember all their wickedness. Whoever forgets it, and though they themselves forget it, yet I remember it well enough. They do not consider that I remember all their wickedness, their own doings have beset them about, they are all before my face, even what is not be fore the Husbands face and the Wifes face. God knows what things are acted behind one anothers backs; all is before Gods Face, he knows it,Psal. 139. begin. and takes notice of it. 2. Angels know it too; the Angels are Ministring Spirits about some; they are imployed here on Earth, though we take no notice of it. They are in our Congregations and Meetings, and they observe how we carry our selves there. For this cause ought the Woman to have power on her head, because of the Angels, saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 11. 10. i.e. The Woman is to be modest in the Congregation because of the Angels. The Lord return Modesty home again, for Modesty seems to be banished from among us. But do Angels know? do the good Angels know? Yes, when we do well the good Angels rejoyce: if a Sinne… be converted, if the lost Sheep be found,Luke 15. 7, 10. there is joy among the Angels; therefore they know it. 3. The bad Angels know too, they go about as Observers. You cannot go to the Congregation, but the Devil makes one there. The Sower goes out to sow the good Seed, then comes the Enemy, the Devil, and steals it away, Matth. 13. 19. He also goes about as a roaring Lion every where, 1 Pet. 5. 8. He goes to and fro in the earth, and walks up and down in it, Job. 1. 7. observing what People do; for he is the Accuser of the Brethren, and he will when time serves remember people of what they have done, though done by his instigation and temptation: see Zech. 3. 1. Poor Creatures are tempted to destroy …hemselves; well, God delivers them, …nd now they are ashamed. O what … shame is this (saith the Devil) that thou hast attempted to destroy thy self? how canst thou look any body in the face without shame? go and destroy thy self. This was the case of a poor Creature that I have twice spoken with: once she attempted to drown her self; I spake with her, and gave her the best counsell could: she answered me, I am ashamed, I am ashamed, I cannot go about any thing. Not many days after she went into a Wood to cut her own Throat, but God delivered her: but this poor Creature is still under discontent, the Devil doth remember her. I beseech you consider how many Witnesses there are of all that you do; you think to sin in the dark, and to do it so that no Eye shall see you, you think to draw the Curtains, and then none can see you; but you deceive your selves, it is Noon Day with God still, and so it is with Angels, and with the Devil too; there is nothing hid fra… them. 4. Men know, they are … Observers. Some have their ey… … their heads, and see that which should make their eyes weep and trickle down with tears, and if they have any Zeal for God, the sight of their Eyes will affect their Hearts. And besides this Conscience also knows, and therefore called Conscience (as some think) because it knows with others. It knoweth with God, with Angels, with Devils, and knows it to be all true which God lays to our charge, and what the Devil lays to our charge; so that Conscience is a Knowledge together with others. Rom. 9. 1. My Conscience bearing me witness. My Conscience co-witnessing, my Conscience witnessing together with God; God knows it, and doth witness it; and my Conscience knows it, and doth witness it; and my Conscience together with me knows it.
There is a double Act of the Understanding; there is a Direct Act whereby we know a thing, and there is a Reflect Act whereby we know that we know it. And this is the Action of Conscience. Isa. 59. 12. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins they testifie against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities we know them, we know that we have sinned. So that Conscience is a recoiling or a reflexion of the Soul upon it self; according to that of Paul, 1 Cor. 4. 4.
II. General. I come in the next place to shew about what Conscience is imploy'd▪ it is imploy'd about the whole man and all his actions. It hath a Commission thus to employ it self about the understanding, how that doth act, about the memory to observe how that doth act, about the will how that doth act, and the Affections how they do act, it is imployed to observe whether the man be sanctified or not, and it is imployed about his Actions whether they be good or bad, about our actions towards God or Man, towards our selves or others. And it is imployed about every thing that is either a Sin or a Duty. Conscience is imployed to observe how you eat and drink, it is imployed to observe how you dress and habit your selves, how you buy and sell, and deal and trade in the World, it is imployed to observe how you read the Scripture, pray in your Family, in your Clozet, and in the Congregation, how you sanctifie the Sabbath, receive Sacraments, how you spend your time, how long you lye a Bed in a morning, how late you set up at night, and about what; to observe how you carry your selves alone, and how you carry your selves in Comyany, to observe what you do in the Streets, or in the Field, in this place or in the other place, in this Company or in the other Company; it goeth along with you, and it will never leave you. God help me to mind this. I hope you will make the same prayer for your selves, that I make for my self.
III. General. How Conscience is imployed. From the Description of Conscience which I have given you, you may understand that Conscience hath several Offices, the Office of a Notary or Register, the Office of a Witness or Accuser, the Office of a Judge or a Condemner, the Office of a Comforter or a Tormenter; Conscience is imployed in such Offices as these are, and Conscience will first or last be faithful in the execution of them, and it will do it's Office to purpose
1. It is imployed as a Notary or Register to write down all we do; to write it down as with the Point of a Diamond, to Book it down, and Seal it up, that it may come to Light again.
2. It is imployed as an Accuser when we do amiss, when we warp from the Rule.
3. It is imployed as a Judge, to pass sentence of life or death. Oh, Sirs, how many poor souls are condemned by their own hearts? Their own Consciences tell them, thou art a Damned Creature, thou art an undone soul; it may be Conscience as yet doth not set in Judgment, it is not Sessions or Assizes time with you, it may be it is adjourned and put of to a longer time. But assure your selves the time will come, the time is at hand.
4. Conscience is also imployed as a Comforter, as an Acquitter and Absolver if we do well. 2 Cor. 1. 12. This is our rejoycing, the testimony of our Conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, &c. we have had our conversation in the world. What greater rejoycing then this? When Conscience shall acquit me in the prescence of God, when Conscience shall be able to say as Hezekiah, Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. Oh what a comfort will it be when Conscience shall reflect upon it's believing in Christ, upon it's confession of sin, repentance and tears, sighs and groans for sin. This is my rejoycing, the testimony of my Conscience; that I have been alone in a corner in my Clozet, with tears in mine eyes and sorrow in my heart, that I have rolled my self on Christ, and cast all my ca…e upon him.
5. Then as a Tormenter Conscience is imployed. When Conscience shall recoil and thus reflect upon a man. When thou shoulds… have been in thy Clozet thou wast here or there in the Street or in the Field, in the Coffee House or Taverns; when thou shouldst have been with God alone, thou hast been elswhere. Thou couldst lye down and rise up without having God be…fore thine Eyes; thou couldst eat and drink without fear and without rule, and buy and sell, and habi… thy self without fear. There is a… much danger in habiting and dressing our selves as in eating and drinking; O what if this dress should be a snare, what if this should occasion the committing of Adultery, He that looks upon a Woman to lust after her, (saith Christ) hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart. Saith one, There is a fine clear skin, and so saith a second, and a third; but do you know what temptation may lye in a naked skin: the Lord help us to take heed of it. I would commend you a little Book, it is but 3 pence price, it is called The Hairy Comet, very fit for an Hairy Age. This is indeed an Hairy Age; God deliver us from False Hearts, for we can see almost nothing but False Heads every where. Assure your selves, Conscience will have a bout with men for this another day.
Conscience will not let this go unobserved; Conscience doth write down this, and will hereafter find a time to read it to you, It may be the Wife will say I must please my Husband, and the Husband will say I must please my Wise. But have a care I beseech you to please Conscience, that it may not be against you another day. See that Conscience be for you, and that Conscience may have no cause to upbraid you, and torment you another day. Let Jobs care be your care; let not Conscience reproach you so long as you live. I beseech you earnestly, let it be your great care to have A Conscience void of offence towards God and towards Man; towards your selves and others. And if you so do, you will have no cause to repent your being here to hear this Lesson.