Conscience the Best Friend Upon Earth, Title page – Dedication
Conscience THE BEST FRIEND UPON EARTH OR, The Happy Effects Of Keeping A Good Conscience. Very Useful for this Age.
By HENRY STVBBES, Minister of the Gospel.
Acts 23. 1. I have lived in all Good Conscience before God untill this day.
London, Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock at the Sign of the Three Bibles in Popes Head Alley in Cornhill. 1677.
To the Readers CONSCIENCE.
COnscience; how thou wilt take it I know not: however I have adventured to write a few lines unto thee, because I know thou art well acquainted with my Reader, and canst do much with him if thou wilt; and if thou be a Good Conscience thou wilt. Naturally good I know thou art, I would hope that thou art Spiritually good, purged from dead works by the Bloud of Christ, Heb. 9. 14. and made good by the power of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Pet. 3. 21. and art able to give a reason by thy hope to be saved, 1 Pet. 3. 15, 16. and that thou standest upon thy watch and ward against Sin, Satan, and the World, 1 Tim. 1. 18, 19. However thou art naturally good; something thou hast retained since the Fall, all is not lost: Reason, Knowledge, and the power of Reflection thou hast; and to speak according to thy Knowledge, and to tell every one with whom thou hast to do the truth how 'tis with them, is thy essential property. Even those (John 8. 6, 9.) that tempted Christ, that they might have something to accuse him of, were convicted of their Consciences; their Consciences dealt plainly with them, and told them the truth, that they were not without sin.
Conscience, thou art the Candle of the Lord searching the inward parts, the most secret thoughts, desires, and intents of the heart, Prov. 20. 27. according to that of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 2. 11. What man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of a man within him? Thou didst tell Pharaoh that he was wicked, Exod. 9. 27. and Josephs Brethren, that they were guilty, Gen. 42. 21. and Judas that he had sinned in betraying innocent bloud, Matth. 27 3, 4. I pray thee do as much for my Reader if thou see cause for it. It may be thou art a well read Conscience in the Law of God, enlightned and rightly informed: If thou be so, thou knowest my Readers estate Godward, whether good or bad, in the state of Grace or Nature. Thou must needs know, for thou art always at home with him, and there is not a thought in his Heart but thou art privy to it, nor a word in his tongue but thou hearest it, nor a work of his hand but thou seest it. God hath made thee his Spy and Overseer, that so thou mayst be a true Witness for or against him.
Conscience, thou canst tell whether my Reader be a Child of wrath, as he was born, Eph. 2. 3. or whether he be born again, and so be a Child of God by Faith in Jesus Christ, Gal. 3. 26.
Thou canst tell whether he be as yet to this day in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity, as he Acts 8. 23.
Thou canst tell whether he be in the flesh, and do live after the flesh, or no.
Whether he be the same that ever he was, or whether he be a new creature, the workmanship of God by a second creation, born of God and of the Spirit, sanctified throughout, cleansed from filthiness of flesh and spirit.
Whether he worship God in spirit and truth.
Whether he have onelyonly the form of godliness, or the power also.
Whether he be a Christian outwardly onelyonly, or inwardly also.
Whether a hearer onelyonly, or a doer also.
Whether he have onelyonly a name to live, or be alive indeed.
Whether he be barren and unfruitful, or fuitful in every good work.
Whether his Knowledge be effective and operative, and so saving.
Whether his Faith be unfeigned, the Faith of Gods Elect, working, purifying, conquering.
Whether his Repentance be Repentance unto life, bearing the fruits of Carefulness, Clearing, Indignation, Fear, Vehement Desire, Zeal, Revenge, 2 Cor. 7. 11.
Whether his Obedience be universal.
Whether he esteem all Gods precepts concerning all things to be right, and whether he hate every salfe way, Psal. 119. 128.
Conscience, thou canst tell whether my Reader have laid aside all malice and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and evil speakings, as he is required, 1 Pet. 2. 1.
Whether he desires the since…e milk of the word, that he may grow thereby, ver. 2.
And whether he do grow or not.
Whether he be contented with what he hath attained, or whether he press forward, after Pauls example, Phil. 3. 13, 14.
Whether he make Religion the greatest business he has to do in the world.
Whether Gods Word be his Rule in all.
Whether Gods Glory be his end in all.
Whether he seek his own things, or the things of Christ, most.
Whether his Heart be Godward, Christward, Heavenward.
Whether his Conversation be in Heaven, and his Affections upon things above.
Whether he have oyl in his vessel as well as in his lamp.
Whether he can prove his Vnion with Christ.
Whether he has made his Calling and Election sure.
Whether he be yet made meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light.
Whether he love the appearing of Christ.
And Conscience thou canst tell me whether my Reader does live by the Faith of the Son of God, as Paul did, Gal 2. 20.
Whether he shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom, Janies 3. 13.
What work and labour of love he hath shewed towards the Name of Christ, whether he have ministred to the Saints, and do minister, Heb. 6. 10.
Whether he fulfill all the Wills of God, as David did, Acts 13. 22.
Whether he follow God fully, as Caleb did.
Whether he be righteous before God, walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless, as Zechary and Elizabeth, Luke 1. 6.
Whether he be holy in all manner of conversation, as he is required to be, 1 Pet. 1. 15.
Whether his Conversation in this World be in simplicity and godly sincerity, 2 Cor. 1. 12.
Whether he be zealous of good works, Tit. 2. 14.
Whether the zeal of Gods House do even eat him up.
Whether he be contented to be nothing that God may be all, and to be accounted vile so God may be honoured.
Whether he deny himself, and take up his Cross and follow Christ, Matth. 16. 24.
Whether he rejoyce in hope, and be patient in tribulation, and continue instant in prayer, Rom. 12. 12.
Now (Conscience) I have an earnest request to thee; and seeing thou always lodgest in the bosom of my Reader, thou canst not want an opportunity to do what I shall request of thee. My Request is this, That thou wouldest deal honestly with my Reader, and tell him the truth of his estate what it is.
If he be a child of wrath, and in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity, tell him so, and say to him as Peter to Simon Magus, Acts 8. 23. I perceive thou art in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity, a child of wrath, and the wrath of God will come upon thee if thou continue so, Eph. 5. 6.
If my Reader do live after the flesh, (and sure thou canst tell whether he does so or no.) Good Conscience, tell him that he does so, and that if he shall continue so to do, he shall die; and shew him Rom. 8. 13. and bid him read it.
If my Reader do the work of the Lord negligently, deceitfully; if he offer to God a corrupt thing when he has a male to offer, tell him of the curse which hangs over his head, and make him read Jer. 48. 10. Mat. 1. 14.
If he have no prayer in his Family, cause him to read Jer. 10. 25.
If he remember not the Sabbath day to keep it holy, give him no rest, till thou hast gotten him to read and ponder upon what is written Jer. 17. 27.
If he be an idle, slothful, unprofitable servant in the Lords work, shew him Matth. 25. 30.
If he be an unfruitful tree in the Lords vineyard, prevail with him (for thou canst do it) to read again and again the words of Christ Luke 13. 7▪ 8▪ 0. shew him also Matth. 7. 17. and Heb. 6. 7, 8. Say to him, Why dost thou not take the Bible and read it?
Conscience, if my Reader believe not in Jesus Christ, if he do not obedientially rest upon him alone for salvation, tell him that if he do not believe the sooner he must be damned, Mark 16. 16.
If he have not repented, if he have not confessed his sin, and mourned for it, and turned from it unto God; tell him he must do it or perish, and shew him Luke 13. 3, 5.
If he be unrighteous, good Conscience tell him, that if he continue such, he shall never inherit the Kingdom of God. Compell him to read 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10.
If he be unholy, tell him, that he shall never see the Lord; and let him not be quiet till he has taken the Bible and read it in Heb. 12. 14.
If he be unregenerate, tell him, he cannot, (if he continue so) see the Kingdom of God. Put the Bible into his hand, and bid him read John 3. 3…5.
Conscience, if my Reader be a neglecter of that great Salvation profered in the Gospel, and continue so, tell him that he cannot escape damnation, and shew him Heb. 2. 3.
If he turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven to him, tell him that he cannot escape the wrath of God; and shew him Heb. 12. 25. and Acts 3. 23. and ask him whether he be not afraid of destruction?
And if he shall still refuse to hearken, and still pull away the shoulder, and stop his ears, and make his Heart like an Adamant stone, tell him that great wrath will come upon him, Zech. 7. 11, 12.
Conscience, if my Reader be one of that black catalogue 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. or a doer of the works of the flesh, Gal. 5. 19, 20, 21. tell him, that he shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. And if he ask thee what warrant thou hast to say so, refer him to the forecited Scriptures.
Conscience, if my Reader should be fearful, unbelieving, abominable; if he should be a Murderer, a Whoremonger, a Sorcerer, an Idolater, a Liar; tell him that if he continue such, he must have his part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone: and make him read Rev. 21. 8.
Conscience, if my Reader be a proud person, tell him from God, that God is able to abase him, Dan. 4. 37. and will be above him, Exod. 18. 11. and bring him down, Psal. 18. 27. and low, Prov. 29. 23. even to destruction, Prov. 16. 18. and 15. 25. Get him also to read Isa. 2. 11. to 18. and Isa. 3. 16. to the end.
If my Reader be a covetous person, good Conscience, let him know from the Word of God,
1. That he is a troubler of his own house, Prov. 15. 27.
2. That he is in Gods account an Idolater, Col. 3. 5. Eph. 5. 5.
3. That he is hated and abhorred of God, Psal. 10. 3.
4. That he is sorely threatned Isa. 5. 8. Isa. 10. 1, 2. Job 20. 15, 19, 20. and 27. 16, 17, 18. 1 Cor. 6. 10. And get him to read 1 Tim. 6. 9, 10.
And (Conscience) if my Reader be a voluptuous person, an adulterous unclean person, I must intreat thee to send him to the Bible, and to see that he read and consider these following Scriptures of the Old and New Testament; Prov. 2. 18, 19. Prov. 5. 3, 4, 5, 6, to 14. Prov. 6. 26, 32, …3. Prov. 7. 21. to the end of the chap. Prov. 22. 14. Prov. 23. 27. Prov. 29. 3. Eccles. 7. 26. 1 Cor. 5. 9. 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. Eph. 5. 5, 6. Heb. 13. 4. Rev. 21. 8. and 22. 15.
Good Conscience, be at him again and again, and never leave him till thou hast gotten him to go into his Closet, and there to spend one quarter or half an hour in pondering on these Scri….
Conscience, do thy office; thou art Gods Deputy, fail not to be faithful.
Possibly thou mayest say, That thou hast done it again and again, but they will not hear, they are deaf to me as well as to you. But Conscience, if thou be a good Conscience, speak louder, speak not with so low a voice, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, for thou art ordained a Preacher to shew my Readers their transgressions and sins.
Be not silent whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, yet speak unto them. I know my Readers, many of them, will endeavour to silence and stop thy mouth; they do not love to be told of their faults, or what their estate is: but Conscience be not thou rebellious, but do that which is thine Office to do. I know thou hast much to charge my Readers with.
Some of them (thou knowest) do neither read the S…riptures, nor pray in their Families, nor Cathechize them that are committed to their charge.
Others pray not in their Closets, nor do they commune with their own hearts about their spiritual estates; they examine not themselves, whether they be in the Faith, or whether Christ be in them; they compare not themselves with the Word of God, to know how it is with them.
Some spend their time and strength, and Estates in Rioting and Drunkenness, in Chambering and Wantonness, in Strife and Envying
Some trifle away their precious time in Taverns, Ale-houses, Play-houses Coffee-houses.
Some embrace this present World with Demas.
Some are lovers of Pleasures more then lovers of God.
Some acknowledge God in their words, and in their works deny him.
Some have left their first love.
Some are lukewarm, neither hot nor …ld.
Some say, Lord, Lord, but will not do the things that he says unto them.
Some believe not with their Hearts what with their Mouth they say they do believe.
Some confess sin with their lips, but do neither mourn for it, nor hate it, nor turn from it with their Hearts.
Some pray for that they would not have.
Some hear the Word, but will not do it.
Some love in word and tongue, but not in deed and in truth.
Some fashion themselves according to this world, yet would not be thought to be of the world.
Some Dedicate and Devote their Children to God, to the service of that one God who is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and when they have so done, they alienate them from his service to the service of the World, Flesh, and Devil, breeding them np in Idleness, Pride, and Wantonness. Never, or never to any purpose minding them of their Baptis…al Covenant and Engagements, to be …holy and only the Lords.
Some neglect relative Duty, (as thou Conscience knowest very well.)
Are not some Husbands bitter to …heir Wives, and some Wives disobedient to their Husbands?
Do not some Parents provoke their Children to wrath? and do not some Children dishonour their Parents?
Do not some Masters deny that which is just and equal to their Servants? and are not some Servants unfaithful to their Masters? Dost thou not know all this to be true, Conscience? Doubtless thou doest, and doubtless thou doest often nip and twinge them for it. But good Conscience make them feel, make them smart, let them not go on in peace, disturb them, hannt them continually, tell them their own, and take a fit time and season for it.
My Reader does frequently, or some…imes at least, hear Sermons. Sermons of the necessity of the New-birth, Faith, Repentance, Holiness. Take this opportunity, Conscience, of telling him the truth. Say to him, Hearest thou what the Preacher sayes? hath he not clearly proved the necessity of New birth, Faith, Repentance, Holiness, unto Life Eternal. What wilt thou do, Man, Woman? Thou art not New-born, thou hast not believed nor repented, thou art not Holy. Sure thou canst not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Joh. 3. 3. Sure thou must be Damned, Mat. 16. 16. Sure thou must perish, Luke. 13. 3. Thou canst not see the Lord to thy comfort in that unholy Estate thou art now in Heb. 12. 14.
My Reader prayes constantly, or sometimes at least, and sayes, Lord give me a better Heart, a new Heart, a clean Heart, a soft Heart, a single Heart. Lord, write thy Law in my Heart, plant thy Fear in my Heart, put thy Spirit into me, cause me to walk in thy Statutes. Now, Conscience, tell h… the truth; say to him, Thou drawest …igh to God with thy lips, but thy Heart is far from him. Thy Lip doth ask these things of God, but thy Heart does not desire them; thou art well enough satisfied and contented, though thou be denied.
My Reader is sometimes busy in his Calling: Conscience, go to him and say, O how busy thou art for back and belly! what provision makest thou for thy soul?
My Reader is sometimes at a Feast, or at his own Table: go to him, Conscience, and say, O how sweet this meat is to thy taste! when shall the Word of God, and the meat indeed, and the drink indeed, be as sweet?
My Reader is sometimes in a Tavern, Ale-house, or Coffee-house. Conscience, when he has done his necessary business there, go to him and say, Is not thy Family, or Closet, a fitter…place for thee to be in?
Sometimes he is walking in the fields: Conscience, go to him and ask him what …e is meditating on, and put him in mind of Isaac's practice, Gen. 24. 6.
My Reader is sometimes sick: go …t him, Conscience, and say, This is th… just hand of God upon thee: and bi… him take his Bible and read Jer. 4. 18▪
Sometimes my Reader takes Physick▪ go to him, Conscience, and say to him▪ When wilt thou be at so much cost for thy soul? when wilt thou spare so much time from thy business for thy soul? when wilt thou keep thy Chamber a day or two for thy souls health?
Possibly my Reader has lately been recovered out of a dangerous fit of sickness: go to him, Conscience, and put him in mind of …is sick…bed prayers and purposes, and say to him, Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Conscience, have but a very little patience more, and I have done. Some of my Readers, thou knowest, have lain under the meanes of Grace a long time Vnconverted; would I could perswade thee … force them to read Heb. 6. 7, 8. Jer. … 29. Ezek. 24. 13, 14. Mat. 23. 37, 38. Luke 19. 41, 42. 2 Cor. 13. 5. and not let them be quiet until they have mused a while on each. Conscience, I am in care and fear about my Readers, lest that dreadful Message be sent to them, that once was sent to Israel of old, Isa. 6. 9, 10. with Rom. 11. 18. I beseech thee, Conscience, suffer them not to eat, drink, or sleep in quiet, until they have fixed their thoughts a while on this Message after the reading of it. Conscience, I am out of hopes of my Readers welfare, unless thou be the more vigilant, a…gent, and faithful in doing thy office. Wherefore I beseech you, nay I charge you, as once Paul charged Timothy, 2 Tim. 4. 1. before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick, and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom; preach the Word to my Reader, be instant in season, out of season; Reprove, Rebuke, Exhort him, and continue thy speech to him (as once Paul did to his Hearers Acts 20. 7.) until midnight, rather then fail of prevailing with him. There are a few other Scriptures, which I desire my Reader might peruse, viz. 1 Sam. 2. 25. 2 Chro. 25. 16. Pro. 29. 1. But, Conscience, if thou wilt not by earnest and continual urging compel him, he will not bestow the time, nor take the paines to do it. In hope thou wilt be faithful to my Reader, I shall add no more save only the promise of my prayers that thou mayst be so.