MY Righteousness I hold fast. His Friends would have [...]obb [...] him of it, would have perswaded him out of it, would have [...]gued and d [...]sput [...] him [...]ut of it, but you shall not do it saith Job ▪ I stand [...] in the [...]nce of it, I hold i [...] fast▪ I [...]ill [...]ot let i [...] go: Say what you will, [...] what you can, I will maintain my [...] i [...], I am not an Hypocri [...]e as you would have me think I am, I am not [...] man as you would speak [...] as you would have me [...]k [...] my [...] be▪ no my Righteousness [...] will hold [...], I will not let it go [...] [Page 2] 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 F [...]esh, and the Devil, pull to take it [...]way; Hold we our R [...]solution not to let it go. Should I let it go, (saith Job) m [...] Heart would reproach me, would upbraid me; my Conscience would accuse me o [...] wrong done to my self, which is worse than doing wrong to others It is b [...]d to wrong others, much worse to wrong [...]r selves: therefore he is resolved, M [...] [...]rt shall not reproach me, no not [...] [...]g 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. 1 John. 3.20.21. If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart And if our heart condemn us not, & [...] that is, our Conscience. So that by Heart you must hear understand Con­science. Conscience! Is there any such thing in the World? Sure one would think that Conscience had been [...] [Page 3] long ago, and that there was no Con­s [...]ience now alive in the World But Si [...]s) it will have a Resurrection assure our selves, for it is of an Immortal [...]ature; and though it may seem to die, it will have a real Resurrection. Sleep is the image of Death, and Con­ [...]cience may for awhile be asleep, but [...] sure as ever thou didst awake when thou wast asleep, Conscience will awake [...] long: and when it shall awake, it [...]ll make y [...]u look about. My Consci­ [...]ce shall not reproach me, shall not [...]braid, shall not accuse me of any wrong done to my self, nor of any omission of what is my Duty, nor of [...]y commission of what is Transgression, [...]hall not accus [...] me, either for omit­ [...]g what God hath commanded, (and [...]d hath commanded [...] to preserve [...] own Integrity, and to seek my own [...]ce and q [...]iet;) o [...] accuse me for [...]mmitting what God hath forbidden, [...]d hath forbidden me the wronging [...] my self, and Consci [...]nce shall not [...]cuse me for doing what God hath [...]bidden, so long as I live, Hitherto [...] Conscience accused him not. O [...]xcellent Job! A man more righteous [Page 4] then his Neighbour. Indeed he was one that had the Commendation of God [...]mself; 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 Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, one that feared God and eschewed evil. And [...] further Commendation the Lord gave him, ver. 8 Hast thou not considered my Servant Job, that there is none like hi [...] in the earth? &c No wonder that he stands upon his own Justification Hi [...]therto I have so lived that my Consci [...] cannot accuse me, and he was [...]ved so to live. I will have a care (whatever I suff [...]r) 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 Wor [...]ds, it were better for me to have them all to be my mortal enemies, than to have Conscience to be my enemy.

Now it will be needful to consider what Conscience is that is so great a [Page 5] Friend or Foe: it will be the best Friend [...]r the worst enemy, according as your [...]rriage towards God and Man shall [...]e, I shall shew,

• 1. What Conscience is.
• 2. About what it is imployed.
• 3. How it is imployed.

And then when I have so done, I [...]ll tell you and prove it, that it [...]uld be your greatest care so to live, [...]t Conscience, may not reproach [...]ou whilest you live; and then give you reasons of it, and then Apply it.

I. General. What Conscience is.

Briefly. Conscience is a mans Judge­ment of himself, i. e. Of his Estate and [...]ctions: Or thus, if you will; Conscience [...] a Power of the Soul; for the Soul is▪ [...]dowed with Noble Powers and Faculties, [...]nderstanding, Conscience, Memory, Will [...]d Affections: and Conscience is not the [...]ast of them. I say, Conscience is a Power [...] the Soul taking notice and bearing [...]ness of all a mans Thoughts, Words [...]d Actions; and as it finds them, [...]her to agree or not agree with the Rule, [...] accuses or excuses, absolves or condemns, [...]mforts or torments. This is Consci­ [...]ce. Do you think there is any such [Page 6] Inhabitant in you? It may be some have taken no notice of any such [...]habitant in the House of their S [...]ul, whether there be any such Power of the Soul or no [...] I say it again, Cons [...]i [...] is a Power of the Soul, taking no [...] and bearing witness, (it takes [...] that it may bear witness) of all a [...]m Thoughts, Words, and Actions; a [...] it finds his Thoughts, Words, or A [...]ons, to be either agreeing or not agr [...] with the Rule, so it doth excuse o [...] [...]cuse, absolve or condemn, comfort [...]ment. This is Conscience.

1. It is a Power of the S [...]l; [...] [...]lied Heart, 1 John. 3 [...]. F [...] if o [...] [...]art condemn us, &c and [...] 7 22 For oftentimes also [...] &c. It is ca [...]led likewise the Spirit a man, Prov 18 14 [...] Spirit of m [...]n will su [...] [...] wounded Spirit w [...] [...]

[...]. Conscience i [...] [...] Power of the S [...] taking notice; it is a most [...] server▪ Conscience is very quick [...] it is continually pr [...]ng, through w [...] not observe and [...] notice of it▪ so it is. What is said of God, [...] 23▪ 2 3, 4 [...] of his Deputy [...] [Page] [...] that? It is Conscience. Conscience [...] no mean thing, it is Gods Deputy▪ [...]d what is said of God in that place [...] true of Conscience: Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and thou art [...]uainted with all [...]y ways, for there is [...] a word in my mouth, but lo, O Lord, [...] knowest it altogether: Thou hast be▪ [...] me behind and before. So that a [...]an cannot stir but God seeth, and Conscience seeth; and knoweth and [...]eth notice of it; and one would wonder how Conscience will revive what was done seven years, and three times seven-years ago. Conscience wil [...] whisper in your ear, this was▪ in your [...]art, and this was in your tongue, and [...]is was in your hands, this was thought [...] you, that was spoken by you, and [...]at was done by you; that which we [...]d utterly forgotten, how fresh many [...]ears after doth Conscience bring it to [...]ind? Conscience took notice of it, [...]nd did well observe it Thus Con­science is a Power of the Soul taking [...]ice.

3. And bearing witness, it taketh [...]otic [...], that it may bear witness, if it [...]ould not take notice it could not bear [Page] witness. Can a man bear witness [...] that which he never knew, which he [...]ver saw, nor heard? Rom. 2 14 [...] Apostle speaking of the Gentil [...]s, [...] Having not the Law, they do by [...] the things contained in the Law [...] [...] having not the Law, are a Law [...] themselves, which [...] the w [...]k of [...] Lord written in their hearts, their Co [...]science also [...]earing witness. [...]t is old prover [...]ial speech, [...] thousand Witnes [...]es ▪ [...] a thousand or ten thousand Witnes [...] that one Witness is enough to cast If Conscience be a Witness, there [...]o need o [...] any [...] Witnes [...] [...] said of Ch [...] What need [...] further witnes [...] ▪ we have [...] own mou [...]? So will the Lord [...] the Sin [...] What need any [...] Witness, [...] You read of the Testimony of C [...]science, sometimes it is for, and someti [...] against.

1. I [...] is s [...]metim [...]s for us▪ as [...] 1.1 [...]. [...] saith [...] Apostle [...] [...] Conscien [...] ▪ that in all simplicity and [...] sinceri [...] not with [...] by the gra­ [...] [...] [Page] [...]one, though done by his instigation and [...]emptation▪ see Zech. 3▪ 1. Poor Crea­ [...]res are tempted to destroy themselves; [...]ll, God delivers them, and now they [...]e ashamed. O what a shame is this [...] sai [...] the Devil) that thou hast [...]tempted to destroy thy self? how canst [...]ou look any body in the face without [...]ame? no and destroy thy self. This was the case of a poor creature that I [...]ve twice spoken with; once she at­ [...]mpted to drown herself; I spake with [...]r and gave her the best counsel I [...]ould▪ she answered me, I am ashamed, [...] ashamed, I cannot go about any [...]ing. Not many days after she went [...] to a Wood to cut her own Throat, [...] God delivered her: But this poo [...] [...] is still under discontent, the Devil doth remember her▪ I beseech [...]ou con [...]i [...]er how many Witnesses there [...]e of all that you do; you think to sin [...] the dark, and to do it so that no eye [...]all see you; you think to draw the Curtains and then none can see you, but [...]ou deceive your selves, it is Noon Day [...]ith God still, and so it is with Angels, [...]nd with the Devil too; there is nothing [...]id from them. 4. Men know, they [...] [Page 20] be for you, and that Conscience may have no cause to upbraid you, and torment you another day. L [...] [...] 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 [...] of offence towards God and [...] Man; towards your selves and [...] the [...]. And if you so do, you [...] have no cause to repent your [...] [...]re to hear this Lesson.

[...]avid's Conscience was asleep for a [...]t while, but afterwards Nathan [...]meth to him from the Lord, and [...]useth Conscience, and then Conscience [...] most violently upon him; as appears [...]y Psal 51. where he complaineth of [...]ken bones, and prayeth that he [...]ones which were broken might rejoyce. [...] Joseph's Brethren, they heard no­ [...]g of Conscience a great while, but [...]st Conscience twinges them, at last [...]onscience put out his envenomed sting; [...]o such sting as the sting of Con­ [...]ience) at last Conscience taketh them [...] [...]he throat, Gen. 42.21▪ And they [...] one to another, we are verily guilty [...]ncerning [the bloud of] our Brother, [...]. though men do with the Harlot for [...] great while wipe their mouth [...], and say, [...]hat evil have we done? As Joseph's [...]rethren, they sold their Brother Joseph. Conscience said never a word to them, [...]t them alone a great while: they [...]me and told their Father a lie, and Conscience said never a word to them, [...]hen they told their Father that Jo­ [...]ph was slain: they saw their Father [...]ourning as if h [...] were going down into [...]he Grave, Conscience saith▪ nothing all [...] [Page] are our Observers. Some have their eyes in their heads, and see that which should make their eyes weep and tr [...]k [...]e down with tears, and if they have any Zeal for God, the sight of their E [...]es will affect their Hearts. And besides this, Conscience also knows, and therefore called Conscience (as [...] think) because it knows with oth [...] I [...] knoweth with God, with Angels, w [...] Devils, and knows it to be all true whi [...] God lays to our charge, and what [...] Devil lays to our charge; so that Con­science is a Knowledge together with others▪ Rom. 1.9. My Conscience hearing [...] witness. My Conscience co-witnessing. [...] Conscience witnessing together with [...]od· God knows it, and doth wi [...]ness it, [...]d my Conscience knows i [...] [...]nd doth [...]ness it; and my Conscien [...] together with me knows it.

1. There is a double Act of the Under­standing; there is a Direct Act whereby we know a thing, and there is a R [...]ct Act whereby we know that we know it. And this is the Action of Conscience. Isa. 5 [...].12. For our transgressions are multip [...]ied before thee, and our sins th [...] testifie against us; for our transgressions [Page] [...]re with us, & at for our iniquities we know [...]hem, we know that we have sinned. So [...]at Conscience is a recoiling or a re­ [...]ction of the Soul upon it self; accord­ [...]g to that of Paul. 1 Cor. 4.4.

II. General I come in the next place [...] shew about what Conscience is im­ploy'd. It is imploy'd about the whole [...]n 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 w [...]l how that doth act, & 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 [...] bad, about our actions towards God o [...] Man▪ towards our selves or others [...]d it [...] implo [...]ed about every thing [...] either a Sin or a Duty. Conscience [...] imployed to observe how you eat and [...]rink, it is imployed to observe how [...] dress and habit your selves, how you [...]y and f [...]ll, and deal and trade in the [...]orld; it is imployed to obs [...]rve how you read the Sc [...]ipture, pray in your [...]m [...]y, in your C [...]ose [...], and in the [...]ongregation, how you sanctifie the [Page] Sabbath, receive Sacraments, how you spend your time, how long you ly 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 selves in Company, 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 im­ [...]d. From the Description of Con­ [...]e which I have given you, you may understand that Conscience ha [...] several Offices, the Office of a Nota [...] or Register, the Office of a Witness [...] Accuser, the Office of a Judg or a Co [...] ­ [...]mner, the Office of a Comforter o [...] a Tormenter; Conscience is imploye [...] in such Offices as these are, and Consci [...]ence will first or last be faithful in the executing of them, and it will do its Office to purpose.

1. It is imployed as a Notary or Re­gister to write down all we do; to write [Page] down as with the point of a Diamond, [...] Book it down and Seal it up, that [...]y come to light again.

It is imployed as an Accuser, [...] we do amiss, when we wa [...]p from [...]cuse.

It is imployed as a Judge, to [...] s [...]ntence of life or death. Oh, Sirs, [...] many poor souls are condemned [...] own hearts? Their, own [...]nces tell them, Thou art in [...]d C [...]ture, thou art an undone.

It may be Conscience as yet doth [...] in Judgment, it is not S [...]ssions o [...] [...]s [...] with you, it may be it is [...]ed and put [...]t to a longer time▪ [...]e your se [...]ves the time will [...], the time is at hand

C [...]ns [...]i [...]nce is also imployed as a [...]r, as an Acqui [...]ter and Absolve [...] [...] we do w [...]ll 2 Cor. 1.12. This is our [...] [...]i [...]im [...]ny of [...] Conscience, [...] it in simp [...]icity and god [...] sincerity, &c. [...] have [...]ad our [...]onver [...]i [...]n in the world. What g [...]eater rejoycing than this? when C [...]nscience shall acq [...]it me in the pre­ [...]nce of God, when Conscience shall be able to say as He [...], Rem [...]mber O Lord, how I have walked be [...]ore thee in truth [Page] 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 its believing in Christ, upon its 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 Clo [...] with tear [...] [...] mine eyes, and sorrow in my heart, th [...] I have rolled my self on Christ and out all my care upon Christ.

5. Then as a Tormenter Consci [...]nc [...] is imployed. When Conscience sha [...] [...]coil, and thus reflect upon a m [...] When thou shouldst have been in [...] Closet thou wast here or there in [...] Street or in the Field, in the Co [...] House or Taverns: when thou shou [...] have been with God alone, thou [...] been elsewhere. Thou couldst l [...]d [...] and rise up without having God be [...] thine eyes: thou couldst eat and drin [...] without fear and without rule, [...] buy and sell, and habit thy self wi [...]h [...] [...]ear. There is as much danger in habiting and dressing our selves, as [...] eating and drinking▪ O what if th [...] [Page] [...]dress should be a snare, what if thi [...] should occasion the commiting of Adul­ [...]ery; He that looks upon a Woman to lust [...]fter her (saith Christ) hath committed [...]dultery with her already in his bearer. [...]aith one, There is a fine clear [...], [...]nd so saith a second, and a third; but▪ [...]o you know what temptation may [...]e in a naked skin: the Lord help [...] [...]o take heed of it. I would commend [...]ou a little Book, it is but three pence [...] [...]rice, it is called, The Hairy Con [...] [...]ry fit for an Hairy Age. This is [...]ndeed an Hairy Age; God deliver us [...]om false Hearts, for we can see almost [...]othing but false Heads every where. Assure your selves, C [...]n [...]cience will [...]ave a Bo [...]t with men for this another [...]ay.

Conscience will not let this go [...]an observed: Conscience doth write down this, and wi [...]l hereafter find a [...]ime to read it to you: It may be [...]he Wife will say I must please my Husband, and the Husband will say I must please my Wife. But have [...] care I beseech you to please Con­ [...]science, that it may not be against you another day. See that Conscience [...] [Page 26] the while: a Famine cometh upon the Land, Conscience yet saith nothing to them: at last they come down into Egypt, there they meet with hard usage, and are in danger of Imprisonment. Now Conscience beginneth to rouze up it self like a Lyon, to tear and devour, then they cry out, Verily we are gui [...]ty concerning the bloud of our Brother. You see Conscience had an awakening time, though it had been asl [...]ep; the Morni [...]g came for its awakening. So Judas's Conscience was asleep for a great while: and one would wonder that it sh [...]uld ever be so fast asleep as it was, M [...]. 26.15. You may read there some p [...]s­ [...]es of it. He goeth to the Chief [...]iests and maketh a Bargain: W [...]at will you give me, and I will deliver [...] to you? and they covenanted with him f [...]r thirty pieces of Si [...]ver: there he mak [...]th a bargain for a little Silver to sell his Lord and Master, and to betray inno­cent bloud: Conscience saith never a word to him. Further; he sought for opportunity to betray Christ, yet Conscience saith nothing to him v 21. when he was come into the presence of his Master, he came with the Disciples [Page 27] to the Passover, yet Conscience said nothing to him all the while: when he was at the Passover and eating, Christ telleth his Disciples that one of them should betray him, yet Judas's Conscience saith never a word to him, but letteth him alone all this while. Nay further, when the Disciples at these words were exceeding sorrowful, and began to say every one of them, Lord is it I? yet Judas's Conscience faith no­thing to him. And Christ said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me: yet his Con­science was asleep all this while. Fur­ther, ver. 24 Christ pronounceth a Wo to that man by whom he should be betrayed; yet the denunciation of that Wo did not awak [...]n Judas's Conscience; Wo to him; it had been good for that man he had never been born It is matter of admira [...]ion and amazement, that his Conscienc [...] should be so fast asleep; the D [...]vil entred into him; and rock [...]d Conscience asl [...]p till he might be sure to do him mischief enough; ver. 25. Then Judas which betrayed him, put the question and said, Master, is it I? Methinks his Conscience [Page 28] should have flown in his face [...] a Mastiff. Nay further saith Christ▪ That hast said, thou art the man: and yet for all this Judas's Conscience wa [...] not awake. This is indeed matter of ad­miration, that a mans Conscience sh [...]uld be so hast asleep But how many In­stances of such sleepy Consciences do this very age afford? [...] doth Judas's Conscience sleep al­ways? No, Then Judas which [...] him, when he saw that Jesus was c [...]ned, he brought again the Thirty [...] of Silver to the Chief Priests, and [...] have sinned in that I have betrayed [...]cent blood But miserable [...] [...]ere those Christ-B [...]yers, they b [...] him to be crucified; they did rep [...] him when he said, I have sinned; [...] it that to us? see th [...] to that. A [...] cast down the thirty pieces of Si [...] [...] the Temple, and went and hanged [...] se [...]f And now his Conscience w [...] awake that it would not suff [...]r him to live. I assure you, howsoever C [...]science will be asleep for a great w [...] ▪ yet the time will come that Consci [...]e will do its office; and therefore it do [...] greatly concern us to take great [...] [Page 29] that Conscience may have no occasion to reproach us. O happy Judas if thou hadst never made a bargain to sell thy Master, and hadst never sought opportu­nity to betray him! O happy, if thou hadst never accompanied the Band of Souldiers, that came to apprehend him! But he came along with the Band of Souldiers, and gave them the Sign, The Man whom I shall kiss is the Man, hold him fast: Yet Conscience did not re­proach him. But let men do what they can to stop the mouth of Conscience, it will speak at last, and they will be biting words. Carnal Reasonings cannot stop [...]t, carnal Pleasures cannot bribe it, nor any variety of diversions silence it. Cain you know he was quiet a while. Gen 4.13. But after a while Cain's Conscience did reproach him, would not let him a­ [...]one. Bel [...]hazzar, he is merry a while with his Courtiers and Companions in drinking Wine in Bowls, but after he falls a trembling and his knees smote [...]ne against the other, and he grew p [...]e when he saw the hand writing on the wall. Conscience will see an hand writing not on the Wall, but in this book. I have spoken with some poor [Page 30] Souls, that could say, this Word is a­gainst me, and that Word is against me▪ there are words enough in this Book a­gainst you. Conscience will one day awake and reproach and will not be bribed, will not have its mouth stopt. This is one great reason why we should be careful to live, that Conscience [...]y not reproach us while we live, for the reproaches of Conscience are unavoida­ble.

HAving already shewed you what Conscience is, and a­bout what it is imployed, and how it is imployed, and given you several rea­sons why we should make it our great care so to live, that Conscience may not reproach us while we live, and having made some Use of the Doctrine, [...] now come to resolve two questions or cases.

1. The first is, how may we so live, [...] a [...]k and act, and carry our selves, hat Conscience may have no caus [...] to re­pro [...]ch [...]s another day?

2. [...]e have so lived, [...]o wa [...]ed [...] [...]cted, [...] so carried our selves, [...] [Page 38] Conscience hath had just cause to re­proach us, and doth reproach [...] what is to be done, that the repro [...]s of Conscience may be wiped off, that Conscience may be quiet, and cease to accuse and condemn, cease to vex and torment? These are the two ca [...] I am to answer.

Case 1. How may we so live, walk, act and carry our selves, that Conscience may have no cause to reproach us? You s [...]e that J [...]b did so live and carry him [...]f, that though his fri [...]nds did re­proach him, his Conscience did not re­ [...]roach him, though his friends did [...]ge him, yet his Conscience did dis­charge hi [...], though his friends did [...]d [...]mn him, y [...]t his Conscience [...] qui [...] him. He did so live, that he [...] able to maintain his Integrity and [...]rightn [...]ss, and doubtless it is not [...] thing imp [...]ssible, but we do not se [...] [...] w [...] do [...] about it in earnes [...] ▪ If w [...] [...] indeed, and not alm [...]st Christ [...] w [...] might [...]o live as [...] ­science m [...]g [...] [...] j [...]st cause to [...] ­proach us [...], R [...]lations may re­proach us. [...] may reproach [...] hands, and Husbands reproach [...] [Page 39] Children may reproach Parents, and Servants reproach their Masters, and one Neig [...]bour reproach another; but it is possible so to live, that Conscience all this while may be at peace, and not reproach us. Possibly you may be ready to think and say within your selves, Would we could tell how we might so live, pray let us have some directions how we may so live that Conscience may not reproach us. But before I give counsel should not I know of you whether you will follow it? And in case you will not follow i [...], why should I give it? Ask your selves there­fore, if the Minister shall give us no o­ther counsel then what God himself gives us, should not I follow it? Si [...]s if I give you any other counsel than what God in his holy Word doth give you, I would entreat you not to follow it; nay, if you set it at naught I shall not be offended. Consider what Jethro said to Moses, Exod 18 23. If thou shalt do this thing and God command thee so; so say I. Therefore consider whether God say as I say, whether God command you so; I so, pray take heed how you do set at nought the Counsel of God. Now the [Page 40] first Direction which I shall give you is t [...].