406 The Evil of Evils Or the thority oftheWord: There be theeTwo fearful Evils that do follow upon your flight thoughts of trouble of CO NSC IENC E, for SI N. i They take away that which is the chief Rejlraint of Sin. There are many outward reftraints to keepmen and women from (in, but all outward reftraints from fin arenothing to the reftraints of Confcience; a man that hath a tenderConfci- ence, bath the greateft reftraint of fin that can be, no reftraint like to that; but one that is fo far from a tender Confcience , that he thinks troubleof Confcience is a melanchollyconceit, fuch amanhath no reftraint ( to purpofe ) from fin: he may have refiraints from outwardand grofs fins, but from dole, fecret fins, he hath none. Now it is a great evil to a man, that the hiriderances to fecret fins be taken away, and he gives himfelf liberty in fecret fins. 2 And then for the Authority oftheWord : It is a great mercy for men and women, to be in fuch a condition, that their heart fhould be continu- allyunder the authorityof the Word; howfo- ever youthink it a brave thing that you canget yourhearts above theWord : but certainly it is oneof the greateft mercies of Godupon the earth, for God tokeep the hearts of men and womenunder the authorityof the Word. But that man or womanthat thinks lightly of trou- bles of Confcience filch a one can flight the Word, regards it not, let what will be fpoken, hecan eafily put it off, becaufe the main hold thatthe Word hath, upon theheart ofa manor 4
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=