A Treatfe ofConfcience. E a poffible the fire fhould be without heat, fo it is impoffible that any man fhould be without a confcience. Indeed we ufe to fay, fuch a one bath no confcience: but our meaning is,that he hash no good confcience.But every one bath a confciéce either good or bad. The Lord ingraved confcience in man when he created him at firít.True it is,Gnce the fall of man confcience is miferab- ly corrupted; but man can never put it off;Confcience continu- eth for ever in every man, whether he be in earth, or heaven, or hell. The molt bafe and deviflifh profanelings in the world have aconfcience : Let them choke it or fmother it as much as they can, let them whore it, or game it, or drink it away as much as they are able for their hearts ; yet confcience will con- tinue in fpight of their teeth, z. No length of time can wear this confcience out. What made ?ofephi brethren to remember the cruel ufage they (hew- ed him but confcience ? It was about twenty years before; yet they couldnot wear it out. 2. No violencenor force is able to fuppreffe confcience, but that one day or other it will Phew it felf. What made ?udas go and carry back the money that he betrayed our saviour for, and allo to cryout, lhave finned, but confcience ? Noqueftion but he laboured to fuppreffeit,but he could not. 3. Nogreatneffe nor power is able to flifle confcience, but that it will one day like a bandog flie in a (inners face. What made Pharaohcry out, Iamwicked, but confcience ? He was a great King, andyet he was not able to over-power con- fi:ience. 4. Nomufick, mirth or jovializing can charm confcience, but it will play the devil to a wretched foul for all that. What was the evil fpirit that came upon Saul ofmelancholly, but confcience? He thought to allay it with inftruments ofmufick, but it Bill came again. 5. Death it felf is not able to part confcience from a tanner. What is that worm that fhall never dies but only confcience ? and in hell confcience is as that fire that never goeth out. I confefle fome feeme tohave loft confcience quite ; They D can
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