AMaT/eof Go .njcience. the molt powerful means underGod to quicken a man up to re- pentance and obedience ; and therefore they are in a miferable' cafe that want this great help. But what are the caufes why mens confciences be foevil and unfaithful ? The caules hereof are chiefly thefe four : r. Ignorance is one caufe why a mans confcience is unfaith- ful, when we do- not labour to have confcience throúghly it lightned and informed. Who are more carelefle and negligent of their duties both to God and man ? who can with more freedome lye, [teal, covet, Grille, &c, then thofe that are igno- rant of the Law of God ? they knownot that they do fo much hurt to their own fouls as theydo. An ignorant mind hath al- wayes an evill confcience. It is impoffible confcience fhould be faithful where it is not illightned : and hence it cometh to paffe that confcience is fo negligent and unfaithful, becaufe we have been fo careleffe of informing it. Thy confcience muff needs be talent as long as thou art ignorant. Ignorance is foon put to filence. A fecond caufe is, often (lighting ofconfcience. It may be confcience fpeakethnot or but coldly and remiffely, becaufe when it hath advifed, and counfelled, and admonifhed , thou haft negle&ed it anddifregarded it from time to time. Though it judge and counfel, yet thou wilt not liften : Like CafJ"andra the prophetteffe,whough her predictions were trueandcertain, yet were they never believed : fo though confcience fpeaketh true, yet men follow it not ; and therefore it becometh filent when iris not regarded, but all its counfel, and advife, and per- fwafions flighted and neglected. Hence,I iay,it cometh to paffe that for want of imployment it is (.till and falleth afleep, till the time come that it mull be awaked. 3. The third caufe is that violence that is often offered unto it. Many times when confcience perfwadeth to any good duty, or diffwadeth from any evil courfè, menwill do ag;4lnft it and . withfland it violently, and put offthe wholeforne advice of it: hence it cometh to paffe, that confcience having fo many inju- ries 15.
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