ATreatife ofGorfcience. 6r becaufe it doth not caufe fin to be burdenfome. They who have this confcience can fleep for all it, and eat and drink and be mer- ry for all it : Now a man can never come to Chrift that is not burdened with his finne, that he cannot bear it, cannot be quiet for it, cannot fleep for it : then Chrift calleth him, Come unto me allye that are weary and heavy laden, and Itrill eafeyou. A benumbed confcience ; that is, fuch a confcience as is in a deep fleep. This differs from the former in degree. you know there is a leffe fleep, and there is agreater fleep : There is a left fleep, when only the outward fenfes are bound ; and there is a fleep when their ward fenfes are bound too. Now a benumbed confcience is a confcience that is in a deep fleep; Preach to it, it mourneth not ; cry to it, it lifteneth not : This is a benumbed confcience. Nor the greatnefle oGnne, nor the wrath of God denounced againfi it can move it. Men can know themfelves guilty offuchand fuch finnes, and yet not lay them to heart : confcience never telleth them about it. Thus the Apotlle fpeaketh of thofe who knew the judgment of God, that they Whichcommit fuck things are worthy of death, yet not onely do thefame, but have pleafure in them that do them: Their confciences though informed, and in fome meafure knowing, the evil of their courfes and the l verity of Gods judgment, yet let them go on 'till, and not only commit the evil them felves, but delight to fee others as bad as themfelves. Such are our (-wearers, and drunkards, and company-keepers; &c. This is a very wretched confcience > the Lord deliver us. from it. Fourthly,a feared confcience; that is, filch a confcience as- fpeakethnot a jot ;fearedWith a hot iron,as the Apoftles phrafe is, a Tim. 4, 2. a fenfele(fe confcience, a paf -feeling confci- ence: when mencan fwallow down Gnnes like drink, oaths, . contempt ofGod, his word and worllaip, mockage of Gods fervants, hateing to be reformed ; fuch as Gnne without any remorfe. This kind ofconfcience is in foure forts of men : i.. In diffolute and profligate perlons; who like common firm. pets have their fouls lie open to every fine that cometh: by,_ a-. In, Matth. i x. 28. 3. A be- numbed conic ience Rom. t.pa 4. Afear- ed confe: CncC.
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