Fenner - Houston-Packer Collection BX5037 .F46 1651

3o ) A 7 reati fe o f Co>f f fence. efníw. / This arifeth either the ftrength of corruption and weaknefl'e of grace: We look into our felves, and fee our cor- ruptions violent, and our love to God fmall; and fo we are deceived, not feeing the radicali power of this love of God, which in regard of its venue is fronger then the other : As a fool, if he flxau'd feel hot water, would conclude that there is no cold at all in it, whereas there is radical! cold in that wa- ter, Inch as will expel! all that heat in little fpace. Or elfe this arifeth from anguifh of fpirit, which lo difturbeth the minde, that it cannot fee its own condition,nor be capable of the corn- forts belonging unto it; as it was with the Ifraelites, Rxod.6.g. otherwife doubtlefl'e we may know our own hearts; and when 71íe r. our confcience beareth witneffe,itswitneffe is right. I. Ufe,of reproof to thofe who Rand out againft the witneffe of their confcience, and like heard - hearted felons plead í}i11 Not pill, though never fo much evidence come againlf them, though confcience oft tell them, this they have done, thus they do, filch they are. Oh flop not your cares againfi confcience; fand not out again( it, but beleeve its teflimony,and make ufe of it to repent of the evill it accufeth of while mercy may be had, before God himfelf corneal and joyneth with confcience to condemn for ever. 2 I[. It ferveth for angular encouragement. to all to abound in good works. Conscience will bear wirneffeof them all to our unfpeakable comfort in the time of affl i6lions,yea at death and judgment. `lob felt it a Tweet thing to have confcience give in teffimony of his integrity and uprightneffe. When his friends proved miferable comforters, and God himfelf Teemed to write bitter things again fl him , yet his confcience witneffed that he had been eyes to the blind, and fret to the lame, he had fed the hung', and clothed the naked, and comforted the fatherlefle. There is not a good thing that ever we do but confcience will afford us the fiveetneffe and comfort of it in our troubles : Re- member, o Lord, faith fezekiah, that I have walked before thee Ifa.;3.3, intruthandroithaperfeEbheart. x. The ju dicialùea- We have fpoken of confciertces Tingle bearing wicnefe_ : Now

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