34 Nettem, 6. tr. ZJfe. r, ObjeEb. linfiv. Rom. s;. 5 rPet.a, 39 A T reatife o f Confciènce. fhaIll do this great wickedne f fe 2 and fo finne againif God? It was confcience that dill-waded Nehemiah from flying, Should fach a man as 1 jlie ? And if one argument will not serve, con- fcience will ufe more. The ufe of this may be firfl for inllruftion. Hence we learn that natural men may have a confcience urging to good and re- Ruining from evil. There is no man fo evil or ignorant, but he bath naturally force light with him by which confcience is fet on work to ativife and to counfel, and to fay, This is very good; do it. This is very fin ful; forbear it. This therefore is no figne of grace in any man to have his confcience calling upon him to do good or diffwading him from evil : The very heathen had fo according to their light : yea and in many of them it was for- cible to reflrain them from many fins which they were inclined unto. And fo may many men be put upon many good duties, not for any love or liking of that which is good, but becaufe they would pleafe and fatisfie confcience, which otherwife will not fufter them to be quiet. It was confcience that kept Abimelech from defiling Sarah, and yet a carnal man. Here then a quefbon may be asked. Whether a meet natu ral man can avoid fin for confcience fake. I anfwer, that thisexprellion, For confcience fake, may be taken two ways : either t. For confcience of the Command. ment of God and love to it ; and fo none but Gods children o- bey for confcience fake : and fo it is meant when Paul fpeaketh of being fubjetl far confcience fake and Teter fpeaketh of fop- ring wrong for confcience fake. Or fecondly, For confcience fake, that is, when confcience it fell inforced by fear compelleth one to do a thing or not to do it : As we fay, My confcience Will not foyer me. Thus carnal men come to Church for confcience fake, and pray for confcience fake, &c. that is,Their confcience driveth them to theee duties, and will not be quiet without they perform them, Secondly, Sith a meer natural man may have a confcience flirting him up to good as well as the truly godly, it will not be amifl'e to give you the difference. The difference is in three things : r. A
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