A Treatire of Gonf cience. 53 the molt powerful means under God to quicken a man up to re- pentance and obedience ; and therefore they are in a miferble cafe that want this great help. But what are the caufes why mens confciences be fo evil and weal. unfaithful ? The cafes hereof are chiefly theft four : Anfw. T. Ignorance is one caufe why a mans confcience is unfaith- ful, when we do not labour to have confcience throughly il- lightned and informed. Who are more carelefle and negligent of their duties both to God and man ? who can with more freedome lye, Deal, covet,finne, &c. then thofe that are igno- rant of the Law of God ? they know not that they do fo much hurt to their own foulsas they do. An ignorant mind hath al- wayes an evill confcience. It is impoflible 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 carelef'e of informing it. Thy confcience Inuit r, pet. z. needs be filent as long as thou art ignorant. Ignorance is faon r S. put to filence. z. A fecond caufe is, often (lighting of confcience. It may beconfcience fpeaketh not, or but coldly and remiffely, becaufe when it hath advifed, and counfelled, and admonifhed , thou haft neglefttd it and dif regarded it from time to time. Though it judge and counfel, yet thou wilt not liften : Like Cafrandra the prophetteffe,whough her predietions were true and certain, yet were they never believed : fo though confcience fpeaketh true, yet men follow it not; and therefore it becometh filent when it is not regarded, but all its counfel, and advife, and per - fwaGons flighted and neglefted. Hence,I fay,it cometh to paffe that for want of imployment iris Dill and falleth afleeg, till the time come that it muD 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 diflwadeth from any evil courfe, men will do agatnft it and withfand it violently, and put offthe wholefome advice of it: hence it cometh to paffe, that confcience having fo many inju- ries
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