.A 2'reatife of Gonfcience. ' 61 becaufe it doth not caufe fin to be btardenfome. They who have this confcience can fleep for all it, and eat and drink and be mer- ry for all it : Now a mm 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 I will eafe you. A benumbed confcience; that is, filch 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 a greater fleep : There is a leffe fleep, when only the outward fenfes are bound ; and there is a fleep when the inward 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 greatneffe of (inne, nor the wrath of God denounced againft it can move it. Men can know themfelves guilty of loch and fah Gnus, and yet not lay them to heart: confcience never telleth them about it. Thus the Apotile fpeakech of thole who kin:, the judgment of God, that they Which commit fuch things are worthy of death, yet not onely do the fame, but havepleafure in them that do them: Their confciences though informed, and in fome meafure knowing, the evil of their courfes and the feverity of Gods judgment, yet let them go on frill, and not only commit the evil them (elves, 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 fpeaketh not a jot ;feared With a hot iron,as the Apoftles phrafe is, r Tim. 4. z. a fenfeleffe confcience, a paft- feeling confci- ence: when men can fwallow down Grilles like drink, oaths, contempt of God, his word and worfhip, m.ockage of Gods fervants, hateing to be reformed ; fuch as Gnne without any remorfe This kind of confcience is in foue forts of men : r.. In diffolute and profligate perlons; who like common [arum_ pets have their fouls lie open to every frnn.e that cometh by, z-. In- Matth. r i. z8. ;. A be- numbed confcience Rom.I.3z 4. A fear- ed conic - erne.
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