Book IV. C 0 N S C I E N C E A W I T N E S S. deteCted; (1.) By confidering of that great Darknefs, that is in thofe Heathen Nati– ons and People that have nor the written Word of God, concermng Chnft and Sal– vation ; for though they have the Lrght of thts Candle, vrz. the Lrght of _thetr. own natural Confciences, yet know nothing of Chnft, who was born of the blefled Vtrgm, nor of his Death and Refurreftion. (2.) By confidering the abfolure Neceillty there is of Gofpel-revelarion, and Minifhation, to make known to Men thofe glorious Myfleries, according as it is held forth in divers Places of Scripture; for if Man's chief and only Teacher were wnhm hun, what need was there for Chnft to ordam and fend forth his Apoflles and Miniflers, to preach the Gofpel to the World? and why is Faith f.1id to come by hearing the Word preached? (3.) They are drfproved by rhis, viz. they cannot make known any of rhofe other Things which Chrifl did, that were not written. Ill. From hence we may perceive what the Subftance is, which the Light ofMan's Spirit will do; it fearches all the inward Parrs of the Belly, i.e. makes. known lhe vrry Thoughts and Intentions of the Heart unto htm, and reproves hrm for not hvmg up ro the Light God bath afforded him. IV. What Fools are they, thefe Things confidered, who plead for a Candle-light, and chufe rather to be lighted and directed by it, when the Sun is rifen, and iliineth clearly, bleffed be God, in our Horizon? CONSCIENCE A WITNESS. lfpeak the '!'rtttb in Chrijf, I lie not, my Confcience bearing me Witnefs in the Holy Ghoft, &c. R.om. ix. 1. If our Hearts condemn us, God is greater, and knoweth all'l'hings, I John iii. 20. '!'heir Confcience in the mean whil< accujing or excujing, in the Day when God foal! judge the Secrets of Men by Jefus Chrijf, according to my GofPe!, Rom. ii. 15, I6. CONSCIENCE is in thefe Scriptures called a Witnefs. We D1all, I. Shew what Corifcience is. 2. Run the ParalleL Firft; Confcience is a natural Power, with which God hath .endued the Soul of Man by Creation; for his Comfort, if he walk uprightly; or for his Torment, if he walk in evil Vvays. We do not imagine, that Co11fcience came not into the World unnl Adam's Fall; for this were to fuppole Adam in Paradife to be a Man without Confcience. Confcience indeed, as an Accufer and Condemner, came nor in unril then ; for as long as Adam obeyed the Commandments of God, there was no raufe that Confcience fl10uld accufe him ; but as foon as he had finned, Confcience flew in his Face. Secondly ; Confcience we ( 1.) fay is a natural Power, which the Soul of Man hath, &c. Now, faith Mr. Lockier, whether this Pown be in the Underftanding only, or partly in the Underftanding, partly in the Will, I find controverted amongft the Learn– ed, lame fpeak of it as a diftinct Faculty. This Power we fpeak of, I conceive, faith he, to be a reflect Act of the praCl:ic Underllanding only tranfcendently. (z) By rhe Power of the Holy Gh~fr. St. J-ohn confirms that it is a reflect Act of the prac– trc Underftandmg only, wlthe fpeakir.g: of this Power in the Soul, he faith, And here– b)_• we know that we know him, if we keep his Comma;:dments, I John ii. 3· that is, as tf you iliould fay, We do view our Ways by the Word of God, which is an Act only of the Underflanding; and finding them to be in fame meafure level with the holy Rule, we have this comfortable Reflection back upon ourfelves, That our Faith is not a Fancy, but a Faith that works by Love, and alfo li11cere and faving. Paul confimlS the fecond, That it is a reflect Ar'l: of the Under!tanding; tranfcendently feconded by :he Power o~ the Holy Ghoft: kf;yConfcience bearing me Witnefs in the Holy Ghoft: That IS, myConfctence, tranfcendently feconded and affifted by the Holy Ghoft, doth ftrong– ly teftrfy ro my Soul, that I am full of Bowels towards my Kinfmen after the Fleili, and could do any thing, or fuffer any thing for their Good. The Order according to whrch the Holy Ghoft flrikes in with Confcience is this; The Under£\anding makes a double Propofition, one grounded in the Word of God, the other in the Heart of Man; as thus : He that keepeth the ComiJJandments of God
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