I42 An Expofition upon ufe, even for the molt godlieh to helpe to fubdue their flnrdy nature. T s M. Now expound the word, of the 21. verfe, and tell us what it meant by fruit? Si L. Commodity, gaine, or profit: This fpeech of the Apoltle hath a mocke in it : for he well knew, that there came no fruit of fuch things, but by this meaneshe thought to preffe and urge their confcience more forcibly, when they fhould perceive that they had fpent the time in things whereof there came no credit or profit, but both (home and loffe,even eternally. This mutt caufe e- very one to examine himfelfe in every a&, whether he ferve fin or righteouf- neffe. T i 1s. What are the things whereof the Romani had caufe to be afhamed ? Si L. Two things generally : firft,un- purenefs of life and converfation, fee Chap.I.24,25, &c. Secondly, unpure- neffe of their Religion,they being both worfhippers of Idols, and prophane in their manners, Rom. I. 20, 21, 22, &c. There things were accompanyed with fhame ( that is to fay ) with griefe and perturbation in minde and confcience in the fight of God,upon remembrance of thefe their offences againft him : for the fhadow doth not more neceffarily attend the body,then ( harne doth finne, which maketh confcience blufh within, as well as red cheeks without. T I a1. How many wales it fhame taken in Scripture? S I L. Two wayes;firft properly,that affe&ion fo called, which appeares in the countenance by blufhing: this is na- turall lhame,which commeth to one for griefe of Come dilhonefty already done. This kinde of fhame is common both to good and bad, and bringeth forth in them both certaine common effe &s, as to caufe them to change their minds, to be loath to come in prefence, to doubt left they do not pleafe others, to dif- courage them in their duties and fome- what to difquiec them ; finally, touch- ing this affe &ion ofnaturall !harm, this counfell is to be given, that it be fo che- rifhed in all (in young folkes,efpecially, to be made a bridle to keepe from filthy Chap.6; things) as care Le taken left it grow vehement and exec five. Secondly,fhame rt is h is unproperly taken,for troubleor griefe the of confcience, being cart downe and a- a a, ll baled before God ; the former may be rhunedo( called fhame of face, and this latter rsho 6 "s domise >, fharne ofconfcience, when no (home -fa- lent.;. ced nian is f o dafhed out of countenance ° b * , before men, for offending againft corn- wiho,tte. mon honefl and civilit as y> a s Cain, and confcience is a(hamed for Tome fin Ier.:.t6. wittingly committed again([ Gods law. anáeep:x`i This lhame confidered in it felfe, and as ler.3 t. 19. it is in the wicked, is a part of the tor- ment of hell, but as it is in the godly is is bleffed, as a means to keep them from running into hell,beinga fruit and con - fcquence of their repentance ; as in there Romans, who now after their conver - fion, had fhame for things done afore. T i M. What thing.. doeb thú fhame of confcience worle in the children of God, and in the wicked of the world ? S r z. Firft, it caufeth the godly to come into the pretence ofGod with re- verence and fear e; but it maketh the wicked to (hun his prefence, as Adam, who after he had finned,hid himfelfe in the thicket of trees; and Cain, who hid himfelfe after he had murthered his bro- ther. Secondly, it maketh the godly to blanaeand accufe the tunes which they j have done, with deteftation & forfaking them ; as it is written of Ephraim, Hee :at afhamed; but it hardeneth the wic- ked in their evils. Thirdly,it provoketh the godly more unto duty,but from the wicked it taketh away all heart of doing any good duty. Fourthly, it helpes the godly unto true peace at thelalt, where- i as it is but a torment unto the wicked, and beginning of their hell. Laftly, the godly are afhamed of God that he shouid know their fins ; but the wicked are more troubled that the world doth take knowledge of their fins. This is it that vexeth them. TIM. What advice it to be given, concer- ning thisfhame of confcience ? S S L. A double advice unto Gods children. Firft, that it thould ferve to ftay them from committing fin, teeing (hone and griefe will follow it. Second- ly,
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