70 An Expofition upon Chap.2, commanded,by good lawes to refiraine from evill and ro confiraine to good. Ti m. Did the Gentiles all this? S e L. They did fo,as is it manifefily knowne by their 13 ookes and ftories, which witneffeth of many, that they both taught and pra &ifed honefty. TIM, What letteth that they pleated net God? S I L. Becaufe they did not this out of faith. Secondly,that they did not re. ferre their doings to Gods glory, but to the pleating of themfelves, Thirdly, they lacked a pure heart,which is the fountaine of all wel- doing. T r tes. What is meant thereby, that they are a Lam to themfelves? S I t. That they fee in themfelves by the light of reafon,what they fhould do, and what they fhould not doe.Their in- ward confcience, is in Read of a Law commanding vertue, forbidding vice, telling them that God mutt be honou- red, Parents obeyed, their Neighbour not hindred. DIALOGUE X Verfe 15. Their Confcience bearing them witnef, and their thoughts aecufing one another; or ex- cufng. TistoTHEVS. `AT Hat it the drift of this Scripture? S r L. To prove by the eternal! teftimony of their confcience, that the Gentiles were not withontaLaw, as he had before confirmed it by an externall way of their doing lone good things. T i M. What things are to be noted here, touching the Confcience? S r L. Two things: Firft, the Office of the confcience. Secondly, theeffe &s or a&ions ofthe fame. TIM . What is the office ofconfcienee ? S I L. Tobeare witneffe, therefore it is called [Confcience] becaufe it knoweth with another : it doth beare witneffe firft of oureflate, wherein our perlons (land with God ;that is ,whether we are in the favour of God or no, as Rom.8. I6. T he fpirit Both witne.fe unto our fpirito, that we are the fonnes of God. Alto by the example of Paul,Rom. 8. 15. & 2 Cor.5. 5. and of Cain, Gen. q. Tim. But David thought himfelfe calf out of Godsfavoter,when he was not, Pfal. ]y. 7. So did lobo S I L. It is true, in time and pang of Come grievous temtation,or if the con- fcience be feared ; alto when it is afleepe or benummed, it doth faile in giving teftimony of our perlons. Secondly, it doth beare witnefs of our life & a &ions. TIM. What is the tefiimony that the Confcience giveth of mens atJions ? S I L. Before they are done, it wit - neffeth and admonifheth us; or when we (hall doe them, how good or evil! they be. After they are done, it eels us what we have done; that is , when we are about to doe or fay any thing, the confcience telleth whether it is good or evill,whether we pleafe or difpleafe God in it. Example we have hereof in David, who when he was (hut up in the cave with Saul, Davids confcience told him afore -hand, that he fhould doe ill, to do violence to Saul, I Sant. 23.6. Alto lo- fepbs confcience told him before hand, that he fhould do ill to confent to his Miftris, Gen. 39.9. Allo Rebeceahs con- fcience did witnes, that it was a good worketopreferve two formes, Gen, 26, 42 Ti M.Dotb not the confcience errefometieoe in giving teflimony touching ¿lions? S I L. Yes it doth,becaufe it is defiled with ignorance and fuperftition. There- fore in this cafe of erring, confcience ought to be reformed by the word; but till itbe reformed, it muff be followed and obeyed, as appeareth by Rom. I }. 2I, I Cor.S.Io. TIM. What witneffe doth the Confci- ence beare after the anion done? S i L. It certifieth us, and witne(feth to us what is done, and what is not done ; the reafon of this is, becaufe there is in the Confcience a power, obferving and remembring all that paffeth from us, in thought, word, or deed, as may appeare by the example of 3efephi bre- thren,alfo of judar,and of every mans experience. TIM.-
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