Well , what would Paul with his conscience ? he would haue it voyde of offence : he would goe an end in the waies of God , without halting , without stumbling ; for that 's his allusion . A wise Traueller , in a rough way , is loth to offend his foot , lest that offend him : Paul is the same for his conscience ; by no meanes would hee wound that , lest that should wound him . Hence his studie to keepe his Conscience voyde of offence : Offence 1 say , first passiue : whereby his spirit might be grieued ; secondly , actiue : whereby his spirit might grieue either himselfe or others vnseasonably . This was his study , & thus inoffensiue & straight hee would bee with all persons ( God and Man ) so that his Conscience should not bee vpon him for faltring with either , and ( in all cases , by all means , or at all times ) as his words may indifferently bee construed . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus liued Paul at last , who was so wilde at first : why should we despaire , hauing the same Chirurgian ? But of the Words so much . Now for Instructions : your selues see many , let me commend the maine vnto you , and binde vp all in this one .

Doct. Christians must haue a speciall care of themselues , that they doe not in any thing offend their owne consciences . To keepe the conscience from offence and hurt , must be the taske of euerie Saint . Looke how charie a proude woman is of her beautie , a wise man of his eye , a weake man of his stomacke ; so ( and much more than so ) should a Christian man be carefull of his conscience , of his heart . Will you precept for this ? Solomon speakes home , Pro. 4.23 . Above all watchings watch the heart &c. That 's the tower that commands , and Conscience is one of the Iewels that 's there lodged . Will you example ? One Paul is sufficient : Hee was once averse enough , but after conuersion ( in point of faith ) hee was all for Christ , ( in point of life ) all for conscience , c. 23. Heb. 13.18 . Acts 23.1 . & 2 Cor. 8.28 . Will you reasons ? There are enow both for the one and the other , namely , for heeding , the conscience first ; and each man his owne next . For the first , we will out of manie cull but two reasons .

Reas. 1. Giue the conscience content and rest , and it will pay thee a hundred fold , and proue to thee , ( next to God its Master ) the greatest friend in the world : .i. the trucst friend ; whereas others are sometimes too short in reproofes , sometime in comforts ; mutter and will not speake out , but thinke more than they le say , and say more to others than to thy face ; this friend Conscience ( if thou deale friendly with it ) will deale friendly with thee . This will round thee in the eare , and say , This is well , howeuer it be taken ; & therfore be not discouraged : this is naught , howeuer applauded or painted ; it is stark staring naught , pride , hypocrisie , &c. therefore amend . Ah ( brethren ! ) as no friend lyes so neere vs , and can sound vs so well as couscience , so none will deale so plainely with vs , if we doe not offend it .

2. Conscience is the fastest friend in the world . Others goe and come , and stand afarre off , now at hand , now I know not where ; but conscience is no starter , its neuer from our fides , out of our bosomes : in rides with vs , it sits with vs , it lyes with vs , it sleeps , it wakes with vs : & as it can say much from God and of vs , so it will if not offended .

3 The sweetest friend in the world . A good cheerfull heart ( saith Solomon ) is a continuall feast . Oh then a satisfied and pacified conscience , what is that ? what ioyes be those which will carrie a man out of the earth , and make him say , Though I haue wife , children , friends , wealth , house , health , ease , honour , &c. after my owne heart , yet these are nothing to my contentments within ? What ioies those that will make one , sing vnder the Whippe , at the Stake , in the Flames a Oh Conscience , thou hast a speciall gift in comforting , that canst make the patient laugh when the spectators weepe ; and carrie fraile flesh singing and reioycing through a world of bonds , rods , swords , racks , wheeles , flames , strappado's ! these ioyes be strong , vnspeakcable indeed , this peace passing mans vnderstanding &c. Phil. 4.

4 The surest friend in the world . Other friends loue not to come to a sicke mans bedde side , or if so , they cannot abide to heare his grones , to see a dead man , at the most they can but follow one to the graue : but Conscience will make ones bed in sicknesse , and cause him to lye the softer ; will stand by him when he groanes , and doe him comfort ; will hearten him vpon death , when its comming ; and say , Thy Redeemer lineth ; will whisper to him when departing ; and say , Thy warfare is accomplished ; will lodge the bodre in graue as in a bed ; manne the soule to heauen , and make him able to looke God in the face without any terrour : So fast a friend is this , that when riches , husband , parents , friends , breath , life ; nay , patience , hope , faith , haue left vs , in some measure , this will not leaue vs . And would not such a friend , a friend so true , firme , kinde , sure , be much made of ; shall such a one be offended .

Reas. 2. The conscience offended becomes the sorest enemie . The greatest friends are bitterest foes when once diuided : no wars to ciuill , to domesticall warres . The neerer the worse : and the conscience is neerest ; and therefore ( if an enemy ) the heauiest .

For this enemy is , 1. vhauoydable . Others may be kept off with strength , or put off with skill : but so will not conscience ; no barres , no bolts , no bulwarkes , can keepe that from thy table , thy bed . Dan. 5.5 . Belshazzer may sooner keepe out ten thousand Medes , than one conscience : That will passe through all his Officers to his Presence ; and in the face of his Nobles and Concubines arrelt him , and shake him in despight of his securitie . Nor will this watchfull . Officer be bobd with a bundle of distinctions and cuasions . When God sets it on worke , it marcheth furiously like Iohn , and will take thee vp with his answer ; What peace so long as thy whoredom and sins remain : As ther s no respondens like conscience , so no obiector like to that . A man may make a shift with a wrangling Sophister , with the Diuell himselfe , better than with his conscience . For no Diuell knowes that by me , which I doe by my selfe : And the conscience shall haue hearing when the Dinel shall not ; for conscience is the Kings Sollicitor , and speakes for the great King .

2. This enemie is vnsufferable : it strips vs at one stroke of all other comfort . A sicke stomack makes one wearie of his bed , chaire , chamber , house , meats , drinks ; yea , that meate that before much pleased , now encreaseth his sicknesse . So doth a sicke conscience ; it takes away the rellish of all naturall comforts , of all spirituall exercises and ordinances ; and makes one a burthen and terrour to himselfe . 2. it fils one full of horrours and vnhappinesse . A wounded spirit who can beare ? the Stone , Goute , Strangury , who can beare ? Yes , &c. But when the pillars are shaken , that which should beare vp all is wounded , when the heauen's fight against a man , and a poure creature must wrestle with infinite instice , power , &c. oh how hard is this ? The wrath of a King is terrible , the rage of Seas , of Fires , of Lyons , but still here is creature against creature , weake to weake ; but who knowes the power of Gods anger , Psul. 90 ? Who can stand before that consuming fire ? not Men , not Mountaines , not Angels . The terrours of God and anguish of spirit casts the Diuell himselfe into a frenzic , and makes him mad ; nay , a wounded spirit made the Heire of all things vtter his griefes in these sad termes ( My God , my God , &c. ) That which a thousand mockes , tenne thousand prisons and persecutions could not haue done ; this one alone , when nothing else ailed him , was able to effect : and therefore good reason haue we to guard this part , and to giue our spirits no occasion of griefe . And for the first , these Reasons shall serue the turne .

Now touching the second . Euery man must keepe his own vine , and please his owne conscience . Why ; Hold still whilest I poure in these ? Reasons , because I am in haste . 1. T is fit that euery one should be beft seene in his owne Booke : and t is a thousand pities , that in this bookth age , this Book of Conscience is least studied . 2. This is a meare-stone that diuides the Christian and the Hypocrite . The Hypocrites knowledge runnes outward and fromward , the Christians lookes inward and reflects vpon is salfe : the ones is science , the others conscience , the one leues to be doing with other mens consciences , the other with his owne . 3. Here s the triall of a mans wisdome . He that 's wise , saith Solomon , will be wise for himself , and , The righteous hath care of his owne soule . 4. This watching at home , keepes out pride , iudging in businesses abroad , makes one quiet with others , tame in himselfe , low and base before God in his owne eyes . But wee must away . 5. He will bee a sorry Physician to others that hath neuer practised vpon himselfe in this kinde , &c.

Vse . 1. Here s matter of complaint and chiding . I told you at first , that weare of Pauls Faith , not of his Life . T is true in this sense : Paul professed the truth of Christ , so doe we ; hee called vpon Gods Name , so we ; he gaue assent to the Word written so we ; hee apprehended a life to come and resurrection , so wee : But now Paul dwels , non in protestations and speculations ; but hee comes to practicew to conscianee : here we leaue him . In this age , consciecce is vsed as loue is ; We spend all in words , and send it away in complements ; we keep none our sehues ; we haue ( our . exercises ) now ; but they are exercises of bodie , of estate , of wit , of memorie , of learning , they hee not exercises of conscience . No sooner can you name the thing before some kinde of Scholers , but they are presently disputing , What think your . Is conscience , an act , an babit , or a facultie , or the whole soule with its eyes inward ? or what is it : They spend the time in defining it , rather than , in resining , and reforming of it . Here of comes it , that when they are sent for to a sicke patient , reat ; they be as farre to seeke , as that Physician who hath read much , but practised nothing : and for the many ; once mention conscience , and they will quickly put you by with a rude Prouerb , That conscience was hanged a great while agoe . Thus the terme is now growne odious , the thing it selfe a meere stranger . Certainely , t is few mens exercise to study conscience ; their ( owne ) conscience . Indeede Flyes are busie about others sores , & so is the world about others consciences . Euery one now is a master , nay one man is many masters . law . 3.1 . He will sit and keepe Court in the conscience of a thousand ; Lord it ouer his brethren , his betters ; iudging all callings , all professions , all consciences , but his owne . I will dot spend breath vpon such as barke at all good , because they would haue none in the world . I wish that all the paines of some Professors were not speat in this ; euen in rifling others consciences , rather than their owne . Religion , religion is something else than a iudging of other men . After meare , the heate should repayne homeward ; not flye as farre off from the heart and stomacke , as the body will beare it : and when we haue heard a Sermon of conscience , we should recoyle vpon our selues , with , What haue I done ? or , What shall I doe ? not looke vpon another , and carue all to him ; much lesse flye vpon them who stand as farre off vs , as the King hath land . Oh men vnwise , who are more troubled with others diseases than their owne ; and more desirous of peace in their neighbours houses than at home . Well , Paul would haue beene sorry to see his neighbour suffer shipwracke : but yet hee is most chary of his owne vessell , lest that should dash and receine some bruise : by no meanes would he haue his conscience offended . But out vpon such Christians as this age brings forth ; feare of man , hope of gain , loue of honour , of case , of fauour , will make them run ouer their conscience and all Gods mounds . Rather than the man will endure the frownes of his Master , the wise of her husband , the tenant of his Landlord , hee will lye , cousin , sweare , runne , ride , doe anie thing on the Sabbath : nay , for one pound , shilling , groat , penny , you may hyre a man to gash his conscience ; so little care haue men of giuing it offence . But how farre stretches Pauls care ? To all cases , to all persons . To all : To all certainly , at all times : first , towards God , secondly , towards man . Towards God : Marke this all yee Ciuilians , that cry out as Nebuchadnezzar , Dan. 3. of disorder , so yee of Conscience , What conscience , what conscience ? when you are worst your selues . A good conscience must begin with God ; you neyther begin nor end there . A mecre carnall ciuill man is all for man , nothing for God : he payes men their owne , liues quietly and fairely to the world-ward , and therefore thinks himselfe a man of conscience . But what conscience is in this , to deale wel with the subiect and not with the Prince ? What conscience in breaking the first article of agreement betweene God and man , which is , to know him ? What conscience , to dwell in Gods house and pay him no rent ; to enter into bonds , and neuer thinke of payment ; to smite God with oathes for mans oft fences ; to steale away time from God , when hee hath giuen vs much ? Shew mee a meere carnall ciuill man that makes conscience of the first , second , third , or fourth Commandement ; of gerting knowledge ; of setting vp God in his house ; of forbearing an oath ; of keeping the Sabbath , &c. Verily , where there is no God , there can be no confidence : And such a man is without God in the world .

For the second , Pauls conscience reacht to men also . Let all Professors ( as they wil be called ) note this , A good conscience begins with God , but ends in Man . A conscionable man , as he must be a professor , hearer , louer of the Word , a keeper of the Sabbath , a zealous obseruer of the first Table : so must he be a peaceable , iust , sober , free , kinde , honest man , and deale squarely with all men . Thus it should be : But O times , O manners ! now Profession is become loathsome , and , to say the truth , the behauiour of many is such , that it would make an vnsettled man call into question all Profession , all Religion , all Conscience almost . We talke of Conscience , but where is it : who makes conscience of his words ? who of his bargaines ? who of his place or promise : Euery man cries out of other : but who discharges his owne part ? Wee haue a saying in Gods Book , He that prouides not for his kindred , is worse than an Infidell . What cares the rich if his poore kinsman starue ? We haue a precept , Husbands loue your wiues : What conscience is made of this ? We haue a commandement Speak not euill of the ruler : Wee haue a charge , Doe good against euill : A charge , Toyle not to bee rich , Defraud not , Whisper not , &c. A command , Be rich in good workes : Fashion not your selues to the world : What shall 's say to these things ? Is there a conscience at all : Any ceraintie in the Word at all ? Any heauen , any hell ? What doe we mean thus to slubber ouer matters : If we belecue nothing , meane nothing in good earnest , why doe wee dissemble : why forbeare wee any thing ? If we be in earnest in one comandement , why not in all ? If in one thing , why not in euery thing , as Paul was ? He was still like himselfe , at all times , in all cases . We haue our reserued cases . One wil be a Christian , and a man of conscience : but hee hath his infirmitie ; hee doth nor loue his wife . Another will be your hearer : but hee must liue by his trade . A third will be your conuert , so you will helpe him to aboue ten in the hundred : the iust rate he likes not , it sounds like . Vsurie ; but as much aboue as you can , with a good conscience . A fourth will gine somthing to a Preacher , vpon condition he may bear the Preachers purse , and bee his Farmor . A fifth will ride with you from morning to night ; so hee may hold his finger still in other mens sores . Away , Hypocrites , away , make no mote profession , talke no more of it , till you meane to be honester men ; either shew vs Pauls conscience , or none . If you cannot reach this here ; yet you must that there , Heb. 13.18 . Defire to liue , &c. else there is no truth in you , no comfort for you , no heed to betaken of you , downe you will when a little prest , like a hollow wall .

2. All ye of Pauls Profession , vse this exercise , cease from others ; beginne with your selues ; trauell not so much for good houses , good liuings , good faces , good heads , as for good consciences ; seeke not so much the fauour of the world , the countenance of Princes , as of your owne conscience . Here studie , here sweat , here labour to be throughout blamelesse . Oh the peace of a quiet and well pleased conscience is great ! the boldnesse of him that hath it , is great ; he eats well , sleepes well , dwels well , liues well , hee is in much safety , hee can hold vp his face ioyfully before a world of accusers . So is not the vnconscionable : Euery bush is a man , euery man an enemie , euery leafe an executioner . A sound of feare is in his eares , and the noyse of troubles makes him aske , Who can stand before a continuall burning ? As for libertie , that 's lost : he must not speak against others , lest they stop his mouth : he must bee a seruant to euery one , of whom hee would borrow a good word . For the purpose : Say a man be couetous ; how must hee crouch to euery one for his word ? how many apologies and excuses must he drop at euery doore ? wheras a good conscience concludes , I haue done my best ; and now let them say their worst , I will weare it as a Crowne . Well then , sith so many sweet things be bound vp in conscience ; peace , comfort , courage , libertie ; esteeme it highly , & resolue with Paul , I had rather dye than lose my reioycing this way . Lose it if you will not , take vp his exercise , and keep it from offence . Which that you may doe , I will shew you these things .

1. What it is to offend the conscience : 2. what be the degrees of this offence : 3. what the means whereby : 4. what the remedies : 5. what the letts in the vse of these remedies .

First , to offend the conscience , is to trouble the welfare of it . The foot is then offended , when the health of it is impeached , and the exercise of it hindered , that either it cannot stir at all , or not straightly , and with any ease . Thinke the same of conscience : the health of it stands in three ; 1. in the clearenesse of it : 2. in the goodnesse of it : 3. in the liuelinesse and sensiblenesse of it ; as t is in the eye : the clearnesse of it is double , 1. oppesed to ignorance and delusion : 2. to hypocrisie and falsenesse . The goodnesse of it stands in the quietnesse and peace of it : And thereto is opposed , 1. a troubled conscience , and , 2. a benummed conscience . The tendernesse of the conscience , is its quicknesse in apprehending its owne estate , and iudging of its owne doings : Whereto is opposed 1. a sleepy , 2. a dead and seared conscience . When any thing is done or left vndone , whereby the clearenesse , quietnesse , or working of the conscience is any way impeached , then conscience is offended .

Secondly , the degrees of these offences are diuers , as a man may more or lesse wound his foot against a stone . V. notes on Pron. 18. 1. there is a tempting of the conscience : when a man vnresolued of the lawfulnesse of a thing , venters vpon it as vpon meat neuer tried before : 2. a wounding of the conscience : when a man for feare , hope , &c. doth a thing against knowledge : 3. a killing of it : when he trades in knowne sins , of purpose to paue and brawne his conscience .

3. The meanes , whereby the conscience comes to be offended , is double : 1. when we are wanting to it : 2. when wrongfull to it . Wanting , when we doe not watch and saue the conscience , as we doe the eye from dust . 2. When we do not speedily looke to wounds , if any . If any thing breed in the eye , it may soone be lost : The conscience is a vessell that must bee washt daily ( as dimme eyes bee ) and that by Repentance and Faith .