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 /tf/37 
 
THE 
 
 COVRT OF 
 
 CONSCIENCE: 
 
 O £, 
 
 JOSEPHS BRETHRENS 
 
 IVDGEMENT 
 B A R R E. 
 
 *'i 
 
 Thomas Barnes. 
 
 2- Cor., i. i2. 
 
 fiuncc, thatmfmflicitie and godly fine 
 rutty &c, * JJ 
 
 ThegHilmefcof the confine is themoth* 
 if pare. Chryfoft. 
 
 pp 
 
 lONDON, *5 
 
 Printed by I 0HN Davvj f ^ 
 
 theStarvnde r St.p„,„ churchin 
 M 9- l6i i'y 
 
TO THE RIGHT 
 
 WORSHIPFVLL 
 W i a i a m tows* 
 Sergeant at Law, one of His 
 Mai b s t i i $ Iufticc of Peace in 
 £ffex : As aifo to the Right Worfhip- 
 fall, the Lady Rathekine 
 
 8ARNAIlDlST0N,hlsbcl0UCd 
 
 Wife, both my much refpeded friends. 
 
 The Author wimeth the 
 
 Wcffiags of this life at»4 
 
 the next. 
 
 Right VSTorship* vll, 
 
 ■\ one of the a f<*-c*/k».D«* 
 
 j j , —, m fmt tiki te- 
 thers, m an bptjtle */*>#,«# 
 
 to ene of bts J ftaiuM j 
 
 fr'temh : TWoJ w '/T i 
 
 J tertfyfitm* 
 
 things arc rieedfull for thee, w** t 
 
 & ....... - v proxwmm> 
 
 Az 
 
 con- 
 
 froxtmwb 
 
The EpifHc 
 <confcience,and credite, coat 
 
 facnceforthyfelfe, credite 
 tor thy neighbour. And not 
 Without rtafonjpake he this ■ f or fa 
 one is an inward Tbitnefe, the other 
 giuesan outward tejitmony of our 
 doings, the one ferns to breed in- 
 ward confolation, the other to bring 
 outward commendation 'But not- 
 "withjlanding thenecefsitieofboth, 
 yet the beft of the two is leajlregar- 
 ded\ the fhilofophers faying being 
 gg^MdfrMtt "Many feare their 
 rimquef*. credite, but few. their con- 
 fi^JZ' ^teiice. Soitfared(asitfeemes) 
 
 zr w 'f th ff tm f mm 6 f M y Iac °*>> 
 
 Mo did mfufi his beloved Io- 
 %h : So they might hide that 
 ■frrong they did their brother, and 
 hie their credite mth their father, 
 
 - little 
 
Dedicatorie. 
 little cared they (mill diftreffe 4- 
 "baked them) hoTp matters flood m 
 the Court Mthin tlxm. So alfo it 
 fares -Kith the Secret finners, 
 anddmil liners of our Jayes. 
 . To foepe their name good amort? ft 
 men they are Very curious, but to 
 haue a cleere •fritmjfe in their ewne 
 conference, they are nothing fiudieus. 
 That this euill might befommhat 
 helped, this Treat fe haue I com* 
 pled; wkrein myfeope is to brim 
 men to a care of their Confcf 
 ences as Bellas their names, know- 
 ing the one to be as needfullto cleere 
 tbem from blame before the 'Barre 
 of hauen, as the other to keepe 
 them from flame amongft men. 
 *» (if Salomon Jaith true) 
 A 3 though 
 
the Epiftic 
 though a good name be bet- 
 ter then a precious oynt- 
 
 fiEccl7 . I# mentc- Vet, Agoodconfci- 
 ence is a continuall ban- 
 
 'Prou. i^.quet d . If any one aske the rear 
 
 1 5# f m °f l ^ ts "9 ^ : n V rea f m ** 
 n>o-fold. Firft, hecaufe confeience 
 
 is fearefull in accufing. Second- 
 ly y hecaufe confeience it faithfull 
 in recording? which two things (a- 
 mongU others, according to the 
 tenour of the text) are principally 
 and moft U)gely handled in this 
 Tmttft Andgoondefireallmay 
 doe in, and to the f/raelof God. 
 
 7 'o your Worfhips I thought good 
 to dedicate the fame: though wor- 
 thier papers were fitter for your fa* 
 tronag. If 1 were noteonfident oj 
 
 accept 
 
jl/ vui<~ a iw i iw< 
 
 acceptation : Ifhould net pre/urns 
 toprefent you Vttbit, Albeit, in- 
 deede it had beenefji that my firfl 
 friends , footdl haue had my firjl 
 fruits 3 yet I hope my fxond pub- 
 like labours in this kinde, will not be 
 yiitoelcctoe. Howfoeuer , ) owe 
 them, your Worfhips Vndeferued 
 fauows fliowne mee , challenge tie 
 fame, and more at my hands. If you 
 pleafe to youchjafs them the red- 
 ding. 2 doubt not hut you pall finde 
 fomething profitable , though plainly 
 deliueredm an homely flile. If you 
 pleaft to afford them the protection, 
 being fofimple and f mall as they are, 
 youfhall get me into fir onger bonds, 
 continually to wifh to both your Wor v 
 fhips^hat Ionn did on the behalfe 
 
 of 
 
ilieupmic&c. 
 
 eftbe Eka Ladic, «*/ %• 
 
 Wf Gaius , <?«e/t to your foidtx: 
 •U0&.,. Grace, peace and metric 11 : 
 
 to your bodies health andpro£ 
 jioh. ».perkie f : Forwhichhe promifetb 
 
 to pray , W?o « 
 
 Your Worfliips at 
 commandjin and 
 for the Lord. 
 
 • 
 
 Thomas Barnes. 
 
The Table of the fir ft part. 
 
 <~i # Themean'mg^^.l* 
 
 » r 
 
 8 8.? 
 
 y.Theoccafo 
 that brought y 
 /^/w in , /*» ^ 
 /Ai/ word 
 ANB> 
 wherein. 
 
 
 1 iJVhatman- 
 
 \ ner of per Jons 
 
 11 
 
 8 3? 
 
 «i O 
 O 8 
 
 i. 7** 
 
 meaning. 
 
 a. 77^2, 
 
 />**/>. pag.8. 
 
 r i. Reproofe. pag. 12. 
 
 bright vfe of a ffi» 
 2.Exhor. x ) ato "-P/ 1 ^ 
 iationtwo-r} 2 ' 7o * e P at "»* 
 fold, f tn <##"*. p. 
 
 r.y.Whygodaf- 
 \flittcth his peo» 
 $> Infer- \ple,jp.iy. 
 mationof <^2. That God by 
 2. thmis^/affiiSion will 
 
 Ihaue glorie from 
 the reprobate, 
 Lpagc 1 8. 
 
 S (thwfdl / 
 
 "\, Proofe. 
 pag. 2 u 
 
 2, An obie- 
 Uion twfrve- 
 red,pzg.2$. 
 
 r L Co>iftrtatie».pag. 3 1 « 
 2. C^/4//V*.pag.35, 
 
 3,Terrfi*r r i4 To get a 
 pag. 42. 
 
 4.Z 7 A-^r-? 
 
 lcrs iwrtf, «V^ Tcxt.jremoatedtp. /to get and J 4 W. 
 iheyfaid ' Thatt6 .f 26 . >«4«*wS<a. 
 
 onetoano 
 thcr, where 
 
 Science 
 accufech. 
 
 whercm 
 
 4. Vfefoure 
 
 \foll 
 
 good confei' 
 ence, and to 
 be cured of 
 
 P a g- 
 
 p >pagood}*Q, 
 
 confcience^) 1 , To keepe a 
 p g.4 7 . \g°°d cenfet* 
 where <?r< ence 9 and to 
 aljofet ! be kfpt from, 
 dowve Ian euill.paig^ 
 ht /pes, f^2. 
 
THE 
 
 COVRT 0£ 
 
 t ON SCIENCE: 
 
 lOSEFHS BRETHRENS 
 IVDGEMENT 
 
 BARR& 
 
 GEN.42.21. 
 
 Andthey [aid one to another ^ Wiare 
 venly guilty concerning our bro- 
 ther^ in that wefaw theanguifl) cf 
 hisfoule y when he bejought vs t and 
 we would not hear el therefore is 
 this diftrejje come vpW Vf* 
 
 O X tO trouble yO^wfth Thefume^ 
 
 . any tedious Preface :* n /£ c opc 
 
 this Scripture being Tex*.' 
 
 giucii by infpiration 
 
 (as all diuine Scripture is,) and 
 
 written for our learning, dotfo 
 
 B com- 
 
2 Ihe Qowt 
 
 comprehend in it a Iudiciall aft of 
 Diuine prouidence, in bringing to 
 iudgemcnc that lame mifchieuous 
 fatf: committed by ten of Jacobs 
 fonnes , againtt lofeph their inaor 
 cent,and harmelefle brother. 
 Thediyi- In which ad (as it ordinarily 
 fon - fallesout in Iudiciall cafes,) two 
 circumftances offer themfelues to 
 ourconfideration. 
 
 i. TheaccufersatthisBarre. 
 2. Theaccufationitfelfe. 
 The firft is laidc downe in the 
 beginning of the verfe. And they 
 fail one to another. The fecond in 
 the claufe of the verfe, we are veri- 
 ly gmLtie concerning our brother , in 
 that we Jaw the anguijb of hisfoule, 
 when he be fought vs , and we would 
 not hear e , therefore is this dittrefje 
 come vf on vs. 
 m SiL Touching the firft (which wee 
 vided and muft firft handle) we may note two 
 inters particulars . Firft the occafion that 
 
 niooued 
 
of Ccnfcience. 
 
 Mooued the accufcrs to come in.* 
 Secondly, theperfbns, who thefe 
 accufcrs were. 
 
 Theoccafion is gathered out of 
 the precedent verfes, and coupled 
 to the text by this particle , fo that 
 in this one word AND> theoccafi- 
 on is intimatedjwhich ftands thus. 
 
 A great dearth in Jacobs dayes y 
 raigncth in all the lands about E- 
 gypt: And (as it is the lot of Gods 
 deareft ieruants , to be common 
 fharers with other in common ca- 
 lamities) that good old father with 
 his whole family was pinched 
 with it, as well as other places. At 
 which pinch, hearing of a great 
 Corne-mafter in Egypt(little thin- 
 king ic hadbecnehisfonne/^A, 
 for whom he had laide afide his 
 mourning weede fo longagoe) he 
 calles his ten fonnes vnto him, 
 commands them to haftcn into E- 
 gypt,tothis man: to buy and 
 B z bring 
 
4 Tk* Court 
 
 bring home fome foodc for his 
 houihold. At his command, thi- 
 ther theyfpeede themfeluesj whi- 
 ther, no iooner were they come, 
 but this Gofrcrnow (their brother 
 Iojefh , whom they had once mi£ 
 uied , though neuer dreaming it 
 fliouldbehec) fcemes (in an holy 
 ?Vcrfc* policietovfc them harlhly, a char- 
 gerh them to be Spies , would not 
 ^VcrCio, accept of the b Apologie they 
 * s > * *» 'Mnadefor thcmfelues,putteth thena 
 c Vcrf.i 7 . into Ward three dayes, ° would 
 not fuffer them to goe home with 
 corne (for which they came ; but 
 on condition, that one of them 
 (hould remainchis prifoner, vntill 
 the reft went honje and fetcht 
 their brother BenUmin^ (whom 
 
 to him 4 . 
 
 Thefe brethren meeting with 
 this harfh and vnexpe&cd enter- 
 tainment, begin to be fomewhat 
 
 troc- 
 
o/Qn/cience. y 
 
 troubled in their mindes, and each 
 one by his countenance (as it is 
 ]ikely)conie6tiiring, andgueffing 
 a: i he di&urbed* motions in ano- 
 ther minde, by rcafon of thefe 
 firaights, fall to that parley a- 
 rnongft themfelues,which is recor- 
 ded in the prefent text. Now then Thcfel&re 
 if any (ha!! asfce, wherefore thisoftnew^ 
 wero [And~] ferues in the begin- ***** 
 ningof the text , when as there is 
 no ienrence before, to be fitly ioy- 
 ued to this fpecch. I anfwer*, 
 though it doth not ioyne words . 
 and ientenees,or fentenceandfen- 
 tence together : yet it coupleth 
 minde and mouth , fore-going 
 thoughts, and follow words , im- 
 plying that fuch thoughts asarofe 
 in their minds about lofephs vfage 
 of them, gaue thcoccafion, and 
 produced thofc words of accufati- 
 on which the text hath in it. So is 
 the oceafion : The parties who 
 B ; brought 
 
6 The Court 
 
 brought in theaccufation(in theft 9 
 2 , words , laeyfaid one to another J you 
 vnderftand aiready,to be the tcnne 
 fonncs of Jacob, fttjah, Simeon , 
 Leui y Dan. and the reft, each ones 
 proper confcience by^this occafi- 
 on, bringing in a ieuerali indite- 
 ment againft himfelfe , for the 
 wrong formerly offered vnto lo- 
 feph. 
 
 Hence then wc haue two leiTons 
 to take forth. 
 
 # I. Thtt afflictions are of notable 
 vfe to awake the wnfeience, and make 
 a manconfeffe his faults. 
 
 2. That an euili confcience is an 
 acenfmg confcience. 
 
 For the firft, it is as plainc in the 
 
 Voct. i. text < as y° a would with. 
 
 Diftrefie' Thefc brethren of fofefh, ha- 
 
 ion H minv Uing ^^ m ° fl v * naturall y With 
 
 cimwt^uch Wm their brother ., lay a fteepe in 
 of Confci. that finne of theirs, (o long as the 
 coSl dayofprofperitie lafted* without 
 
 tfgnnes. any 
 
of Qonfcience. y 
 
 any compun&ion of conference 
 for it, without making any confef- 
 fion of it : But now when they fee 
 themfelues in great diftrefle, pin- 
 ched with penury at home 3 vfed 
 hardly abroad, where they hoped 
 for the fupply of their wants,thruft 
 into prifon, charged falfely to bee 
 fpies, could not(in their own thin- 
 king) be bclceued, when they de- 
 fend themfelues; now I fay that 
 they perceiue themfelues in thefe 
 ftraits, they begin to buckle, the 
 confeience is pricked, and the 
 fault is confefled mutually a- 
 mongft themfelues ; which before 
 (as it is like) they were more ready 
 to laugh at, then grieue for. Put a 
 malefa&or deferuedly vpon the A fmsik 
 racke, and you (hall get that from 
 him in confeffion , which other- 
 wile he purpofed neuer to haue re- 
 uealcd. So let but affliftions racke 
 the body many times, finne will 
 B 4 tacke 
 
$ %fo Court 
 
 rackc the foule, and the tongue 
 will confeflethe guiltinefleof the 
 heart. Examples, both of Elcft, 
 and Reprobate, mgy be produced 
 ibrtheprpofepfthis. 
 
 Fjrft, concerning the EIe&,how 
 
 a/Bi&ions haue thas wrought 
 
 with them, tjie example of ionxh 
 
 doth decide. §p IpBg as he was 
 
 Jet alone, hedifobeyed thevoyce 
 
 of God, fled from the face of God, 
 
 and flept fpiritually in the bottomc 
 
 pf hi$ finne , as corporally in the 
 
 bottpmeof the fhippe, but when 
 
 the Lord ffioofc the fliippc wherein 
 
 he was, with the violence of the 
 
 winde; threatned prefent deflru- 
 
 flion to him , and ail thofe that 
 
 were with hin> in the ihippe ,• then 
 
 lie could Cry our,and conieije , for 
 
 ,j ia wvfekejormy finne ^ this great ttm- 
 
 ^z.chrlhjtfi V vpon yiu*. Memorable and 
 
 |i. from not vnjkno wne, is thefiory of Ma- 
 
 tg^**/'* : * Who in the time of his 
 
 {/ profpe- 
 
of Confdence. 
 profperity, raigningin hispompe, 
 rebelled agaiml the God of hea- 
 uen, reared vp the Altars of Baal, 
 madegroues toworfnp t hew hole Hoft 
 of ' bexuen, faenficed his children U 
 Moloch, ohferued times \v fed inchanU 
 ments , followed witch-craft , dealt 
 yoith familiar fpirits > wrought much 
 euill him f elf em the fight of the Lord, 
 made bis fubie its to erre, and to doe 
 worfe then the heathen * And Co long 
 as his peace lafted , wee doe not 
 rcade tlw euer he confeiTcd one of 
 hisabhoaiiRatiQnsto God, or to 
 man, in token of any rcmoriefor 
 thefarac. But when the Lord brought 
 the Cap tames of the Hoft of the King 
 tf djjfyria vpon him , who toohe him 
 among the t homes , hound him with 
 fetterSyCarried him into Babylon, and 
 when he was thus in afpefion jhen he 
 could be fetch the Lord , humble him- 
 felfe before the God of his fathers, and 
 pay vntohim \ andfo by confequent 
 
 make 
 
*o 77*? Qourt 
 
 makecohfcffion of his finnes be- 
 fore him. Davids mouth hall alfo 
 'Pfaljz. teach this truth. c Pfal^ 2 . Dayand 
 ™gkt {faith hee in the j.verfe) thy 
 band was heavy vpon mee^nd markc 
 what followcth in the 5. verfe. / 
 acknowledged my fwne vnto thee y 
 mine iniquitie did I net hide. Yea' 
 affliaion will moouethemindes' 
 and extort confeffion from the 
 mouthes of Reprobates alfo. The 
 the thunder and haiie. and Judge- 
 ment oflocuHs vpon Egypt, can 
 make Pharaoh himfeifetoconfejfejnd 
 fey, I hauefmned this time, the Lord 
 *Excd. 9 2Sri & hte ° l * Si > J^nd my people are wic- 
 a7< ked i I hwe finned againsf the Lord 
 
 'CHj.io. your God 7 and againfi you*. The ve- 
 **• ry newesand tydings of affliction 
 
 to come, vpon Ahab, his wife, and 
 pofterity, can make Ahab, {though 
 he were one, that fold him f elf e to work 
 
 * mckedneffeinthe fight ofthe Lord) 
 ycteuentorendhiscloathesjut facke- 
 
 * doath 
 
of Qnfcience. 
 
 flctth vfon his ftefe, fafl a#A gdefoft 
 
 ly^ i*ndconfe(/e his inimitie : Info- ' i.King.n 
 
 v* • J JJ 1 c from the 
 
 much, that we may truly lay or a %u yezCto 
 great many , that their dayesofaf- the 28. 
 jfli Aion are their s birth-dayesof con- **%*£% 
 
 fefsioft. L de fatten. 
 
 And good reafon for it* for why t • *•»•«*« 
 • affii&ions in themfclues arc frqits ^^^/^ 
 of finnc .• had not finne entred in- ' ' 
 to the world, neither could diiea- 
 ics, diigraces, poucrties,captiuity, 
 ' crofles, and lofles, haue befallen 
 raortall man, but finne oucr-fprea- 
 ding all,and fo afflictions, as fruits 
 of (inne, being incident vnto all > 
 1 when men are vnder affli&ion, 
 they will acknowledge their uani- 
 grefflons, as the caufe of the lame. 
 
 Secondly, afflictions, as one z^eajon 
 calks them, are a prafticalllawN ^£1 " 
 Now without the hvt 3 Simie is dead, ioz 9 .Jffi- 
 not perceiued, as the Apoftle fpca- ^™ % Jf£ c4 
 keth,' But when the law commc-th, i^oX/^l 
 is when a fcnje of Gods wrath is 
 
 ftirred 
 
i* The Qm 
 
 Aimed yp in vs, not onely by the 
 preaching of the law, butalfoby 
 affliaions, then fume reuiueth y as 
 thefame Apoftlefoeweth, is felt 
 and called to minde , which being 
 recorded , is alfo confeiTed. For 
 though the confeffion of fin doth 
 not alwayes follow the remem- 
 brance of it, yctthcremembrance 
 of it, doth alwaies goe before the 
 acknowledgement of it. 
 
 What occaiion to complaine, 
 doth this point offer vs , of the 
 fcnfelefnefle andftupidiryofthofe 
 who lye vnder the burthen of affli- 
 ct** 1011 *' hauin g the h and of God 
 tffliftion. vpon them moftgricuoafly,fotne 
 in their bodies , fomc in their 
 name, fbme in their cftate, fome- 
 timespofitiuely excreffed with the 
 prefence of Judgements , fome- 
 times priuatiuely vifited with the 
 depriuation of outward benefits, 
 and yet all will not auaile to worke 
 
 vpoj? 
 
 Vfe i. 
 
 Reproofe 
 of thofe 
 that arc 
 faCddte 
 
ofConfciwt. 13 
 
 typon their confidences , and to 
 Kiake them contefle their fmncs, 
 acknowledge their abhorainati- 
 ons before the Maieflie of heaucnj 
 Nay, they will rather iuftifie them- 
 felues, as if they Were wronged by 
 God,and had notdeferued iuch fe- 
 uerity of punifhment. How, or 
 howdoch affli&ion loofe its force 
 in them I how vnufefgll is the day 
 of aduerfitie, to luch fenfelefle 
 ones I it is a figne that that man 
 is of a defperate difpofition , and 
 in a defperatc condition , whom 
 troubles and croffesjWhich are ma- 
 ny for the number, weightie in 
 meafure,not light in qualitic, not 
 (mall inquafttitie, canworkeno 
 contrition; can, wring no con- 
 feffion from. ThU is that which 
 imde the Lord , ib pathetically in 
 the mouth of one of his Prophets, 
 cxpoftulate with the hard-hearted 
 and rebcll iou-s Israelites M/byfbould 
 
 y** 
 
14 The Qmrt 
 
 yee beflricken any more ? yet the mor& 
 If mite youjhemorcyonfinne agatnfl * 
 wee : as farrc as I can fee ; as bene- 
 fits cannot draw you to contriti- 
 on, no more can my rod bring you 
 toconfeffion. In another Propftct, 
 thus he Ipeakes. In vuine hwe I 
 [mitten your children , they receiued 
 i ierm.*, no corresiion \ What an heauy cafe 
 3©. is this, that this, euenthis, brings 
 
 God into fbeh controuerfie with 
 -HoCmj. hisowne people, whom by-extcr- 
 * g* Cbro21, na H priuiledges, hee had viiibly 
 «sJt]inif. married vnta himfelfe? WhatT 
 r.i^.gj./wnot inaduerfitic feeke the Lord"? 
 f ^!ZcZ>' h ^ in diftrefle (with Afoz,)yet 
 lertbu* mo- more and more n trefpaffe and tref- 
 %vr*' paffe again B himl well might one fay 
 Exhortati- °b vnhappy perfonsjfthomftripes mol- 
 onto bee life not °. Weil may I fay; Not hap- 
 
 to U make f ° r PY ^Y w h° ra troubles mooqe 
 coafeflion not to lay open their fin nes, in the 
 of m finnein fight ofthe Almigh tie. *Farreoh 
 Sidio/ ~ ftrre be it from Vs (Beloued) to be 
 
ofConfcience. ir * 
 
 fo ftupid. .Perlonallafflidions vp- 
 on fome of vs: Generall vpon 
 flioft of vs; The Itrcarae of our 
 coyne wc complaine runnes low, 
 our cornc growes deare, markets 
 bad , the eartha denies her ioizon 
 vnto vs 5 & more eminent plagues 
 then theie(by all probabilities)are 
 imminent ouer vs 5 and like to vexc 
 vs, and (hall noneofthefe 3 not all 
 of theleworke vpon vs, andpre- 
 uailewithvs, to confefle to God 
 what isthecaufc of thefe tragical! 
 prologues, theie beginning of (br- 
 rowes ? prouoke we our feluesto 
 this duty ? Jearne wee as the Pro- 
 phet aduifeth vs, to take words vnto 
 curfelues?, and iay , Lord wee bane? Hof 4 i 4 ,2, 
 fmned againB thee , and fallen from 
 thee by our wiquitie. Oh let not 
 Pharaoh rife vp in Judgement a- 
 gainft vs : Propound we the pat- 
 terne of thefe brethren my text 
 Ipcakes off, vnto our JeJues. As 
 
 diftreffe 
 
i£ The (hurt 
 
 diftreffe moouedthem, Co lcfdfc 
 ftreflempouc vs to acknowledge^ 
 how diflionourably we haue dealt 
 with the Lord, how iniurioufly 
 with our brethren, howftrangcly 
 wee haue negle&ed the day and 
 raeanes of ialuation,< how ftrong- 
 ly we haue affe&ed the way and 
 meanes of damnation. Whence 
 tafteof the bitterneffe and fharpe- 
 neffe of the fruite, looke we to the 
 bicter tree whereon it growes with 
 watry eyes* and fotrowfull fpirits^ 
 Mourne not Co much for the 
 crofle, as the caufe of it : talke not' 
 Co much of the trouble , as the 
 groundof it, which are thy fmnes 
 and thy tranfgreffions* If affli&i- 
 ons worke not vpon thy confer- 
 ence to make thee contrite , in 
 foule, and Willing toconfeffethy 
 finnestoGod? what will; whatfo- 
 euer therefore the diftreffe be, ei- 
 ther for the quality,degreeo? time 
 
 of 
 
ohjcteHce. *7 
 
 &f it that thou lyeft vndcr , make 
 but this wholefome vfe of it to thy 
 foule, at length to rnourneforthy 
 finnes at Iaft , to acknowledged^ 
 abhominations without any more 
 adoejet a word preuaile with thee, 
 and the Lord bleiTe it that it may. 
 As mans neceffity is Gods oporcu- 
 nity to lhew mercy ; So thy aduer- 
 ficie , is thy opportunitie, to con- 
 fefle thine iniquity and deplore 
 thymifcry* which if thou docft 
 negledl, what knoweft thouwhi- 
 thereuer thou lhalt hauc the like 
 call, the like occasion againe. 
 Wherefore I trow it is beft hum- 
 bling a mans felfr, whenheisbeft 
 fitted for it* and neuer fitter is hee, 
 then in time of aduerfitie. 
 
 Thirdly, hence we lee one rea- vfe j, 
 i'on,why the Lord affli&s his owne 
 children , it workes contrition in 
 them , it workes confefflon from 
 them , two things wherewith the 
 C Lor<t 
 
i8 Ibe (jurt 
 
 Lord is greatly delighted. Where- 
 fore wh«n yeefec Christians bare 
 and needy , and to wane thofe 
 things which others hauein great 
 abundanceotherwifevifited,ceafe 
 tomarueileatic, theLord Jouesco 
 haue their conferences kept wa- 
 king , and rhcir tongue kept wal- 
 king againlt iheir owne finncs be- 
 fore him; and he knowesproipe- 
 , ritie to be a great entrance to ei- 
 ther of thefe , and very dangerous 
 to lull confeience , and tye vp the 
 tongue , and therefore hce giues 
 them a Michaiahs portion , feedes 
 i i,Kin g . them with * bread of afflitfion> and 
 **->7> * water of aduerfitie: andbleflcdbc 
 God that by any dealing of his 
 (how tedious focuer to the flefh) 
 they may be kept with remorfefull 
 hearts, and ready tongues to ac- 
 knowledge their daily infirmities 
 before his Maieftie. 
 Tfe 4, Fourthly, doeafHi&ionsworke 
 
 ypon 
 
of Qnfcknce* ip 
 
 vpbn the conference, and produce 
 confeffion , cuen fomctimes in the 
 wicked chemfelucs, then we may 
 fee that the Lord wiil haue glory 
 from the wicked , he can make an 
 Akib y z?h&rA$h) &c. togiuevnto 
 himthepraileof his bwneiuSicc, 
 and to confeflb that he is righte- 
 ous and they wicked, and that 
 there is no iniufticc in him f deale 
 hencuerfo rigoroufly with them. 
 
 Laftly.this point ought to heofP/i f/f* 
 vfe to arme vs, againfl murmuring 
 ift the time of affli&ion , and to 
 teach vs with' all patience to vn- 
 dergoe thofe troubles, which the 
 Lord in his wifedome doth lay vp- 
 on vs. Shall wee grudge at that 
 which may bring fiich gaine vnto 
 thefoule? which (by Gods Mcf-*^^ 
 fing) may be of vfe to awake our TJutflT 
 drowfie conferences, and ftirreour Mxgftrd* 
 lame tofcgues to that confeifion ^^j^ 
 which r one calles the miftrtfe rfrbij^K 
 C z vcrtuiy 
 
20 The Qoutt 
 
 <vertue> a guide in the way to felicity r , 
 without which (as Salomon fhew- 
 cth) a man cannot finde mercic at 
 the hands of God \ God forbid we 
 fhouldbe impatient for this, fall 
 out with Gods prouidence for 
 <u quip- this f . Wherein I prav,doth a wife 
 
 %%T and g° od m ™ diffcr ' from wickcd 
 vir* waIu, men and fooles , but onely in this, 
 
 TiZfffat tloat ^ ee hat ** ti)Xt f* tunct wfjicf} a 
 vifiquod * fwle wants. IV e finde (in Scripture) 
 
 habet inyi- that the Patriarchs, Prophets x andaU 
 
 lmZ m q «A theiu P f**> ™ hich ?f" tifP ***fi- 
 
 fluktcartnt.gstres of Chrifi , did keepe nothing 
 tatian Dt more to ffo p ra if e f their vertuts. 
 
 'pen cult*. . i . iiii > . ? - 
 
 M.6.C4. is. then thts^ they had learned patience K 
 1 OP?. <u As, therefore (bcleued) we pray, thy 
 f£J*!Z wiflfo Aw,folctvsrefoluc,wc will 
 Mmmus impatiently fubmitvnto it, knowing 
 »qm qr t h a t it we poffefTe our fowlcs in pa- 
 ^cbll&i ticnce 5 much good will redound 
 DocJ. 2.vnto vs. 
 
 An cuiii J Icaue the firft point, and come 
 i^nlT vntotheiecond. That an emU con- 
 Ur f Jaensc 
 
ofConfctence. %x 
 
 fcience hath an accufwg office. This 
 truth hath its ground thus. Thefe 
 ten fonnes of Jacob had an cuill 
 confeience, guiltic of wrong done 
 to their brother l$feph y and now 
 (vpon occafion of fomediftrcfFc) 
 it accuicth them , it articleth a- 
 gainft them. What meaneth the 
 trembling of Adam at Gods voice 
 in the garden after hee had eaten 
 the forbidden fruite u ? What meant « Gen.*. 10 
 the quaking of F celix at Panics Ser- 
 mon of Temperance and iufttce, and 
 thut§dgem$nttocme *,after he had * A <a , 4 
 beene incontinent with OrufiUa, **. 
 andplaidethe tyrant ouer his fub- 
 icfts *> What meaneth the per-,^, * 
 picxitieof Herod Afcalonites, v after jia.n*m. 
 he heard of the birth of Chrift, l ¥ 6 *' x '+ 
 who (as he thought) was like to *So e„ M . 
 put him befide his throne J what caII « tea. 
 meanes the fearc which Herod theg^/* 
 foxe had, that /*£* the Baptift was ' atUM : 
 fifcn from the dead , after he had 
 C \ vijiuft- 
 
% z The (jurt 
 
 vniuftly taken his head away from 
 .•Mark. & him* 5 whatmeane (Uay)allthefc, 
 i<v and the like examples it it were 
 not the property, of an, ill confer- 
 ence to acculc a man of the finnes 
 that he cummitteth. Hence it is 
 that Eliphaz, faith to lob. Thewie- 
 ked man feircth all his fates , the 
 found of trembling is alwaies in his 
 -lob if, ear/sK And doth not the Apoftle 
 i0t fpeake of ^n accufing property 
 which the confcicncehath, in the 
 fecond chapter of the Romanes 
 atthei5.verfei > 
 
 Reafcn* An< * l ^ € g r Q u ^ of this ^°" 
 
 flrine I take to be laide downc in 
 
 the beginning of that verfe, where 
 
 it is faid that cucn the Genwlcs 
 
 haue the worke of the Law writ- 
 
 *ib£/»/?.w ten in their hearts. 
 
 ■*•«!•/• **7- jg ow f theLaw,xhereisatv;o- 
 
 te^JupUx fold worke) (as b Brentius obfer- 
 
 *ft •/>"» ueth,) The worke of fulfilling it, 
 
 HST* the workeofjenowkdge, the latter 
 
 of 
 
of Confeience. zz 
 
 of which two the Apoftle mea- 
 neth in chat place.Now this vvorlcc 
 of knowledge, is to diftingui(h be^ 
 twixt good and bad, thing* honcft 
 anddiihoncft, which workeeuea 
 the wickedeft hauc by nature in- 
 grauen in their hearts: forinfome 
 meafure they know what is honeft 
 and to be done, whatisdiftioneft 
 and not to be done, when they 
 then ftall leaue that which they 
 know they muft doc, and perpe- 
 trate that which they know they 
 muftnotdoe, muft not their con- 
 ; fcience needes accufc them, and 
 condemnethemj 
 
 Peraduencure againft this truth Qljrffc 
 fosne will obie&the experience of 
 our times, thatwefeeforthemoft 
 part, the lewdeft and vngodlieft 
 perfons haue the leaft heart-fmarc, 
 the moft quiet. Therefore,an euill 
 confeience is not in all , an aepu- 
 tlng confeience. Vnto which I 
 C 4 aafwerj 
 
24 Ike Qurt 
 
 Anfw. i. anfwer : firft, with Bemiras diftin- 
 « Cited b ^i° nCc hac therein a twq foldeuill 
 
 Uemmgus y Quiet, 
 
 sj»ug.i6i confeienee «) and 
 
 161. J XT 
 
 m*U & C Vnquict. 
 
 twqudU, An euill conicience and vnquict, 
 f^^ 7 **' is without all queftion of an accu- 
 sing nature : none denies it. As 
 forancuill confeienee and quiet, 
 that is, when a man is fwallowed 
 yp in the depth of finnc , that hee 
 doth not fo much , as cntertaine 
 one thing about repentance, but 
 blind-folded is lead from one wic- 
 kednefle to another: and them 
 that haue fuch a confcience,the A- 
 * ayniXyvi" poftlecalles* pa 8 feeling, a yet fuch 
 tires. as haue loft all iudgement,or com- 
 d £ph. 4 . pundion of heart, giucnouer to a 
 * 9% reprobate fence. Now this kinde 
 
 of eiiill confeienee, though it doth 
 not alwaies execute the a&s of ex- 
 cufing, yetftili ithaththehabite, 
 the quality of accufing : and when 
 
 it 
 
of Confeience. 2 5 
 
 it comes to be awakened, it will 
 not onely accufe, buc alio torment 
 moil grieuoully, moll intollcrabiy. 
 And as for thofe that hauefucha 
 conlcicnce, they cannot be (aid to 
 bequiet, or at peace properly (as 
 you take peace for the tranquility 
 of the mmde) but raf her to be Ie« 
 core, feared, obdurate and harde- 
 ned: then which nothing can be 
 wor(e,nothing moremiferable. So 
 then when we fee the wickedeit li- 
 tters, to haue (as the word dee- 
 methjthemerrieft liues; itisnot 
 from peace of conlciencc > but 
 from aieared confeience, it is not 
 becaufe their confeience hath no 
 accufmg power,butbecaufeitdoth 
 not alwaies execute us accufing 
 office, for it neuer wants matter to 
 accufe. * For befides, though wee ^r y# 
 fee fuch to hue quictly,and(to our 
 thinking) to be at pcace,yet fecret- 
 ly they may haue a fling within 
 
 them, 
 
z& The Com 
 
 them, which doth vexe, and mo- 
 left them moft grieuoufly , info- 
 much that Salomons faying may be 
 verified of them .•' in the middeft 
 of laughter, the heart is heauy. 
 Before I come to the vfe : I njuft 
 Queli anfivcr a q ue ftion* And this it is, 
 ^- J ' Whither an accufing confciencc 
 Anfw. b^alwaiesan euillconfcience?To 
 which I rauft giue fatisfaftion by 
 diftinguithing of the accufing 
 power of the confeience: And 
 that is'tobeconfidered in a two- 
 fold refpeft: firft, in regard of the 
 ground of accufing: fecondIy,in 
 regard of the consequents of it. 
 
 Firft, for the ground: the con- 
 fciencc dothqecufe either vpona 
 good ground or a falle: vpon a 
 good ground itaccufeth,when be- 
 ing informed truly, either by the 
 light of nature, or the light of 
 grace, of t&flgs to be done or left 
 vndonc, it telleeh a man of his 
 
 fault, 
 
of Confcime. 27 
 
 fault, in the negleft of the one, in 
 the pra&ife ofc the other, as for 
 example : Daaidkncw by the light 
 of nature , that he (hould doe to o- 
 thers, as he would they (houiddoe 
 to him ,• and that as he would not 
 Jiaueanyman wrong him, qithcr 
 in his wife or life,- fo no more 
 jhoold hee wrong his brother in 
 the fame kindc- he knew alio by 
 the Law of God, that neither mo- 
 ther nor adultery were to be com- 
 mitted, hctre is the, ground: Now 
 vponthis ground his heart (mites 
 him, when Nathan comes to him, 
 hisconfcience teiles him, thathc, 
 jcuen he had finned in wronging 
 hisbrother, bothin his life, and 
 hiswife: in committing murther 
 againft the one, adultery with the 
 .other- Thus did lofefhs brethren? 
 .cohfcienceaccufe them hcere, for 
 doubtlcffe they had learned, that 
 crusty was not to be cxercilcd a- 
 
 gainft 
 
28 7he Qourt 
 
 gainft a naturall brother; the word 
 and nature had taught them this: 
 and therefore after they had wron- 
 ged him , their confeience accufe 
 them. 
 
 Secondly, vpon a bad ground, 
 the confeience accufeth, when an 
 erroneous principle is laid; as for 
 aMalTcprieft to bee accufed and 
 troubled in his minde, fornegle- 
 ainghisMafleand Popilhdeuoxi- 
 ons, or a Lay-papift for perufing 
 the Scriptures, when fs it is not a- 
 gainft the word of God, either to 
 neglefl the one, or perufe theo- 
 ther. 
 
 Secondly, for the confequents 
 that doe folio w the accufing of the 
 confeience, they are thefe. Firft, 
 forrow for the offence accufed of, 
 whither itbeomiffiueorcommif- 
 fiue, or for the punifhment which 
 the confeience telles the delin- 
 quent he is Iyable vnto. Secondly, 
 
 feare 
 
of Qmfcience. 29 
 
 feare cither to commit the like of 
 fence againe, or to vndergoe the 
 puniflimcntdue for that tranfgref- 
 lion. Thirdly, fecuritiearifing ci- 
 ther from the right appeaicment 
 of the confcicncc,or from the per- 
 uerfc flopping of the chcckcs of 
 confcicnce. Now for the dircd an- 
 fwering of the queOion out of 
 thefe premifes , this is that which 
 I haue to lay, that aiwaies an accu* 
 fing confcicnce is not an euiil con- 
 fciencc And this I can make good 
 out of the premilcd difhn&ions. 
 That confcicnce that accufcth 
 vpon a good ground, and telles 
 the offender, hee hath dire&ly 
 
 ' tranfgrefled the Law of God, and 
 withall produceth the beft of thefc 
 
 ' confcquent effc&s before fpoken 
 off. That confeience which ftir- 
 feth vp feare to fall into the like 
 finne againe , that worketh godly 
 forrow for the finne committed, 
 
 that 
 
3° 
 
 The Court 
 
 that breedethfecurity in aflurahcc 
 of reconciliation : thatconfciencc, 
 though it accufcth, ycc cannoc 
 properly be termed euill, but ra- 
 ther tendcr,and fqllof remorfcron 
 the contrary, if the confidence bee 
 terrified vpoil Popifh grounds, if 
 after the accufing office of the 
 confciencc; yea, vpon a good 
 ground alfo the partie forrowes 
 more for the panifhment deferucd^ 
 then the finite committed $ if hee 
 fearcrh rather the falling of the 
 punifliment vpon his head , then 
 dafliing himfelfc againevpon the 
 rockeofthefamcor the like finne; 
 And laftiyjfhcgrowethfecureby 
 flopping the mouth, and neglc- 
 fting the checkes of continence, 
 thefeare true frgnes that the con- 
 fcience is euill which accufeth, 
 but if otherwifc the confcicncc 
 may poflibly accufe and yet not be 
 cuill nor vndeanc. This I thought 
 
 good 
 
of (bnftience. 31 
 
 good to anfwer it comming nc- 
 cejlarily in our way. I will dctcinc 
 you no longer from the vfes which 
 which are.- Forreproofe,comfort ? 
 terrour,and.duty. The three for- 
 mer concernefomc,wkh fomcdif- 
 ference definitely, the latter re- 
 fpe&s all without difference inde- 
 finitely. 
 
 Firft(Ifay) hcereisagroundof yf e Xi 
 reproofcvntothofe,who haueal- 
 waies matter, and nothing elfe but 
 matter ofaccuiation againft them- 
 felues, within themfelues \ and yet 
 they will ftand vponit, that they 
 haue good confeiences ; one hath 
 matter of accufation within him 
 forhisryor, another for luft, ano- 
 ther for vfury, for bribery, for op- 
 preffion, for other wrongsdoncto 
 his neighbour,another for bearing 
 malice,anotherforlying/alfe wic- 
 nefie bearing, priuie flandering, 
 horrible cruelty \ fhop-theeuery, 
 
 whole 
 
2% Tki-Qutt 
 
 whofe confidences can cell rherai,> 
 that thusand thus, they decerned 
 iuch and fuch, fo and lo they haue 
 decerned others , at fuch a time 
 they committed fuch a villany : in 
 foch a place ,- fuch impiety ? heere 
 they wrought filthineiTe, there vrt- 
 righteoufneflc, &c. neither were 
 they fo much as eucr mooned for 
 this finnc,they neuer relented for 
 it, neuer repented of it, and yet 
 (I fay) they are of opinion (and 
 will not be beaten from it) that 
 chey haue good and very good 
 confeiences ; when as alas : how 
 can it be, this being true that an c- 
 uill confidence , is an accufwg 
 confeience, and foon the Gther 
 fide, an accufing confeience, for 
 themoft part an euill confeience. 
 What doeft thou man talke of a 
 good confeience , when it i$ al- 
 waieslike the troubled waters ca- 
 lling vpdirt and filthinefle in thine 
 
 ownc 
 
oj ^onjaence* 34 
 
 owneface; when as i,t is continu- 
 ally ringing apealeof thine abho- 
 minations in chy eare* ? thou a 
 good confeienee; when thou fwea- 
 rcft, lyeft,cheateft , playeft the vn~ 
 mercifull, incontinent, intempe- 
 rate beaft, flandereft thy neigh- 
 bour; fictefi and fpeakeft againft 
 thine owne mothers fbnne , brea- 
 keflGods Sabbaths,defpifcftGods 
 ordinances: It goes againft thy 
 confeienee (as thou rudely profrf- 
 left) to regard a Preacher, or re* 
 fpeft a profeiTor , or walke accor- 
 ding to an holy profeffion* thou 
 a good confeienee I fay ? No no; If 
 indeede, (thy confeienee fmiting 
 thee vpon good ground) thou were 
 but drawne to heartie forrow for 
 thy offences, to an holy feare not 
 to commit them againe, it were 
 fomething ; then thou mighceft 
 be belecued , when thou boafteft 
 of thy felfe as free from an eui]l 
 D cot*- 
 
 ■->..: 
 
24 ±be Iwrt 
 
 confcience \ but othcrvvife , thou 
 
 arc to be reprooued for vaine-glo- 
 
 oUeff. nous bragging. But I thanke God 
 
 I am at quiet in my confcience I 
 
 Anfy. Art thou l0 ■ and y ct lj ^ft in thy 
 finnes ? To much the more fcare- 
 full is thy condition; no Judge- 
 ment to a reprobate ienle,- Oh to 
 be paft feeling, this is moftpitti- 
 full. Saycftthou,thou art at quiet? 
 nay thou deceiueft thyfelfe, thy 
 confcicnce is feared^ neither is thy 
 quiet from hence,becaufe thy con- 
 fciencehath no crime, to lay to 
 thy charge , but becaufe thou wilt 
 not heare thy confciencc fpeakc 
 when it doth accufe thee. It may 
 be, becaufe thou wouldeft make 
 men belceue thou art notguiltic 
 ofthofeeuils, which happily at 
 fome times thou art flung for 
 within thy, felfe , therefore thou 
 fetteft a good face vpon the matter 
 (as fome that lye a dying, fay they 
 
 feare 
 
bj (jonjamce. |§ 
 
 feare not death) when as indeede 
 they feare nothing more; Or put 
 cafe thou fayeft true (a3 I faid) 
 when thou affirmeft , thy rainde is 
 not crazed: the more horror re- 
 maineth for thee againft the time 
 of thine awaking* infomuch^that 
 asDattidCaid, he (hould be fausfied 
 with the light of Gods counte- 
 nance (hining vpon him after hi* 
 riling, thou art like on the other 
 fide to be terrified with the goades 
 of thine owne confeience {pea- 
 king againft thee, at the time of 
 thy rowfing, vnlefle the Lord bee 
 the more gracious vnto thee* I 
 Conclude therefore, it is a great 
 folly (moft worthy of reproofe) in 
 thee,, to thinke thou haft not an e- 
 mil confeience, when thy conuer- 
 fation is vncleane , abounding 
 with noyfome eifils , as matter of 
 iuff accufation againft thee. 
 Secondly, heere is comfort to V(e i* 
 D 2 thofe 
 
36 *M [JMrt 
 
 thofechathauc goodconfciencesi 
 their happineffe is vnfpeakeable, 
 their condition moft peaceablc>for 
 iffo be aneuillconicicnccbec al- 
 ways o( an accusing qualitie, then 
 their good confcienceisalwaiesof 
 an exmfing property. Excufing 
 property (I (ay) or quality , for I 
 denic not but a good conicience 
 may and doth exercifc many a 
 time accufing actions. The heart 
 of DaMduaay finite him,for taking 
 away Vrkhs life, for defiling Vru 
 
 * 2. Sam, ahs wife e for cutting off the lap of 
 f I's'am Sauls^xmzxit £ j for numbring his 
 *X™ P t0 P ie contrary to Gods com- 
 g2,Sam.2 4 niandements, I know Peters con- 
 
 idencedid article againft him, for 
 denyingand forfwearing his Lord 
 
 * Math. 26, and Mafter h : and there is neuer a 
 7 *« Chriftian but can witneffe with 
 
 nice, that his owHe confciencc tels 
 him daily of his daily faylings; yet 
 I fay ,his confidence is not an habi- 
 
 cuall 
 
of Qonfcience. yj 
 
 tuall accufer, as to doe nothing 
 elfebutaccufe him, or as though 
 it had ndthingehc in itfelfe, but 
 iuft matter of accufacion againft 
 him : this (I fay) he is freed from, 
 which an euill man is not. And 
 rather it hath an accufing power: 
 now for a mans conference to 
 haueanexamnghabiteandq ? ja!i- 
 tie, what a fweeteand comforta- 
 ble thing is it? What? freefrom 
 the rerrours ofa tormenting foule? 
 free from the wounds of fpirit, 
 which mortal! ftrength cannot 
 beare? what man can buradmire 
 this? what heart will not exalt and 
 reioyce to feele this ? Oh but I an* {?iec? 
 tormented, I am terrified will (the* Forinl 
 poore Chriftian fay,) * I cannot be ^eedeof all 
 fo at peace in myfelfe, as I faine t^a* 
 would be, my confidence is euer troubled. 
 and anone about my cares? Very Anfw. 
 like, if it bee tender, it cannot 
 choofe but foitmuft bee. Perad- 
 D 3 uenturc 
 
.J ? 
 
 The Court 
 
 ucntpre, thou haft not yet attained 
 vnto that fpiric of adoption, to 
 witnelTe to thy fpiric in that full 
 meafure that thou art the childe 
 of God , happily thou art but yet 
 in the way to attaiue vnto it. It 
 maybe thou woundeft thy confid- 
 ence, by beeing fbmething too 
 yentrous vpon that which thou 
 haft no warrant for, If it be fo-,tben 
 I doe not much meruaile that thou 
 canft not haue that quiet thou 
 doeft defire ; and well will it proue 
 for thee at the laft , that thy con- 
 fidence doth Co fmite thee. But 
 what of this? haft thou nocaufe 
 therefore to reioyce in the good- 
 nefreofthyconicicnce? Thy con- 
 ference accufeth thee vpon a good 
 ground, doth it ? thou feareft the 
 finne m6re then the pyni(hment 5 
 thou forroweft for the offence 
 done /more then for thefcourge 
 due, doeft thou not I thou art wil- 
 ling 
 
of Confeience. ^ 
 
 ling to beare thy conlcience fpeak, 
 and thou fayeft? Confeience doe 
 thine office^ by the grace of God I will 
 not checke thee , nor Jloppe vp mine 
 ewesAgairJl thee\ thou art careful! 
 ro haue thy confeience pacified by 
 the right meanc,eucn by chcaflu- 
 rance that through Chrift his 
 blood, thou art purged from the 
 finne which thy confeience fmi- 
 teththee for, art thou not? If yea* 
 then know thou to thy comfort, 
 that though thy confeience (when 
 there is reafon for it) doth execute 
 forae accufing a&s againft thee,yet 
 habitually itwillproouetobecan 
 excufer of thee.Wherefore doe not 
 thou by this cauill cheate thy felfc 
 of the comfort that belongs vnto 
 thee. If thy confeience beat ods 
 with thee vpon fome good 
 ground, giue all diligence to get 
 itappeafed with the aflurance of 
 Gods loue, and cad not do wne thy 
 P 4 fclfe 
 
4o The Court 
 
 felfe out of meafure,as if thy cofci- 
 cnce had nothing elie but matter 
 to accufc thee oft. And to encreafe 
 thy comfort vpon this ground, 
 meditate thou of the benefits of 
 an excufing conference : as name- 
 
 Jtlun*' ,y,firft an cxcu fi n g coufci ence will 
 rxcuimg" anfwer and out-weigh ail theac- 
 confeience. cufations for finne, and fuch and 
 
 $£l* fuch aas , of fin as ca « ^ brought 
 W«r qu£ in to .tnolcft the foule, for fuch a 
 fihiconfcu confeience is purified by the blood 
 
 finne, hath to obieft Chrifis me- 
 rits agatnft its owne de-merits, the 
 obiefling of which vpon good 
 groundsill anfwer all the fpitefull 
 cauils of the malicious tempter. 
 
 f Bene£ Secondly, an excufing confeience 
 
 will be a rocke of comfort in the 
 
 timeof diftreflc, when thou lyeft 
 
 vpon thy ficke bed it will accheere 
 
 % tnee,as Ezekith did, when he faid, 
 
 $?*•*-■ i lord remember how I hue walked 
 
 before 
 
ofQnfcitnce. 41 
 
 before thee in truths mtbaperfetf 
 heart 5 eW. When the world takes 
 her wings and flyes away from 
 thee, when thy earthly friends for- 
 fake thee, and difpu te againft thee, 
 and all humane helpes iaile thee, 
 this will be a cordiallandconfola- 
 tion vnto thee. And which islaftj. Bencfi. 
 of all, and yet beft of all, it will goe 
 with thee to the uidgement feate 
 of«Chtift, defie the deuill to his 
 face, acquit thee and abiolue thee 
 of all the crimes which euerthou 
 were, either iuftlybytheaccufing 
 a&sof it, or vniuitly by the fpite, 
 of Satan and his wicked inftru* 
 ments charged withail. Loethisis 
 the good, the gaine heere; heere- 
 after, that an excusing confeience 
 doth and will bring thee ; and yet 
 thy good confeience hath this ex- 
 cufing quality. Why art thou then 
 fo deiecled thou Chriftian , and 
 why is thy foule fo fad within thee; 
 
 the 
 
4^% The Court 
 
 the Lord comfort thee vpon this 
 ground, theLord(with this)fpeak 
 peaceably vnto thy foulc. 
 Vfe i Thirdly, heere is terrour vnto 
 
 * ** thee that haft an euill confcience, 
 knoweft thou man what it is I if 
 thou bseft ignorant, heare the 
 point in hand telling thee what it 
 is an accufing confcience. And 
 though peraduenturethoumaieft 
 be fecure, haue it lie a fleepe a ten g 
 nvifT 1?t * mc together, yet like amafliffe 
 * vtopJcV curre at laft it will awake and be a- 
 hut itfAmf. bout thy cares ; and when it awa- 
 ^XpV^h, who canftoppe the voyce, 
 mjcomm who can allay the fury of it ? thy 
 ^%^.^-witte cannot doe it, take Achi- 
 U ™l4tlhbc-t(fhei* for wimeflc; Thy wealth 
 rarc*k vr. cannot doe it, take Iuias for ex- 
 geme *pxie- arrtp i e# it\y authority can not do 
 chryfiih in it, take Iultw for thy proofe. Thy 
 Gm.hom. *fvreetc bitte and iouiall compa- 
 « Dan. ?♦ n * c cannot doe it, take B BAlflazzar 
 Obiett. forwarrantBut what if ray confci- 
 ence 
 
of Confeience. 43 
 
 cnce doth accule raee ? what of 
 that I is it any great matter ? Thou 
 lhalt know that when thou tryeft 
 it. And in the meane time (for 
 what I can aniwer thee in this im- 
 pudent demand) this I lay to thee. 
 To haue an accufing confeience, 
 habitually is not onely to be dc- 
 priued of the fweetc benefits of an 
 excufing confciencc,which I fpake 
 off in the former vie, butalfb in 
 (lead of them , to meete with the 
 contrary inconueniences. Firft, 
 thine accufing confeience will 
 out-wcigh all the good deeds that 
 euerthou haft done, thy prayers, 
 almesjtemperatejciuilljneighbour- 
 like carriage and behauiour, and 
 the like; It (hall little auaile thee 
 toalleidge any of thefe things to 
 thy comfort, when thy euill con- 
 feience is vp in armes againft thee; a (Me 
 Let a man be iuftly accufed at fome 
 temporal! barrc for rape, inceft, 
 
 mur« 
 
44 Tb* C ourt 
 
 murthering of the innocent, or 
 any fellony that deferues death, 
 what will it bootc him topleade 
 his gentility, his hofpitality, and 
 that he hath beene a good friend 
 to the common-wealth, &c if io 
 be his accufer comes in ftrongly a- 
 gainft him, and refoluestoprofe- 
 cute him to the very death ? Al as, 
 what woald it haoe aduantaged 
 IuLu to haue alleadged his prca- 
 ching,hisdoingoftniracIes,hisca- 
 ftingoutof deuils: Jchitophelhxs 
 policy, & prouidence for the State 
 & common-wealth, when as their 
 euilcofciences did torment them, 
 the one for betraying his innocent 
 Matter, the other for plotting trea- 
 fon againft his lawful I Soueraigne I 
 I tell thee when confeience is a do- 
 ing its accufing office, it will nei- 
 ther heare of thy honefty, nor ciui- 
 litie, nor liberalise, nor any thing 
 elfe good in it felfe,that hath been 
 
 done 
 
of (onfdence. ^ 
 
 donebytheeforcorruptends, buc 
 it will take them all, as if they had 
 neuerbeenedone: yea accuk thee 
 for failing in the manner. 
 
 Secondly, it will deny thee com- confdmU 
 fortiii time of diflreffe : when thy nmUhme 
 body is tormented with corporali^T^ 
 difeafes, and thou lyetofflng and^iyk^f 
 tumbling from one iide of the bed 
 to the other , and faine wouideft 
 haueeafe. When thy corne 5 catte]l, 
 fubftance, goods are taken away 
 from thee and thou brought to 
 pouertie, when fcarcitie pincheth 
 thee, when friends leauethee 5 and 
 enemies let againftthee, to haue 
 content and quiet within, it were 
 fome comfort, but (oh miierable 
 perfon) that is not to be had , thy 
 confeience is buffeting thee, and 
 vexing thee within , dealing with 
 thee as the conferences of thefe 
 brethren, with them fuggefting 
 matter of terrour vncotheminthe 
 
 time 
 
4<S Ihe Qourt 
 
 time of their outward extrcamk 
 tie. 
 And laftly,whe thy accufing cofci- 
 ece comes at the bar with thee aftef 
 this Hfe,it will be a co-partner with 
 *A P oci^that* accuferof the brethren Sa- 
 IO « tan againftthee, to the vtterouer- 
 
 throw, andeuerlafting confufion* 
 Now go to thou feared finner,thou 
 ftiffe-necked offender, aske in fcof- 
 fingwife 5 what matter it is if thy 
 confeience doe accufe thee. Loe, 
 thou feeft what a matter it is $ And 
 were it not that I wanted a tongue 
 to exprefle, and then an eye to be- 
 hold , an heart to confider the 
 fearefulnefle of thy condition , it 
 could not choofc but be like the 
 fight of the figures that Balfiazzar 
 faw vpon the wall, or elfe like the 
 found of the Sermon that the 
 •Ad. ». * ewes ^ard Saint Peter preach °, 
 euen an occaflon to make thy 
 loynes (hake and thy ioyntstrem- 
 
 bte 
 
of Confcience. aj 
 
 ble, thy heart foft, and thy foule 
 humble, what? no comfort to be 
 reaped by thee , in the bcft aft ions 
 thouperforracft} In likelihood 
 to be Jcft like a defolate forlorne 
 and comfortiefle creature in the 
 time of diflrefle ? in icopardie to 
 hauc the fting of confcience pcr- 
 fuing of thee to Gods judgement 
 barre, the worme of confcience, 
 gnawing on thee, for euermore 
 after thy few and euill dayes be en- 
 ded? what can be more terrible, 
 more woefull ? Verily, if ths 
 thought of thefe things preuaile 
 pot to humble thee, thefe terrours 
 arc as like to ouertake thee as 
 death it felfe, then which nothing 
 is more fare, more certaine. The 
 Lord therefore raooue thy heart 
 with this, if it bee his holy will. 
 Amen. 
 
 Laftly, heere is indefinite cxhotv yf e a 
 ration to all without difference, 
 
 that 
 
4g ihe (jmi 
 
 that they would giue all diligence 
 boch to attaine and reteine confer- 
 ences thac arc good, boch to bee 
 freed of and prcferued from con- 
 Xciences that are euill. The exer- 
 cifeof this two-fold duty, tooke 
 vp a great deale of Saint Paules 
 care, as appcareth in fundry pro- 
 teftacions (of his diligence in this 
 kinde) in the feuerali Epiftles 
 which hs wricech vnco the Chur- 
 ches. Now if the worthy example 
 of that worthy Apoftle be to bee 
 followed by vs in any thing that e- 
 ucrhe did, it is to be imitated and 
 followed in this ; and that lb much 
 the rather, becaufe of the ground 
 to perfwade to , and the motiue to 
 enforce the duty , which the do- 
 ctrine in hand affordeth* telling 
 vs that an euill cenfrience is an accu- 
 fing,avexing,a tormenting confid- 
 ence. Now tell mce who would 
 be willing to beepeftered with a 
 
 tor- 
 
qf(on/cknce. 49 
 
 tormenting confidence? who takes 
 any plcafure to fiaue the dares of 
 the Almighty dagging at the 
 heartv or the arrowes of the Al- 
 mightie drinking vp of the fpiritf 
 Quietof foule and tranquillity of 
 minde is that that All doe natural- 
 ly defire. The vngodly themfelues 
 wifli for peace, and rather then 
 they would be without it,they will 
 content themfelues with a falie 
 peace, with carnallfecuritie. And 
 there is none that Jiueth vnto 
 whom terrours and tortures inter- 
 nal! and inward are not tedious 
 and irkefbme , would we then be 
 freed and preferued from fuch ter- 
 rours,fuch wownds,fuch daggers ? 
 would we haue true peace, and 
 found tranquilitic indeede ? then 
 let (as I faide) endeauour to get 
 good confidences if we want them, 
 &to keepe them if we haue them, 
 ,or when wefhal attains vnto them, 
 E And 
 
\ 5b Ik Qourt 
 
 And for better furtherance in fo 
 weighty a duty as this is, I will 
 commend to Gods blcffing and 
 thine vfe, two rankes or forts of 
 rules. In the tirft whereof I will 
 prefcribe remedies to cure the ma- 
 lady of an euiil confeience, or let 
 downe meanes to bring thee to a 
 good confeience. In the feeond I 
 will prefcribe antidotes to keepe 
 thee from falling into the lame 
 difeafe of an e-uill confeience a- 
 gaine, or acquaint thee with helps 
 to keepe thy confeience found 
 and good if it bee fo already. In 
 both of which before thou goeft 
 any further, I defireatthy hands 
 a refolution to vfe both, fo neither 
 I in writing this , nor thou in rea- 
 ding (hall loofe our labour. 
 Remedies tor the firft , I tninde to lay a 
 7J\l 9 6 *t g ro «ndout of which to draw the 
 meanr s to rules, or fomeof the rules at leaft, 
 
 IILITJ. Gnd that B round lha11 tafcdefini- 
 
 tion 
 
on- 
 
 Jcience is s 
 
 of Confcience. ft 
 
 tion or defcription of a good con- 
 fcience and a bad, . . 
 
 p Some define a good confei-^^ 
 encethus. Obr*-*. 
 
 A lood conference* is the iudge-Whzt* 
 ment of our trnnde approoumg that 
 which we doe, asplea/mg to good, he- 
 c&ufe tbtt we our f tines pleafe God 
 through Chrifi t andbecaufe wejiudy 
 to pie a (e him 3 with ajerioxs purpofe 
 of walking according to his will. 
 
 Others more briefeiy thus. 
 
 A good confcience, is ^ioy^fprin-uemw^, 
 gingoutof the remembrance of attfe s j#*%* 
 holily And hone ft ly led, or a confidence * * % 
 offinne remitted. 
 
 As for a badconfcience> 1 1 die it to 
 he contrary to the good, and may bee 
 defined either, firft thus. 
 
 A bad confcience is the cen fare of 'what a bad 
 theminde, dif allowing that which we £» (cicaCQ 
 doe as difpleafmg to Godjnfomuch as 
 neither our perfons doe pleafe him 
 through Chrift y nor {as our confei- 
 E % ences 
 
r\ 52 ■lbelmt 
 
 encestellvs) we Jludie tofleafe hm 
 in our Hues with a Jledfajtpurpojcof 
 heart to confirm? vnto his will J 
 
 Gr fccondly thus: Aneuillcen* 
 fclence , is a trembling and feat e ati- 
 fwgout of the remep$rme of a life 
 lewdly cJn wickedly led.Thk ground 
 bychefedeicriptions fchusiaide, I 
 draw our thefe directions, for the 
 getting <f '< good, and ridding of an 
 emllconjcience. 
 i. Rcmrdy The firft is thefpiritof difecr- 
 nrif n, " B B» a Judgement to difcernc of 
 things that differ. For it is rcqui- 
 fitcthac a good conference fhould 
 be informed vpon a good ground, 
 true principles, now how can th at 
 be, except a man hath Judgement 
 to try and difcernc the ground, 
 whither it be found or falfe? It is 
 the office of conference, either to 
 allow or difallow, buc how can it 
 allow of whatisgoodjordiiallow 
 -■ that which is euilJ,except the party 
 
 hath 
 
of Confcience. 5 1 
 
 hath knowledge both of goad and 
 euil,thatis,whatisgood,andwhat 
 is euiil. A right vnderftanding 
 heart, anda.good confcience; a 
 biinde minde, and a bad confci- 
 ence 5 are ordinarily yoaked roge*- 
 thcr. If Papifls did not make ig- 
 norance the mother of deuotion. 
 If our generation of vnwifc and 
 carnall ones did not like to Hue in 
 blindnefTe of heart without facing 
 knowledge, both the oneandthe 
 orhcr would haue better confer- 
 ences then they haue. My counfell 
 therefore to thee , is this, to get 
 thofechaincs of darkenes where- 
 withal! thy hearcis fcttered,puiled 
 oft, and thofe mifts of ignorance, 
 with which thy vnderftanding is 
 darkened remooued away, that 
 thou maieft be able to difcerne of 
 things that differ, thatio therighc 
 information of thy minde, may 
 prooae to be a meane of thefound 
 E 3 relbr- 
 
\ 54 7heQm 
 
 reformation of thy cgnfeience^nd 
 fo that goodnefie may be reftored 
 to it ■ which by nature thou arc 
 quite bereaued and depriued off. 
 *. Remedy. Secondly, when thou haft attai- 
 ned vnto a found iudgement, and 
 canft pur a difference betwixt 
 good and cuill, then it (hall bee 
 good for thee to approoue of. the 
 one to difailow the other. For 
 
 when men againft the light of their 
 ijw.hift. own knowledge^ like Iulian^ 
 
 fuihT?: Z ceholt ™ r difailow of that which 
 ri. is good, and like the Scribes and 
 
 Pharifees approoue of that which 
 is euill, is it poffible for them , fo 
 Jong as they forcmaine, tobere- 
 rnedicd and cured of their euill 
 confidences? 
 
 iWpraies on the behalfc of the 
 
 brethren at Philippe that they 
 
 might approoue of "things that are ex- 
 
 **M.i.io.cellMt t ", which prayer hee would 
 
 haae neuer made,had not hefeene 
 
ofConfcknce, 55 
 
 it, a matter very vfefull and need* 
 fullagainftanemll,and fora good 
 and hoiieliconfcience, to approue 
 of things honeft according to the 
 excellency of the fame: Wee fee 
 men and women, to diflike of hea- 
 ring of Sermons in publike affemr 
 blies, of offering vp facrifice in 
 their priuate families, of making 
 profefflon of religion \ and they 
 like better of beeing prefent at 
 ftage-playes , the very cheaters of 
 luft: ^fryoting in Tanernes^ andt Foi .f or ^ 
 tap^houfes,bcing (as they are abu- £#« jcal? 
 fed) the very fc'aooles of the deuitt: f^J^. 
 they approoue better of allowing e 94 . rh^ 
 inordinate courfes.' And hence it J^SR**? 
 comes to pafle that their confei- '" 
 ences are fo vile and euill as they 
 are. Deale plainly with me now, 
 doeft cliou in good earneft defire a 
 good confeience ; like of that 
 which is good, as mod worthy to 
 be loued, diflike of that which is 
 
 eqill, 
 
59 Ik Qourt 
 
 coill, asmoft worthy to be hated 
 and m time thou fliaJi finde thy 
 Joucfoftrongly inflamed towards 
 the one; thy hatred lo foundiy 
 iharptned againfl the other; that 
 thy conicience (hall be clctre be- 
 fore Gad, and honcft towards 
 men. 
 
 j. Remedy. Thirdly, hearken to thechekes 
 of conference j be willing to heare 
 
 conicience ipeake, and to take a 
 carefull view of thofe articles, 
 which it prefenteth vnto thee, and 
 bnngethinagainftthce. 
 tmu e. O mtferable man that thou art 
 
 fiftSi. could / h f heathcn W'W**-' 
 
 JfedUm. t'mnejt this mtnejje. When thy 
 
 onmjz conicience (hs vpon thee, as nL 
 
 «»»,* u*J han ™ *pon David, thou art th; 
 
 ■ *fi*». man; or thou art the woman that 
 
 haft failed in this duty, fallen into 
 
 this iniquity, omitted that good. 
 
 committed that euill, rhinke in 
 
 thy heart it is verily tr«e,and fay in 
 
 thy 
 
ofQnfcimce. tj 
 
 thyfclfe, as naufd to Nathan: I 
 h&uejwned. 
 
 In the fourth place, forrow thou *' Re»dy. 
 after a godly manner, for thofe e- 
 uils which thy.conicicnce (being 
 rightly informed) chargeth thee 
 withal] 5 imitate Saint Peters con- 
 uerts ; who no fooncr were accu- 
 fed in their confeiences by occafi- 
 en of his Sermon, of that crime 
 of crucifying Chrift,but they were 
 pnckcdjtouchcd with remorfcand 
 forrow for the fame. Oh if as of- 
 ten as thy conference fmitesthee, 
 thou hadft but the grace with £- 
 fhraim to (mite thy thigh and fay, - s 
 what haue I done, thou wouldft ^!^ 
 grow to hatic a great deale better ^ dlick ™ 
 confcienCe then thou haft. J-Tim.,. 
 
 Fifthly, Faith u helpefull and^M- 
 neceflary in this workc: For he that litdti * moy ~ 
 u wholly difafii W iih vnhUefek£Z' 
 (iaith one ")£/.,• emfeienee cannot beet""'! 1 e J e 
 good. This is plainly intimated bytZ."" f "' 
 
 Sainc 
 
rg Tfo Court 
 
 Saint iW to the Hebrcwes, in a 
 comparifon which there hee y- 
 * Hck 9. feth *.lfthe blood of Bids and Goatcs y 
 *$> x *- and the afhes of an Heifer \ fprwkling 
 thevnckane^fan^ifieth totbepurifi- 
 ing oftheflefh: How much more fbxtt 
 the blood of chrili , who through the 
 eternal Spirit offered himfelfe with- 
 ouifpot toGodypurgeyour conferences 
 from dead workes to feme the lining 
 God] In which word? by an ana* 
 logie betwixt the type and the an- 
 titype, the Apoftle prooueth the 
 efficacy ofChrifts cleanfing^which 
 cleanfing he calles the purifying of 
 the confeisnee from dead workes, 
 yea from fin which bringech death, 
 and is lined in, by men that are 
 fpiritually dead. Now if the con- 
 science cannot bee cleanfedfrom 
 finne but by the blood of Chrift, 
 then it can not become good , but 
 by faith which apprehendeth the 
 blood of Chrift to our purging. 
 
 An<J 
 
ofQmfcience. %$ 
 
 And befides , if lo be a good con- 
 fcience be, (as is cxprcilcd in the 
 firfl definition \) the lodgement of* Pd & 46a 
 theminde, approotmg of that which 
 we doe asp leafing to God, hecsufe our 
 ferfonspUdfe God, or elfe(as is (hew- 
 ed in thefecond definition) acmfi 
 dense of finne remitted, what doth 
 this argue but a neceffity of faith, 
 to get a good confciencc,by which 
 faith (as it apprehends the righte- 
 oufneile ofChrift) both outperfom 
 come to pleafe God,and oorfoules 
 are confident of the pardon ofour 
 finnes? Well then wouldft thou be 
 purged from an euill confcienccj 
 doe this j when thy con fcience(be- 
 ing rightly informed) hath accufed 
 thee as guilty of fuch and fuch 
 finnes, and thou becft heartily for- 
 ty and truly humbled for the 
 famc,get thee by faith to the fonn- 
 taine of Chrifts blood , bathe thee 
 in it, feeketohauethyconfcicnce 
 
 appea- 
 
60 The Court 
 
 appeafed by the aflbrance of the 
 pardon of thy finnes through 
 Chrift Iefus alone, make this thy 
 mame drift of giuing attendance 
 vpon Gods ordinances, and thy e- 
 uili conlcience wiil be as cffe&ual- 
 ly cleanfed from thofe euils that 
 naake it bee , as by the legall clean- 
 fings in the ceremoniall law, fkft 
 was wont to be purged from lepro- 
 tic, peftilence, or any Fuchlikefil- 
 thy contagion. 
 6. Rcmcdie. Laftly, the ftudy and praftife of 
 a godly life, breedcth and brin- 
 geth a good confeience $ And this 
 helpethe laft claufe in the firft de- 
 finition of a good confeience af- 
 fordeth, where is prooucd that 
 therefore a good ccnfciencedoth 
 approouc of what we doe as good, 
 as well becaufe wee blue a 4 earn eft 
 Jiudie andferious pay f wj e of walking 
 according to Gods will^s becaufe we 
 know our ferfom pleafmg to God 
 
 through 
 
of Qonfcknce. 6i 
 
 threugh faith in Chrift. And Saint 
 Fettr makes it good , in his firft E- 
 piftle third chapter, 15, and 16. 
 verfes, where fpeaking of a good 
 confdeiKe,he loynes withalljboth 
 a fmfiifying the Lord God in our 
 hearts? that is, afludyand ferious 
 purpofe to ferue him, andalfoa. 
 good Conner fatten in Chrift , to [top 
 themouthes ofthofethat arcrea- 
 •dy to accufe vs as cuill doers , that 
 is a pra&ifeof the workes of righ- 
 teoufneflc , gluing vs to vndcr- 
 ftand that it is impoffible to haue a 
 good confciencc,except we lead & 
 purpofe&flodytolcadagodJylifc. 
 Thefe are the rules I thought 
 good to !ay downe for thy furthe- 
 rance in getting a good confer- 
 ence ; If hauing vfed the fame 
 heretofore thou haft found it al- 
 ready, or by Gods bleffing ftalt 
 obtaine it afterward 5 to the end 
 thou raayefl keepe it,raatke a word 
 
 or 
 
$ z The Qmrt 
 
 or two more/ and then I will 
 bring thee out of thispoint,wher- 
 in I hauc held thee longer then I 
 thought at the firft. 
 How to And to this purpofe, I will lay 
 kecpe a downe one gcncrall caution, out 
 i § d°ncc COn o{ which I will draw the whole 
 direction , and that is, it (hall bee 
 good for thee,to take heed of offe- 
 Simiie, r i D g an y wrong or violence there- 
 unto: If it be as wee commonly 
 vfe to fay, it is great piety toin- 
 forcc an entire friend to inconuc- 
 niencesagamft his will ; it is much 
 morepitty to enforce a good con- 
 science, (whereunto no earthly 
 friend is comparable, both in re- 
 gard of the good that it doth vs in 
 the time of profperitie , and the 
 comfort it brings vs in the day of 
 aduerfitie? Now the confeienceis 
 enforced, or hath violence offered 
 vnto it two waies , either when we 
 would hauc it more large then it 
 
 fhould 
 
of Qonfcknce. 6$ 
 
 fliouldbe,or more ftreight then it 
 neede be. 
 
 Firft, the confeience is made 
 more large then it fhauid be, prc- 
 fuming, or venturing lurcher in 
 the omiffion of lomeduty, or in 
 the giuing place to fome infirmi- 
 tie, then there is wairant. Vnto 
 which preemption there are thele 
 fiuefteppes or degrees, 
 
 Firft, a fecret wifli thst fuch a u 
 thing might be done, which wee H( w the 
 know to bee vnlawfull , that fuch %'™£ dm 
 a duty were not required, which Sade^oo 
 we know to beeftriftly cnioyned. Iar s e « 
 
 Secondly, vponthis wiOi an «-££££ 
 population with our felues, whi- on, which 
 thcr it may bee no way lawfull to ten ^ r ? 
 commit that vice , to negleft that STnfd^ 
 duty, (o making that now queftio- to© large. 
 nable, which before we knew to be l^Tr% 
 abfolate euery way vnlawfull. 
 
 Thirdly, a ftrong imagination $, Degree, 
 
 vpon 
 
6* The Cmt 
 
 vponthisqueftion, that it may be 
 very gaindull and commodious, 
 ifwedoe takefbme liberty to our 
 feluesin this kinde. 
 
 4. Degree The fourth degree, is to pro- 
 pound vnto our ieJues the infirmi- 
 ties of the Saints forourpacterne, 
 realbning ihus^sgood cbrtftjans as 
 lam^ better men then I am, haue done 
 thus and thus , haue neglected this 
 and this y and therefore I may behold 
 without any great danger &c. 
 
 i* Degree. And the fift is a carelciTe con^ 
 clufion, that if it bee but once or 
 twice done , or feldome negkded, 
 it cannot bee hurtfull , God is mer- 
 cifully wee are in his fan our ? his lorn 
 cannot alter ^ and I know not what* 
 And fb by consequent from all 
 this premifes , a prefumptuous 
 perpetrating of the offence. By 
 thele degrees , wee come to pre- 
 fume,and toftretch conscience (to 
 
 the 
 
of (jnjcience. 65 
 
 the wounding of it,) beyond its 
 Bounds, which is one kinde of 
 enforcing of it. , 
 
 Secondly, the Confcience comes Row 
 to bee ftreightencd three manner t he conf«. 
 of wayes : firft by ignorance in «><* « 
 the nature of the obligation , and {Trdghr°° 
 fubieftion of the conlcience: fe- 
 condly , by ycelding vnto doub- 
 tings: thirdly, by a kinde of tem- 
 porary defpaire , either of Gods 
 prouidence to releeue vs in our 
 temporall wants and dangers , or 
 of his readineflc to acchecre vs in 
 our fpirituall defertions. 
 
 That the firft of thcfccuilsdoth 
 fircightcn the confcience, it is 
 plaine by this argument. What- 
 foeiier doth caufe fcrupulous di<* 
 flr action ox diftraclingfcrufle % doth 
 bring the confcience into freights, 
 'Bat ignorance in the nature of the 
 binding and fubie cling of the con* 
 F ftience 
 
fcience doth CAufe fcrufuUm diftrd- 
 clion. Therefore Juch an ignorance 
 fir eight ens the confaenee. For wh en 
 the Chriftian knows not through- 
 ly what things bindc the conlci- 
 ence. Wherein cenfeieme is to be 
 Xubiea, how farre forth things 
 binde, nor how or in what cafes, 
 with what conditions conference 
 is to fubmit, rnuft it not needes 
 bring him into a world of diffra- 
 ctions? Ho iv can it other wife 
 bee? 
 
 Secondly, that ycelding to 
 
 doublings, doe firaighren the 
 
 conference, it is clecre, becaufe 
 
 doublings are enemies to the 
 
 peace or the confeience, which 
 
 * Cordis & P cace is &e • confcienccs fweete 
 
 hB4twe/i enlargement, Vnto this peace al- 
 
 £* ^-fo defpaire of Gods prouidencc, 
 
 jt»£*p. c «ner ouer the outward man in 
 
 thetiraeof affliflion, or ouer the 
 
 foule, 
 
of Confaence. $y 
 
 foule, in the time of defertion , is 
 an aduerfary; therefore thirdly 
 defpaire muft needs alfo diftrcile 
 theconfciencc. 
 
 WeJI then , wouldft thou kerpc 
 agoodconfeience, as a continu- 
 al! feaft, obferuein generall, two 
 rules. Allow no larger bounds to 
 thy confcicnce, then with warrant 
 thou maieft by vaine preempti- 
 on. Bring thy conference into no 
 more thraldomc and bondage 
 then thou needed. 
 
 To helpe thee in thefirft, thatSubonfi- 
 thou maieft not prefume: imrke na ^ h eipcs, 
 thefe particulars. ' othe oh ~ 
 
 rirlt, doe not wifh in thy heart thefirft gc - 
 anyvnlawfull thing to bee Jaw- neraJlrui(% 
 fill J V that thou might'ft the fafe- 
 lier commit it, nor any neceffary 
 duty indifferent } that thou mighift 
 hotbetyedvntoit. 
 Secondly, if thou beeft well in- 
 F 2 formed 
 
68 ?& Qun 
 
 formed of the vnlawfulnefle of a- 
 ny cuill, of the neceifitie of any 
 duty , abiure the court of facul- 
 ties in thy eonfcicnce, enquire 
 not after a difpcnfacion for thy 
 felfe in fpeciall, cxpoftulate not 
 whither thou mayctt, or mayeft 
 not commit it,ornegle£t it. 
 
 3. Be hot ofconceitc that negleft 
 of any holy or neceflary duty, or 
 the committing of any finnccan 
 be gainefull and aduantageable to 
 thy outward ftate. For it is a filly 
 gaine that is purchafed with a 
 wound to the fpirit , and a cracke 
 to theconfcience. 
 
 4.Set not the infirmities of belec- 
 ucrs before thine eyes for imitati- 
 . on, but for caution , not to emboU 
 den thee, to doe as they did,but to 
 make thee the more obferuantof 
 thine owne waies , leaft that thou 
 ftiouldeft doe as they did. for 
 
 cuery 
 
ofConfcience. £p 
 
 cuery fatte ftands vpon its ownc 
 botcomc; and little peace wik 
 thou haue to imitate any morcall 
 man, in that which is offenfiuetp 
 thy God. 
 
 5. Conclude not that thou wilt 
 but doc the deede once, or twice, 
 or feIdome$ For finne is like a 
 ferpent , if it gets but in the head, 
 it will get in the whole body, and 
 it is a clinging and encroaching 
 gueft j whereof thou canft not be 
 io foone rid as thou lifteft , after 
 thou haft giuen entertainment vn- 
 toit: neither thinkeft thou maicft 
 be the bolder, becaufe thou art in 
 Gods faqour , which can neucr 
 changenor alter: thou artnotfo 
 lure of heauen , but that the de- 
 uill (though he cannot robbe thee 
 of it)yetcan make thee queftion it 
 to the perplexing of thy foule. 
 Take heede (I fay) that by thefe 
 F 3 fteps 
 
7.P Ife Court 
 
 .ftepsthou.climbcft not vp the lad - 
 .der of preemption , for then that 
 there is no greater enemie > to an 
 holy and blamelefle life , the 
 maimainingof which holy life, is 
 the greateft preferuatiue to a good 
 conlcience that can be. 
 
 Sccondly,asthusbyprefuming, 
 
 5i0>^rdi- c ^ ou mu ^ not ^ rctc ^ l ty conici- 
 nate hdpescnce. So to the end thou mayeft 
 tothefe- not ftrcighten confeience, thou 
 rSlruk. ne " muftdoe three things. , 
 
 U F^ftj get a found knowledge 
 
 and right vnderftanding of the 
 binding, and fubiedion of the 
 confeience, to wit, whereby and 
 how it is bound, wherein and how 
 it is to be fpbiecl 
 What binds Now for thy better informal 
 r»e ' confd- on in this, know that fomc things 
 enceimnie> binde the confeience immediately 
 Law, y Gof- or properly; Tome things, mediate- 
 peU,' ly or improperly. FirU immedi- 
 ately 
 
of Confcienee^ 
 
 71 
 
 ately, that doth binde the confci- 
 
 cncc, which hath moft abfoluce *&& 
 
 power andauchoritie in it icJfeo- thcras mo - 
 
 uer theconfciencc, and thus the^^ 
 
 Lawand Gofpell bmdes the con- mil, 
 
 fciencc •> or the word of God com- 
 
 preh ended in the bookes of the 
 
 OJdandNwTcftamcnc. Firft/or 
 the Law. 
 
 That is three- fold , morall, iu- 
 dicialJ,ceremoniall. 
 
 The morall Law refpeclech the ,. 
 duties of loue which wee owe to How A* 
 God and our neighbour, com- ^5^7 
 pnfed in the firfl and fecond tabk%cQiifd C ncc. 
 no* to know how this binds con- 
 fcience, thefe two rules muft bec 
 obferued. Firft, Tmtthefecondta- 
 
 wtch that if hvo duties comcinepf* L IZ 
 nion one to the other % andthefirji ta- hovv tIie 
 jfc binds the confciencc to the Me y the™ n t s l7 
 econd to the other ,fmply tyitfelfe, con/daicc. 
 F 4 that '• ^ 
 
*? * Tk Court 
 
 th.tt duty which is inioyned in thefirfi > 
 mutt he performed rather then thai 
 which isprefevibedin the faond. 
 
 .J. * ' blc binds me toperformealltefti- 
 moniesof loue to my neighbour; 
 the firft.to execute all offices of 
 pietie towards God, Such and 
 iuch a teftimony of loue to ray 
 neighbour , may in fomccafe not 
 ftand with my' piety towards God: 
 in this cafe my confeience mtift 
 fubmit it felfe, rather to the plea- 
 fingofGod, thenpleafingofman. 
 Albeit, infomecafe wearetoncg- 
 lc&fome duties to God, that wee 
 may releeue the prefent neceffltie 
 of our brother, which is warranted 
 bythatruleof Chrift; Iwillhaue 
 mercy and not facrifice. 
 
 s, Rul?* The fecond rule is this ;7&f//£* 
 generall Law muft giue way to the 
 jjeciaU. Tajte an example, or two. 
 
 Thou 
 
of Qmfcknce. 7$ / 
 
 jho» Jhalt doe no murther: Thou The rule 
 %U not (leak are generall lawes.^ m P hfi - 
 Abrahxm take thy Jorme , thine onely 
 fonne ljaac y and offer him vp in Jam- 
 lice*. Etterj woman Jhall borrow of x Gen it* 
 her neighbour , and of her that foiour- 12# 
 rteth inthehouje, iewelsof filuer^ni 
 jewels of gold , and yee (hall fpoile the 
 Egyptians ?, were fppciall cpmman- » Exod. 3, 
 dements. Both of thefe, euen ge- *** 
 nerall aad fpcciall , doc bindc the 
 confciencc: In this cafe , which 
 muft Abraham and the Ifraelites 
 chiefcly fubmit vnto ? To the fpe- 
 ciali; he muft attempt to facrificc, 
 his fonne , notwichftanding this, 
 Thou fhaltdoenomurther. They 
 muft rob the Egyptians of their 
 iewels and treafures, not withftan- 
 cjing that precept ; thou fealt not 
 fteale. Why? becaufe the* fpcciall 
 had at that time more power ouer 
 the confidences of Abraham, and 
 the Ifraelites then the generall. 
 
 Froraf 
 
74 735* (jurt 
 
 2. h©w the F fom the morall to come to 
 ^* Iudid a!l law; which was of 
 8S* tG P^icribs the Mofaicali 
 e^, forme of ciuillgouernment, con- 
 ceiving the order offices of Magi- 
 ftratcs and Magiflracic , judge- 
 ments, puniftmcrtt$,contraas,dif- 
 ferenceofgouernment, to the end 
 that pubhke iufuce might bee 
 
 maintained, peace continued, and 
 the contempt of Gods law reuen- 
 ged. 
 
 This Law fo farrc bindeth the 
 confeiencenow, asitiseucr duely 
 grounded vpon the morall, and 
 where the fame reafon holdeth 
 thus, as it did in them and other 
 nations by the light of nature pra- 
 #ifed in the fame manner. 
 3 . How the Thirdly, the ceremonmi Law - 
 Imb^lf ^ ich treateth *f rites and cercmo- 
 colfc^icc. * ies e *W*#t$* the old Tettarnent y 
 to be obferued about the outward wor- 
 fit? of God) is to bee reduced to 
 
 three 
 
of Qonfcience. jz 
 
 three diftind times, according to 
 which times, three rules may bee 
 giuen to (hew how farre forth con- 
 science is iubieft to that. 
 
 The firft rule is this. Before the i. Rule/ 
 death of Chrifi^ the ceremonial law 
 did binde the confcieiccs of the Jewes y 
 and the /ewes onsly , not of the Gen* 
 tiles. For betwixt lewes and Gen- 
 tiles , there was a wall ot repara- 
 tion. 
 
 The fecond this. From the death * # Rule. 
 of Chrijl , to the ouer throw of the 
 Iewifi government , the ceremoniall 
 Ityploft the force of binding , andbe* 
 came an indifferent thing, either to be 
 <vfedornottobev/ed. Hence it was 
 that Paulriycumcifed Timothy , but 
 would not circumtife Titm. And 
 the % coitvcellat Icrufalem, decreed 'A& 15. 
 that the Church (hould abliaine 
 for a time from things ftrangled, 
 and from blood jthecaufe of which 
 decree was the weakeneffe of fome 
 
 who 
 
7$ 7k (ourt 
 
 who of Iewes were madeChrifti- 
 ans. As yet they did not fully vn- 
 derft^nd the libcrtic of the new 
 Teflament^ therfore for their weak- 
 neflefake,it was granted that they 
 might vfe fome Iewifh ceremonies 
 for a time. 
 Kule. £ u l thirdly , after the euerfion of 
 the Iewijh gouernment , and the pro- 
 mulgation of the GoJpeU^ more largely 
 and deer ely the ceremoniall law alto- 
 gether ceajed. For from that time, 
 the libertie of chrifiians and freer 
 dome from Iewifh ceremonies, 
 was fo confpicuous that none of 
 the godly could alleadgc their ig- 
 norance heerein. Wherefore very 
 *ugescere- well fay the Schooles , * Geremoniall 
 momdlesiam fa wes Are ^^ dead and deadly. T h us 
 tu*,crmor- w * tee the nature or the/,»w, au- 
 fyr*. tliority ouer the confeience. 
 2. Howthc Now we will fee how the Got 
 Gofpell pell bindes the confeience. For the 
 h * ndcSt better vndcrftanding of which, we 
 
 muft 
 
of Qnfcience. 77 
 
 muft know that the Gofpelldoth 
 110c binde the conlciences of thofe 
 that arc not called , but onely of 
 them that are cailed. That it doth 
 not bindc the vncalled,ic is plaine. 
 Becaufe as they which finne without 
 the Law , Jhall fettjh without the 
 Law* i lb they which finne with- aRom 
 ourtheGofpcil, (hall pcri(h with- ji. 
 out the Golpell. , but they which 
 perilh without the Gofpcll^are not 
 bound by the GofpcH 5 therefore 
 thcvneailed are not bound by the 
 Gofpeil. Secondly, that itbindes 
 theft that are called, Imeaneiepa- 
 rated from Pagans and Infidels, it 
 is manifeft aifo by this rcafon. All 
 thefethat are called,(hall be iudged 
 at the laft day by the Gofpeil, as is 
 to be feene,^w.2. h6. uk^ 1 5. 1 8. 
 But it is ncceflary that that fame 
 thing > by which men (hall be iud- 
 ged after this life , (hould binde 
 their conferences in this life; there- 
 fore 
 
yS The (ourt 
 
 fore the Go/pell bindes ths confei- 
 Qucfi. ences of the called. But what 
 Anfw. doth it binde them vnto I To be- 
 leeue the promifesof iuftification, 
 faluation, fperiall prouidencc,and 
 loue. 
 Obietf. Yea but hypocrites are cdledtnto 
 the Church ,and if they be bound to 
 beieeue their faluation, they are 
 bound to belecue that which is 
 . falfe , for the promifes of the Gof- 
 pell, concerning the fauoljr of 
 God, pardon of iinne, &c. belong 
 
 Anfw. H0Ct0C h em - I anfwer, That the/ 
 which are called into the Church, 
 are not abfolutely bound to be- 
 leeue their owrte faluation, but oir 
 this condition, (according to the 
 tsnourof the couenant) that they 
 deftrexxu\yx.ohz in thenumberof 
 Chriftstrue Difciples, But ro bee 
 the true fchollers and Diftiples of 
 Chrii^tolcarncofhiai, to follow 
 him, hypocrites doe not ferioufly 
 
 defire, 
 
of lon/aence. - ya 
 
 defire- therefore their confidences 
 arc not abfolocely bound to be- 
 Jeeuc their owneTaluatiou. 
 
 Thus thou vnderflandeft how 
 confiience is to bc-iubicflt to things 
 that doe immediately bhide it. 
 
 Now as touching the tMniiV.. 
 
 thatdoebindeit^w^ l(t hatfs,l h S t0 
 not or themfelues , but by vertue co obli gc 
 of that obligatory power, that they confcicnc * 
 haue from the word of God.) they 
 are foure ; firft,/^ Imeslfmmifa 
 condJy, oathes ; thirdly, wives i 
 tounhly 9 pr*mi/is m 
 
 Concerning the firft, how farre 
 forth conference is to fubmit to 
 humane lawes, thou flialt know if 
 thou markeft thefe foure rules fol- 
 lowing. 
 
 Concerning the firft, how hu- 
 mane (awes dee bindc wee flialI Ruie,tp 
 know , if wee ponder thefe foure d^tal 
 
 **"*• onofcon- 
 
 Zawes of men, nhither they hee^C 
 
 Ciuill, 
 
$3 The (om 
 
 CiuillorEccleflajlicall, doebindet/Ji 
 conjcienceio farrc forth as they are 
 agreeable to Gods Law. i. As 
 they confer ue etder, or herefrom 
 confufien and doe not take dw*y Ckri- 
 fiian Itbertie. J. For if they baud 
 thefe conditions, they are obliga- 
 torie , and binding by vertue of 
 thefift commandcment. Honour^ 
 thy father, and particular precept 
 gioen by Saint Paul; Let eiteri 
 >Rom.ij. foule be fubiecl to the higher power \ 
 *. But if it fo fall out, thatthe(e/4)w 
 
 conftituted by men , be not about 
 things indifferent , but good in 
 thcmiclues,that is to lay comman- 
 ded of God, then they arc not pro- 
 perly humane but diuine : and there- 
 fore doe altogether bindc the con- 
 ference. Laftly, if thofe lawesdoe 
 prefcribe things that are euill, they 
 are fo farre ftom hauing any pow- 
 er oucr the confeience, that the 
 conference is moft ftriftly bound 
 
 not 
 
oj {jnjaence, - gi 
 
 Hot to obey them c . Wherefore cA6t 
 we plainly affirmc againft the opi- af^T 
 nion of the Papifts, that neither Ci- w^«w- 
 mll mr Ecclefiafticall iurifdiclion^Zt^ 
 hath any Constraining ov^'ere. 
 compulfiue fewer immediately and ^1^1 
 direftly ouertheconfcience: Cotlutrdolu/.Z 
 it was wellfaid of Maximilian the*/ 10 - 
 Emperour, to fecks to domimereo-f^L 
 uer the confeience, is imfudmtly to in- p/tt, 
 uade the tower ofheauen \ And of ff) h 
 * St'fhanw King of Polonia , Three //nJpi}. 
 things are impofsible toman , to make 1 n * mPh *~ 
 fomething of nothing, to know things 7£Mt 
 to come , and to rule or Lord itouer 
 the conscience. That fame Pfycho- 
 tyranny , Therefore of the Papift 
 which is moft crttell, moft Pharoni- 
 iall, doe we deteft and abhorfe. 
 
 Secondly, the Pol i tike Uwesi, Rule, 
 of man haue fo far re an obligatory 
 fewer in the confeience y tbnt the vio- 
 lating of them, efpecidly ifitbeioy- 
 #cd either with the offence of their 
 O hr&- 
 
brethren or contempt of author it ie, it 
 isiufllj to be mounted for afinne a- 
 gainft God , though not immedi- 
 ately. 
 
 j.Me, Thirdly , the E cclesi as ti- 
 call lawes of men y are either of 
 things necejjarte without which an or- 
 der, and decorum cannot he kept m the 
 Church , or elfe of things in different. 
 Thofe that are of things neceflary, 
 doc binde by the force of that di- 
 uine law written by Paul, Let all 
 things he done decently and in good 
 
 ?Cor; order a . They that are of things 
 mecreJy indifferent doe nor binde 
 fo ftri&Iy, except the negled of 
 the fame, ©ccafioneth offence to 
 the weake,©r be with contempt of 
 Ecclefiafticall authoritie. 
 
 This for information about the 
 mediate binding oiconfeience, by 
 humane lawes. 
 
 SSThSde r . Seco »dIy An oath bindes con. 
 
 conference. icience,it it hath caeie foure condi- 
 tions. 
 
of ' Qrfcience, $* 
 
 iions.Firft,//(for the matter ofit)/> 
 he of things certains andpofsible. Se- 
 condly, // (for manner) it be made 
 er taken without guile , fmcerely and 
 honeftly. Thirdly, //(for the end)// 
 he to Gods glory, or the publike good. 
 Fourthly,// (for the author)//^ 
 taken by thofe who haue power fo to 
 hinde them/elues. Therefore Her odi 
 oath did notbindchisconfcience, 
 becaufe it did not tend to Gods 
 glory, and was of a thing beyond 
 his comrniffion , with warrant to 8 
 performe. But if an oath hath (I 
 fay)thofeconditions,itbindeth by 
 the vertue of that commandemene 
 which Mofes layesdowne, Numb. 
 ?o. 2. Ifamanfweare an oath, to 
 hinde hisfoule with a handle /hall not 
 hreake his word, he (hall doe according 
 to all that proceeleth out of his mouth. 
 . Now in the third place, for the ?. 
 fibie&ion of conferee to vowes How ™vve$ 
 We muft vnderfiand that vowes^t 
 
 G 2 are 
 
 :nce. 
 
84 ibe Court 
 
 are of three forts, morally ceremoni- 
 dll 9 arid free. Amorall<vow, is that 
 promife of morall obedience to 
 the law of God made in Baptiftne, 
 remed in the Lords Supper. And 
 this bindes all Chriftians at all 
 times. A ceremomall'vowy is a pro- 
 mife of ceremoniall obedience in 
 the Old Teftament, fuch aswas 
 *LeiM7. the vow of theNazarites c . And 
 this did onely binde thofe who 
 made it. A free vow, is a promife 
 of performing feme outward 
 thing, vndertaken for thecaufe of 
 cxercifing pietie, as vows offafting 
 orthelike,for furtherance in the 
 exercife of prayer, of repentance, 
 &c. And this is of a binding pow- 
 er, if there be in it ; firft,a congrui- 
 tie with the word of God; fecond- 
 fy , no repugnancie with our cal- 
 ling; thirdly, ifitbenofpoylerof 
 Chriftianlibertie; and finally, be 
 not made out of an opinion of any 
 
 meri- 
 
of Cenfdence. g- 
 
 meriting thereby. If (i fay) k be 
 
 thus qualified and limited.it binds 
 conference by the power of that 
 diuineprecept, which is in Ecelef. 
 5.4, f. When thou voweji a vow to 
 G»d. define not tefaj it i Setter it 
 tsthoufhouldejl not vow, then that 
 thcu Jbeuldett vow and not pay. 
 
 Laftly , that thou maiefl know 4- h ow 
 how promifis doe binde the con!ci-V*™ ( « 
 ence- thou rnuft obferue thisrule.S^ 
 Thtt afimple promije (Imcanedi- 
 flinguiftcd from apromife, mixt 
 and bound with an o^itdothob. 
 Itge and binde the eonfeiexteat the 
 mU of 'him Jo whom itismadefo that 
 it ne to whom thou makefile, will 
 releafc thee fromthe performance 
 of it, thou art free'.- if he require « „ 
 •t, thou art bound in conferee J&? j 
 o make ,t good; iffo bcic hath d *«- 
 :hefcrequ(fites, 
 
 ; ^^Mnot a^injcodswerd; 
 e condly/Mta i ai»pht,j>eJl r ,thkdly t 
 
 <?3 "* 
 
26 The Court 
 
 if thou beeBfuchan one as haftpmer 
 to binde thy fclfe by fuch a promife : 
 fourthly, if he whom thou haft made 
 it vnto^ did not circumuent^ and get 
 thee in by guile and deceit to make it : . 
 fiftly, if the performance of it remaine 
 pofs'Me anaUwfuM. If it hath thefe 
 conditions ; it bindes by vertue of 
 the ninth coramandcment. Thus 
 ofthefc things conlidcrable about 
 the binding and fubiedion ofcon- 
 fcience , muft thou get knowledge 
 and information of, if thou 
 wouldeft not (heighten confer- 
 ence , and fo wouldeft prcferue 
 the goodnefle of it. 
 %. Helpc Secondly, thou muft take heede 
 agaaift of yeelding to doubtings ;of yeel- 
 nfn^con- cjinglfay, For tempted to doubt 
 See. " thoa (halt be, be thy confeience 
 neucr fo good,but yeeld not to the 
 fame; hold Satan worke at *he 
 ftauesend,and when hefhall fhootc 
 his darts in this kiode againft thee, 
 
 tel- 
 
of Qtnfcience. $j 
 
 telling thee, God is thy enemiejhou 
 art not his childe 1 heauen [hall mt bee 
 opened vnto thee , hell fire is prepared 
 for thee : (notwithftanding, all thy 
 profefsing and paines taking) beare 
 them off with the fhield of faith. If 
 thou let goe the IbundneiTe of thy 
 confidence, thou wilt fhrewdlydi- 
 miniflithe goodnefle of thy con- 
 ference. The keeping of faith and -* 
 a good confeience are ioyned to- 
 gether, they that make hauocke of 
 the one , will cafily make fhip- 
 wracke of the other,- take heede 
 therefore of dafhing thy faith vp^ 
 on the rocke of doublings by yeel- 
 ding vnto them, And to con- v Sub^ ' 
 elude, take heede alio of ru(hing dina tehe|^ 
 vpon the rocke of defpaire i when 
 the Lord layes his hand in wife- 
 dome vpon thee , and thou art 
 tempted to defpaire of eucr obtai- 
 ning any helpe from him. When 
 (for reafons beftknownc to him- 
 G 4 felfe) 
 
88 7 be (hurt 
 
 felfe) he (hall withdraw the light 
 of his conntenance , which with 
 ioy thou wert once wont to be- 
 hold, and thou fhaltthen be temp- 
 ted .to thinke , he will neuervifite 
 thee with his fauour againe : yeeld 
 not to thefe temptations , be not 
 out of hope ; but nouri(h,chcrifh, 
 andmaintaine thy hope ftillhow- 
 foeuer. For there can be no better 
 way to keepe thy confeience good 
 and found , then to maintaine thy 
 faith againft doubtings, and thy 
 hopeagainft temptations tending 
 to defpaire. Thus at length I haue 
 fou nd an end of this point, the fuc~ 
 ceiTe whereof I commit to God, 
 the vfe whereof I commend to 
 thee; haftening now to thefecond 
 part of the text. Which is 
 Thcfeccnd The accufatipn it felfe, which 
 gut ©f the thefe accufers brought in againft 
 themfelues, in thefe words. 
 
 We 
 
TheTableofthe fecondpart. 
 
 UTbeforme, H.r.Wc ate verily guikic, with thi 
 memwg of iU p- *9* 
 
 , TheobieSorpartie wronged, B.V* 
 
 concerning our brother, withtht. 
 
 fenfe. p. gpj 
 
 I. Tb+l*- 
 
 The Sukett 
 
 Vl f wuand \l.7hemat- 
 
 ^ »<if <rd £7 twophrafes. 
 ^ ?3. The.Effetl, H. 
 ron & I Tnereforeistbisdi 
 
 r i. Wcfawthc 
 
 t her ^w her 
 
 cafe of {^rongitfelfaggra^ 
 
 wrong 
 which 
 wee hang 
 ^things. 
 
 idtO 
 
 flrcllc come vpon 
 vs : with the me* 
 juxg. p* 91. 
 
 §^\a. The do. 
 
 r 
 
 Brines 
 rthich 
 are. 
 
 
 anguiin of his 
 icuie, #/>£/£* 
 yoj/e. p«9o. 
 2. When hce. 
 befought vs, 
 we would not 
 benxc,with the 
 \ m Jenfe. p. 90. 
 
 P ropoun Jed together t appearing to be f tie in nam* 
 her. pag. 92. 
 
 <T Thefirfl y or third in the order of the text, 
 (Tharin confeflion of linne, wee 
 mud be ingenious,,) pag. 93. 
 The fecond or fourth, ( That confciencc 
 
 is a fakhfull recorder,,) pag. 101. 
 The third orfift in order ,( I hat by how 
 much the neerer bonds we are tied 
 to one another , by fo much the 
 Handled V f orcr tonntot (hall- we meete with- 
 f in our confcleiiccs, )pag.i 13* 
 The fourth or fixt in order,) That they 
 fhall be requiteU, like for like which 
 offer wrong,J/w£,i 30. 
 ThefftorlaslintheText, (That not 
 to pittic others in their diftretfc , is 
 to (hut vp the bowels of others a^ 
 gainlt vs in our dilbreiTe.^. 1 43 .. , 
 jTotheendt, 
 
bftynfaence. 89 
 
 We are verity guilty concerning our 
 brother ', in that we/aw the anguijb 
 of his [ante when he he fought vs f 
 and wee would not heare\ there- 
 fore is this diftrejfe come vf on vs. 
 
 WH E R El N we haue tO note, The fecond 
 both the forme and the {££#■ 
 matterof the acculation. the words 
 
 I. The 'forme in thefe words imer F ctcd 
 [iVe are verily guilty] that is, euen oufly!^" 
 weluJah, Since Levi, and the reft 
 of vs brethren , are moft certainly, 
 truly without all flattery guiltie. 
 * 2. The matter in the rcfidue of 
 the verfe, which is acafeofiniury 
 or wrong ; where we are to confi- 
 dcr: firrt, the *£/>#: fccondly,the 
 fubieel; thirdly, the effecJ of the 
 wrong, tl The obie ft was lofeph y 
 he was the man to whom they had 
 done the wrong, which theyac- 
 cufe themfelues off heere,and him 
 they call brother [concerning our 
 
 brother'] 
 
90 The Qurt 
 
 brother'] for fobewasindeede, by 
 fathers fide , though not by m Jf 
 thersfide. 2. The fubictf of the 
 wrong or the wrong it fclf, (whicl* 
 they had offered that their bro- 
 ther) they doe aggravate againft 
 themfelues by two phrafes $ firft, 
 [wee faw the anguijb of his foule y ] 
 that is to fay : wee wretches after 
 we had firft caft him into the pit, 
 and then fold him to theMidia- 
 nites, we could lookevponhisdi- 
 ftrcfle and perplexitie, with drie 
 eyes without teares , and fo our 
 eyes were vnmcrcifull vnto him: 
 fecondiy,[»?A<?# he be/ought vs y wee 
 would net heare~] yea, whereas it 
 had behooued vs vpon the very 
 fight of h is anguifh, to haue decea- 
 fed from our cruelty •, he did be- 
 feechvs, entreat vsto fparehim,& 
 let him alone, yet we were f© hard- 
 hearted, that we would not conde- 
 fcend vnto his entreaty , and fo 
 
 both 
 
of Qonfcience. pi 
 
 our hearts and cares werevnmer- 
 cifull vnco him. Thirdly,the efftlt 
 of the wrong following, in thefe 
 words: [therefore is this dijtreffe 
 come vfonvs~] yea> therefore we are 
 now {crued Jike for like, this di» 
 JireJJ'e of vs being charged for fites, 
 clapped vp inpri/on y cannot be heard 
 topbade and apologize for our felues % 
 one of vs muft now bee hide vp in 
 chafes, and God knowes how cru- 
 elly he fhall be vfed ere we come a- 
 gaine : this diftreffe is Come vponvs. 
 If we ioyne theic branches toge- 
 ther in a paraphrase, we may ima- 
 gine thefe brethren to bring in this 
 accufation againft themfelues in 
 thefe termes. 
 
 Come brethren come, why ft and we The para- 
 paufing with our f elites , what this? hxiit * 
 hardship meaneth> whence it com- 
 tneth ? Wee euen wee are moft cer- 
 tainly without any diffembling crflaU 
 tery.guiltie of offering great wrong to 
 
 our 
 
$Z 7be Court 
 
 our ownebrother y the fonne of our n- 
 godfather , weecajl him tnto thepit y 
 we fold him into the hands of Barba- 
 rous Merchants , wee looked vpon 
 him and laughed at him, when wee 
 faw the dreamer in perplexitie^ he en- 
 treated vs by the bond of f rater nitie 
 with teares to fpare him , not to deale 
 fo hardly with him , and we ft opt our 
 earesagainjlhiscry, we regarded not 
 hisreqttejifxtouldfhow no k'mdneffeto 
 him y h^ue no compafsion on himjhere~ 
 fore are we brought into this mifery. 
 Now loe we , we are paide home to the 
 fully we are recompensed like for like- y 
 This gouernour of the land lookes vp- 
 on theanguifh of our foulejwe entreat t 
 himjhewillnotvouchfafe toheare vs, 
 norbeleeuevs. This is thefumme. 
 heere is the fence. 
 
 The conclufions follow, and are 
 Sue. 
 
 i. Ccnfefsionol finnemuft bee 
 ingenuous, 
 
 2. Corh 
 
of Confcience. o ? 
 
 2. Confcience keepcs a true re- 
 gister. 
 
 3. By how much neerer bonds 
 we are tyed to one another, by To 
 muchforer torment are we like to 
 feele in our confeiences for the 
 wrongs we doe them. 
 
 4. God requites like for like to the 
 wrong doer. 
 
 5. They that are pittilcflc to 
 their brethren in the time of their 
 diftrefle,{hallfinde others pittileiTe 
 to themfcloes in their diftrefle. 
 
 To begin with the firfh lnthe Do ft , 
 confefsing of faults , we muft be inge- Confeffion 
 »«***, that is, we muft deale truly offinncs 
 l without hypocrifie, throughly ££- 
 without iecrecy or hiding any of 
 our cuils; Co dealt thefe brethren 
 of lofeph heere, charging them- 
 ieluesto be verily guiltte , without 
 fayning or doubting,or laying the 
 fault vpon one another,- andeue- 
 ry particular in the wrong, doe 
 
 they 
 
94 
 
 Tk Qourt 
 
 they without hiding confefle andf 
 acknowledge , as rirft how they 
 had looked vpon and laughed ac 
 hisdiftrdle : iccondly, how they 
 had flopped their cares againft his 
 cry. This ingenuity weetinde in 
 David y who when he was found 
 guilcy by Nathans famous hecon- 
 2.Sam.i2, tefled his whole finne. I haue fin- 
 13* ned igainf? the Lord. Marke, hee 
 
 doth not fay , I haue committed 
 adultery alone, or I am guiltie of 
 murthcr oncly, but he faith, / haue 
 finned, lam truly guiltie of all that 
 thou haft charged mee withall. 
 Neither laith he , I haue finned a- 
 gainft Bath/hefafigaiuft. Vriah onelj % 
 hut againjt the Lord, as well as they; 
 luft 16 dealcs he in confeffion/aftcr 
 hce had finned in nurnbring the 
 people > where he confeffeth that 
 he had not fimply finned, but fin- 
 ned greatly in that which hee had 
 done VThis is euident in Nchemhks 
 
 prayer 
 
 b 2,Sam« 
 
of (jmfcmce. 9 j 
 
 prayer % where making confeffion, cN . 
 he doth not onely cofeffc his own ^ 
 finnes, but the finnes of the peo- 
 ple, wherein hce acknowledged 
 himfelfe to haue a (hare , neither 
 doth he onely confefe their finnes 
 of commiffion, in laying, we haue 
 dealt very corruptly ayanjt thee , bu c 
 alio of omiffion , laying , v;e haue 
 not kept the commandements , nor ihe 
 Jiatutes, nor the iudgements which 
 thou commandeft thy feruant Mojes. 
 The very like wc haue in Darnels 
 prayer, and confefsion. IVe haue fin- 
 ned , and haue committed iniquities 
 and haue done mckedly, and haue re- 
 helled^c. Neither haue we hearke- 
 ned to thy feruants , the Prophets, 
 which (pake in thy name/ <&c. d Dan 
 
 And the rather, muft weedeale s^T* 
 thus ingenuoufly in the confeffi- Reafon. 
 on of finne, becaufe we muft for- 
 fake all finne, and forrow for all 
 finnein good earneft, now if all 
 
 finne 
 
9 S lbe (jurt 
 
 finnc rnuft bee forrowed for, and 
 that without all hypocrifie , if all 
 finnc muft be abandoned, and in 
 good earneft abandoned , then it 
 muft as generally as ferioufly bee 
 confefled and acknowledged. 
 Vfe i Doe not they then muchtranf- 
 
 * "from confeffing all their finnes, 
 that they will confeffc none of 
 them, like the proud Pharifee iufti- 
 fyingthemfelues, whenasPabli- 
 canes and harlots , who amongft 
 the Iewes were accounted com- 
 monly the worft of the people, are 
 like to enter into the kingdome of 
 hcauen as fbone as they ? Doe not 
 theyalfo offend this rule, whowil 
 confeffefome of their finnes, but 
 notallof them? if they benoted 
 for fwearing, drunkenneffe, or 
 (bme other profane a As they haue 
 committed, happily they will cpn^ 
 feiTe them vnto God,vnto raen,but 
 
 for 
 
of (onjctence. yj 
 
 for their more fecret euils , which 
 man cannot direftly charge them 
 withall, thefe they £onteflinor f 
 thefe they acknowledge not, nei* 
 ther to God who is able to pardon 
 them , nor to men who are fit to 
 pray for them , to giue direction 
 vnto them, how to be freed from 
 the fame. 
 
 Againft both thefe forts, I may 
 Vrge not onely the preient exam- 
 ple in my text for their reproofey 
 but alfo the words of an holy fa- 
 ther of the Church. Thou baft >fm- j ul . in W 
 ned^ thou art gutltie. if therefore %&£***** 
 thou fhdt fay, I HAVE NO? ^^ 
 SINNED, excufe thofe words wes, ft 
 how thou 'wilt , thy finneremamethw^^ &f. 
 thee, offinnethtu artgtiiltic,andmt X^«T 
 onely of thatfwne, which then diddejt ™ b * **<"- 
 lately commit (& wilt not con felfc)^!^- 
 hut alfo offride,hecaufe thou wilt not turn tuum 
 confeffc. And doth it indeede ap- m ** H in te > 
 f earc by that father that not to**' 
 H con- 
 
$3 7he Court 
 
 confefle finnc, is an addition to 
 
 finne, an argument of prideand 
 
 wane ©f humilitie? then thinke 
 
 thou what little wrong I doe thee, 
 
 toreproouethec, who either fcQr- 
 
 neft to confeffe thy finnes at all, or 
 
 refufeft fo ingenuocfly to open 
 
 them all to the Lord , as thoa 
 
 oughttft , which tell mee ? thoa 
 
 wouldeft obtaine pardon for all* 
 
 wouldeft thou not J thou wouldeft 
 
 not be condemned for any, woul^ 
 
 deft thou J I tell thee,except thou 
 
 * A fpeech doeft* agmfcere , God will not /g- 
 
 fy?Jr»- no fa r e>> without confefuon nore- 
 
 gujlme. mfsiin. For the acknowledging of 
 
 our faults, is the abolijbing of our 
 
 « confefsio faults c . Oh folly then that it is fof 
 
 '"Zl'I'h tiiCQ whofocucr Aon bceft , to 
 uZlctnol raake thy fbule lyable toconftrfi- 
 rum a?y~ on heereafrcr, for want of a fincere 
 ^"f^'and ingenuous confefflon of thy 
 finnesin this life. I would Icould 
 perfwade tke&nhc conttary,ok 
 
 that 
 
of Confcietice. 99 
 
 &at the L >rd would be plcafed to ■* 
 rtiakc me an instrument of tea- '* 2 * 
 ching thee better wifedome. ^w^yt 
 the I pray thee,gct thee into Tome tiqn. 
 fecret place, lift the corners of thy 
 foule,deale ingenuoufly and plain- 
 ly with the ford ; thinke it not 
 Enough to confefle feme of thy 
 finnes , but all of them,nbtone!y 
 the IciTc but aifo the greater , and 
 the lefFe as vyell as the greater, v 
 bring before him all the circum- 
 stances , the manner how, the 
 lime when, the occafions where- 
 on, the meancs by which the mer- 
 cies againft which thou haft com- 
 mitted the fame, lper(wadethee Aca * tio ^ 
 not to auriculer confeffion as the 
 Ch inch of Rome enioynes her 
 penitents^ but to that which Di- 
 nidi and ?eter y and P^/haue vfed $ 
 to confefle to God , and in cafe of 
 fleceffitie to fome faithfull Mini- 
 ftcr, to fome Chrifiian brother- 
 H 3 when! 
 
I do Tl?e(j>tirt 
 
 .. . whdias otherwifethyconfciencc 
 
 Flurimum • .11'., 
 
 cmmMdfa. cannot bee iecled and lati ncd. 
 c*taemen- Alas , what will it auaik* chce co 
 
 trir" U ' hldc ™y of th y BMc^whcn as the 
 chrjfojt. »»Lord knowes all thy finnes. And 
 Gtnnom.9 how canft thou truly amend any 
 ftaAHHue- one i w ^ cn as ^ou wilt not ae- 
 i™.h«w. 3 o. knowledge eiierjr one. Howhigfc 
 
 ™L™, toll this duty, calling it, the dtfftU 
 rtftAHr*- fa of vices > the rejhrer ofvertue\the 
 nm&cT oppugner of Deuils. Oh holy and ad* 
 Pitiable eonfejsien, thoujloppeft vP 
 the mvuth of hell , thou openefi the 
 gates ofheauen. Nothing (ht&remMne 
 in lodgement again ft them, who are by 
 this purged from their fmnes.l might 
 vfemany arguments to perfwade 
 to this, but time would failemee r 
 neither doth the text in hand re- 
 quire it of mce; The treatifes of 
 repentance haue done it for mee, 
 oiely that which I wifh thee vn to 9 
 is ingenuitie in confeffing to ab- 
 
 horrc 
 
of Qnfcienee. lot 
 
 fiorre hypocrific and doc ic flu* 
 ccrely, to auoyde partiality , and 
 d^eic throughly, as well concer- 
 ning ilnncs ofomtfston as Commijsi* 
 on % of failing in the manner of 
 good duties,as negiefiingthc mat- 
 ter,- pume dealing is alwaiesthe 
 beft, and is that which will bring 
 mplt reft vnto thy foule. Hoping 
 thirchis fhal fuffice to moous thee f 
 I leaue this do&rinc and proceedc 
 to the next which is this* 
 
 Yhat the confetence keepes 4 faith- D0&. 4. 
 fullregijier. See heere what a true Cqnfci«ice 
 reord of chat wroag offered W^^jf*" 
 feph, the conferences of theie bre- dcr^^" 
 threu took^and kept. 
 
 It had fet downe cucrycircum- 
 ftanccin the fime, howtheyhad 
 bcene pittilefle vnto him, ftopt vp 
 their earesagainft him, yea(asitis 
 very probable) how they had gul- 
 led their aged father concerning 
 hiin , making him beleeuc that 
 H a fom? 
 
1Q2 The Court 
 
 fornc euill beaft had deuoure4 
 him j Confcicnce had not lott one 
 whit of the cruelty , the viliany 
 they had committed againfthim, 
 but had let downe euery iot and 
 title of the lame. Such an infalli- 
 ble regilter of lobs deedes, did the 
 conference of lob take, the parti- 
 culars whereof , it prefentsvnto 
 him in che time of his cxtrcamitie, 
 as is euident in fundry places of his 
 booke. In one place remembring 
 his pcr(eue*ance in grace, his louc 
 to the word. My fcete hath held his 
 fieppes^ his waits haue I kept, and net 
 declined. Retthtr haue 1 gonebacic 
 from the commandment of his lippes: 
 1 haue efieemedthewords of his mouth 
 t Job aj. more ihen mtne appointed foode s. In 
 ."*?*•' another place preferring his/'«- 
 jhee and rtghteoufneffe , his charitie 
 >Cha P . 19. and mercifulnefle to the poorer / 
 **> M» *4i delivered thepoore that cryed^and the 
 ?P** l?m fatkerletf* and hint that had none to 
 
 helpr 
 
of Qonfcience. tO$ 
 
 helpehim\ The hie f sing of him that 
 was ready to perifb amevponmee^ I 
 paufed the widdowts heart tofmg for 
 toy. I put on righteoufnejfe and it 
 cloathed mee , my iudgement was as 
 a robe and a diadem, I wot eyes to the 
 hlinde^ and feet e to the lame. 1 was a 
 father to the poor e^&c. In another 
 place reraembring his obedience/ 
 / made a conenant with mine eyes t 
 thtt I would not lo&he vpon a maide te 
 lujl after her* I haue not walked with 
 v am tie , neither hath my f&ote hafted 
 to decdt^ that whole },!• chapter 
 being nothing eifebntaregiftcrof 
 hisobrdience, which his confei- 
 encehadfet downe before for his 
 ( comfort againft that time of need; 
 What (hall [fpeakc o?Daaid>Ez,e- 
 kiah and the reft, whofe goocjnefle 
 was recorded in their owne con- 
 feiences , whatfoeqer the wicked 
 did goe about toaecufe, and op- 
 pofethemwithall. What a faith* 
 H 4 Ml 
 
io4 -^ C^t 
 
 full rcgifter of Phxraehs iniurics ir 
 'Exod. icgainftth'c Iiraelices', of the Ifrae- 
 
 * tlsi«. iltes a g 3inft ^«^ k , of Sanies a r 
 iz.i 4 . gainfti^/W 1 , of W$u*$m andSa- 
 l Ch* ? . t^phtra^zinR the PrmitiueChuYch\ 
 » A& 5.1. al1 their coirfcienccs had taken,thc 
 word of God doth record , and 
 fome of their owne mouthes did 
 report. Hence it is that cwfciencc 
 is compared to a bookc^For looke 
 as in a booke, men let downc 
 things which they would' hauc 
 faithfully remembred, fo the con- 
 ference takes notice of tholfc 
 things which man rauft and (hall 
 remember. Hence is that vfuall 
 proucrbe arnongft vs. The eonfei- 
 enceisAthoufAndmtncjJes. Whyfof 
 i^Leafon Fir !*> God k the Lord of tfce 
 confeience, now the Lord is the 
 God of truth, cannot deceiue, and 
 therefore whatfocuer hefetsdown 
 in the confeience niuft needs bee 
 mie,what cuerhe, thafcogjmands 
 
 the 
 
ofQmfcienct. 10$ 
 
 thecopfcicnce, will haue the con- 
 fciencekeepe ? mart bee faithfull, 
 and hence' it is, that it takes and 
 kcepes fo infallible a bill and ac- 
 counts. 
 
 Secondly, tie conference goes 
 not (lightly and careleflyto work, t.Rufcit 
 in taking an account of things, 
 but folidely and fubftuntully, ic 
 maketh fure worker For in the 
 ipinde (which f:nce make the 
 feate of conference) there are three 
 faculties, which are as it were the 
 parts of cpnfcicnce. j . There is in- 
 
 fcontemplatiuej 
 telligeace eithejv or 
 
 /pra&icall. 
 
 2. There is eledion. ;, Thcreis 
 judgement or the facultieof Judi- 
 catory. Now each of thefe per- 
 formeth a feucrall office. Firfl, In- 
 telligence contemplatiue, hath an 
 office to fearch out true principles 
 
 and 
 
106 The Qurt 
 
 and grounds for information i In^ 
 teljigence praaicali , to make or 
 draw out pra&icall minors, for 
 prafticalifyllogifmes, from chofe 
 principles which contemplation 
 findes oat, or, if you will more 
 plainly, it is of office to (hew tru- 
 ly what we haue done, or what we 
 haue not done for oqrowne parti- 
 cular. Secondly, EieSion is of vfe 
 to ioync maiors to thofe minors, 
 that is to (hew vs that that is good 
 or not good, eqill or not euiil 
 which wee haue done. Thirdly, 
 Judgement or the iudiciall facultie 
 (aslfaid) isexercifed in pronoun- 
 cing the reward, or the punifh- 
 meat duefor what we haue done. 
 Now then if confidence be bufied 
 about true grounds for informati- 
 on, iffecondly vpen thefe grounds 
 itfhewesvs direStly what particu- 
 lar things We haue done , or not 
 nptie, if thirdly, ft (howes the qua- 
 
 Jitie 
 
- <f Qmfikfice. io^ 
 
 -litieofthe chingsi that wee .hane- 
 'done, and that they be either fuch 
 as ought to be do fie 3 or ought not 
 to be duxie^if finally it pronounces 
 truly thercward ( due, or the pu« 
 nifhmentdue , rnuft knot ncedes 
 take a faithfuil Recount, and be a 
 faithfuil recorder of our decdesj 
 I can fee nothing to the contrary. 
 If lebotVmid, &c. hauc the gift 
 of gcnerall viidafhiiding in the 
 word, of particular or practical! 
 vndcrftanding of themielues and 
 . their ownea£Hons,ii they can con- 
 clude from that word that fuch 
 things ought to be auoided or per- 
 formed, and that they in iultice 
 and equine are fo and fo toberer 
 warded , is it much to be maruei* 
 led , that their confeiences could 
 fo faithfully report vnto them their 
 pwne innpeency and integrities 
 Truly no more to be wondered at ? . 
 jthen if a man ftould fet downe 
 
 fome 
 
*o$ Th Qua 
 
 lome true expfoce done by fbrae 
 other in a note booke, when hee 
 hath a faichfull informer, to ac- 
 quaint him, with what the exploite 
 was, who the perfon was thatdid 
 itjWhenthctimepfthedoingofit 
 was ,• and what reward he had for 
 his labour after he had done it. 
 
 Vfe x. To fundry eades and vfe$ fer- 
 
 ueth the meditation of this point. 
 
 The firft is the glory of God. 
 
 If the heaucns declare the glory of 
 
 PfaLi^.1. God as D<w/<iflicweth,& t^e firma- 
 ment (hew forth his handy worke, 
 vndoubtedly the confcicnce ©f 
 man can do no JefTe.Theonc is the 
 booke of nature as well as theo- 
 rher, It is true, there is fome dif- 
 ference betwixt them , for the one 
 is internal! written on the infide, 
 the other extcrnall written on the 
 oucfide ; yet heerein they agree, 
 that both of them containe in 
 them Le&ures of the Makers? 
 
ofConfcieme. i p 
 
 praifcs. Is his wifedome magnifi- 
 ed in the booke of the creatures J 
 And is it not as well in the booke 
 of the confeience I Is his goodnes 
 maniteft in the one , and not con- 
 /picuous in the other I Doth the 
 one (hew forth the praife of his 
 power, and not the other declare 
 the glory of his greatneflc? Won- 
 dcrfull is the Lord in all workes m ? » M«*«- 
 wonderfull alfoin this one of hh du ? /4W ** 
 workes: His wifedome wonder- SiK" 
 full, his mercy wonderfull , his^"^"»- 
 power wonderfully may addeaifo{^ 4 ; 
 
 V . a* i /» 11 * • Hemw,+. 
 
 nis luitice wonderfull. Hie wife* {>-»'.£« *& 
 dome (I fay) for all the Art of man 
 cannot inucntfo exquifitcathing, 
 cannorpen fofaithfull a record as 
 tonfeitnee is. Prognofticators thac 
 fetch their wifedome from the 
 Perfians , who were once accoun- 
 ted the great Sophifts of the»i%«. 
 world *s Historians that fetch their u ™ Vlt - 
 knowledge, either by the eye from izffi; 
 
 thac 
 
IIO Tbd Qourt 
 
 thatwhich they behold, orbythe 
 care from that which they heare 
 may compoie Calenders, pen Vo- 
 lumes, yet may faile in many 
 things they fet down, and deceiue 
 theraielues and their readers J but 
 in this volume of mans confer- 
 ence , whatfbeuer the I .,ord of the 
 confcicncefetsdowne, be it good' 
 or euiil,it is moft infallibly and vn- 
 doubted ly true. 2. His "mercy is 
 wondcrfull, in that he giaes * man' 
 • anode fofaithfull a recorder,to let downe 
 ijijkm Jtu$- all the good ads that for Gods ; 
 ntmireri- p] rv he vndertaketh and perfor- 
 £*£'*** and co fuggeft vnco his 
 rtemgentn thoughts all his failings, that hee 
 t$mefiit, yt may quickly turne vnco the Lord 
 
 ^ZVntji from them and recoucr. 3. His 
 tumejjet m power is wonderfu II in that he can 
 tldZ^ U rule &&&fcimim define of Sat An, 
 TwfitotuM to excufe a man with the regifter^ of 
 &e - a . his integrities let Satan tempt him 
 ^Wtodefpaire, to accufe a man widr 
 
 the 
 
of Confcience. m 
 
 therccordes of his iniquities, Ice 
 I the deuill labour what hec can to 
 imake him fectire. Laftly , his iu- 
 ftice is wonderf ull, in that he hath 
 jmade this confidence as a continu- 
 all witncflc in the wicked mans 
 jhearc, to challenge him without 
 failing for euery thing wherein he 
 is guiltier wherefore (good Rea- 
 der) wlunfoeaer thou thinkeft vp- 
 on the faithtulneflc of confcience 
 in keeping of recordes, benotfor- 
 getfull to giue the Lord the due 
 glory of thefe his attributes , ap- 
 pearing and (hewing forth them- 
 lelucs in this wonderful! and ad- 
 mirable workd of the confcience. . 
 Secondly,dotb confcience keep v r 
 a faithfull regiftcr ? then be we ad - 
 monifhed in the feare of God , to 
 takeheedeof committing (inne in 
 fccrct. Vat confcience will record it, 
 andfetitdowne, that ismoftcer- 
 ttine. The twy-lighc will little 
 
 auaile 
 
j 12 Ihe Cwrt 
 
 auailcchc adulterer to take his fill 
 ofluft in; the n?ght will Jkde 
 profit the iwaggcrerto bedrunkc 
 in * thedarke ihoppe will iitrh-ad- 
 tfatftage the decciuerrocheateini 
 The wiping of the mouth, the 
 cleaning of the out fide of the 
 ctfppe,tne new moones,the fprea- 
 diSa abroad of the hands,&c. wilf 
 little auaile the hypocrite, te~de- 
 uoure widdowes houfes withall, 
 to cpucr his iniuftice, the malice 
 fa his hearty the blood in his 
 hands withall. Conscience hatlr 
 fuch piercing eyes, that it can fee 
 in the d'arke,!t is fuch art excel- 
 lent Scfitfencr, if can write in the 
 darkc. Goethou about the deed"? 
 of darknefle after the darkeft man- 
 ner that can be, it takes notice of 
 all, it will pen downc euery iot, tit- 
 tle, snd circumftance in all. I telf 
 theein the Court of thy Confci- I 
 encethe Law is written, that thy ] 
 
 faults I 
 
of lonjaence. irj 
 
 faults may abound, in thy remcm- 
 brance , and that it may bring 
 ° both thy etde and fecret Jimes &]*%£ 
 ligin \ beware therefore in any tatt u de k. 
 caie ,. not onely at open and groilc B * '» i(tcem 
 finncs, but alio of .fecret and clofe ^em'ti 
 finnes. Ic was well laid or a p Di*%°rn.i W . 
 nine. iVhy kcepeji thou clofe, V^f» P J^M' 
 as with the ignmnce of another ibotf 7i%x cm 
 deflej'i thine own: conlaence. 1 1 was enim & l*- 
 well laid by an * Heathen, if the »"£"£*% 
 thing bee difhonejl which than doeft, teriu* tuam 
 whatwtlitai4MUjhouohmmanknow con ^ tmtiam 
 
 . r 1 1 r r 1 • • ' <t contarims. 
 
 tt y if tboa thy jeLfe be prmie to it. Yea isenecJ.t. 
 what wall it profite thee 5 though all € P- 4*- *& 
 mehfhmldpraife thee , if thine owne € s * ""' id 
 conference doth accufe thee r . There- quid *efert 
 fore(I fay)auoide that which is ab- «****& 
 
 • 1 r T • ^ 1 r 1 1 return ttt 
 
 hominabiciti Gods light: let not f CUUt 
 the moft fecret place encourage x Greg». in 
 thee to any finfull praailb, alwaies g^gf 
 remembring this,tha£:thyfecreteft^,^v///(,^ 
 
 nes laiideW, 
 & cmfcientU Aceufat t Mibifafficit ctqfcicnti* me a. jiug, a£ 
 
 I emls 
 
ii4 Jthe Lmt 
 
 cuils are not onely fee before the 
 fi*>ht of Gods countenance, butal- 
 fj noted downe in the booke of 
 thine owne conference, which 
 oned^y (hail be opened to thine 
 eternall fhame, without fetious 
 and fpecdic repentance. 
 Vfe 3. Thirdly, here is comfort to all 
 Christians againft thole euill fur- 
 miles that are vniuftly conceiued 
 againft them , againft thofe contu- 
 melious fpeeclra that are wrong- 
 fully vtteredofthem. Some charge 
 thee peraduenture with this thing 
 to difgracethee, others with that, 
 to takeaway thy name from thee, 
 as the Iewes charged Chrift,. to 
 'Math.?*, beaconiurer, \l*bn Baptift a De- 
 *Math.n. moniackc/ Paula (educer u Steuen 
 18- ZBhfpbewer*y Buthaue thcure- 
 
 \* a ' l$ ' c °urfe to thy confciencc. That 
 Cha'p.M,* f amc inward witneffc and iudge, 
 *Att, 6. t k ac ([ fay) hath taken afanhfull 
 record of whas thou artandhaft 
 
 becne, 
 
of(hnfcience. 1 15 
 
 beene, and if that defends thee, 
 what hurt can it be to thee though 
 all (hould difgrace thec x . For*^*^-- 
 looke as the Sicopbwts falfe praifes ™^£ 
 
 I cannot heaie an euill conscience, £ Wf &./>£ 
 no more can the Slaunderers con - ^fmmiA 
 tumelious fpeeches , wound a §,*£*■& 
 good coniciencc. Doc others ac-f^.W?, 
 cute thee of drunkennefie, and?- 
 thine Ovvne conicience teftitiechy 
 fbbriecie, others charge thee with 
 fellony, and thy owne confctcnce 
 witnefle the contrary? doe others 
 raile on thee forhypocrifie, and 
 thy owne confeience witncfTe thy 
 finccritie? &e. Belceue thy con- 
 fcience, which is a faithful! tefti- 
 monie , and cannot deceiue thee 
 againft all thofe lying obloquies, 
 wherewith euill mouthes goc a- 
 
 i bout to depraue thee. Thc^Hcz-yomi t& 
 
 then could f ay,thst d minde con fit- faf!>+* 
 
 am of its owne honejtte , Uughes to r ettifama 
 
 fcomelyiminfame. Be then the re- »**k«* 
 
 J \% ports "^ 
 
1 1(5 ■ Ibe Lourt 
 
 ports that are malicioufly and 
 ialfely railed of thee , what they 
 can be, let the innoceneie ot thy 
 *u*r*t a c °nicien€c be a * brazen wail vmo 
 Umm cflo thee to beare and beate of thole 
 i!&" re difcomfora which by thatmeanc 
 ~jBo'*t.Epif}. way be occalioned in thy loule. 
 l : i.zpifi.ad For (as Ambroj >iaies worthily. Hee 
 
 jiX^'dt f ^ at hub A ^ etre conjcience ought 
 offc. Bene not to he troubled , at falfe flounders 7 
 ^!tn mfct T wither must he efteeme another mam 
 betmoneri, reproaehfuU tale agawji l him, of more 
 comnt^ms weight then his owne priuate tejlimo- 
 
 f^pZdem me ***** him * L °° kc th ° D F° 0rC 
 
 indtienoeffe Chriftian , more to thy conjeience 
 conumo then fame, lor* fame may oftentimes 
 tefinnor.to. be decerned , but conjeience neuer in 
 *fduum- the things which itrecordeth. 
 
 £$£' Laft of 3l] > d «^ conscience 
 confcu.na. keepe a faithfull regiftcr* How 
 nunquam carcfull then ought wee to be, to 
 7A . y_ commit the belt things we can to 
 Vje 4. itscuflody. How happy will it be 
 forvs,in drftrcflc at death, ^nd the 
 \ day 
 
of (onfcience. tiy 
 
 day of Judgement, to hauc our 
 conferences produce to our com* 
 comtbrt, and our glory ; our holy 
 thoughts and raeditauons,our de- 
 uout prayers and ciacuiations,our 
 vertues of louing, fearing, depen- 
 ding on, feruing, honouring the 
 God of heauen , our teares and 
 fighes for our owne finnes 3 and the 
 finnesof the times^ ourardent wi- 
 fh^s,confcionable endeauours for 
 Sions wel-tare, our denials of our 
 fdm*s,ourwGrkcs of charitie to- 
 wards the foules , perlbns, ftatcs 
 and names of others , our goodly 
 counlels, Chriftian inftru&ions, 
 holy examples, giuen to them that 
 are yoaked with vs, that are vnder 
 our gouernment, that dwell by vs, 
 that are acquainted with vs? Oh 
 how fweete, how comfortable a 
 a thing (I fay) will it be vnto vs, to 
 finde a bedrole , a catalogue of 
 fuch things as tfaefe arc,when tbefc 
 I 3 feale<| 
 
u8 The Qwt 
 
 ftalcd bookes ( fealed to th? 
 world- ward) of our consciences 
 come to be opened and vnclaf- 
 ped? Oh (beioued) if we would 
 haue confeience faithfully relate 
 thefe things then , let vs carefully 
 labour to haue our (hare in thele 
 vermes, letvs confeionably pra- 
 diie thefe things now,that conlci- 
 ence may record thGm, andkeepe 
 them,againft fuch aftertimes; Foru 
 whatfoeuer we commit to it, it is 
 an infallible , and trufty kecperof 
 *nugo & it. ic is (as^onecallesit)^^/^ 
 jf?tf*£ clo I et ^ tke^rke *f the covenant, the 
 >«m^ciinA- Kings ftoYe-konJe : intimating thus 
 torwm ,m- muc f^ fa t like as in a ciofet a wo- 
 rbe/auru man layes vp her bed Jewels, like 
 '_*&*• as in his treafurie, a King ftorcs vp 
 his richeft treaiures, againft the 
 time and neede of vfe,iike as in the 
 Arke vverereferued the rod of Aa- 
 ron, and pot of Manna , for a me- 
 morial! to the Iiraelites: So in a 
 
 good 
 
of Qonfckncel up 
 
 good confcience chc precious 
 gcmmes of inward graces, the 
 heauenly treafures, the budding 
 rod of outward vertues, are refer- 
 ued and kept in ftore , for the 
 Christian that hath them , to be v« 
 fed by him , when time ferueth, 
 when necde requireth, to be rc- 
 membred of him to his priuatc 
 comforc,and to his glory amongft 
 .others, when there is needeof the 
 mcraomll. Notonetcarefhedfor 
 thy finnes , by way of hearty re- 
 pentance, not one prayer made to 
 Gods Maieftie out of a deuouc 
 and contrite fpirit, notoncduwe 
 performed in a confcionable obe- 
 dience to Gods will , not a cup of 
 cold water giaea to adifciplc, in 
 the name of a Difciple, but as God 
 fees it, fo confcience notes it: how 
 frequent, how abundant then in 
 thefeand the likeyeares, inthefc 
 and the like duties oughteftthon 
 I 4 to 
 
IZQ The Qurt 
 
 to be, that this faithful! notary of 
 thy coniciencc may bee liu&d 
 with good things for thy comiorc, 
 not with euili (or . thy tcrrour. 
 Whatneedc of prcfling hath this 
 duiu , in ivg.ird ofrhe deipcrace 
 cartlcindlc of mod p( opk J who 
 regard nor how cmpue of grace, 
 how full of finne the ir hearts be, 
 howvoydeof good fruits, how a- 
 bounding with anil fruits, their 
 hues be ? They care not what I- 
 tems for minther, for theft, for 
 wantonnefle, for viurie, briberie, 
 blafphemie, hypocriiic, cofen age, 
 pride,malice, neg!e<3 of the works 
 of pictie to God , of mercy to- 
 wards their neighbour, they corn* 
 jnittothe booke of their confei- 
 ence, as though it were a booke 
 neuer to be opened ; as though 
 thedo&rine in hand were an vn- 
 fruth , and confcicnce an vn- 
 fkxthfull parchment, either full of 
 
 blanckes 
 
of Confidence. izi 
 
 bjancks, or lyes I In ftead of pray- 
 ing, they will fweare, in ftead of 
 bltffing, they curie, in ftead ot fea- 
 ring God, they dare him, of lo« 
 uing him, they hate him , of tru- 
 fting in him. they murmure againft 
 him , of frequenting his houfe, 
 they frequent the tfeiyes , the 
 tauerne, the play-houie, in ftead 
 of a righteous carriage towards 
 man, their conuerfation is vnrigh- 
 teous, in ftead of a [ober carriage 
 in regard of themfelues, they are 
 mott intemperate, vnruly, neither 
 can reaion , nor religion , bridle 
 their affections. Poore C O N~ 
 SCIENCE hath nothing but 
 THESE things to record, for the 
 tinaeprefent, to report, tobring 
 forth in time to come ; which is a 
 rnoti lamentable thing to confidcr. 
 I would thefedefperate creatures, 
 would goe to c Nature to fchoole. 
 An euill confidence (faith that) *W 
 
ill The (hurt 
 
 oftentimes hefafe y yet it isncuerfe* 
 cure, that is to lay, although a,i c- 
 uill mans confcicnce bee rn*ny 
 times without parent tcrrour, yet 
 it is neucr fo carelcfTe, but it sa 
 recorder, in taking account of 
 thoughts,, words, and deedes,it is 
 ncucr idle. There's Natures por- 
 tion : what is the vfefhee makes 
 of it I Marke what f jllowes. 
 *itdque *>- Therefore thou /halt commit no thing 
 m/eSmfi t0 con i Ci * nc t, but what thou maicft 
 qmd Amco commit to a friend. And what that 
 nmhtere is, euery one aimoft knowes ; To 
 F** friends fecrets are committed, and 
 if our fecreteft deedes bee good, 
 conference will be our friend to 
 blaze them forth to our comfort 
 and renowne, and that moft faith- 
 fully, vndeceiueably, though the 
 world takes no knowledge, makes 
 noacknowledgcmentofthefame. 
 Doff. j. IpafTe on nowtothe 3. point 
 in the fecondpartof ray text. 
 
 That 
 
of Confcience. * 2 2 
 
 7*4/ by how much thefironger the Ey offering 
 bondes be , whereby men are tyedtc^ on % to 
 one another , by Jo much the J or er the b l f n a ds e J* 
 torment t$ like to be in the confcience, vnion, is an 
 for the wrongs they offer to onean0' z ^f x2 T 
 thsr. It was the breach of chc bond hwnsfa<jr! 
 of brother-hood chac (no doubt) row. 
 encreafed the honor of thcfe bre- 
 thren in this their diftreflc, doch 
 not their fpeech bf wmy as much? 
 We ar evenly guilty concerning Offt 
 BROTHER* this tame* £ A 0- 
 TH E R , flucke much in their fto- 
 macke. Itwasthc wrongingofhis 
 Father,his louing F<*/k>\whohad 
 giucn him his patrimonie,affecl:ed 
 himdccrcly, fhowne kindnefleto 
 hira continually, which made the 
 inward gripes the ftronger,and the 
 outward cries the louder, of the 
 yong prodigall e . It was the be- . Lukc , ^ 
 traying of his Matter, his kinde iKzu 
 MaSer (who had called him to an 
 Apoftlefliip, betrufted him with 
 
 the 
 
i*4 ft* C mt 
 
 theStewardflup (whom he was fo 
 bound vnto, thac if necdc /.ad re- 
 quired , he fliould rather hauc 
 beene prodigal of his owne blood 
 for his lake, then haue bttrayed 
 his innucent blood,) thac encrea- 
 fed rhehorrour ? the heart-fmart of 
 s Math,i7 4 lud*s £ . It yas no doubt thefpoi- 
 * ling of the lite, thcdcfilingofthe 
 
 wife of his Sermnt^ his rruftyand 
 faichfully?^^/f>/^, (who lay 
 watching and warring in the open 
 fields for Dauids lake, whom Da- 
 uid was beholding vnto for his 
 loue and leruicc,) thac did aug- 
 ment the trouble of 'Dauids conlci- 
 ence, when the Lord in mercy a- 
 e %. Sam. waked him s. Did you neuer reade 
 
 mS*. nor hcare of Nero i how that the 
 murther of his mother , (whom 
 nature bound him to) and the 
 (laughter of his kindred, (whom 
 the fame bond tycd him to) did fo 
 vexeandtarmcnchim,that neither 
 
 day 
 
of (jnfcieme. 125 
 
 day nor nighccouid hec be quiet, 
 but (till hce thought his mothers 
 ghott didappeare vmo him, and 
 the tunes of htll were ready at 
 hand to torment him h } The like * ***>*. h 
 is (toned of Alexander > who ha- yH - Ner0 ~ 
 uing flame a deere friend of his "'*;'' * 4 ' 
 named Gfytm ? who had in loue 
 flio wne h is readincfle to haue died 
 for Alexander l , was (o terrified in l cwtMk*. 
 hisminde, that hee would haue^^ 
 killed himielfc with that weapon 7fi"?o "™ 
 . wherewith hee (lew Clyim^ii : his ih**'ft 
 guard had notpfeuentcd him , ht {nrms ' 
 lay grout ling vpon the earth, fil- 
 led the whole court with miiera- 
 ble howling and out-cries, asked 
 thofethat flood by him, whither 
 they could fuffer fucha wretch as 
 himfelfe was to hue , cloiftered vp 
 I himfelfe in his tent, and would 
 ! haue pined himfelfe to death , if 
 I his feruants had not by ftrong 
 hand compelled him to take 
 
 rneate, 
 
n6 1 he Court 
 
 meate, ftillchis being his picti- 
 
 * Etegofer- full long k , / (hxll returne into my 
 
 natorum owne conntrey a murtherer of my 
 
 ZZ£* AVEKS, (my Sa.ers,) this ag- 
 
 in jfMrUm. grauated his horror, this (qucfti- 
 
 f*^.^.«-onlcfle) added to histerrour, that 
 
 ^ofiii. hce fhould fo wrong one, that 
 
 i»*. had rather beciie his fauerthen 
 
 hisenemie, whofe loue hce was 
 
 bound (as the light of nature 
 
 taught him) to haue rewarded itv 
 
 a better kinde. Thus we fee the 
 
 truth of the point, how that the 
 
 ftrength of bond* , to tie vs to one 
 
 another, doth encreafe the per- 
 
 piexitie of the confcicnce for 
 
 chofe iniuries we doe or (hall offer 
 
 to one another. 
 
 yf €% Heare this, all you, whom no 
 
 bonds (no not of nature, of blood 
 
 itlelte) can keepe within the 
 
 compaiTc of loue , of cquitie, 
 
 whofe hearts are malignant,who(e 
 
 tongues are virulent , whofe cour- 
 
 fes 
 
of (jnjciewe. 127 
 
 ies are violenc againft yourownc 
 kinred, the father rifing vp againft 
 thefonnc, the fonne againft the 
 father, the mother againft the 
 daughter, the daughter agaiaft die 
 mothcr,husband againft wifc,wife 
 againft husband , brother againft 
 brothcr/iiter againft fifter : a mans 
 enemies being nee oncly of his 
 ownc houie, butalfo of hisowne 
 blood » Heareyou I /ay,this word 
 of the Lord,take it in by the eare, 
 and apply it to the heart, Poore 
 wretches, what wrong doe you of* 
 fer your owne confeiences f you 
 pile vp horror for tbem, youtrea- 
 fure vp terror againft them. The 
 ftronger the knots be to binde you 
 tovnuy, the forer (hall your an- 
 gui(h be for your fruits of enmitie. 
 Achitophd ftood but in aciuillre- 
 | lation to Dauid^ as afubkff to his 
 Prince , yet hee was terrified 
 for gluing euill counfell againft 
 
 him. 
 
125 J- he (jurt 
 
 't«<Sa«, him 1 , Thelaylor butinadomc- 
 17* 2j, * fticali relation to /Wand J//^, as 
 alaylor to his prifoners, yethee 
 was affrighted tor laying bolts vp- 
 - Aft. 16. onthem m . And doe you thinkc 
 »4-i<>' that you may offer vnnaturall vio- 
 lence, to thofe , betwixt whom 
 and you there is natural! refe- 
 rence, and your conferences will 
 neuer accuie you f as fure as can 
 beyouaredeceiued. Let but bre- 
 thren in the fame Ecclefiafticall 
 fun&ion, fellow Magiftrates in the 
 fame tcmporail vocation , felioW 
 feruants in the fame family, fellow 
 neighbours in the famecounsrey, 
 offer wrong tooneanorher. lean- 
 - not warrant THEM fecuntie from' 
 ftingsof confeience. Bur todeaic 
 cruelly with thine owne yoake- 
 felbw, to hate, to reuiie,toabuie 
 thy parents, whom thou oughcefif 
 to loue, honour, and obey , to be 
 without naturallaffe&ion to thine 
 
 owne 
 
t>j Lonjmnce. ny 
 
 owne children, who arc thine 
 ownc bowels, to deale doggedly 
 with thy necrc kinred , and vn- 
 kindlywith thofe of whofekiad- 
 nefle thou haft fo bountifully ta- 
 iled, is a thing fo horrible, fo inju- 
 rious , that I dare warrant thee 
 will coft flings intollerable, yea 
 (without repentance,) wounds of 
 confcicnce incurable. For if it Id 
 n trueimocencie y not to hurt a deadly n ill* eft 
 fee* then it muft needs be iniuric in yer *. mH ° m 
 grame to wrong a deere friend; mc wwo 
 and the greateft finnes rauft haue ***** . 
 the greateft punifliments,of which ^f 
 punilfements torture of confci- 
 cnce is one, yea the greateft in 
 th is life , if it produceth defpaire, 
 as it many times doth. If therefore 
 it bee thy hap to heare or reade 
 this, who art at enmity with thofe 
 to whom thou art tyed by the 
 bonds of nature or kindnefle, le 
 K met 
 
i|o i M (jmrt 
 
 race entreate this at thy hands ^ 
 that thou wouldeft labour with 
 the ierious meditation of this, vp- 
 on thine inordinate and violent 
 affections , that it may caufe thee 
 to relent, for thy former enmitie, 
 andbreake in iunderthofebarres 
 of contention, whereby thy heart 
 hath becne bolted vp againft thy 
 brother fo long a time. 
 Uoct. 6. The fourth point followcth : 
 That Re- j^ at t fj C Lorci reci uius like for like 
 Gods Law. t0 tile wrong doer. Iuft as thefe 
 brethren had dealt with lofeph, fo 
 (fo in their ownc apprehenfion at 
 leaft) are they dealt withallthem- 
 fel ues; Therefore is this dijheffe 
 come vpon vj, As we fo wed , fo we 
 reape, as we meafurcd,fo is it mca- 
 fured to vs againe. IVe looked vpon 
 Iofephs dijlrejfe , this man lookes vp- 
 on ow/j wee would not heare cur bro- 
 ther fpeaking for h'mfelfe^ this man 
 
 now 
 
of (jnfaence. qi 
 
 now will not heare vs , we carry ed 
 home to our father afalfetaU of Io- 
 fephs 'death, now (will we, mil wee) 
 Wejbatt be compelled to carry him too 
 true new es of the bonds of one of our 
 brethren. If this were not a truth, 
 wherefore was that law of giuing 
 life for life ^eye for eye-tooth for toothy 
 hand for band , foote for foote , bur* 
 ningfor burning, wound for wound, 
 ° &c. It was the decree of the°£xod. iu 
 Lordagainft the Babylonians , that ^ u *^ atf " 
 the Medes and Perfans, fhould chap. i?V 
 deale with them, as they had dealt *>• 
 with the Ifraelites , as appeareth J™'* 9 ' 
 in thebooke of leremie. I will re- 
 commence them according to their 
 deedes, and according to the workes of 
 their owne hands?. Putyourfeluesin p icre. *<% 
 aray againft Babylon^ aUyee that bend 1 * 
 tbebow, 0*c. take vengeance vf&n 
 her & (bee hath done , fe doe "onto 
 her^. As Babylon hath caufei the * i erc ^ 0f ' 
 K 2 flaine »4**j« 
 
i$z Ihe Court 
 
 flaineoflfrael to fall, fo at Babylon 
 lUr. t-w-Jhallfall the flame of all the earth*. 
 Much to thiseffeft is chat of E&e- 
 kiel : As lime {faith the Lord) I will 
 doe according to thine anger , andac- 
 l *z&,l<i,cordwg to the enuy which thou haft 
 V- vfedoutofthy hatred tgatnft them*. 
 
 Where he threatneth to deale cru- 
 elly with the Edomites , as he had 
 dcalcvamercifully with the Israe- 
 lites. The vcjy fame is repeated 
 by Obediahin the 1 5«and 16. veries 
 of his prophefie. As thou hafi done, 
 it full bee done to thee y thy reward! 
 fhali returnt vpon thine owne head, 
 for as. ye have drunke vf on mine holy 
 mount aim, fo pill all the heathen 
 drinke continually. It is not vn- 
 knowne what 5Vi»Mtf/ fold, and did 
 to A gag King of Amaleck* As thy 
 fwcrdmadewomenchildlc£C)fofhall 
 thy mother bee childlejfe among wo* 
 men. And Samuel hewed Agog in 
 
 fiecesy 
 
ofQmfcience, j^ 
 
 piecesfrfore the Lord HnGilgal\The t , * , 
 ground of this, r rake to be the di- r ,*?*' 
 ■fcibotio? -lufticeof God, which is Aeajhi 
 to reward caqy <*ian according to 
 htsworkes, according to that of 
 Iob^ Fortheworkof amm(kallhe 
 render vnto him, and can fe entry mm 
 tcfinde wording to his warn u Now « Uh H ; 
 if it be the office of that iuftice, to "■ 
 deale with men according to their 
 workes, muft not that man that 
 offereth wrong to his neighbour, 
 looke to meetc with the Jikc at the 
 hand of another? * VnleiTe ho-* ^ 
 miliation , and reftitation preuent^** 
 it,hemayvndoubtedIy looke for 
 it, or elfe for (brae heauier pu- 
 nishment in the ftead thereof, ci- 
 ther heere, or heereafter. 
 i What a bridle to oabe our in- yfc . 
 lunous hearts, what a chaine to S < 
 binde our injurious hands, what a 
 lockctobarre vpthedooreof our 
 K 3 lippcs 
 
i34 
 
 The Com 
 
 lips from vniuft thoughts, words, 
 and deedes againft one another; 
 May the ferious confidcration of 
 this point bee J I perfwade my 
 felfe, there is none of vs would be 
 content to haue iniurie offered our 
 felues by others; Why, oh why 
 then {hall wee delight to offer 
 wrong to others,our fclues ? woul- 
 deft thou not loofe the life of thy 
 childe I take not away then the 
 life of thy frruant, another mans 
 childe. For Abfdons blood did 
 *2.Saiw. pay for Vriahs*. Wouldeftthoii 
 * 8 -i4. not haue the adulterer enter into 
 thy bed ? defile not thou the mar- 
 riage bed of thy neighbour, for 
 Dauids adulterie committed with 
 Btthjheba, was requited with the 
 defiling of his owne concubines 
 »*#am f by his owne iontic * . Wouldeft 
 *f" # thounot haue others difdainc and 
 difregard thee I , difdaine thou not, 
 
of Qonfcknce. j** 
 
 difregard thou not other men? for 
 if ifmaels hand be againjl euery man y 
 mery mans hand jh all bee against 
 him y. Wouldcft thou not haue y Gm, i& 
 others iet traps for thee? fpread "• 
 thou no nets, digge thou no pits 
 for another : for if ffam#feckc$ 
 the mine of the Iewes, EHher 
 (hall plotte his ouerchrow z c Woul- » Compare 
 deft thou not haue anothcrs wife- Efther *• 
 domevvorke thecunfufion? vfcch^. 7 .tf. 
 not thy wit for anothers harme: 
 For if Achitofhels wit bee againft 
 the Lords Anoynied , Hufhah wife- 
 dome (hall confound his 1 . Woul-^Saa*. 
 deft thou not be flandered? flan- 17,7 * 8 ° 
 der not ; wouldeft thou not bee 
 cofened ? deceiue not : wouldcft 
 thou not be opprcfled? oppreffe 
 not .; v/ouldeft thou not haue an- 
 other man encreafe his reuenues 
 vpon thy ruine, ftuffe not thine 
 owne bagges with the beggering 
 K 4 of 
 
ij6 The Court 
 
 of others : wocldcfl; thou not 
 lcaue thy wife,thy children^ prey 
 to the extortioners, oppreflburs 
 and cormorants gullet,to haue the 
 fiatc that thou bequeathe!! them, 
 the inheritance thou leaueft them, 
 deuoured by him, confumed of 
 him, after thou art dead and gone? 
 robbenot the orphanc of his in- 
 heritance,deceiue not the vviddow 
 of her maintenance, while thou 
 liueft ; for if thou docft, their 
 wrongs will cry for vcngeance,and 
 neuerlinvntill either inthyielfe, 
 orthyfeede, thou be payed home 
 in the like kinde: wouldcft thou 
 not haue thy children (if thou haft 
 orfhaithaucany) rob thee of the 
 honour they owe thee? cut not 
 thou thy parents ftiort of that 
 ddtie thou ovveft them: If thoq 
 teeft roder their charge, {how thy 
 dutie liy obeying their commando- 
 
ofQnfcience. 127 
 
 If God hath bit-fled tfiee with the 
 worlds good aboue therp, (how 
 thy tbankfulnefle , by rclceuing 
 thcirwants. If thou becft aduan- 
 ced to places of honour aboue 
 theni , (how thy reipcft by reue- 
 rencmg their perions, as Salomon 
 did Bitbjh^ . If they happe to b 1>Ki 
 ilippe and fail (as the beft doc) i 9 . 
 fhow thy loae by coucring their 
 frailties, asS«*and/*/jfc/-didi\fa- 
 ahs nakednejje 9 . Gtherwife, looke c Gen.^ 
 for irreuerence, vnnaturall affe-**- 
 &ion, diiobedience , blazing thy 
 faults , frorn thy children as a iuft 
 recompence returned vnto thee, 
 Laflly,wouldeftthou nothauethy 
 feruants vndutifull , vnfaithfullto 
 thee? when thou (halt come to 
 haueany vnder thee? deale thou 
 then neither vndutifully nor vn- 
 faithfully with thy mafter. In a 
 word, what we would not that o^ . 
 
 thers 
 
*|& The (our t 
 
 thcrsfliould doeco vs, let vsnot 
 doe to them. For euiil (hall be to 
 the euill doer-, and the diftribu- 
 tiue Iufticeof the Aimjghtie doth 
 mcafure out the like porcion to 
 man , that man meafureth to his 
 brother. 
 ■F/e.2. Secondly, when wrongs are of- 
 fered vs in any kinde by others,- 
 this fhould teach vs to examine 
 and try, whither we benotguiltie 
 of offering the like toothers/Thou 
 complaineft peraduenturc ; No 
 mmfo decerned as lam: but haft 
 thou not beene a deceiuer thy 
 felfe? thou crieftout, none foflan- 
 deredjodifgraced, opprejjedvniuft* 
 ly, whirled a* I haue beene ^ but haft 
 not thou Hindered, difgraced,op- 
 prefled, wroaged others ? Thou 
 makeftthymone, that thou haft a 
 croffe yoake-fellow ouer thou 
 hadft before, before a louing huf- 
 
 band. 
 
ofQonfdence. ^9 
 
 band, now a cruell one , before a 
 kinde curtcous wife , now an vn- 
 kinde and kird one. But how didft 
 thou vie thy former yoake-fellow, 
 howdcaltelt thou with her, how 
 behaued'ft thou thy felfe towards 
 him? it may be curriftily, crab- 
 bedly. Thou compiaineft of the 
 diibbedience of thy children, how 
 that they will not beconformablc 
 to thee, will not be ruled by thee, 
 they are prodigail againft thy will, 
 ; marry without thy content, and 
 | thou canft not keepe them within 
 compafle- Thou compiaineft of 
 the idlcnefle, and vntruftinefle of 
 thy feruants \ except thy eye be aU 
 waies on them, thou canft haue no 
 worke done by them, thoudareft 
 nottruft them, they are fo lime- 
 fingred, thoudareft fcarcefpeake 
 to them ; they are (o faucy tongued. 
 It may be when thou wert in the 
 
 con* 
 
140 TbeQurt 
 
 condition of a childc , thou were 
 asdifobedient to thy parents, it 
 may be thou haft beene out nights 
 and daics in bafe company a- 
 gainft their liking, it may be thou 
 haft bin ftubborne at their threats, 
 difobedient to their voyce, it may 
 be (without all refped of pietie 
 and honeftie) thou didft match 
 thy felfeagainft their liking. Per- 
 aduentqre, when thou were a fer- 
 uant, thou wert vnruly, vntrufty, 
 idle, faucy thy felfe. Whenthefc 
 and the like wrongs caufethee to 
 complaine; Paufe a little with thy 
 ielfe,and fay ,• Haue not [done thus 
 and thus with ether s H as ethers do with 
 wee: The Lord (thou feeft) doth* 
 requite wrong for wrong, into the 
 bofome of the wrong doer > And 
 itmaybevpon exaraination,thou 
 maieftfinde thy felfe guiltie of the 
 fame offence; If tfa^u doeft, then 
 
 giue 
 
ofConfcknce. \^ x 
 
 giue vnto God the glory of his di- 
 ftributiuc iuftice, and fay as Ado- 
 jiibezck did , when his thumbes 
 and great toes were cutoff. As I 
 hauedone^fo God hath requited me b . b i Bdg , 
 Andif thou haft not yet repented, 
 or fo foundly repented a* thou 
 (houldeft, repent at length and 
 ccaie to doe euill in that kinde. 
 But if fo bee vpon examination, 
 thou finde thine owne innocency, 
 orhauing beenc foguiltie haftre- 
 pen ted , and vet art thus and thus 
 wronged ftill, beare thy croiTe 
 with paticnce,befeech God to fan- 
 ftifie it vnto thee , to humble thee 
 by it , and make it apreferuatiue 
 for thee, againft doing the like 
 wrongs thy felfe, though thou 
 (houldeft haue neuer fo fit occafi- 
 ens, acuerfoftrong temptations 
 co the fame. So much for thatdo- 
 $rine. 
 
 Then 
 
142 *he Court 
 
 Doff. 7. The next and laft thus. thj 
 They that they fhatt finde little pit tie at the 
 l^/wV hm ^ s of others ml heir diff refect 
 thcrs in huue beene without fittie to their 
 %?<£% bethren, in the time of their di- 
 ftlVizsWt-ftreJJe. This could thcfe brethren 
 tiepitde confeiTe heere. That Jofephs pitti- 
 tfad!*^ kffe carriage, (astheyreceiuedic 
 " at that time) towards them, was 
 caufed by their owne want of pit- 
 tie towards him in the time of his 
 mifery. The comparing of the 
 157. Pfdlme , with the thirteenth 
 of ifaidhyverfe 18. will make this; 
 good. Out of the former place, 
 wee may gather how pittileffe to 
 thecaptiue Iewes, the Babyloni- 
 ans were flouting andgibering at. 
 c ;pfalij 7 .'.them ( c Sing njsorie of the Jongs of 
 tii^ ll% J\ si0n: ) And in the a latter , we Hade: 
 ^howpittilefTe the Medes andPer- 
 fians (hould be to 77/ E J\/,beein2r 
 called vpon by God, by a prophe- 
 
 n&tft 
 
of ioji/aence. up 
 
 /Ucall Apoftrophe , to da/h their 
 yeng men to pieces before their eyes, 
 tohaue no pit tie on the fruits of their 
 wombe , neither fbould their eye 
 fpare their little children. This 
 particular, hath fame witncflc, 
 from lames' his general I e ; Hee*u m , u 
 fhall have iudgement -without mer- *$• 
 tie , that hath fhewed no mercie. 
 Becaufe thou haft (foiled many m- 
 tions (faith Habakuck fpeaking to 
 the crucll Chaldeans) that is pic- . 
 tileffcly vfid many people , there- 
 fore the remnant of the people fhall 
 fppjle thee { , yea deale pictileffcly f Hab 24 8 
 with thee. For when men falltt> 
 thefpoile, then they rage like 
 wilde beafts with little pittie, if 
 with any at all. 
 
 A point making much totheyfe x. 
 terrour of all mercilefle and pim~ 
 lefle perfons, who pitcy not the 
 wants of them that are in pouer- 
 
 tie, 
 
i44 Jhe i° m 
 
 tie, whommdc not the griefrsof 
 them that are in miiery : whfc' 
 threw their brethren into the pit, , 
 tht pnfon for Imall trifles, and 
 will not bee pcrfwaded to rek -ife, 
 them : who haue the cry of in b 
 poore at their gates , ae heir, 
 doores, and will not bemooued 
 to releeue them: who hearethe 
 newes of the troubles of Gods 
 people at this day, founding in 
 their cares , and yet are not pro- 
 uoked to regard them. Is it pro- 
 probable that theie men (hall haue 
 mercie (howne them in the time 
 oi their mifcry? Probable.? no, 
 njs>t poffible , except repentance 
 djarige them , and compa&oiV 
 clpath them to make them -better* \ 
 K I^pf they be bleflid that arc full 
 
 l|fet. 1. 7. (Sxrnercie *> , their happinefle part- 
 ly conflfting in this , that theyjhM 
 ohuint menu } then they are wet- 
 
 them