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THE Conscience is the Cognition of the Heart, and is a divine internal Light, which we cannot Extinguish; a Su∣pream Court of Judicature within us, and above us; and a silent Register of our Thoughts and Words: It is a thousand Wit∣nesses, as the Apostle says, Accusing, or Ex∣cusing, Rom. 2.15. Such is the Impartiality of this Judge, that no Bribery can tempt him
to Justifie the Wicked, nor Condemn the Just; but he is the first Revenger of Impiety, and an excluder of the Guilty from Absolution.
2. IN true Tranquility of Conscience, the Heart is cheerful in every Estate and Condi∣tion, Rom. 5.1, 3. and dreadeth no Judge nor Witness: It is a continual Feast; the Soul's Paradise; the Mind's fair Haven; an unvaluable Possession, which renders every owner Happy: It is an immoveable Com∣fort, the first Fruits of Heaven, and Riches which shall never be taken away. As no Wind can move or shake the Sun-beams, so neither Life nor Death, Prosperity or Adver∣sity can Transfix this. While this is secure, tho Men receive many sharp Encounters, as the Citizens of Ai did, Josh. 7. Yet are they confident to resist; they can resolve with that pattern of Patience, Job 13.15. Tho he Kill me, yet will I trust in him: But if that fail, and the Smoak ascendeth, their Hearts are under a great Consternation, Josh. 8.20.
3. THE Almighty Woundeth and Heal∣eth, Deut. 32.39. Job 5.18. But it is with his Justice and Mercy. The Wise Man says, Prov. 6.32, 33. We wound our selve by Sin: and God healeth us by Afflictions, as Chirur∣gions do with the Lancet and Cautery. Sins are the Thieves which rob us, and leave us wounded us by the way, till the good Samari∣tan
appears with his Wine and Oil, to cleanse, supple and bind up our Wounds: He scourgeth the Conscience with a sense of his Anger, to make us sensible of our Sins, and to bring us to an abhorrence of them. And thus he sometimes Disciplines us with external Afflictions.
4. GOD sometimes wounds the Heart and terrifies the Conscience, by the Word Preach∣ed; and then we are Pricked at the Heart, and with St. Peter's Auditors cry out, Men and Brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2.37. Sometimes he smites the Conscience with an inward sense and apprehension of his fierce Wrath, and severe imminent Judgments; in which, as the Psalmist complains of, Psalm 55.4, 5. An Horrible fear overtaketh them (like the Earthquake at Horeb, preceeding the Still small voice of Mercy, 1 Kings 19.11, 12.) In sense of a Spiritual Desertion, while he hideth away his Face; Spiritual Wants, or permission to some grievous Temptation, cold Fits of Despair and Buffetings by the Messengers of Satan, in all which tho there be means of Comfort appointed, yet none can prevail, till the Spirit of God the Com∣forter, return and Heal.
5. THE same Hand giveth the Wound, and prescribeth the Plaister; as it was said, Hos. 5.13. The Assyrians and Jareb could not
heal Judah and Ephraim of their Wound; so no Mortal Creature can administer Com∣fort whereby to heal a wounded Spirit, till he who correcteth in Measure approaches and bindeth it up, Jer. 30.11. &c. He, only he, says the Psalmist, Psalm 147.3. He healeth the broken in Heart, and bindeth up their Wounds: Even he who was Wounded for our Sins, and bruised for our Iniquities, and by whose Stripes we are Healed, Isa. 53.5.