The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...

Inference 3.

Again,* 1.1 here you see how Conscience may be over-born, and run down by a fleshly interest. Pilates Conscience bid him beware, and forbear; his interest bid him act: his fear of Caesar, was more than the fear of God. But oh! what a dreadful thing is it for Conscience to be ensnared by the fear of man? Prov. 29.25. To guard thy soul, Reader, against this mischief, let such considerati∣ons as these be ever with thee.

First, Consider how dear those profits or pleasures cost, which are purchased with the loss of inward peace! there is nothing in this word good enough to recompence such a loss; or ballance the misery of a tormenting Conscience. If you violate it, and prosti∣tute it for a fleshly lust, it will remember the injury you did it ma∣ny years after. Gen. 42.21. Iob. 13.26. It will not only re∣tain the memory of what you did, but it will accuse you for it. Matth. 27.4. It will not fear to tell you that plainly which others dare not whisper. It will not only accuse, but it will also condemn you for what you have done. This condemning voice of Consci∣ence is a very terrible voice.

You may see the horror of it in Cain; the vigor of it in Iu∣das; the doleful effects of it in Spira. It will from all these its offices produce shame, fear, and despair, if God give not repen∣tance to life. The shame it works will so confound you, that you will not be able to look up. Iob. 31.14. Psal. 1.5. The fear it

works will make you wish for a hole in the rock to hide you: Isai. 2.9, 10, 15, 19. And its despair is a death pang. The cutting off of hope is the greatest cut in the world. O who can stand un∣der such a load as this? Prov. 18.14.

Secondly, Consider the nature of your present actions; they are seed sown for eternity, and will spring up again in suitable ef∣fects, rewards or punishments; when you that did them are turned to dust. Gal. 6.7. what a man sows, that shall he reap: and as sure as the harvest follows the seed time, so sure shall shame, fear, and horror follow sin, Dan. 12.2. What Zeuxis the famous Limner said of his work, may much more truly be said of ours, eter∣nitati pingo, I paint for eternity said he, when one asked him why he was so curious in his work. Ah, how bitter will those things be in the account and reckoning, which were pleasant in the acting and committing! 'Tis true our actions physically considered are transient; how soon is a word or action spoken or done, and there is an end of it: but morally considered, they are permanent, being put upon Gods book of account. O therefore take heed what you do. So speak, and so act, as they that must give an account.

Thirdly, Consider how by these things men do but prepare for their own torment in a dying hour. There's bitterness enough in death; you need not add more gall and wormwood, to add to the bitterness of it. What is the violencing, and wounding of Consci∣ence now, but the sticking so many pins or needles in your death-bed, against you come to lie down on it: this makes death bitter indeed. How many have wisht in a dying hour they had ra∣ther lived poor and low all their daies, than to have strained their Consciences for the world? Ah how is the face, and aspect of things altered in such an hour!

No such considerations as these had any place in Pilates heart; for if so, he would never have been courted, or scared into such an act as this.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Infer. 3.