A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 83. Of conscience in reference to sin.

THat which is purged as a foresaid is the conscience.

Of conscience in generall: and of an evill and good conscience. See Chap. 13. v. 18. §. 155.

Conscience is here Synecdochically put for the whole soul of man. And it is here the rather expressed, because

• 1. Sin most selseth on the conscience.
• 2. The conscience is most affected with the pardon of sin.

That sin most seiseth on the conscience is evident by that terror of conscience,* 1.1 which seised upon Adam and Eve after they had sinned: For it made them ashamed of themselves and afraid of God, Gen. 3. 7, 8. Fitly therefore to this purpose saith the Apostle of natural men, their conscience is defiled, Titus 1. 15.

Conscience is the most quick, lively, and sensible power of a mans soul. It is in the soul as the heart is in the body. As a pestilentious humour, or poysonous ingre∣dient doth most seise on the heart, so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on the conscience. There is no such plague, no such poyson as sin to the conscience. The devill not ignorant hereof, like a poy∣sonous adder seeketh to sting the conscience: and like a ravenous blood-sucker, to suck out this heart blood.

How watchfull should this make us against sin and Satan: and to feare them as we fear to be infected with the plague, or drink in poyson.

Hence is it that the conscience is most affected with pardon of sin. Being justifi∣ed* 1.2 by saith, we have pe•…•…ce with God, Rom. 5. 1. Justification consisteth especially in the pardon of sin, Rom. 4. 7, 8: And peace with God is peace of conscience. As the heart is most aff•…•…cted with cordials, so the conscience with this spirituall cordiall. Thereupon saith Christ to a poor distressed soul, Son, be of good cheer: thy sins be forgiven t•…•…ee, Matth. 9. 2. And David might well pronounce the man blessed, •…•…se transgressio•…•… is forgiven, Psal. 32. 1.

This teacheth us to acquaint our selves with the Gospel, with those things that are revealed therein of Christ, especially concerning this spirituall purging: That so faith may be bred and strengthned in us, for the quieting of our conscience against the infection of sin.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sin affrighteth the conscience most.
• * 1.2

  Pardon of sin quiereth the conscience most.