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 ...

§. 155. Of a good Conscience in all things.

THe word translated a 1.1 Conscience, is a Compound. b 1.2 The simple Ve•…•…b from whence it is derived, signifieth to see (Matth. 2. 2.) and to know (John 13. 18. and a Proposition, which signifieth c 1.3 with: So as conscience implieth, Know∣ledge with, namely with some other thing. The Greek, Latine, and our English composition imply as much. Our English is taken from the Latine.

Conscience then implieth a double knowledge: One of the minde, which is a* 1.4 bare understanding of a thing. Another of the heart; so as the hearts witnessing of a thing together with the minde, is conscience. Where the Apostle saith, What man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of a man which is in him (1 Cor. 2. 11.) By Spirit, he meaneth Conscience. Hence it is, that some make the notation of Conscience in Latine, to be d 1.5 the knowledge of the heart.

Or the double knowledge that is comprized under conscience, may be of God, and a mans own self. God knoweth all things, even the most secret thoughts, Ps. 139. 2. and every man knoweth the most secret things of himself, 1 Cor. 2. 11. The testimony therefore of a mans heart with his minde, or rather with God, is Conscience. In this respect, Conscience is said to bear witnesse, Romans 9. 1. And the Apostle rejoyced in the testimony of his Conscience, 2 Cor. 1. 12.

Conscience is seated within a man, for it is applied to the heart, Heb. 10. 22.* 1.6 yea it is styled the heart, Pro. 15. 15. 1 Sam. 24. 5. And it is also styled the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2. 11.

It is so seated within a man, that it may the better perform the function which belongeth unto it. It, being within, may see all within and without: As a man within a house, full of windows, may see what is within the house, and what is with∣out it. Where Solomon saith to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickednesse which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father (1 King. 2. 44.) he appealeth to the conscience of Shimei. That the Conscience cannot be discerned by others with∣out, is evident by these phrases, Who can know the heart? Jer. 17. 9. What man knoweth the things of a man? 1 Cor. 2. 11.

The function of Conscience is to witnesse, Rom. 2. 15. For this end it hath* 1.7 ability to know the things of a man. The witnesse of Conscience is the surest witnesse that can be. It is a faithfull witnesse that will not lie (Prov. 14. 5.) In Courts of men, a mans own Conscience is a witnesse beyond exception: yet may a man with his tongue belie himself, but he cannot do so with his Con∣science.

The witnesse which Conscience giveth, is of two kinds: either to accuse or to ex∣cuse, Rom. 2. 15. To accuse of evil, to excuse by freeing from evil unjustly laid to ones charge. The conscience of the Jews accused them, Ioh. 8. 9. S^t Pauls conscience excused him, Act. 23. 1.

From this principal function of the Conscience followeth trouble or peace to a* 1.8 mans soul. Trouble, if his conscience accuse him, as in the case of Iudas, Mat. 27. 4, 5. Peace, when it excuseth, Rom. 5. 1.

Hereby know, that a man shall never want authentick witnesse wheresoever he be, whether alone or in company, in light or dark.

The Conscience, which the Apostle here speaketh of, is styled a good Con∣science.* 1.9 * 1.10

Three things especially concur to make up a good Conscience:

• 1. The matter whereupon it worketh.
• 2. The proper act thereof.
• 3. An effect or consequence following thereupon.

• 1. The matter whereupon a good Conscience worketh, is a conformity in the whole man to the holy will of God. Gods will made known to man, is mans rule, whereunto all his thoughts, words and actions ought to be confor∣mable.
• 2. Where this matter is to be found the Conscience will bear witnesse

• thereunto, and give a true testimony thereof: This is the proper act of Con∣science.
• 3. The Consequence that followeth hereupon is peace and quietnesse in the soul. For that Conscience which can give true testimony to a mans full conformity, will quiet the soul, and keep it from doubts, fears and vexation of spirit.

Such a good conscience was perfect in mans entire estate: but by his fall it was* 1.11 clean lost, and became an evil conscience. For,

• 1. Every imagination of the thoughts of mans heart, is onely evil continually Gen. 6. 5.
• 2. Mans evil conscience exceedingly faileth in the proper work thereof: and that sometimes in a defect, sometimes in an excesse.

In the defect, when it suffereth a man to runne into all evil, and doth neither check, nor trouble him for the same. This is styled a scared Conscience, 1 Tim. 4. 2.

The excesse is, when it doth so out of measure trouble him, as it takes away all hope of pardon, and hinders sound and true repentance: yea and makes his very life a burthen unto himself. Such a conscience had Iudas, Matth. 27. 3, 4, 5. In this respect, The wicked are like the troubled Sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked, Isa. 57. 20, 21.

Since mans fall a good Conscience must needs be a renewed Consci∣ence.* 1.12

Two things concurre to the renovation of the Conscience, and making it good.

• One is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the Conscience is purged and pu∣rified from that natural defilement which it had. For the bloud of Christ doth purge the Conscience from dead works to serve the living God, Heb. 9. 14. Hereupon we are exhorted, to draw near with a pure heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, Heb. 10. 22. See The whole Armour of God, on Eph. 6. 26. Treat. 2. Part. 6. Of Faith, §. 51.
• The other is a sanctified work of the Spirit, whereby the heart is alienated from sinne, and made watchfull against it; and withall it is put on to conform it self to the holy will of God. This conformity being true and entire, without hypocrisie, moveth the conscience to bear witnesse thereunto, Rom. 9. 1. 2 Cor. 1. 12.

This is the Conscience that is styled a pure conscience, 1 Tim. 3. 9. 2 Tim. 1. 3. and a conscience void of offence, Act. 24. 16.

That then is accounted since mans fall a good conscience, which

• 1. Giveth true testimony of a mans faith in Christ, for the pardon of his sinnes, and reconciliation with God, Heb. 10. 22.
• 2. Which beareth witnesse to his conformity in the whole man to the holy will of God. In all manner of duties to God and man (Acts 24. 16.) par∣ticularly and especially in those duties which belong to his particular calling; whereof he is to give an especial account, Matth. 25. 21. This is it that will especi∣ally move people every way to respect their Minister; both to obey them, and also to pray for them.
• 3. That which worketh peace and quiet in the soul, Rom. 5. 1. 2 Cor. 1. 12.

This is that good conscience which is here meant, and which Ministers and others* 1.13 must give all diligence to get.

This good Conscience is here amplified by the extent thereof, in this phrase, In all things. This is so set as it may have reference, either to the former or latter clause. Our English referreth it to the former, by placing a comma after it, thus, A good conscience in all things. Many Greek Copies, if not most of them, refer the phrase to the later clause, placing the comma before that phrase, thus, In all things willing to live honestly.

The sense will remain the same, whether way so ever we read it. For according to the former reading, it plainly sheweth, That a good Conscience extends it self to all manner of duty. According to the latter reading, it sheweth, That

he that is carefull of every duty, hath a good Conscience.

* 1.14 The Greek word is so indefinite, as it may be also referred to times and places: as if he had said, At all times, in all places.

Of the extent of a mans obedience to all things, See Ch. 8. v. 5. §. 16. See also The whole Armour of God, on Eph. 6. 16. Treat. 2. Part. 6. Of Faith, § 57.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, In prat. med. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, nov•…•….
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  The notation of conscience.
• d 1.5

  Cordis scientia
• * 1.6

  Conscience i•…•… seated within a man.
• * 1.7

  The function of conscience.
• * 1.8

  The effects of conscience.
• * 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.10

  The good con∣science.
• * 1.11

  An evil con∣science.
• * 1.12

  A renewed conscience.
• * 1.13

  The extent of a good consci∣ence.
• * 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.