Good Conscience, a Mans best Friend at the last. [ 1162]
IT is a witty Parable,* 1.1 which one of the Fathers hath of a Man, that had three Friends, two whereof he loved intirely, the third but indifferently; This Man being called in question for his life, sought help of his Friends: The first would bear him company some part of his way; The second would lend him some money for his journey, and that was all they would or could do for him: But the third, whom he least respected, and from whom he least expected, would go all the way, and abide all the while with him; yea, he would appear with him, and plead for him: This Man is every one of us, and our three Friends are the Flesh, and the World, and our own Conscience: Now when Death shall sum∣mon us to Judgment, What can our Friends after the Flesh do for us, they will bring us some part of the way,* 1.2 to the grave, and further they cannot; And of all the Worldly goods which we possesse, What shall we have? What will they afford us? Onely a shrowd,* 1.3 and a coffin, or a Tomb at the most: But welfare a good Conscience, that will live and die with us, or rather live when we are dead, and when we rise again, it will appear with us at Gods Tribunal; And when neither Friends, nor a full purse can do us any good, then a good Conscience will stick close to us.