The tribunall of the conscience: or, A treatise of examination shewing vvhy and how a Christian should examine his conscience, and take an account of his life. By Henry Mason, parson of St. Andrews Vndershaft, London.

CHAP. VI. Of the benefits of this worke, or what good vse it may serue a Christian for.

HAuing hitherto in some measure declared the nature of Examina∣tion, with the adjuncts appertain∣ing thereto, I come now in the last place to consider the benefits that we may reape by it: the con∣sideration whereof may animate vs to abound in this worke of the Lord, when we shall know that our labour is not in vaine in the Lord. And for that purpose I haue gathered and obserued these vses following.

I. It will be a good meanes to fit and leade vs to repentance and amendment: and that in two respects.

1. Because it will serue to discouer vnto vs our sinnes, and make vs see our wretched and misera∣ble condition. For we (such is our frailety and corruption) doe daily, yea hourely commit ma∣ny sinnes, which through heedlessenes or vnskil∣fulnes, or strength of passion, or because wee are intent vpon some other businesse which then ta∣keth

vp all our thoughts; wee obserue not, or discerne not for the present. But businesses en∣ded, and the occasions and tentations passed, when we are more free both from distraction and passion; if then wee take a time to bethinke our selues, and to recall all that is past; then our thoughts will be our owne, and we shall in cold blood be able to see many things, which before went vnespied. Then, for example, we shall bee

able to tell our owne soules, Such a time I met with a bon-companion, and ouer-shot my selfe with excesse of drinke; and such a time I met with a wanton Minion, who inueigled mee with her lookes, and I was ensnared with her loue; and such a time I met with a crosse-neighbour, and my heart did rise against him at the very sight of him; and at such a time I met with some mer∣ry mates, and in our idle chatt I disgraced my neighbour behinde his backe; and such a time, when I was in praying to my God, my heart was wandring about the vanities of the world, or my selfe fell asleepe while God was admonishing me of things belonging to my soule: and many times in one day I haue sinned against God by vniust dealing with my neighbour. One I deceiued by a lye, and another by vnsound commodities, and a third by counterfeit and base money, and a fourth by faire promises and protestations which I neuer meant to performe.

And an hundred other such sinnes as these, wee might discouer in our selues within a short time, if wee did take ac∣counts of our selues at conuenient times. And if

our sinnes were once in this sort set before our face, they would make vs tremble for feare, and blush for shame, and giue no rest to our heads, nor slumber to our eyes, till by sorrow and repen∣tance, we had made our peace with our God.

2. Examination rightly performed, [Reason. 2] will bee a meanes to leade vs to repentance, because it vvill shew vs with what patience and long-suffering God hath borne with vs, and in what desperate case our soules stood, but that God in mercy spared vs beyond our deseruing. For it will ap∣peare, that he might haue stricken vs dead many a time, while we were prouoking him by our sins. For example, while we were drunke, and could not speake a ready word; or while we were sa∣tisfying our vncleane lusts in the Harlots bed; or while we were abusing Gods name by prophane oathes and execrations; or while we were taking a bribe to peruert Iustice; or while wee were telling a lye to vndermine our neighbours; then and at such an instant God might haue cut vs off, and haue drawne vs to the Iudgement with a har∣lot in our armes, or a blasphemous oath in our mouthes, or a bribe of oppression in our hands, or a murderous and malicious thought in our hearts: and if then God had taken vs away, as he tooke away (a) Elah in his drunkennesse, and (b) Bel∣shazzar in his prophanenesse, and (c) Herod in his haughtinesse, and (d) Zimri and Cosbi in their vn∣cleanenesse. &c. Lord, what might haue become of my poore soule? Or, what could I haue ex∣pected, but to haue dyed in sinne without repen∣tance,

and to haue liued euer after in torment without hope? But he hath spared me, and it is his mercy, thus by his patience to bring me to re∣pentance, that I might be saued. Now what Chri∣stian heart would not tremble to thinke what great danger he hath escaped; and would not melt into teares to remēber what great merey he hath receiued? And what soule would not be moued hereby to hasten his repentance, either that hee might preuent all such danger heereafter to him∣selfe, or that he might shew a thankfull heart to God, that hath spared him in such manner?

And in this sort will Examination leade vs to repentance and amendment, if we vse it diligently and in due order. And that is the first vse for which this worke doth serue.

II. Secondly, it will be a good meanes to pre∣uent future sinnes; and that in two respects also.

1. [Reason. 1] Because the finding out of our former er∣rors, and the sinnes that be past, will lay before our eyes our speciall infirmities, and will make vs see both the corruptions that cleaue closest vnto vs, and the tentations that oftenest preuaile with vs. For if the accounts bee diligently made, one will finde, that hee is soonest ouercome with pride; and another, that he is oftenest taken with lust; and another with vaine-glory; and another with reuengefull thoughts; and euery one with somewhat, to which hee is inclined by nature or custome, or to which hee is allured by ill compa∣nie and daily tentations, or to which he is forced by threatnings or feare of offending. And when

once we see how we were mis-led, and what it was that deceiued or ouercame vs; we shall here∣by learne how to discouer the danger, and how to arme our selues against the assault, and how to handle our weapons when occasion shall require: & euery former error will make vs more wise and more warie against the next onset. For as among men, hee that findeth himselfe to haue beene de∣ceiued with faire words, will neuer trust that par∣tie any more; and as hee that hath beene cooze∣ned by counterfeit wares, will learne by that er∣ror to iudge better of the like commodities for af∣terward: so in the case of our soules, a wise Chri∣stian, by euery errour that he hath committed and discouered, will learne more wisdome to preuent the like danger.

2. Examination will bee a meanes to preuent sinne, [Reason 2] because hauing humbled vs with sorrow, it will make vs afraid of the like smart, and resolute to stand out against all tentations. For we vsually say, that the childe that hath beene once burned in the flame, will feare to come neere the fire any more: and so when by discussing our conscience, wee haue learned to condemne our selues, as wrete hed. caitifes vnworthy of any mercy, the sma•••• of that which is past will make vs afraid to come 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the like danger for ener after. Nor will any men be so prone to offend, if hee know that once within 24 houres he most come to cor∣rection, and be censured by the iust sentence of his owne conscience. So St. Chrysostem, (a) The soule, (saith hee) being afraid of the sentence that

passed on him the day before, will bee more slow to offend, lest he doe againe incurre the same censure, and be lashed and beaten as before he was. And S. Ambrose, (a) While we bewaile sinnes past, we exclude sinnes to come: and the censuring of our euill doings, is a disciplinating of vs to innocencie of life. And Seneca, bending himselfe against the vice of im∣moderate anger, for the moderating or rather a∣bolishing of it, thinketh this worke of Exami∣nation, in which we passe censure vpon our selues, will be most effectuall. For, (b) Anger (saith he) will cease, and become more coole, when it knoweth it must come euery day before a Iudge that wil not spare it. But surely, no man will either shame himselfe euery day before God and his owne conscience, nor iudge and condemne himselfe for his misdo∣ings, vnlesse he both meane to amend them, and finde some sweetnesse and comfort in the practice of this vngratefull worke: in regard whereof, I may truly say, (and that shall be the clause of this point,) Either examining will make a man leaue his sinning, or sinning will make him leaue off ex∣amining.

III. Thirdly, the due performance of this worke, will make vs more indifferent and more e∣quall in iudging of our neighbours and brethren: For if a man doe not sift his soule, and distouer his owne corruption; selfe loue and pride, br•••• in mans nature euer since Adams fall, will make him to ouer-weene himselfe, and vnder-value o∣thers. And this is the chiefe reason why men are so fauourable in their owne causes, and so per∣emptory

in other mens. But if men by sifting their soules, haue discouered their sinnes, the sense of their owne wants, will make them more pittifull towards others: as St. Paul implyeth, when hee exhorteth men to meekenes towards other men from this consideration, because (a) themselues were sometimes vnwise, disobedient, &c. And from this, (b) Lest themselues also be tempted. And where St. Paul saith of himselfe, (c) that hee was chiefe of sin∣ners, S. Bernard noteth, (d) that he spake this not false∣ly, out of rashnesse and temerity, but feelingly, and out of the sense and esteeme that hee had of his sinnes. For he that by examining himselfe, doth throughly vnderstand himselfe, thinketh no mans sinne to bee equall to his owne, which hee knoweth not so well as his owne. And therefore, if men would careful∣ly performe this worke in examining themselues, they would not rashly condemne others without cause.

IIII. This daily reckoning with our selues, will be a meanes to strengthen vs against despaire, and to comfort vs in a time of tentation and feare. For if the Deuill shall present our sinnes before our face, and aggrauate them, that he may driue vs to despaire; then our former practice of this dutie will be a help to support vs two waies.

1. Because by often reckoning with our soules, we haue gotten the true knowledge of our states; we haue found out our sins, both which they be, and of what quality they are: and therefore wee shall not so easily bee deceiued by Satan, if hee presse them beyond their pitch, and aggrauate

them beyond their condition, as in times of di∣stresse he vsually doth.

2. Because by this daily reckoning and iudge∣ing of our selues, we haue made all euen between God and our soules. For hauing confessed our sinnes, and censured our selues, and fled to God for forgiuenesse, we haue his promise of remissi∣on and pardon. And then whatsoeuer our sinnes be, (as certainely they are both the fewer and the lesser for the performance of this worke, but whatsoeuer they be) we know they cannot hurt vs, because God hath forgiuen them. And these things will be vnto vs matter of great comfort in a time of conflict and distresse; at which time a little peace of conscience will bee worth all the world. For whereas men that haue liued secure∣ly, without casting vp of their accounts, are in times of tentation ouerwhelmed with horrour, being neither able to giue comfort to themselues, nor to receiue it from others: hee that hath vsed a daily reckoning with his soule, will bee moued at the sight of his sinnes, rather to blesse God for his mercy, because he hath pardoned them, than to despaire of his mercy, for feare that he will not pardon them.

V. Fiftly and lastly, our iudging of our selues in this sort, will be a meanes to preuent Gods hea∣uier Iudgement afterward. For God will haue our sinnes to be discouered one way or other, and will haue vs to be conuicted and iudged for them: and if our selues doe (a) bolte them out, and produce them, he will couer them; and if we accuse and

condemne our selues, he will absolue and acquit vs; and if wee punish our offences, he will for∣giue them. Whereupon St. Chrysostom conclu∣deth, that (a) if a man doe diligently euery day per∣for me this worke of examination, he may stand with comfort before the dreadfull Barre of the great Iudge. But if we neglect this dutie, or slubber it ouer without care, he will take it into his own hands, and will performe it to the purpose: hee (b) will search Ierusalem with candles; and hee (c) will reproue the vngodly, and set his sinnes in order before his eyes: and hee will (d) bring euery worke into Iudgement, whether it bee good or euill: and no∣thing shall goe for nought, that hath beene done against his Law. For, [aut homine puniente, aut Deo iudicante plectentur;] they must bee punished either by our owne censure, or by the sentence of God, who is the great Iudge of all the world. And in this sort, our reckoning with our selues will pre∣uent Gods iudging of vs at the last day.

These and such like be the benefits which wee may reape by this exercise.

Out of the consideration of all which, I thinke I may iustly apply to this worke of Examination, that which Moses spake of Gods Word deliue∣red to the Israelites; (e) It is no vaine thing concer∣ning vs; because it is our life, and through this thing wee may prolong our daies, in a blessed and happy state for euermore. And this bare consi∣deration is argument enough, both to commend the necessity of the worke, and to command our diligence and care for the practice of it. But yet

to set a little more edge vpon our affections, we may hence deduce three considerations, applicable to our practice and state of life.

1. Wee may hereeby see what the cause is, why most of vs, notwithstanding our hearing and reading and praying and communicating, yet do rather decay than thriue in grace. For though I will not deny, but this defect may be ascribed to some other causes al∣so; yet seeing Examination is so vsefull for repen∣tance, and so powerfull for amendment and refor∣mation, the neglect of this must needes breed a great defect of grace: euen as the absence of the sunne, which is the fountaine of heate, maketh way for frost and snow in the world. Nor is it any maruell that negligence in accounting produceth such decay in our soules; for euen the like negligence in taking of accounts in our Trades, doth breede an euident de∣cay in our worldly estates. For if wee should passe dayes and weekes and moneths, without accounting our receipts and expenses, euery cunning Chapman abroad would ouer-reach vs, & euery false seruant at home might rob vs, while we thought on no harme, nor perceiued how or wherein wee were wronged. Now there is no chapman so craftie to deceiue, as the Deuill is; nor any seruant so false to his master, as our owne hearts are to vs: and therefore if wee passe daies and weekes and moneths, yea and yeeres too, without examining our consciences, and calling our hearts to account, as most of vs doe; it is no maruell if wee decay in goodnesse euery day, till at length we proue Banckrupts: nay rather it were a wonder if we should long subsist, without being vt∣terly

vndone. Cease then to maruell that there is so little conscience in the world, so long as wee know that there is no more examining of the conscience a∣mong men.

2. We may obserue heere a reason, why God doth many times lay crosses vpon vs; and though we pray and fast and call for mercy, yet finde not that ease nor that deliuerance which we expect. For if Exa∣mination be so effectuall for remouing of GODS Iudgements, as hath beene shewne; then certainely if Gods anger doe continue vpon vs, and his hand be stretched out still; it is an euident signe, that wee haue not iudged our selues, nor erected a Tribunall for the conscience within vs, as in duty and in wis∣dome wee should haue done. Thus the Prophet threateneth the Iewes with Iudgements, because no man repented him of his wickednesse, saying What haue I done? implying, that as pardon cannot be expected without repentance, so repentance cannot be hoped for without examination and questioning with our soules. And therfore we need not maruell that Gods Iudgements are continued vpon vs, seeing we neuer take care to passe iudgement vpon our selues.

3. We may hereby see, how it commeth to passe that many men haue grosse and conspicuous faults, which themselues discerne not, though euery child abroad can point at them and display them. For if Examination be so good a meanes to represent our sinnes, as in a glasse, vnto vs; then they which see not their open sinnes, are not accustomed to make vse of this meanes. And therefore, as when we see a man come abroad with some notable deformity a∣bout

his face, we may conelude that that man hath not lately looked himselfe in his glasse: so if we see a man blinde in iudging of his owne sinnes, which are to others as conspicuous as the spots in a mans face, we may build vpon it, that man doth not vse to looke himselfe in the glasse of his conscience, and by Examination to take a view what his deformities are.

4. Wee may hence gather matter of encourage∣ment, to breake thorow all difficulties, and to shake off our wonted drowsinesse, that we may with ala∣critie and perseuerance go thorow with this worke. For if Examination be so necessary for repentance & reformation: and so effectuall to breede vs comfort in our greatest agonie, & to avert Gods Iudgements for our sinnes: then euery wise man will conclude, that this is a worke as necessary as his daily foode. For say that a man cared not for grace and amend∣ment, (which were a most desperate and gracelesse resolution, yet say a man cared not for these:) is there any man liuing, that would not bee glad of some comfort when he lyeth a dying, or would not labour to be freed from the plagues that God powr∣eth vpon vnrepentant sinners? Let vs then but seri∣lously minde these gracious effects of a strict accoun∣ting with our soules, and I hope we shall not proue so gracelesse, as to refuse our own mercy, and wilful∣ly to cast away those precious soules, which Christ hath purchased at so deere a rate. I beseech then e∣uery Christian, that either desireth heauen, or feareth hell, that if hee haue beene negligent in this dutie heeretofore, he now at length begin a due and seri∣ous

performance of it; and euen double his future care, that he may redeeme his former negligence: remembring withall, if still he goe on notwithstan∣ding all admonitions, that Sextius and Seneca and Plato and Pythagoras, heathen men, that were woont to examine themselues euery day, will rise vp in iudgement against slothfull Christians, that passe on day by day, without euer taking account of their doings. Yea we may consider further, that euen our selues shall rise vp against our selues at the last Iudge∣ment; and by our care for our states in the world, condemne our carelessenes for the states of our soules. For if we know it to be so needfull for our worldly states, to keepe an account of our expenses and receipts; what excuse can we haue for our selues, that we haue for many dayes and weekes, neuer ta∣ken any account of our liues and consciences? Me∣thinketh, euery such thought should pierce the heart of any Christian: and therfore haue I touched them, that we may be at last inwardly touched with a feeling of our owne want; and desire of God that he will open our eyes, that we may see what is behoofefull for vs; and enflame our hearts, that wee may follow after it.

FINIS.

Notes

• Examination is a good meanes for Repentance. 1. Reason.
• (a)

  1 King. 16.9
• (b)

  Dan. 5.2, 3, &c. with ver. 30.
• (c)

  Act. 12.21, 22, 23.
• (d)

  Num. 25.6, 7, 8.
• Examination a meanes to preuent sinne. 1. Reason.
• (a)

  Anima he∣sternum verita ••udicium, ne can∣dem rursus subeat sententiam, et torqueatur et fla∣gelletur, reddetur ad peccatum tar∣dior. Chrysost. in Psal. 4. pag. 27. C.
• (a)

  Dum dolemus admissa, admit∣tenda excludi∣mus; et fit quae∣dam de condem∣natione culpae, disciplina inno∣centiae. Ambros. tom. 4. de. Poe∣nit. lib. 2. cap. 10. pag. 413.
• (b)

  Desinet ira, et erit moderati∣or, quae seiet sibi qu••tidie ad Iudi∣cem esse venion∣dum. Seneca de Ira, lib. 3. cap. 36. p. 599.
• Examination maketh vs in∣different Iudges betweene o∣thers and our selues.
• (a)

  Tit. 3.2, 3.
• (b)

  Gal. 6.1.
• (c)

  1 Tim. 1.15.
• (d)

  Ne{que} buc di∣cebat Paulus mē∣tiendi praecipitati∣a••e, sed aestiman∣di affectione. Qui enim persectè ex∣ammando seipsū intelligit, suo pec∣cato nullius pec∣catum par esse existima••, quod non sicut suum in∣telligit. Bern. de vita solitar. ad fratres de Monte Dei. pag. 1020. I.
• Examinatiō comforteth a∣gainst de∣spaire.
• Examination is a meanes to preuent Gods Iudgement.
• (a)

  Prou. 28.13. Psal. 32.5. 1 Cor. 11.31. 1 Ioh. 1.9.
• (a)

  Lectum at{que} quietem petitu∣rus, hoc iudiciū ineas: idoneum enim ad hanc rē hoc tēpus est, &c. Id si quotidie dili∣genter facies, ter∣ribili futuri Iudi∣tis Tribunali lae∣tus assistes. Chy∣sost. Hom. 43. in Matth. pag. 398. B.
• (b)

  Zeph. 1.12.
• (c)

  Psal. 50.21.
• (d)

  Eccles. 12. vlt.
• (e)

  Deut. 32.47.
• Ierem. 8.6.