Christian see to thy conscience or a treatise of the nature, the kinds and manifold differences of conscience, all very briefly, and yet more fully laid open then hitherto by Richard Bernard, parson of Batcombe in Somerset-Shire. Anno 1630.

About this Item

Title
Christian see to thy conscience or a treatise of the nature, the kinds and manifold differences of conscience, all very briefly, and yet more fully laid open then hitherto by Richard Bernard, parson of Batcombe in Somerset-Shire. Anno 1630.
Author
Bernard, Richard, 1568-1641.
Publication
London :: Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Edward Blackmore, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Churchyard at the signe of the Angell,
1631.
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Subject terms
Conscience -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item
"Christian see to thy conscience or a treatise of the nature, the kinds and manifold differences of conscience, all very briefly, and yet more fully laid open then hitherto by Richard Bernard, parson of Batcombe in Somerset-Shire. Anno 1630." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A08989.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 2, 2024.

Pages

Page 162

CHAP. 28. Of the luke-warme Con∣science.

THe luke-warme Con∣science is that euill Conscience, which is not tied to any Religion parti∣cularly.

This is the Conscience of Adiaphorists, Time-ser∣uers, men that bee indiffe∣rent for their Religion, this or that.

That which makes this, is first, their knowledge of many and differing Religi∣ons in the World: Iewish, Turkish, and Christian. Se∣condly, their obseruing of the varieties of Sects, and differing opinions in, and

Page 163

vnder one and the same re∣ligion. Thirdly, their per∣swasion that yet in such disagreements, euery one liuing after his Faith, may be saued. Fourthly, their want of iudgement to dis∣cerne true Religion from euery false religion in their true differences. Fifthly and lastly, from all these an euill Conclusion, which is this, that it is no matter which they be of, so they be of one Religion.

Thus the Vnderstanding deceiued, it makes, as it were, the Conscience free, vntieth it from the bond of any one particular Reli∣gion, whereupon followes this luke-warmenesse, li∣bertinisme, and indifferen∣cy to any Religion.

Page 164

The Remedy for this is, first, to know that there is but one Religion, whereof God is the Author, and that all other are of the Di∣uell, and tend vnto death. Secondly, that there must be opinions, yea heresies, that such as bee approued may bee made manifest. Thirdly, to haue iudgment to finde out the true Reli∣gion, and to be able to dif∣ference it from all false re∣ligions, or rather superstiti∣ous and Satanicall inuenti∣ons. Fourthly, to striue to feele the power of this true Religion; that so Conscience may be bound to hold vs to the vnfeig∣ned performance of the same.

Notes

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