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.

Section 3. Of the long continuance in this wound.

AS God speedily easeth some, so he lets other, who haue not fallen so fearefully, nor apprehend in so violent a manner their offences (though they bee made sad, and also be much perplexed with sorrow and griefe for sinne) to lie longer vnder it. And it happeneth thus vnto these:

1. Sometime from Gods restraining of his comfort for causes, best on owne to himselfe; yet let these cry to God, and beg of him, as Dauid did, to say vnto their soule, I am thy saluation.

2. Satans working what hee can to make them de∣spaire, by casting into them impure and blasphemous thoughts, and seeking to perswade them, that these are not his, but the filth of their hearts, and malice a∣gainst God; by telling them, that they haue sin∣ned the sinne against the holy Ghost: by aggraua∣ting their sinnes, endeauou∣ring thereby to perswade them, that their sinnes are hainous in Gods sight, though hid from man; and therefore God hath left them, heareth them not, helpes them not; because of the greatnesse of their sinnes. These, and other false suggestions hee trou∣bles them with; with

which they should not bee troubled, because the Di∣uell is a lyar, and euer a de∣ceiuer.

3. This affliction some∣time continueth longer, for want of timely comfort from such as should afford him comfort. Therefore the Apostle had great care of this, lest the man, which had committed so foule a fact, should haue been swal∣lowed vp of too much sor∣row because the Church failed to shew him grace and fauour: Hee therefore perswades them to forgiue him, and to comfort him, lest Satan should get ad∣uantage: of whose deuises, in this case, Gods Mini∣sters, & Gods faithfull peo∣ple should not be ignorant.

4. This continuance is in part from the party affli∣cted, and that many waies. First, through ignorance and errour of iudgement in their owne spirituall estate with God, falsely supposing themselues to bee worse then they are, because of their often failings, as if Paul failed not in that which he would haue done: because of their falls, as if excellent men had neuer fallen, not a Noah, Lot, Moses, Aaron, Dauid, Peter, and others, Be∣cause the affliction continueth and they not deliuered, as if Dauid neuer said, shall I neuer be remembred; and why castest thou off my soule? Let the Psalmes quoted in the margin bee read, and see how he held

himselfe as almost a forsa∣ken man, who also cried out, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken mee.

2. Through the weak∣nesse of their faith during the affliction, not being a∣ble to apply the promises so comfortably, as they should: when yet, in this state, they should remem∣ber what the Father of the Child said, Lord I beleeue help my vnbeliefe, & found acceptance with Christ; they should say with Da∣uid, why art thou disquie∣ted, O my soule, trust in God.

3. Through their false censure vpon themselues, as, that they want graces, because they be weake in them, or that they feele

them not to worke so liue∣ly, as formerly they haue felt them, or now perceiue them to bee in others: or that their graces, which they haue, are not true, but shadowes, and the coun••er∣feit of graces, or that they are hard hearted, that they cannot repent vnfaignedly, but are full of hipocrisie. But this false and too base esteeme of themselues must they lay aside, and consider, First, that they shew to much vnthankful¦nesse to God for that which they haue; when it becommeth the vpright to be thankfull; Secondly, that they sinne in belying themselues. Thirdly, that they take parte with Satan against their owne soules:

for this is that which hee doth striue for, to make them to condemne them∣selues, thus falsely to bring them to despaire, and ther∣fore should they not thus vntruly be accusers of themselues, and bee their owne enemies.

4. They continue thus through manifold false feares, as that God will not pardon thē that God loues them not, that they are cast-awaies, that it is too late to repent, that if they could repent, it would be held hipocrisie, and so to no purpose, that their case is worse then any mans, and many such like.

5. Their replies which they make against offered comforts to preuent their

owne peace and deliue∣rance, of which, and how to answer them, see the fore∣named booke, and the first volume of Master Perkins, touching consolations to a troubled Conscience.

6. And lastly, is their ig∣norance of the true reme∣dies, or inability to apply thsm rightly.

Notes

• Psal. 35. 3.
• 2 Cor. 2. 7. 8. 11.
• Rom. 7. 19
• Ps. 13. & 77. 7. 8. 9. & 88. 14. 15. 16.
• Psal. 22. 1.
• Mark. 9.
• Psal. 42. 5.
• Ps. 33. 1.
• See the re∣moouing of these in the booke inti∣tuled, The Christians daily walk in holy se∣curity and peace: 2. part, from pag. 39. to 174.
• Fol. 409.