A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

§. Sect. 1 That the na∣ture of Consci∣ence may part∣ly bee knowne by the name.

THe last ground of a godly life, is a good conscience, without which it is impossible to please God, or to performe any du∣ty acceptable in his sight. In speaking whereof, wee will first generally shew the nature of conscience, & then more parti∣cularly intreat of a good conscience. The nature of consci∣ence may bee partly knowne by the name, which signifieth to know to∣gether, or with another: for as the minde, vnderstanding the nature of things, is sayd to know them: so when another ioyneth with it in this knowledge, they are sayd to know together. Now there is no creature that can ioyne with man in the knowledge, that is secret in his minde, ac∣cording to that of the Apostle; No man knoweth the things of a man, but the Spirit of a man that is in him. Whereof it is, that humane lawes take no no∣tice

of the thoughts of the heart, either to reward or punish them; but it is only the Lord that searcheth the heart and reynes, who knoweth and ta∣keth notice together with our mindes, of all the secrets which are knowne vnto it. Whereby the nature of conscience in part appeareth, namely, that it is such a faculty in the soule, as taketh notice of all our actions, and beareth witnesse of them before Gods Iudgement seate, eyther with vs, when they approue them as good; or against vs, when as they condemne them as euill. So that the conscience is a certayne diuine power, which is placed by God in the soule of man, as a third party indifferent betweene him and vs, somtime speaking for vs, and sometime against vs, as the equi∣ty of the cause requireth. It is Gods Monitour, which he hath set ouer vs, to take notice of all wee doe, that hee may either reward our well-doing, or punish that which is done amisse. And because simple knowledge might see and conceale what it seeth and knoweth, God to this science hath added conscience, which being placed in vs on the behalfe of the great King of heauen and earth, will not let any thing lie hid and smothe∣red, but giueth vnpartiall witnes of whatsoeuer is done before his Tribu∣nall, eyther excusing vs when wee doe well, or accusing vs, when we haue sinned against him: Not that the Lord needed any such witnesse or Mo∣nitour to informe him of our actions; for he seeth and knoweth all things past, present, and to come, with one perfect and simple act; but because he would in the administration of his iustice, proceede in a legal manner, that wee hereby might be conuicted of the vprightnesse of his iudge∣ments, hauing in our selues a witnesse that iustifieth and approueth them.

Notes

• 1. Cor. 2. 11.