5. It is an Executioner of what God gives judgement and sentence. It goes before Gods judgement, and witnesseth, Mat. 27.4, 5. But after Gods sentence and his word, Conscience doth execute it, Rom. 8.15. then Con∣science poures upon us horrors and terrours, which is a forerunner of hell, onely differing in measure and durance. Thus Conscience doth to good men upon some occasions. So David, when he had numbred the people, 2 Sam. 24.10. I have done very foolishly, he speaks with some bitternesse of heart, Acts 2.37. This is called pricking of heart, Prov. 18.14. A wounded spirit who can bear?
Why doth God put such a faculty into men?
1. That God might manifest his being. There is no stronger evidence of Gods being: For to whom doth it witnesse? Is it not to God? Before whom doth it condemn, or to whom is it an executioner, if there were no God?
2. His own providence. And we must not think that God mindes not things below; if he did not, why is Conscience afraid and comforted, if God did not look into Conscience?
3 For Gods justice, that he might magnifie it. God proceeds in his Judicial course, without any witnesse but Conscience: If God have none to bear wit∣nesse, how shall he magnifie his justice in condemning secret sins?
4. Gods mercy. If God be angry with a man, it is an advantage to a man that he knows it, Acts 9.6. Heb. 9.14. As Conscience doth determine here, so will God in another world. Conscience is Gods Vicegerent, set up in the throne of a mans heart. Conscience is our companion, God much more, Psal. 139.
Reas. 2. God is our witnesse, therefore when we speak soberly, we call God to witnesse: He is a Judge, Heb. 10.3. an Executioner; and therefore if Conscience sees cause to condemn us, God much more; if Conscience see cause to acquit us, God much more, Psal. 139.2, 3.
Ʋse 1. A signe of our present estate, and what God will doe concerning us, if we live and die thus. What saith thy Conscience, if thy heart assure thee thou lovest thy Brother, 2 Cor. 1.12. That thou savourest not sin, that thete is no good duty but thou wouldst doe; thou hast been humbled for thy sins, Conscience hath been an Executioner, and yet hath come with pardon sealed to thee, with the broad seal of Heaven: If thou seest one spark of sincerity in thee, God sees more.
Obj. May not a mans conscience be deceived? Rom. 3.17. Luke 18.9, to 14 May not a man say, I have no guilty conscience?
Answ. Conscience sometimes bears false witnesse, Tit. 1.15, 16. If a man have a defiled conscience, it will deal falsly. A mans conscience through igno∣rance and partiality, doth bring a false verdict: As it is many times with a Jury, ignorance of law, and false evidence, makes them bring a false verdict; but then send them back again, and shew them better evidence, and the law, &c. So Conscience doth oft-times bring a false verdict, but its thorough igno∣rance of the Law of God, or partiality. Doth thy conscience speak bitter things? Consider what the grounds are. If such as doe argue thee dead in tres∣passes and sins, then know that God doth call thee from heaven to repentance. If it tell thee thou art an hypocrite, consider what grounds it hath, Consci∣ence may be muzled by ignorance and partiality; the Devill puts false glasses before our eyes.
2. A ground of serious humiliation to every mans heart, whose conscience upon due examination doth accuse him.
3. To teach every Christian which hath found that he hath passed from death to life, to be afraid to commit any sin. And comfort thy soul, if Conscience do acquit thee, then will God much more.
4. Labour we always to be doing some good, for we have a companion that hears and sees all, and a register that notes every good word or work.