First, They have peace at home in their own conscience, Heb. 13.18. We have a good conscience in all things, desiring to live honestly; that is, to keep Gods commandements.
Secondly, As they keep a good conscience on earth, so they keep favour in heaven, 1 Kings 15.5. Thus its said of David, that he did that which was good in the sight of the Lord, he had a care to keep Gods commandements. Thus did Asa, 2 Chron. 14.2. Hezekiah, Ib. 29.2. So did Josiah, 2 Kings 23.25. and 2 Chron. 34.2.
What is it to keep Gods commandements?
Ans. It is not barely to keep them in our minds and memory; but, First, to keep them as one would keep his high-way: A traveller, so soon as he is out of his way, and sees it, he blames himselfe for it, and hastens to get into it again. Secondly, as a man would keep his jewells, Prov. 6.20, 21. Thirdly, to keep it as the apple of our eye, Prov. 7.1, 2, 3. If the least more fall into our eye, we never leave till we get it out; so we must make scruple of the least sins. Fourthly, we must keep the commandements as we would keep our life. Now, Skin for skin, and all that a man hath, will he give for his life: So we should lose our lives, and all we have for Gods commandements
Reas. From the suitablenesse of the will or commandements of God, and the conscience of a Christian. You please a man when you doe that which is according to his will; and so look what is good in Gods sight, that is accor∣ding to Gods commandements. The commandements of God are a lively i∣mage of his will. God is a God of pure eyes, Hab. 1.13. he hateth wicked∣nesse, Psal. 5.4. Any thing that is evill, is displeasing in Gods sight. When Ʋriah was slain, and David took his Wife into his house, it is said that thing displeased the Lord, 2 Sam. 12.27. But the will of God is our sanctification, 1 Thes. 4.3. A man is said to be made after Gods own Image, when he is righ∣teous and holy. The Apostle exhorts us to put on the next man, which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse, Eph. 4.24. Holinesse is the sum of the commandements of the first Table, Righteousnesse of the second.
Ʋse 1. Hence we may have a tryall of our conscience, whether it be good or no, for upon the goodnesse of our conscience depends the peace of this world, and another, Heb. 13.18. Examine your selves, Doe you keep Gods commandements as a man would keep his way, the apple of his eye, his life and soul, or his Jewells? Else you doe not keep a good conscience. There are four sorts of consciences.
First, A conscience that is quiet, yet not good: As, when the strong man keeps the house, all that he p••ssesseth is in peace, Luke 11.21.
Secondly, There is a conscience which is good, but yet not quiet: Such was Davids, Psal. 31.22. when he said in his hast, he was utterly cast out of his sight; though it was good, yet it did not speak the truth concerning David.
Thirdly, There is a conscience which is neither good nor quiet; such was Judas his conscience, Mat. 27.3, 4.
Fourthly, There is a conscience both good and peaceable, which walks in Gods commandements; and if he slip out of Gods commandements, he looks at himselfe as out of the way; he finds refreshments in walking in Gods ways, he could not by any means part with Gods commandements, he had rather part with his life, and all that he hath. But on the contrary, if a man keep not Gods commandements, he is so far from making scruple of any sin, that he allows himselfe in any sin, yea in all sin.