If we come a little nearer, and enquire what are those Remora's that stop conscience in its course, bind and imprison, stifle and suppress its convictions ; that although a man strongly su.spect his foundation to be but sand, his hopes for heaven a strong delusion, yet will he not throw up his vain hopes, confess his self-deceits, and begin all anew. What is it which over-bears conscience in this case? Let men impartially examine their hearts, and it will be found that these three things bind and imprison these convic- tions of conscience, and hold the truth in unrighteousness, viz. Shame, fear, and pride of heart.
(1.) Shame. Men that have been professors, and of good esteem in the world, are ashamed the world should know the mistakes and errors of all their life past, and what deluded fools and self- deceivers they have been : this is a powerful restraint upon con- viction ; how shall they look their acquaintance in the face ? what
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Svill men think and say of tlieln ? " How can ye believe whicli re- " ceive honour one of another ?" saith Christ, John v. 44. q. d. What I you be Christians, and yet not able to endure a censure, or a scoff upon your names; that stand more upon your reputation than your salvation : how can you believe ?
0 what madness and exalted folly appears in this case ! men will choose rather to go on, though conscience tells them the end of that way will be death, than suffer the shame of a just and ne- cessary retraction, which yet indeed is not their shame, but their duty and glory* You that are so tender of the shame of men, how will you be able to endure the contempt and shame that shall be cast on you from God, angels and men, in the great day? Luke ix. 26. It is no shame to acknowledge your mistake, but to persist in it, after conviction, is shameful madness.
1 knew an excellent minister, who proved an eminent instru- ment in tlie church of God, who in the beginning of his minis- terial course was not upon the right foundation of regeneration. This man had rare abilities, excellent natural and acquired gifts, and could preach of regeneration, faith, and heavenly-mindedness, though he felt nothing of these things in his own experience. His life was very unblameable, and he had no mean interest and esteem among good men. It pleased the Lord, whilst this man was studying an excellent spiritual point to preach to others, his con- science first preached it in his study to himself, and that with such a close and rousing application, as made him to tremble, telling him, that though he had gifts above many, and sobriety in his conversation, yet one thing, and that the main thing, sanctifying grace, was wanting. Hereupon the pangs of the new birth seized his soul, and the Lord made him a most inward, searching, experi- mental minister, and crowned his labours with unusual success. This minister, to his dying day, was not ashamed in all companies to acknowledge his mistake, and bless God for his recovery out of it ; and in most of his sermons, he would endeavour to convince professors of the necessity of a second conversion.
(2.) Fear is another pull-back, which with-holds men from exe- cuting the convictions of their own consciences, and obeying its calls in this grand case and concern of the soul. They are pretty easy and safe under the external profession, and duties of religion, and are afraid of throwing up their vain hopes, and engaging themselves heartily and thoroughly in rehgion ; and there be two things that scare them.
1*^. The inward pains and troubles of Spirit attending the new- birth ; which they have read and heard of, and seen the effects of in others. O it is a dreadful thing to he under the terrors that
^7B AN APPENDIX TO ENGLANd's DUTY.
many have felt ! and so it is wltli them as with one that hath a bone ill-set, who, if he have any ease, will rather endure a little daily pain, and be content to lialt all his life, than undergo the pain of another fraction or dislocation in order to a perfect cure.
9,dly, They are afraid of external sufferings. The form of god* liness leaves men a latitude to take or leave, according as the times favour or frown upon the ways of religion ; but the power of god- liness will engage and put tliem beyond retreat : They must then stand to it come what will. But, soul, let me tell thee, if the just fears and apprehensions of hell, and the eternal wrath of God were upon thee, to which thy hypocrisy and formality will expose thee ; all these fears of inward or outward troubles would vanish the same hour.
(3.) Pride of heart suffers not this conviction of conscience to work out its effects, but holds this truth in unrighteousness, to the hazard and ruin of many souls. Men that live upon their own duties and self-righteousness, are not easily brought to renounce all this, and live upon the righteousness of Christ alone for justifica- tion. Proud nature will rather venture the hazard of damnation than such self-denial, Rom. x. 3. As you see it common among poor people to live meanly on coarse fare of their own, than upon the alms and bounty of another.
O but if once the day of God's power be come, and a man be- gins to feel the commandment come home to his conscience, as Paul did, Rom. vii. 9. when he comes to realize the world to come, the value of his soul, and the danger it is in ; then all these remora's are as easily swept away, as so many straws by the rapid course of a mighty torrent. Then let men say or thmk what they please, I must not throw away my own soul to maintain a vain estimation among men. Let inward or outward sufferings be ever so great, it is better for me to feel them, than to suffer the everlasting wrath of the great and terrible God. Let my own righteousness be what it will, all is but dung and dross to the pure and perfect righteous- ness of Christ.
2. As this general conviction, with respect to men's state and condition, is held in unrighteousness, and men and women go with grumbling consciences, and frequent inward fears by reason of it ; so there are many particular convictions bound and impri- soned in men's souls. Particular convictions, I say, both as to sins committed, and known duties omitted, against both tables of the law of God ; called in the text, ungodliness and unrighteousness. Conscience labours and strives to bring men to confess, bewail, and reform them, but cannot prevail ; contrary lusts and interests over- power them, and detain them in unrighteousness. What these
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arc, ami how they are with-held by tliase kists, I shall give in some instances.