quiet in the greatest combustions ; freed, if not from the common de- struction, yet from the common distraction. A good conscience is an impregnable fort. It fears no colours ; it will enable a man to stand against the fiercest batteries of men and devils. A good conscience will fill a man with courage and comfort in the midst of all his troubles and distresses. Paul had enough to say for himself when standing before the council ; he could say, ' Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day,' Acts xxiii. 1 , 2. And though as soon as he had said so, Ananias commanded to smite him on the mouth, yet he bears up bravely, because his conscience did not smite him, but acquit him. That man can never want music, whose conscience speaks in consort, and is harmonious, with himself A good conscience is a paradise in a wilderness, it is riches in poverty, and health in sickness, and strength in weakness, and liberty in bonds, and life in death, Isa. xxxviii. 3. A good conscience will enable a man to triumph over innumerable evils, yea, over death itself. Death to such a person is not the king of terrors, but the king of desires, Phil. i. 23. A good conscience will be a Christian's best friend in the
^ Vs. iii. 2-4 ; Ps. vi. 8-10 ; Ps. cxxxviii. 3 ; Lam. iii. 55-59.
* Vol. ii. pp. 137, seq. — G. * Kavxn'^^s, boasting or glorying.
WITH HIS PEOPLE IN THEIR GREATEST TROUBLES. 503
worst times ; it will be a sword to defend liim, a staff to support him, a pillar of fire to lead him, a Joseph to nourish him, a Dorcas to clothe him, a Canaan to refresh him, and a feast to delight him: ' He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast,' Prov. xv. 15. Now there is nothing that can make a man divinely merry below a good con- science. A good conscience, saith one,i is thalamus Dei, palatium Christi, Jiabitaculum Spiritus Sancii, paradisus deliciarum, The bed of God, the palace of Christ, the habitation of the Holy Ghost, the paradise of delights, and wherein every tree yieldeth a feast. Tran- quillitas conscientice, et securitas innocentice, qucecunque mundus bona judical, excellunt. The tranquillity of conscience, and the security of innocence, excel all the things which the world counteth good.^ He that hath a good conscience enjoys a continual serenity, and sits con- tinually at that blessed feast, whereat the blessed angels are cooks and butlers, as Luther hath it, and the three persons in Trinity glad guests. All other feasts to this of a good conscience are stark hunger. The feast of a good conscience is a full feast, a noble feast, a lasting feast ; not for a day, as that of Nabal's ; nor for seven days, as that of Sam- son's ; nor of nine score days, as that of Ahasuerus ; but a durable, continual feast, without intermission of solace, or interruption of society. The best way in this world for a man to turn his whole life into a merry festival, is to get and keep a good conscience. The heathen philosopher could say, o aya6o<i alel ioprd^et, a good man keeps holiday all the year about. It was the testimony of a good conscience that made the apostles rejoice when they were beaten and abused by the council. It was the testimony of a good conscience that made Paul and Silas to sing in the prison. Acts v. 40-42, and xvi. 25, 26. It was the testimony of a good conscience that made Moses prefer Christ's cross before Egypt's crown, and Christ's reproaches before Egypt's treasures. It was the testimony of a good conscience that made those worthies in that 11th of the Hebrews more willing to die than to live, to die than to dine, Heb. xi. 35. It was the testimony of a good conscience that made the martyrs to kiss the stake, to hug their executioners, to clap their hands in the flames, and to tread upon burning coals as upon beds of roses. Now it is not in the power or policy of men or devils to deprive a Christian of the testimony of his conscience ; and as long as that bird in the bosom sings, no troubles, no trials, no oppositions, no persecutions, no dangers, no death can make a Christian miserable. The testimony of a good conscience will make a man triumph over the worst of men, and the worst of suffer- ings. But,
[9.] Ninthly, ' If God be with us, who can be against us ?' I answer. None, so as to hinder the help, assistance, and succour of God at a dead lift. Heb. xiii. 5, ' Let your conversation be without covetousness,' — or ' without the love of silver,' as the Greek word signifies — ' and be content with such things as you have.' Contenti prcesentibus, so Beza, ' Be content with present things.'^ The Hebrews had been plundered of all they had ; though they had nothing they must be content, Heb. x. 34. If men cannot bring their means to
1 Augustine, ser. x. ad Fratres in Erem. * Ambrose, OSc. lib. ii. cap. 1.
^ apKovfievoi roh Trapoviriv.
504 THE SIGNAL PRESENCE OF GOD