2. It showeth us what course to take, in case our heart doth con- demn us. What must we do ? Sit down in despair and die ? No ; but examine the matter seriously.
[1.] Conscience must not be despised, partly for its nearness to us ; it is God's spy in our bosoms. Whom shall a man believe, if not his own conscience ? Who knoweth us better than ourselves ? 1 Cor. ii. 11, 'For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him ? ' This judge cannot be suspected of rigour, or partiality, or ill-will; what is nearer, what is dearer to us than our- selves ? And partly because of its relation to God ; it is called ' the candle of the Lord,' Prov. xx. 27. It is in the place of God to us, and therelbre, if it condemn us — may not God much more ? — its checks and reproaches are a warning from God ; it acteth in his name, and citeth us before his tribunal ; and therefore we must not smother and put off troubles of conscience till God put them away. Partly because of the rule it goeth by, which is the law of God, evident, either by the light of nature: Eom. ii. 15, 'Which show the work of the law written in their hearts ; their consciences also bearing them witness, and their thoughts in the meanwhile either accusing, or else excusing one another ; ' or by the light of scripture : Prov. vi. 22, ' Bind
VeR. 34.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII 365
ray commandment on thy heart ; when thou goest, it shall lead thee ; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee ; when thou walkest, it shall walk with thee ; ' it doth but repeat over the law of God to you. It will be heard once ; better hear it now, while you have opportunity to correct your error.
[2.] The matter must be discussed, that you may resolve to do as the case shall require.
(1.) In some cases there is an appeal from court to court. In what court doth conscience condemn you ? In the court of the law ? You ought to subscribe the condemnation is just, to own the desert of sin ; and if God sliould bring it upon you, he is righteous : Nehem. ix. 33, ' Thou art just in all that is brought upon us, for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly.' But there is a liberty of appeal from court to court: you may take sanctuary at the Lord's grace, and humbly claim the benefit of the new covenant : Ps. cxxx. 3, 4, ' If thou. Lord, shouldest mark iniquity, 0 Lord, who shall stand ? but there is forgiveness with thee, that thou shouldest be feared ; ' and Ps. cxliii. 2, ' And enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.' Deprecate the first court, and beg the favour of the second.
(2.) In other cases there is an appeal from judge to judge. Suppose conscience condemn you in the gospel court, that you are not a sound believer ; the case must not be lightly passed over ; but you must examine whether there be a sincere bent of heart in you towards God, yea or no. When others question or impeach your sincerity, you appeal to heaven, as Job did, ' My witness is in heaven.' The case is somewhat different when your own hearts question it: but yet you must see whether the judgment of conscience be the judgment of God. Conscience is a judge, but not the supreme judge. It may err both in acquitting and condemning: in acquitting, when from a judge, it becometh an advocate, excusing the partialities of our obedience ; so in condemning, when from a judge it becometh an accuser, and exaggerateth incident frailties beyond measure. God may sometimes speak peace in the sentence of his word, when he doth not in the feeling of conscience. Beg of God to interpret your case. Our sincerity is best interpreted by a double testimony. It is well if it be so clear that a single one serveth turn : Pom. ix. 1, ' I say the truth in Christ, I lie not ; my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost ; ' and Rom. viii. 16, ' And the Spirit itself bearing witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God.'
(3.) Suppose the worst, that you have no relief by an appeal from court to court, or from judge to judge, yet there is a passing from state to state' still allowed us: John v. 24, 'And shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life.' You are in a state of condemnation, but you must get out of it as fast as you can, take the same course that a condemned man would. What is that ?
(1st.) Acknowledge the justice of it ; see you be afiected with it. Christ ju.stifieth none but the self-condemned ; for he came to seek and to save tliat which was lost : Luke xviii. 13, 14, ' God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other : for every one that exalteth himself shall be