(2.) It is for the glory of his judicial proceedings. Self-accusers and self-condemners have no reason to quarrel with God and impeach his justice. Man hath principles and sentiments graven upon his heart, which justify all God's dealings with him : Luke xix. 22, ' Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant ! ' and Ps. li. 4, ' That thou may est be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.' Hereby he is left without excuse : Eom. i. 20, ' So that they are without excuse,' ava'iro\o<yr]rov<i ; Titus iii. 11, ' Know- ing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself,' avTOKardKpLro<i. Hence the frequent appeals to conscience : Isa. V. 3, 4, ' Judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard : what could I have done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it ? ' I have produced these scriptures to show that by conscience man is better induced to give a testimony to God concerning all his dealings with him.
[2.] To the safety and benefit of man, that he may have an oracle in his own bosom to direct him to his duty, and to warn him of his danger if he doth amiss. Conscience is spoken of in scripture both ways ; as instructing us in our duty : Ps. xvi. 7, ' My reins also instruct me in the night season ; ' that is, conscience showed him his duty, and how he was concerned in the law of God, or the rule which God had given to his creatures. And as it showeth us what to do, so it reflecteth upon what we have done. If evil, it smiteth us for it : 2 Sam. xxiv, 10, ' And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people.' If good, it cheereth us with it : 2 Cor. i. 12, ' For our rejoicing is this,
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the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world.' It smiteth as it exciteth fear of punish- ment ; it cheereth as it stirreth up hope of reward, and we do very much understand hereby how God standeth affected towards us : 1 John iii, 19-21, ' And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him ; for if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God.'
2, Conscience is God's vicegerent and deputy. You may know much of his mind by the voice and report of conscience ; therefore, next to the judgment and sentence of God, a man should regard the judgment and sentence of conscience: 1 John iii. 20, 21, 'If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God.' Observe what conscience speaketh ; doth it condemn thee or acquit thee ? and upon what terms doth it either ? The voice of con- science is often the voice of God, and men would sooner come to know themselves, and might make a right judgment upon theu' estates, if they would look inward, and regard the voice of conscience, doth it condemn or acquit ? Indeed there lieth an appeal from court to court, and from judge to judge.
[1.] From court to court. In what court doth conscience condemn you ? In the law court ? You ought to own the desert of sin, clear- ing God, if he should inflict it upon you : 1 Cor. xi. 31, ' For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.' But yet you may take sanctuary at his grace, and humbly claim the benefit of the new covenant : Ps. cxxx. 3, 4, ' If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquity, 0 Lord, who shall stand ? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.' If it condemn you in the gospel court for no sound believer, the case must not be lightly passed over, but examined, %vhether thero be a sincere bent of heart towards God : Heb. xiii. 18, ' "We trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.'
[2.] There is an appeal to an higher judge. Doth conscience write bitter things against thee ? Yet if God justifieth, Kom. viii. 33, ' "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect ? it is God that justifieth.' God's act is authoritative and powerful : Isa. Ivii. 19, ' I create the fruit of the lips, peace, peace to him that is afar ofl", and to him that is near, saith the Lord, and I will heal him ; ' Ps. Ixxxv. 8, ' I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace unto his people and to his saints.' But sometimes he speaketh in the sentence of his word when not in the conscience ; his authority may comfort when we feel not his power. So for acquitting ; conscience is not the highest judge : 1 Cor. iv. 4, ' For if I know nothing by myself, yet am I not hereby justified ; but he that judgeth me is the Lord ; ' Prov. xvi. 2, ' All the ways of a man are clear in his own eyes, but the Lord weigheth the spirits.' We must consult his word, and thereby clear our case, so as to assure our hearts before him. 1 1