[3.] A man may act against conscience.
(I.) So he may do good. As a papist communicating with the reformed churches in the word, and prayer, and sacraments, he doth that which is good, but he doth it against his conscience, because he thinks it is not lawful to have communion with heretics. To this head belongeth those things that we do with scruple of conscience, fearing the things which we do are not right. So many times we do things which are lawful, yet fearing they are unlawful ; we do them not without some scruple, and terror of conscience ; as, for instance, a self-condemning sinner coming to the Lord's supper, yet because he hath not a clear sense of the love of God, his conscience troubleth him, and he is afraid he eatethand drinketh unworthily. The apostle saith, Eoin. xiv. 22, 23, ' Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that
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thing which he alloweth ; and he that donbteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith ; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin;' that is, to the party that doeth it, though it be good in itself. There- fore we must endeavour that, whatever we do, we may be assured out of the word of God that it is lawful : Kom. xiv. 5, ' Let every one be fully persuaded in his own mind.'
(2.) So he may do evil. When a man doeth good against his con- science, it is evil ; but when he doeth evil against his conscience, it is a double evil, because he doth not only transgress the rule that should guide him, but affronts the judge which God hath set over him in his own bosom, and kicketh against the pricks, the urgings of his own con- science : James iv. 17, ' Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.' But especially it is a greater sin, when not only by light natural, but by the checks and motions of the Spirit, he understandeth the evil which he doth, or the necessary good which he omitteth, for this is to resist the Holy Ghost : Acts vii. 51, ' Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.^ Especially when he wilfully and blasphemously rejects that sufficient evidence that is given him of the ways of God, ' and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace,' Heb. x. 29 ; for that is ' the sin unto death,' 1 John v. 19. In short, we should be careful we sin not against conscience, for it is our best friend or our worst enemy. It is God's deputy, and to resist the officer is to resist the prince or magistrate. Therefore do nothing without conscience, do nothing against conscience, but do all things with conscience, rightly informed by the word of God.
Secondly, Exercise yourselves in this, that conscience may perform its office, and be a good guide unto you. There are two offices of con- science— to direct and to censure ; to judge rightly dejure, what you ought to do; and to judge rightly de facto, what you have done or what you are, that you may neither have a blind and erring nor a sleepy conscience.
1. That you may not have an erring conscience, or a blind one, you must consult with your rule : Eom. xii. 2, ' That ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God ; ' Eph. v. 17, ' Wherefore be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is ; ' with a mind fully resolved to do his will : John vii. 17, ' If any man do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.' This rule is the word of God : Ps. cxix. 105, ' Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.' Beg the light of the Spirit : ver. 133, ' Order my steps in thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.' And be not rebellious against this light, for our sins and lusts blind the mind, and a naughty heart defileth the conscience, so that it groweth loose and indulgent, and from a judge it becometh an advocate, excusing the partialities of our obedience to God and our injuries to men. Therefore there must be a resolute endeavour to overcome every sin you are convinced of : Heb. xiii. 18, ' Pray for us, for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.'
2. That you may not have a dead, sleepy, stupid conscience, you
440 SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16.
must often excite it. For your actions, bring them to the rule : Hag. i. 5, ' Now therefore thus saith the Lord God, Con^^ider your ways ;' Ps. iv. 4, ' Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.' For your state, try it often : 1 Cor. xi. 28, ' But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup ; ' 2 Cor. xiii. 5, ' Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith ; prove your own selves : know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates ? ' The acts of conscience are three — to be an accuser, witness, and judge.