2. 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. In scripture we shall find two offices of conscience, to direct and censure, to judge by order of law and right ; dejiire, what we ought to do, and de facto, what you have done, or what you are : and if it fail in the one part, it is a blind and erring conscience; aud if it fail in the other, it is a dead and sleepy conscience. You shall see con- science is spoken of in scripture both ways. As instructing us in our duty : Ps. xvi, 7, ' My reins instruct me in the night season ; ' that is, showed hira his duty, and how he was concerned in the law of God, or the rule which he 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, as David's heart smote him for numbering the people, 2 Sam. xxiv. 10. If good, it cheereth us with it: 2 Cor. i. 12, 'For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience.' It smiteth us as it exciteth fear of punishment ; it cheereth us as it stirreth up hope of reward : and hereby we do very much understand how [God standeth affected towards us. In short, conscience, as to the censuring part, judgeth either of act or state ; particular acts whether good or evil ; so it doth accuse or excuse by turns, Rom. ii. 15. As to our state, if it be good : Heb. xiii. 18, ' We trust we have a good conscience, willing in all things to live honestly.' The drift and course was for God, and the performance of their duty to him. Bad or evil : Rora. i. 32, ' They that do such things, count themselves worthy of death ; ' that is, not only as deserving it, but as liable to it. Now it is for our benefit, that we should have such a faculty to, direct, and mind us of our duty, which we are too apt to forget. So also to censure our acts, that we may be humbled for them if they be evil, or continue them if they be good. Our estate, that we may enjoy the comfort of it, before we enjoy the full reward of it, if it be good ; or may remedy it, and break oft' our sinful course if it be evil, while we are capable of a remedy.
II. The value of this judgment, and how much it should be re- garded by us.
1. In respect of ourselves, because it is so intimate to us. Conscience is God's spy in our bosoms, and man's overseer ; it being so well ac- quainted with us, it can give a better judgment of us than anything else can. The judgment of the world, either by way of applause or
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censure, is not so much to be regarded by us. The apostle calleth it the spirit of a man within him, 1 Cor. ii. 11, Though our life be never so fair that no man can condemn us, and our words and deeds do not betra)' us, yet if our hearts condemn us of secret hypocrisy, and want of love to God, God will much more, who knoweth more of us than we do of ourselves. Besides, this judge cannot be suspected of rigour, partiality, and ill-will ; for what is dearer to ourselves than ourselves ? and therefore, if our own hearts condemn us, what shall be said for us ?
2. Its relation to God ; it is God's deputy-judge, and in the place of God to us ; called 'the candle of the Lord,' Prov. xx. 27. And there- fore if it convince us, and accuse us, and condemn us, especially when we profess and pretend to sincerity ; have we not cause to suspect ourselves ? for it is God's vicegerent, and sitteth in the throne of God ; and we may know much of his mind by the voice and report of con- science. Next to the judgment and sentence of God, a man should reverence the judgment and sentence of his own heart. Doth conscience acquit or condemn ? so usually doth God : conscience doth all with respect to God, and in the name of God. The inferior court is not to be slighted, the sentence there is given out in God's name, and by virtue of God's authority. To slight the officer or subordinate magi- strate in the duty of his place is to slight the supreme power : Judges iii. 20, ' And Ehud said unto him, I have a message from God unto thee ; and he arose off his seat.'
3. The rule it goeth by, which is the revealed will of God, either by the light of nature or the light of scripture ; his will revealed. in his law, or in the gospel : according to the dispensation men are under, so have they a conscience, this makes us a light to ourselves : Prov. vi. 22, ' When thou goest it shall lead thee, when thou sleepest it shall keep thee, wlien thou wakest it shall talk with thee ; ' that is, the law of God will direct thee upon all occasions. Conscience worketh by virtue of that light which God hath put into us. Now to slight con- science, is to rebel against the light of nature, Rom. ii. 14, 15, and the light of scripture, Heb. viii. 10. Conscience will tell you what you are loath to hear, yet hear it ; it will be heard once, better hear it now, while you may correct your errors ; it doth but repeat over the law of God to you.