We think when we have gained anything, when we have done anything, we shall hear no more of it, as David said to Joab, when he set him to make away Uriah, ' Let not this trouble thee,' 2 Sam. xi. 25. So, let not this ill gain, let not this ill speech or tbis ill carriage, trouble thee, thou slialt hear no more of this. We take order to stop and silence conscience, thinking never to hear more of it. Oh, but remember, conscience will have its work ; and
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the longer we defer the -uitncss and work of conscience, the more it will terrify and accuse us afterward.
Therefore, of all men, be they never so great, they are most miserable tliat follow their wills and their lusts most ; that never have any outward check or inward check of conscience, hut drown it with sensual pleasures. As Charles the IXth, who at ni^'ht, when conscience hath tlui fittest time to work, a man being retired, then he would have his singing boys, after he had be- trayed them in that horrible massaci'e,* after which he never had peace and quiet ; and as Saul sent for David's harp when the evil spirit was upon him, 1 Sam. xvi. 23, so wicked men, they look for foreign helps. But it will not be ; for the greatest men with their foreign helps are most miserable.
The reason is, because the more they sink in rebellion and sin against conscience, the more they sink in terrors. It shall be the greatest tor- ment to those that have had their wills most in the world. The more their conscience is silenced and violenccd in this world, the more vocal it shall be at the hour of death, and the day of judgment. Therefore judge who are the most miserable men in the world (although they have never so much regard in the world besides), those that have consciences, but will not sutler them to work, but with sensuality within them, and by pleasing, flattering speech of those without them, they keep it down, and take order that neither conscience within, nor none other without, shall disturb them ; if they do, they shall be served as Ahab dealt with Micaiah, 2 Kings xxii. 24. These men that are thus at peace in sinful courses, of all men they are most miserable. They enjoy their pleasure here for a little time, but their conscience shall torment them for ever ; and shall say to them, as Reuben said to his brethren, ' I told you this before, but you would not hearken to me, and now you shall be tormented.'
Conscience is an exii beast. It makes a man rise against himself. There- fore of all men, those that be disordered in their courses, that neglect con- science, and neglect the means of salvation, that should awaken conscience, they are the most miserable. For the longer they go on, the more they sink in sin ; and the more they sink in sin, the more they sink in terror of con- science ; if not now, yet they shall hereafter.
If we desire therefoi'e to have joy and comfort at all times, let us labour to have a good conscience that may witness well. And therefore let us every day keep an audit within doors, every day cast up our accounts, every day draw the blood of Christ over our accounts, every day beg for- giveness of sins, and the Spirit of Christ to lead us, that so we may keep account eveiy day, that we may make our reckonings even every day, that we may have the less to do in the time of sickness, in the time of tempta- tion, and in the time of death, when we have discharged our consciences before by keeping session at home in our own hearts.
This should be the daily practice of a Christian, and then he may lay himself down in peace.
He that sleeps with a conscience defiled, is as he that sleeps among wild beasts, among adders and toads, that if his eyes were open to see them, he would be out of his wits. He that sleeps without a good conscience, he is an unadvised man. God may make his bed his grave, he may smite him suddenly. Therefore let us every day labour to have a good conscience, that so we may have matter of perpetual joy.
A good conscience especially, is an evangelical conscience ; for a legal
* That is, of Bnrtliolomew. Tho after-dread of Charles IX. is recorded by all his historians and biographers. See footnote, vol. i. p. 149. — G.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 12. 227
good conscience none have ; that is, such a conscience as acquits a man that he hath obeyed the law in all things exactly. A legal complete good conscience none have, except in some particular fact ; there is a good con- science in fact. As the heathen could excuse themselves, they were thus and thus, Rom. ii. 15 ; and God ministereth much joy in that. But an evangelical good conscience is that we must trust to ; that is, such a con- science that though it Icnows itself guilty of sin, yet it knows that Christ hath shed his blood for sinners ; and such a conscience as by means of faith is sprinkled with the blood of Christ, and is cleared from the accusa- tions of sin.