2 COR. i. 12.
_This is our rejoicing, 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._
1. SUCH is the voice of every true believer in Christ, so long as he abides in faith and love. _He that followeth me_, saith our Lord, _walketh not in darkness_: And while he hath the light, he rejoiceth therein. _As_ he _hath received the Lord Jesus Christ, so_ he _walketh in him_. And while he walketh in him, the exhortation of the apostle takes place in his soul day by day, _Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice_.
2. But that we may not build our house upon the sand, (lest when the rains descend, and the winds blow, and the floods arise and beat upon it, it fall, and great be the fall thereof) I intend, in the following discourse, to shew, what is the nature and ground of a Christian’s joy. We know, in general, It is that happy peace, that calm satisfaction of spirit, which arises from such a testimony of his conscience, as is here described by the apostle. But in order to understand this the more throughly, it will be requisite to weigh all his words: whence will easily appear, both what we are to understand by _conscience_, and what, by the _testimony_ thereof; and also, how he that hath this testimony rejoiceth evermore.
3. And, first, what are we to understand by _conscience_? What is the meaning of this word that is in every one’s mouth? One would imagine, it was an exceeding difficult thing, to discover this, when we consider, how large and numerous volumes have been from time to time wrote on this subject: and how all the treasures of ancient and modern learning have been ransack’d, in order to explain it. And yet it is to be fear’d, it has not received much light from all those elaborate enquiries. Rather, have not most of those writers puzzled the cause; _darkening counsel by words without knowledge_; perplexing a subject, plain in itself, and easy to be understood? For set aside but hard words, and every man of an honest heart will soon understand the thing.
4. God has made us thinking beings, capable of perceiving what is present, and of reflecting or looking back on what is past. In particular, we are capable of perceiving, whatsoever passes in our own hearts or lives; of knowing whatsoever we feel or do; and that either while it passes, or when it is past. This we mean when we say, man is a _conscious_ being: he hath a _consciousness_ or inward perception both of things present and past relating to himself, of his own tempers and outward behaviour. But what we usually term _conscience_, implies, somewhat more than this. It is not barely, the knowledge of our present, or the remembrance of our preceding life. To remember, to bear witness either of past or present things, is only one, and the least office of conscience. Its main business is to excuse or accuse, to approve ♦or disapprove, to acquit or condemn.
5. Some late writers indeed have given a new name to this, and have chose to stile it, a _moral sense_. But the old word seems preferable to the new, were it only on this account, that it is more common and familiar among men, and therefore easier to be understood. And to Christians it is undeniably preferable on another account also; namely, because it is scriptural; because it is the word which the wisdom of God hath chose to use in the inspired writings.
And according to the meaning wherein it is generally used there, particularly in the epistles of St. _Paul_, we may understand by conscience, a faculty or power, implanted by God in every soul that comes into the world, of perceiving what is right or wrong in his own heart or life, in his tempers, thoughts, words and actions.
6. But what is the _rule_ whereby men are to judge of right and wrong? Whereby their conscience is to be directed? The rule of Heathens, (as the apostle teaches elsewhere) is _the law written in their hearts. These_, saith he, _not having the_ (outward) _law, are a law unto themselves: who shew the work of the law_ (that which the outward law prescribes) _written in their heart_, by the finger of God; _their conscience also bearing witness_, whether they walk by this rule, or not; _and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing, or even excusing_, acquitting, defending them, (ἤ καὶ ἀπολογουμένων) _Rom._ ii. 14, 15. But the Christian rule of right and wrong is the word of God, the writings of the Old and New Testament: all that the prophets and _holy men of old_ wrote, _as they were moved by the Holy Ghost: all_ that _scripture_ which was _given by inspiration of God, and_ which _is_ indeed _profitable for doctrine_, or teaching the whole will of God; _for reproof_ of what is contrary thereto; _for correction_ of error, _and for instruction_ (or training us up) _in righteousness_, 2 Tim. iii. 16.