The Riches of Bunyan: Selected from His WorksBunyan, John
Religion
The Riches of Bunyan: Selected from His Works
Bunyan, John
Theology, Doctrinal
Conscience hath its place in the soul, where it is as a judge to
discern of things good or bad, and judge them accordingly. Romans 2:
14. This conscience is that in which is the law of nature, I Cor.
11: 14, which is able to teach the Gentiles that sin against the law
is sin against God.
Now this conscience, this nature itself, because it can control and
chide them for sin who give ear unto it--must it therefore be
idolized and made a god of? O wonderful! that men should make a God
and a Christ of their consciences because they can convince of sin.
Thou gayest, He that convinces of sins against the law, leads up to
the fulfilling of the law.. Friend, thy conscience convinces of sins
against the law: follow thy conscience, and it may lead thee under
the curse of the law, through its weakness; but it can never deliver
thee from the curse of the law by its power. For if righteousness
come by obedience to the law, or by thy conscience either, then
Christ is dead in vain. Gal. 2: 21.
A GOOD CONSCIENCE.
This must needs be a blessed help in distress, for a man to have a
good conscience when affliction hath taken hold on him; for a man
then, in his looking behind and before, to return with peace to his
own soul, that man must needs find honey in this lion.
This is the way to maintain always the answer, the echoing answer of
a good conscience in thy own soul. Godliness is of great use this
way; for the man that hath a good conscience to God-ward, hath a
continual feast in his own soul: while others say there is casting
down, he shall say there is lifting up; for God shall save the
humble person. Some indeed, in the midst of their profession, are
reproached, smitten, and condemned of their own heart, their
conscience still biting and stinging them because of the uncleanness
of their hands; and they cannot lift up their face unto God, they
have not the answer of a good conscience towards him, but must walk
as persons false to their God and as traitors to their own eternal
welfare. But the godly upright man shall have the light shine upon
his ways, and he shall take his steps in butter and honey. The work
of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness,
quietness, and assurance for ever. "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."
A TENDER CONSCIENCE.
A tender conscience is to some people like Solomon's brawling woman,
a burthen to those that have it; but let it be to thee like those
that invited David to go up to the house of the Lord.
A GUILTY CONSCIENCE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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