, through whom all things are possible. Write always down how much
ye owe, that ye may see grace superabounding. Sit not down to examine the
duty, or go not about it in your own strength. Be not discouraged though
ye find no strength. Ye are called in such a case to believe. Nay, in a
word, what is all the Christian's employment? Faith exhausts it all. Look
on the command, and it calls for believing. Look upon the curse and it
calls also for believing.

Sermon XII.

1 Tim. i. 5.--"Now the end of the commandment," &c.

We come now, as was proposed, to observe, _Thirdly_,(474) That faith
unfeigned is the only thing which gives the answer of a good conscience
towards God. Conscience, in general, is nothing else but a practical
knowledge of the rule a man should walk by, and of himself in reference to
that rule. It is the laying down a man's state, and condition, and actions
beside the rule of God's word, or the principles of nature's light. It is
the chief piece of a man. The man is as his conscience is. It is a man's
lord. As a wing to a bird, or as a rudder to a ship, so is conscience to a
man in all his ways. The office of conscience is ordinarily comprehended
in three styles it gets. It is a law or rule, a witness, and a judge, or a
light, a register, and a recorder, and an executioner. For the conscience
its first act is some principle of nature's light, obliging it as a rule
to walk by, or some revealed truth of God, whereof the conscience is
informed. Now the conscience, in the second place, comes to examine itself
according to the rule, and there it bears witness of a man's actions or
state, and faithfully records and depones.(475) And at length the
conscience pronounces the sentence upon the man, according as it has found
him, either accusing or excusing, condemning or absolving. Now a good
conscience is diversely taken in scripture, I. A good conscience is an
honest clean conscience, bearing testimony of integrity and uprightness in
walking, such as Paul had, 2 Cor. i. 12, "Our rejoicing is this, the
testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity, and godly sincerity, we
have had our conversation in the world." Heb. xiii. 18, "We trust we have
a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly." Acts xxiv. 16,
"Herein do I exercise myself in having a conscience void of offence,
towards God and man." 1 Pet. iii. 16, "Having a good conscience, that
whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil d