By Rev. Professor DAVID DICKSON.
II.
(Continued from p. 23.)
The Fourth thing is, the judicial process of the conscience, for giving such a sentence of direction, for what is to be done, or of absolution or condemnation, in the point examined and found done, or not done: which process, of the conscience be well informed, is after the manner of clear reasoning by way of Syllogism, wherein we lay down the rule given by the supreme Lawgiver, in the major, or first proposition. Then we do lay ourselves to the rule in the minor, or second assumed proposition; and from the comparison of ourselves with the rule, we give our sentence in the third room, which is called the conclusion. As for example, if the conscience be about to give direction for what is to be done, it reasoneth thus:
What God hath appointed to be the only rule of faith and manners, I must take heed to follow it as the rule. But, the Holy Scripture God hath appointed to be the only rule of faith and manners. Therefore, I must take heed to follow the Scripture as the only rule. Or more shortly,—the Lord hath commanded to repent and turn unto Him (offering reconciliation in Christ), therefore it is my duty so to do.
But in the process of the conscience unto conviction or absolution, some times more, sometimes fewer reasonings are used. As for example; for conviction, the process goeth thus, That which God hath commanded me, I should have done: but to repent and turn to Him, he hath commanded me. Therefore, I should have repented and turned to God.
Again, he that hath not obeyed the Lord, in repenting of his evil ways and turning unto God, is under great guiltiness, and worthy of death, by the sentence of the law. But, “such a one am I,” may every impenitent person say of himself: and therefore may conclude of himself, “I am under great guiltiness, and worthy of death by the sentence of the law.”
Likewise, in the process of the conscience, a humble person well informed, may reason thus: That way of reconciliation which God hath appointed a self-condemned sinner to follow, I am bound to follow: but this way (and no other) hath God appointed, that the sinner, convinced of sin, and of deserved wrath, should flee to Christ Jesus the Mediator, that by Him he may be justified, sanctified, and saved. Therefore, this way of reconciliation, and no other, I am bound to follow.
Again, whosoever, by the grace of God, in the sense of sin and deserved wrath, is fled unto Christ for righteousness and eternal life, and in Christ’s strength is endeavouring to give new obedience to the will of God, is undoubtedly a true believer and a child of God: but, “such a one am I,” may the humbled sinner, fled to Christ, say of himself: therefore, I am by the grace of God undoubtedly a true believer and a child of God.
And yet again he may go on to strengthen his faith and to comfort himself in the Lord thus: Whosoever in the sense of sin, poverty and weakness, hath fled to Christ the Redeemer, resolved never to part with Him; and hath consecrated himself, in the strength of Christ, to endeavour to give new obedience to the will of God, he is an heir with Isaac of the promised blessings, and may hope to have them perfectly in possession at last. But “such a one am I,” may the humbled sinner, fled to Christ, say of himself: therefore, I am an heir of the promised blessings with Isaac, and may hope to have them perfect in possession at last.
Such a process as this doth the conscience of the regenerate man follow, when he reneweth the acts of his repentance, and sentenceeth himself to be worthy of what the law pronounceth against his sin; and when he reneweth the acts of his faith in Christ, through whom alone he is freed from the deserved curse of the law.
As to the Fifth thing to be observed in the court of conscience, which is the execution of the sentence it hath pronounced; because the conscience is set over the man by God, as judge-depute, therefore, it goeth about in the name of God, by and by to execute as it may, the sentence justly pronounced by it; and according to the nature of the sentence of condemnation or absolution pronounced by it, it stirreth up divers emotions and affections in the heart; some of them sad and sorrowful, some of them joyful and comfortable. The sad and bitter passions that follow upon the sentence of conviction and condemnation justly pronounced, are shame, grief, fear, anxiety, vexation, and such-like; whereby the guilty sinner is either fretted as with a worm, or fired and tormented. Of this we have an example in our first parent Adam, who, being convicted in his conscience of sin and deserved wrath, did flee from the face of God, all amazed and affrighted. “The Lord called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? and he said, I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself” (Gen. iii. 9, 10).
But the conscience, after it is furnished by the gospel to absolve the penitent believer fled to Christ, doth stir up more sweet and comfortable motions in the heart, such as are peace, comfort, joy, gladness, exultation, confidence, and such like. An example whereof we see in Paul: “Our rejoicing,” saith he, “is this, 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,” (II. Cor. i. 12).
So the conscience, after it is wounded by the man’s transgression, doth the part of a judge, citing the man before its tribunal; and the part of an officer, presenting the man at the bar; and the part of an accuser, challenging the man for his transgression; and the part of the recorder, producing the book of statutes; and the part of sufficient witnesses, proving and convicting him of the deed done.
Again it doth the part of a judge, pronouncing sentence and condemning the convicted transgressor; and the part of a serjeant and Marshal, binding the condemned wretch; and the part of the prison and stocks, pinching and pressing the bound sinner; and the part of the executioner, scourging and tormenting him.
But the conscience, after examination, finding the man either innocent and free of the crime, or forgiven and reconciled to God by Christ, after repentance and faith, embracing the Redeemer, it doth the part of an honest friend, carefully comforting the innocent or penitent; and the part of an advocate, excusing and defending the man against all challenges; and the part of witness compurgators; and the part of the judge absolving; and the part of the rewarder. And so much concerning the nature and the use of conscience, as may suffice our purpose.
(To be continued.)