the term of their lives; as ſoon as ever their ſouls are departed from their bodies, ſentence ſhall be paſſed againſt them, according to their light, and the teſtimony of their own conſcience.
Seeing then, conſcience will give an account of every one’s ways, let us not ſlight conſcience; let us not ſtop the mouth of conſcience, ſeeing conſcience can and will ſpeak, and tell us what we are. Many there are that go about to ſtop the mouth of conſcience, when conſcience deals plainly with them, and tells them of their ſins: O! they cannot endure to hear of that. But remember the miſerable end of Judas: What ſaid Judas’ conſcience to him? Thou haſt betrayed thy Lord and Maſter for a little ſilver: Ah covetous wretch! But could Judas’ ſilver ſtop the mouth of his conſcience? No, Judas’ conſcience ſo terrified him, that he flung in the money again, and ſo went and hanged himſelf.
So likewiſe, remember the fearful ſtate of Spira, and many others, whoſe conſcience made them poſſeſs the wrath of God here on earth. ‘A wounded ſpirit.’ ſaith Solomon, Prov viii. 14. ‘who can bear?’ A tormenting and condemning conſcience who can endure? O! there is no reſiſting
