Chapter 6: A Small Matter Turns a Ship — Yet We Stand Against Our Conscience

How small a matter turns a Ship about? Yet we against our Conscience stand it out.

OBSERVATION

IT is just matter of admiration, to see so great a body as a Ship is, and when under Sail too, before a fresh and strong Wind, by which it is carried, as the Clouds, with marvellous force and speed, yet to be commanded with ease, by so small a thing as the Helm is. The Scripture takes notice of it as a matter worthy our consideration, Jam. 3. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be great, and driven of fierce winds; yet they are turned about with a small Helm, whithersoever the Governour listeth. Indeed, Aristotle himself, that Eagle ey'd Philosopher, could not give a reason of it, but looked upon it as a very marvellous and wounderful thing.

APPLICATION.

To the same use and office has God design'd Conscience in Man, which being rectified and regulated by the Word and Spirit of God, is to steer and order his whole Conversation. Conscience is as the Oracle of God, the Judge and Determiner of our Actions, whether they be good or evil? and it lays the strongest obligatons upon the creature to obey its dictates, that is imaginable: For it binds under the reason and consideration of the most Absolute and Soveraign Will of the great God. So that as often as Conscience from the Word convinceth us of any sin or duty, it lays such a bond upon us to obey it, as no power under Heaven can relax, or dispense with. Angels cannot do it, much less Man; for that would be to exalt themselves above God. Now therefore it is an high and dreadful way of sinning, to oppose and rebel against Conscience, when it convinces of sin or duty. Conscience sometimes reasons it out with Men, and shows them the necessity of changing their way and course; arguing it from the clearest and most allowed Maxims of right Reason, as well as from the indisputable Soveraignty of God.

As for instance: It convinceth their very Reason, that things of Eternal Duration, are infinitely to be preferred to all momentary and perishing things, Romans 8:18. Hebrews 11:26. And it is our duty to chuse them, and make all secular and temporary concernments to stand aside, and give place to them. Yet though Men be convinced of this, their stubborn Will stands out▪ and will not yield up it self to the conviction.

Further, It argues from this acknowledged truth, That all the delights and pleasures it this World, are but a miserable portion, and that it is the highest folly to adventure an immortal soul for them, Luke 9. 25. Alas, what remembrance is there of them in Hell? They are as the waters that pass away. What have they left of all their mirth and jollity, but a tormenting sting? It convinceth them clearly also that in matters of deep concernment, it is an high point of wisdom, to apprehend and improve the right seasons and opportunities of them Proverbs 10:5. He that gathers in summer is a wise Son. Ecclesiastes 8:5. A wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment. There is a season to every purpose, Ecclesiastes 3:1. namely A nick of time, an happy juncture; when if a Man strikes in, he does his work effectually, and with much facility. Such Seasons Conscience convinceth the Soul of, and often whispers thus in its ear: Now, Soul, strike in close with this motion of the Spirit, and be happy for ever; you maist never have such a gale for Heaven any more. Now, though these be allowed Maxims of Reason, and Conscience inforce them strongly on the soul, yet cannot it prevail; the prou'd stubborn Will rebels, and will not be guided by it. See Ephesians 2:3. Job 34. 37. Isai. 46. 12. Ezekiel 2:4. Ier. 44. 16.

REFLECTION.

Ah Lord! such an heart have I had before you; thus obstinate, thus rebellious, so uncomptrolable by Conscience. Many a time has Conscience thus whispered in mine ear; many a time has it stood in my way, as the Angel did in Balaams, or the Cherubims that kept the way of the Tree of Life, with flaming swords turning every way. Thus has it stood to oppose me in the way of my Lusts. How often has it calmly debated the Case with me alone? And how sweetly has it expostulated with me? How clearly has it convinced of sin, danger, duty, with strong demonstration? How terrible has it menaced my soul, and set the point of the threating at my very breast? And yet my head-strong affections will not be remanded by it. I have obeyed the voice of every lust and temptation. Titus 3:3. But Conscience has lost its Authority with me▪ Ah Lord! what a sad condition am I in, both in respect of sin and misery? My sin receives dreadful aggravations; for rebellion and presumption are hereby added to it. I have violated the strongest bonds that ever were laid upon a Creature. If my Conscience had not thus convinced and warned, the sin had not been so great and crimsoncoloured, Iam. 4. 17. Ah! this is to sin with an high hand, Numb. 15. 30. to come near to the great and unpardonable trasgression, Psalm 19:13. O how dreadful a way of sinning is this, with opened eyes! And as my sin is thus out of measure sinful so my punishment will be out of measure dreadful, if I persist in this rebellion. Lord, you hast said, Such shall be beaten with many stripes, Luke 12. 48. Indeed, Lord, and if ever my Conscience, which by rebellion is now grown silent, should be in judgment awakened in this life, Oh what an Hell should I have within me! how would it thunder and roar upon me, and surround me with terrors!

Your word assures me, that no length of time can wear out of its memory what I have done, Genesis 42:21. No violence or force can suppress it, Matthew 27:4. No greatness of power can stifle it; it will take the mightiest Monarchy by the throat, Exodus 10:16. Daniel 5:6. No musick, pleasures, or delights, can charm it Job 20:22. O Conscience! you are the sweetest friend, or the dreadfullest enemy in the World; Your Consolations are incomparably sweet, and your terrours insupportable. Ah let me stand it out no longer against Conscience; the very Ship in which I sail, is a confutation of my madness, that rush greedily into sin against both Reason and Conscience, and will not be commanded by it; Surely, O my Soul, this will be bitterness in the end.

THE POEM.

A Ship of greatest burden will obey

The Rudder; he that sits at Helm may sway

And guide its motion: If the Pilot please,

The Ship bears up against both Wind and Seas,

My Soul's the Ship, Affections are its Sails,

Conscience the Rudder. Ah! but Lord what ails

My naughty heart, to shuffie in and out,

When its convictions bid it tack about?

Temptations blow a counter-blast, and drive

The Vessel where they please, though Conscience strive.

And by its strong perswasions, it would force

My stubborn Will to steer another course.

Lord, if I run this course, your Word does tell

How quickly I must needs arrive at Hell.

Then rectifie my Conscience, change my Will;

Fan in your pleasant Gales, my God, and fill

All my affections; and let nothing carry

My Soul from its due course or make it vary;

[•]hen if the Pilots work you would perform,

[〈◊〉] should bear bravely up against a storm.