for if men will sin willingly, ⟨notwithstanding⟩ all these checks of conscience, their ⟨consciences⟩ will condemn them before the ⟨Lord⟩. For certain it is, there is a conscience in every man that sees and observes, ⟨and⟩ takes notice of all his ways, and will ⟨keep⟩ a just account of them, and so be a witness either for or against ⟨the⟩ soul, at ⟨the⟩ day of judgment. What was it that ⟨made⟩ the apostles so joyful in all their ⟨troubles⟩ and persecutions? Was it not the witness of their consciences! See 2 Corin. 12. ‘Our rejoicing is this,’ saith St. ⟨Paul⟩, ‘the testimony of our consciences. What was it that made Paul and Silas sing ⟨in⟩ prison for joy? Was it not that their ⟨consciences⟩ told them they were happy and ⟨blessed⟩ men, notwithstanding all their sufferings and reproaches.
Now what conscience is, I shall briefly ⟨shew⟩ you, and so conclude. Conscience ⟨a⟩ thing with which God endued the soul ⟨of⟩ man by creation, and is for our ⟨comfort⟩, if we live as we ought to do; but ⟨will⟩ be a dreadful terror to them that live ⟨and⟩ die in their sins. For this conscience ⟨was⟩ in Adam before the fall, though not as ⟨a⟩ condemner till his fall; for where there ⟨is⟩ no sin, what needeth an accuser? So ⟨long⟩ as Adam kept the commandments of ⟨God⟩, there was no cause of conscience to
