Page:Black book of conscience, or, God's great and high court of justice in the soul (1).pdf/11

Nathan, in 2 Samuel xii. 13. had by the parable of the ewe-lamb; shewed David the evil of his sins, presently David was convinced in his consciences of the horridness of his sins. And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord: have mercy upon me. Psalm li. (the psalm of his repentance) According to thy loving kindness, according unto the multitude of thy tendor ⟨mercies⟩, blot out my transgressions; wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin: For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is over before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in ⟨thy⟩ sight. David had a very tender conscience, for when he cut off Saul’s skirt, his heart smote him, his conscience accused him, as you may see 1 Sam. xxi. 5. O but now many wicked men are there now, ⟨whose⟩ consciences tell them over and over, ⟨again⟩ and again of their sins, and yet for ⟨all⟩ that they stop their ears against ⟨conscience?⟩ how many times doth the beastly ⟨drunkard’s⟩ conscience, the profane ⟨swearer’s⟩, the Sabbath-breaker’s conscience, tell ⟨them⟩ of their sins; yet notwithstanding ⟨for⟩ all the checks of conscience, they will ⟨go⟩ on in their sins, and fill up the ⟨measures⟩ of their iniquities, and so make ⟨conscience⟩, to fill up the black scroll of ⟨indictments⟩ against them, whereby they are all