The Puritans On Conscience And Casuistry -- By: Joel R. Beeke

Journal: Puritan Reformed Journal
Volume: PRJ 04:2 (Jul 2012)
Article: The Puritans On Conscience And Casuistry
Author: Joel R. Beeke


The Puritans On
Conscience And Casuistry

Joel R. Beeke

When Martin Luther (1483-1546) was asked to recant the views he had expressed in his books, he is said to have replied, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.”1 Ever since Luther, the Reformation faith has revolved around questions of having a good conscience in the presence of God.2 Since conscience speaks directly in the soul as God’s representative, the Puritans also recognized that understanding and forming the conscience was central to serving the Lord with gladness. “Conscience, it is either the greatest friend or the greatest enemy in the world,” Richard Sibbes (1577-1635) said.3 The Puritans took up this concept and fleshed it out more fully than the Reformers had done, developing both the doctrine of conscience and considering specific questions of conscience. The Puritan preacher’s most momentous task was awakening and guiding the human conscience.

In this article, I will first discuss Puritan theology of the conscience, and second the development of the Puritan practice of casuistry of conscience.

The Puritans On The Conscience

Several Puritans wrote books on conscience. William Perkins (1558-1602) wrote A Discourse of Conscience Wherein is Set Down the Nature, Properties, and Differences thereof: as also the Way to Get and Keep a Good Conscience;4 William Ames (1576-1633) wrote Conscience, with the Power and Cases Thereof;5 William Fenner (1600-1640) wrote The Souls Looking-Glasse, lively representing its Estate before God: With a Treatise of Conscience; Wherein the definitions and distinctions thereof are unfolded, and severall Cases resolved;6 and Nathanael Vincent (1638-1697) wrote Heaven upon Earth: or, a Discourse Concerning Conscience.7

Under the theme of Puritan theology of the conscience, I will first look at the nature of the conscience as created by God; second, the corrupt state of the conscience due to man’s sin; and third, the restoration of conscience by the Word and Spirit of Christ.

The Nature Of The Conscience

According to the Puritans, the conscience is a universal aspect of human nature by which God has established His authority...

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