The Conscience and the Trinity

Besides his Spirit, God has planted in us a conscience to call upon us, to be his vicar; a little god in us to do his office, to call upon us, direct us, check and condemn us, which in great mercy he has placed in us. In this we see what means Christ uses—his voice, works, and word; works of mercy and of correction; his word, together with his Spirit, and the conscience, that he has planted, to be, as it were, a god in us; which together with his Spirit may move us to duty. This Augustine speaks of when he says, 'God spoke in me often, and I knew it not.' He means it of conscience, together with the Spirit, stirring up motives to leave his sinful courses. 'God knocked in me, and I considered it not.' While Christ knocks all the three persons are said to do it. For as it is said, 'God was and is in Christ reconciling the world' (2 Cor. 5:19). For whatever Christ did, he did it as anointed, and by office. Therefore, God does it in Christ, and by Christ, and so in some sort God died in his human nature, when Christ died. So here the Father beseeches when Christ beseeches, because Christ beseeches only what is sent from and anointed of the Father. And God the Father stoops to us when Christ stoops, because Christ is sent of the Father, and does all by his Father's command and commission (John 5:27). So, besides his own affection, there is the Father and the Spirit with Christ, who does all by his Spirit, and from his Father, from whom he has commission. Therefore, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit knock at the heart. 'Open to me, my love, my dove, my undefiled' (Song of Sol. 5:2) but Christ especially by his Spirit, because it is his office.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Love of Christ (Bowels Opened), pp. 106-07
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