Of a Confcience void of Ofence. 157 a regular ceconomy, and one common end S E x itiz, intended in the whole frame, and an enjoy- VII. ment fuitable to fuch a being, refulting from the regular ufe of all its parts or exercife of all its powers, there muft for this purpofe be a confiftency or harmony of the whole, or the creature muft be eafy in itfelf, which it cannot poffibly be, unlefs the felf- reflefing power, or confcience be fatisfied. Hence arifes a proper obligation, the fovereignty of confcience ought to be acknowledged, and its dictates obey'd ; for he that hearkens to its voice, and complies with it, poffeffes an inward tranquillity ; he that ads in oppo- fition to it is by the very frame of his na- ture uneafy and difcontented in himfelf. Still it is to be remember'd, as was hinted be- fore, that to minds poffefs'd with the fe- rious belief and fear of the deity, this has a reference to his fuperior tribunal, where we cannot help expecting that the fentence of our felf- reflethng power will be affirm'd ; for if we confider God as the voluntary de- ligning author of our conflitution, 'tis im- poff'ible, I think, for a reafonable attentive perfon to doubt but he intended we fhould ad according to its diretion; confequently, that our obeying the voice of confcience pleafes,
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