Of a confcience void of Offence. 159 impartially follow'd, is fafe and abfolutely S E R M the beft. In any cafe propos'd relating to VII pranice, let the mind free from the impor- tunities of appetite and the tumults of paffion, both which it is the province of confcience to corren and reftrain, let a man, I fay, calmly put the queftion to himfelf what is right ? and, I believe, his firft thoughts will generally fuggeft to him the proper anfwer, in following which he is fafe. After -con- fideration very often gives opportunity for flefh and blood, intereft and paffion, to in- finuate themfelves, and mix in our counfels, and lead to tedious reafonings, the effen of which frequently is to miflead or perplex the mind. There are two fources of error to which our pranical judgment in matters of con- fcience is liable, and of which we fhould always be aware, and they are, felf- partiality, and falfe notions of religion. The former our experience, if we be attentive, mutt make us fenfible of. We always make al- lowance for it in the cafe of other men, who are not fuppofed to be fair enough judges, in the caufes wherein they are inte- refted ; and cool reflexion would fatisfy us, that it is often fo in our own cafe. There is
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