Of a Confcience void of Offence. 16x follow the example of the text here in ex- S a R M. ercifing ourfelves to have a confcience void of VII. ooence. We muft banifh this unfairnefs of`--`j mind among other corrupt biaffes and vicious affeaions. Falfe notions of religion may be with much more reafon be thought to be an exception to the rule of following univerfally the di- redion of confcience, becaufe the influence of them in mifleading men is founded, not on infincerity or difhonefty of heart, as in the other cafe, but upon a religious principle, that God is in all things to be imitated and obeyed. If, therefore we have wrong opinions concerning the Deity, if we ima- gine him to be an arbitrary being, who go- verns the world by abfolute will, without any regard to equity and goodnefs, this opinion tends to infpire men with the like fenti- ments, and raife in them difpofitions con- trary to benevolence. If we miftake the will of God, and imagine things pleafe him which really do not pleafe him, the effea will be (peaking and acting wickedly fir God, and from a principle of confcience. They muff be quite ftrangers to the world, to the hiftory of all paff ages, and what continues to be every day done in the openeff manner, VOL. I. M who
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