162 Of a Confcience void of Offence. S E x M. who do not know that the moil prodigious VII. iniquity is committed, indeed the molt cruel barbarities acted, under a pretence of zeal for God, for facred truth, and pure religion ; not a deceitful, lying, pretence; but a real and firm perfwafion. The decla- rations of fcripture itfelf will not fuller us to doubt of this. Our Saviour tells his di£ ciples, yohn XVi. 2. the time cometh, when, whofoever killed) you, (hall think that he doth God fervice. But, we need not infift on any further proof, the apoftle Paul himfelf is a very remarkable example. Before his converfion to chriflianity, fuperftition had fo far milled his judgment, that he was a perfecutor, a blafphemer, and injurious, with full confent of mind and believing he was right : For he fays in his apology before Agrippa arid Fe /pus, Ac` r xxvi. 9. I verily thought with my /élf, I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jefus of Nazareth ; and, therefore, he fays, A4ls xxiii. r. com- prehending the very time of his outrageous perfecuting zeal, I have lived in all good confcience G f re God until this day ; mean- ing that he acted according to his prefent judgment ; not againít it, in mere com- pliance
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