i 64. Of a Confcience void of O/fence. S E R M. butes, muff be very open to every impartial VII. and confiderate enquirer. And, indeed, if we will but look fairly into our own hearts, divefled of prepoffeffion in favour of received opinions, it will not be difficult to fee what is good and what the Lord requires. The very fir'l dictates of nature will fcarcely ever mislead an honeft heart ; at leaf} they will direct him contrary to the tendency of fu- perflition, that is, fullen uncharitablenefs and inhumanity. It muff be acknowledged there are force very difficult cafes relating to the fubject we are confidering, and it will be very hard to determine, how far errors of judgment excufe wrong practice. We have no reafon to believe that ever we 'hall be free from infirmities and miflakes leading us to force wrong actions, while we are in this imperfect 'late ; and 'hall always have reafon to join with the Pfalmifl in this prayer, * Clea1 fe me, Lord, from fecret faults, who can undei/land his errors? What merci- ful allowances God may make for evil praftices, which men who have honefl intentions in the main, fall into through fuperftition, which was the cafe of the apoflle Paul before his converfion ; what gracious allowances may be made for them, * Pfalm xix. 12. I
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=