166 Of a Confcience void of Offence. SE R M. fuperftition ; between this and a mind free VII. from that bias, felf -pleas'd, with all the. good affections, benevolence to all men, as well as a zeal of God exerting themfelves harmonioufly ; both which are exemplified in the apoftle Paul at different periods of his life, tho' in both lie Pays of himfelf, that he lived in all good confcience before God. The latter is full of peace; a calm ferenity and joy diffufes itfelf thro' the whole foul, and no difturbing paffions approach its reit, the apoflle poffefs'd his mind in perfe± tran- quillity, undifmay'd and unterrified in the midft of perfecution and under the im- mediate expectation of death, rejoicing in the teflimcny of his confcienece that in fim- plicity and godly fincerity, not with flefhly wifdona, but by the grace of God, he had his converfation in the world. The other fort of religion, tho' it proceeds from a zeal to God, and is in fome refpects according to confci- ence, ye . does not fit eafy on the mind; it is accompanied with perturbation, and ve- hement, tumultuous, and difquieting paf- fions. St. Paul, tho' he faid that he thought himfelf oblig'd (in confcience) to do many things againft chriftianity, which is as much as can be faid for any one in fuch a cafe, yet acknowledges, as 461s.xxvi. ii. that he was exceeding
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=