Of a Confcience void of Offence. 171 point of our probation, whether we will in S E x M. fuch darknefs of underftanding, and fo VII. many temptations from without, . and from our own infirmities, make religion and vir- tue our chief bufinefs ; and labour above all things to maintain our integrity, or keep con - fciences void of offence. Every man who thus employs himfelf will find indeed, that his labour is not in vain ; that he has fuffi- cient encouragement to hold on his righteous way, and his work carries its own reward along with it, in the growing vigour of fpi- rit and rational fatisfation which accompa- nies it ; but at the fame time he will find full employment for all the heft capacities of his foul, and that the working out his falvation, and making his calling and election fure, requires all diligence with the utmoft care and circumfpedion. The fcripture reprefentations of a re- ligious life are very inftruEtive to this pur- pofe, for the precepts of the gofpel and the examples which are propos'd to our imita- tion, fhew, that we muff run and ftrive, and fight, having violent oppofition to ftruggle with, and many difficulties to make our way through. We wreftle with flefh and blood, with flefh which warreth againft the fpirit,
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