Ch.43. about confciencegood andbad. not of another, is tomake no Confcicnce of theone, or of the other. So Met; 2.3.5,2.3. Rom.2.2z. 7. A fincere mancarries himfelfever as before God, 2. Cor.2. 17. Pfal.r6.8. and 44. 25. He carries an awfull apprehenfionof God with him whitherfoever he goes : Hence, Co1.3.23. S. A fincere man confults with his duty more then with his commodity, and refolves againfi fin, more then againfi any danger : He undervalues all loffes to the lofieof Gods favour, and his own peace, Pfd. 25. 2t. 9. Such an one cannot skill of Heftily wifdome, or worldly Policy : He is no time-ferver , a Cor. I. 12. Simplicity is the fincerity , and lincerity all the policy of a confciencious man. He delires no more wifdom then will make himhoner, and fincere, Rom. r 6.i9. to. Sincerity is known, . It. By the original!,and principle it moves from,: Pharifes pray for otlentation, not from devotion, Mar.6.5,2,5. So,PhJl.i.i6. A fin- cere perfon doth all out of a principle ofpiety to God, and cha- rity toman. 2. By the rule it conflantly walks by, viz. Cods Word. So j o,6ah, a ICin. 22. 2. Come commodity, or difcommodity , he keeps onhis way : but -unfound perfons talc their eye on their own intereft. So a Chron. 27.2. and 26.4. and 25. a. a Kin. 1 0.31. 3. By the end it aimes at, God is the fincere mans end , and his glory his aime : the Hypocrite makes himfelf his own end, and fo fain- t felf his owngod , Zach.7. ç, 6. Hof. 1 o. s. Fourthly, An inoffenfive Confcicnce, which Pad highly efteemed, At/.24. x6.and this doth, 1. Avoid giving offence, either to God or man. r.He (}rives to prevent of- fences to God, and takes up purpofes againfi them, Pfd. 57.3. and if he hath difpleafed God, he is difpleafed with himfelf for it. So ler.31.19. job42.6. Ezek, 6.9. and 36. 35. and he is carefull to breake off-his fins by repentance, Job 34. 31, 32. and 40.4, 5. He is refolved rather to of- fend all the- world, then to offend God, Gal. I. 1o. `Dan.3.s6. Ali. 4. 19 . 2. Avoid givingoffence to man; efpecially fuch an offence as may caufe him to fin, and then fuch an offence as may caufe hint to take offence : in the firfi we tempt him, in the fecond we try him: in both we offend him, and doe the Divells work in both. By the former he is Humbled , by the Se- icond he is made weake, andby both offended, Rom. 14.2.1, we mull there- foretake heed that we doe nothing that fhould caufe others to offend by Lin ning,as Elie: fons did, s Sam. a. 24. and Jeroboam, a Kin. 14.16. and Ahab, i< Kin. as. 25. woe to fuch, Lukç 17.1. we wuft give no offence to the god- ly, be they ftronger, or weaker, cillatth. 18. 6, io. nor to the wicked. Hence ,' Col. 4. ç. 1 Tim.6. i, 2. 1 Pet. 2. IS. and 3. 5. we mull not offend our felves, but muff regard what Confcience calls for to fatisfie our duty, and to keep in with our felves , rather then to gratifie any others re- quefts. 2. An inoffenfive Confcience will not be apt. to cake- offence., .ei- ther f 1. FromGod,who can nevergive any : yet tofome, Chnti is a rock of offence, Rom. 9.33. yea he was fo to his Difciples, c.*larh. f a6. 31. 2. From Gods way: as when we receive the Word with joy, but meeting with perfecucion we are offended , and turn back , Math. 13. 21. K kk 2 3. From 435 IV.
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