z Sermon 6. fell in any fin, nor in the omiffion of any known duty, but is aiming honeftly in every thing to approve himfeif to God, as it is, Heb. t3. 18. We trufl (faith the apoftle) we have a good Confcience in all things, willing to live honeflly : The teftimony is founded more on the fincere aim and endeavour, than what is a &uälly attained. idly, In the dottrine, we laid, A believer, in a good frame, 'will fo aim to live as he may have a good Confcience in all things ; and the obje&ion fuppofeth only, that, when he is not in a good frame, he cannot have a good Confci- ence : And that we grant ; for he may indeed, by his carnal frame and walk, fpoil and rob himfeif of the comfortable application of this mark, and fo there is no inconfiftency here. 4thly, This ftandeth firmly as a truth, That tho' a believer had many other marks, yet they cannot bear him comfortably through, if he want this fincere endeavour to keep a good Confcience : And it is fo very neceffary to a Chriftian walk, that a believer dare not conclude his fincerity, when he (contrary to his Sight) difpenfeth with himfeif in the commiffion of any known fin, or in the omiffion of any known duty. The 3d Ufe is of reproof and convietíon. If fo be, Chriftians ought fo to walk, and, when they are tender, i viIl fo walk, as n nothing they may offend their Confci- ence ; then there is a clear ground here to reprove them, who profefs themfelves to be Chriffians and believers, and yet aim not at this, to keep a good Confcience, yea, who in a manner cut out the ears, Phut the eyes, and flop the mouth of their Confcience. Is this Chriflian -like, think ye ? Happy were they, if Confcience had not an ear to hear, a tongue to fpeak, nor an eye to fee, who Tire fo, as if they cared not what Confcience hath to fay to them : If men fhould in all things walk according to Confcience ; then the molt part fall under the difcovery taf their rottennefs, that never fo much as honefily aim to keep a good Confcience, th& generally few will deny it. But it will be readily laid here, Who are thefe that will fin .sgainft their Confcience ? Therefore, we Ih.all fpeak a -word to thefe two, III, Can it be that men will fin as gainft their Confciences ? zdly, How corneth it to pafs that icn fm villa their Confcience For
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