vn .1.11A-4...1 24.. z,. Y23 on another to fatisfy him, and to bring him over to be of his mind in any matter : Hence alto is the debating and ftruggling exercife that fome will have within themfelves, before they can be brought to an ingenuous confe.ffion of that they are guilty of. 5thly, People Peek to pleafe their Confcience, when they cannot biafs it ; and, when Con- fcience challengeth, they will make amends ; as (it may be) they will pray when they are going to commit filch or fuch a fm ; as force profane men will do, when they are going to fight a combat or duel ; this is to bribe the Confcience : Thus, many Papif/ls, when they have done an evil turn, will give fo much to the poor, or dote fo much to force pious work, or ufe, as they judge to be a fort of recompenfe. What elfe is this, but to bribe Con- fcience in one thing, to hold its tongue in another thing ? So Tome, tho' they tiple all the day;, think they do weil, if they have been a while in the Church, and will feek to flop the mouth of their Confcience with that at night ; for they could not at all keep quarter (to fpeak fo) with their Confcience, if they had not force form of religion and therefore they will (to fpeak fo) be brave religious men in force things, that they may get a difpenfatton to themfelves in other things. But none of thefe will be found Law- biding, when God cometh to reckon. 6thly, People in a fort bargain with their Confcience, like thefe fpoken of, Ifa. 23. 15. They make a covenant with death, and are at agreement with bell; and (like Naamav, if that was indeed his meaning) they will yield Confci- ence fuch or fuch a thing, but no more ; they muff have a difpenfation in, and a liberty of, making refervations and exceptions, of force one or mo things. Tho' this may not always be done diffin&ly, formally, and ex- plicitely ; yet it is fo,on the matter, implicitely and inter- pretatively ; but that covenant with death, however made, dire &ly or indire&ly, Mall be broken, and that agreement with hell fiall not fiand, and the bail of God's wrath will fweep away the refuge of lies ; and Confcience will fpeak at lall, but not with, or under, fuch covers of fig- leaves, that men now wrap themfelves in : Therefore I befeech you daily not with Confcience ; for 'tis a fearful thing to fall into the hands of it when it is waJçned, as it 'íe is{ arp r fui
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