190 SeY non r. heed what it faith, in the very interim and mean time of his performing every a&ion ; yea, it is not only a main piece of a Chriftiar's walk, but a main evidence of a gender walk in a Chriftian, viz. when he doth not only aim to be clear in undertaking a duty, but to carry Con_ fcience along with him, and to know what it faith in following forth the duty. Take there two or three words for clearing it ; Firi, Confider that the right performance of our a &tons and duties, or the making of them filch as they would be, dependeth very much on the nick of our difcharging them ; fo that, tho' a man fhould deliberate never fo well before, if he be in a carnal frame, or have a felfy end in the time of per- formance, he will be at a lofs of his peace, and much coifs his mark ; as the apoftle bath the word, Philip. 3. 13. I prefr toward the mark: In his aiming at holinefs and a good Confcience, he levelleth all his a &ions at that mark, the prize of the high calling of God. I !hall make ufe of this fimilitude for illufirating it;. Let a man with a bow or mufquet level never fo well, or take never fo juff a vify, if his hand waver in the inffant of !hooting, he cannot readily hit the mark ; even fo, th& a man (as I faid) deliberate and advife never fo well with his .' Confcience before he do a thing, if, in the time of doing, he take not heed tenderly and Readily to it, but fall car- nal and felfy in it, he cannot have peace as to the perfor- mance of that a&ion. Secondly, Confider, that we are fo very tickle in our frame (as the duties of holinefs are fomeway in themfelves) and our hearts fo unflable, light and frothy, that th& we (hould level them right juif now, yet they will be ready quickly to (fart afide' as a deceitful bow upon our hand : It cannot therefore be fufficiénr ground for the te(fimony of a good Con - fcience, to deliberate in undertaking, except a man ob- ferve and reflect on his Confcience, and Rudy to carry it along with hire in the very time of his a&ing. Our hearts are like to a diftempered clock or watch, which being juif now fet never fo right, ere we are aware, it will go wrong ; it will point the hour aright now, and within a little it is quite out of courfe, becaufe there is fore Iiefe6t or fault within, the wheels not being evenly, or the
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