0$ Sermon zo and feveral otherways, prejudge ourfelves of the ap- proving tefiimony of our Confcience ; which we would carefully advert ro, that we divide not betwixt á good Çonfcierice, and a good turn, a&ion or duty. But it may be'asked here, What is the reafon that it is fo difficult to keep a good Confcience, and to carry it along with us in the very interim, mean time, and nick of performing the a &ion, above and beyond what it is, ei- ther to deliberate and advife with it before we do, or to refle& after we have done ? g anfiver, and give thefe two or three reafons of it The ill whereof is drawn from the neceffary concur- rence of fo many things that muff go together in the performance of an aEtion ; which makes it eafer to re, folve before doing, or to refle& after doing, than to per- form. The 2d is, Becaufe there is fuch a ticklenefs in the frame of our hearts, that they are unffable as wa- ter, ffable in nothing. There are three diftempers of heart that we are fubje& to, which all hold forth this difficulty ; r. A declining humour (to fay fo) or di- ftemper, whereby we are given to backflide, or turn a- fide like a deceitful bow, that keeps benfil while the ar- °ow is a- drawing; and, when it is at, or in the very letting off, ftarteth afide. z. A leveity and unfettlednef, even fuch that the weather-cock is not fooner and more eaf- iy whirled about by the leaft wind, than we are by the haft breathing of the air of temptation ; fo that, were we juff now in a good and fuitable frame for duty, ore we be aware, we fall off : And a good Confcience requireth a compoíednefs and ffayednefs of frame. 3. A rath- nefß, and haffinefs, or precipitance, which makes us, that fo loon as we are clear in the thing, to ruth for - ward, and to, think all is done that is requifite ; fo that we wait not to carry Confcience along with us in our performances : Which rafh, precipitant and haffy hu- mour or diffemper maketh us often mifcarry ; as David fays of himnfelf, Pfal. 119. I faid in my hat /e, that all amen are liars ; and I faid in my ha fie, that I am cut off from by prefence, Pfal. 31. So believers often marr the corn- , ofednefs of their own frame by their hafting and not taking heed to what Corfcience faith, while they are in per-
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