nets and perfwafion (fo far as is in this cafe attainable) that another is keeping a good Confcience, makes a Chrifli_ an more willing to pray, and more hearty in prayer for fuch : A perfon will pray with the better will (to fpeak fo) for others, when he knows that they are tender ; whereas any groffnefs in a profeflòr will have influence on the cool- ing of his prayers for them, and he will be in hazard of being tempted, at leaf+, fomewq to ly by. We will not fay but there may be often a fault in this; yet there is 1fill a truth in the connexion betwixt fuppofing a per - fon to have a good Confcience, and our bearing burden with him, and taking a more kindly lift of his condition in pray- er : And this is the reafon why the apoffle makes ufe of this ground to preis and fir them up to pray for him, and to thew that he expe&ed the help of their prayers : And indeed, 'tis no fmall encouragement in prayer, to make mention of a perfon's name particularly to God in prayer, when we know that it is the name of one that is a friend of his, as Abraham is called. All thefe ferve to commend the great advantages that attend the having of a good Confçiente, and to lay a ffrong obligation on us to purfue after it ; and they may fomeway dire& us how to walk, fo as we may attain and entertain a good Confcience ; and they may withal help to make fome difcovery to us, if we be tender in our walk. But we crime now to the apoffle's affertion, We hull (faith he) we have a good Confcience : From which .we would obferve a few things, wherein we thall be more general ; ifi then, Obferve, That there is a very great dif- ference betwixt Confciences; forne Confciences are good, force evil ; fome are clear and pure, forne are unclear, im- pure, and defiled ; as the apoffle !hews, 2 ff'im. 1, ; when he fays, I thank God, whom I ferve with a pure Confcience ; and while he fays, Tit. i. 15. 20 the pure all things are pure ; but to them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure, but even their Confcience is defiled.. Every man has a Confcience, but not the like Confcience ; So that (I fay) there is a great difference betwixt Confciences, e- ven as great as there is betwixt men, As fin has brought a long train of pollutions and defilements with it, fo that they reach the whole man, the very Confcience itfelf not ex
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