Durham - BV4615 D87 1732

More particularly, it may be asked here, What is the qualification or evidence whereby a perfon my clear and prove, that upon good and folid ground he affumes to himfelf this teftimony of a good Confcience, and may not fcrupuloufly reje& it ? The apoftle golds it out in thefe words, willing to live honefily ; and ye may take it in this obfervation, That a firm and fettled ferious pun, pofe of univerfal holinefs and honefty in our life and walk, bath great influence on the peace and tranquillity of our Confcience, and is a good evidence of a good Con- fcience ; and, withal, a choice companion that waits con-, tinually on it. T put thefe three together, as included in the words, in all things willing to live honefily ; the lat- ter words refpe& the former, the defign being as broad as the effe &; and the former prove the latter, the Rudy of univerfal holinefs, a willingnefs to live honefily Fir then, we fay, That this univerfal honeft defign is the companion of a good Confcience, it waits always on it Or,a good Confcience and this go together; he that hath a good Confcience is honeft in his walk, and he that is ho- neft in his walk hath a good Confcience. Secondly, We fay, That it is an evidence of a good Confcience ; for, if they only have this good Confcience, who are honeft in their walk, then, where this honeft walk is, there muff= be a good Confcience. Thirdly, We fay, That it bath much influence on a good Confcience, it is in fome fort a procurer of it ; in which fenfe, a good Confcience is an effe& of an honeft walk ; fo that, the more honeft a man be in his walk, the more quietnefs will he have in his Confcience. Becaufe the do&rine is very broad, and affords much profitable ufe, I tha11, i. Clear it ; then, z. Confirm it ;- and, 3. Make force ufe of it, and remove foene pra&ical doubts that may arife from it. i then, for clearing the do&ring by parts ; In it we take in thefe three ingredients, to make up the evidence of a good Confcience ; if, That a man walk's will lib honeft. zdly, That it be an univerfal honetty in all things. idly, That there be a willingnefs or hearty purpofe to- wards univerfal honefty, whereon the great ftrefs of the

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