, xx The Epif c entions perfons to think, that it were better, and more for the advantage and credit of religion, and of the real pleas of Confcience, that it were never pretended in fuch things, where it is only pretended. I will not, I dare not fay, but a truly confcientious perfon may, by the more clofe approaches of trouble and fuffering on the account of force particular debated pra. &ice, or forbear- ance, be put upon more narrow and exa& enquiry into, and examination of, the grounds and reafon of that pra_ fake, or forbearance : And may,after fuch enquiry and ex- amination, come, from more clear light, to have different apprehenfions about the thing, from what he had before; though the clearnefs win at, which is waited with the et-chewing of trouble and fuffering, would be holly jea- loufed and fufpe&ed, and brought to the light of the word, to be thereby fcrutinoufly, accurately and impar- tially tried, left felf -love in fuch a cafe bribe (as it were) and biais the perfon's judgment and light. idly, When Confcience is pretended in minute, fmall, petty and com- paratively inconfiderable things, while in the mean time little or no Confcience at all is made of, but vaft and unlimited latitudes are taken in, the molt momentuous and weighty things of religion ; as the Pharifees pre- tended Confcience, in tithing the fmallesá herbs, as mint, annife and rue, while in the mean time, they paffed over without making any bones of them, judgment and the love of God; which is Braining at gnats, and (wallowing of camels. idly, When Confcience is pretended for mens tenacious adhering to human traditions, while in the mean time they make no Confcience of making void the law of God : As the fame Pharifees did, for which our Lord with holy feverity inveigheth againft them. 4thly, When Confcience is pretended for not lhedding the blood of innocents ; and yet, nOtwithftanding, tl9e fame things are adventured on, and wickedly perpetra- ted, when they come in competition with mens worldly wealth or preferment, or with the gratifying of great ones in order to the former; as it was with Pilate in the matter of condemning Chrift, of whole innocence he was throughly convinced, and accordingly did thrice overbear publick teftimony to it; yet, when he wastold, dig
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