ermon r. erne, and that it takes notice of every thing, and will take offence if it be a thing that thwarts with it. We !hall not in this place Rand to debate what Confcience is, whether it be a power or a faculty, an habit or an of ; which, as it would not be much for your edification, fo it would tranfcend the reach of many of you : Only in the general we may call it a power wherewith God hatis endowed the foul of man to take notice of all his thoughts, words and anions. 2. We fay, It is accordingly affe &ed with every thing : When the man does right,it is pleafed; and when he does wrong, it is offended and wounded, s we may fee, i Cor. S. to, z r. fo, z Sam. 24. 5. it is laid, David's heart fmote him ; and, Prov. IS. 14. this is called a wouxded fpirit. 3. As it is afï'e &ed, fo it affe &s the perfon : , When a man has done well, it excufes and clears him ; and when he has done evil and wronged it, it challenges and accufcs him ; in which refpe &, Con - fcience is called a judge, pronouncing fentence, by abfol- ving or condemning men. Scripture, and the experi- ence of all forts of people and times, clear and prove this; . The fcripture Pays of heathens, Rom. 2. i 5. That their Confcience bears them witnefs, and their thoughts the mean while accufe or excufè one another ; it holds out this to have been in Adam, who immediately after the fall, Gen. 3.10. Mays, I heard thy voice, and was afraid ; terror feized on him : It mentions this alfo to have been in 7ofeph's bre- thren, who, Gen. 42. 2I. fay, We are verily' guilty con - cerning our Brather ; and in David, in that forecited iSam. 24. 5. where 'tis faid,that his heart fmote him: ' Tis clearly elfo fappofed, i Yohn 3.19, 20, 2.1. where the apoffle Pays, If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things ; if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God ; where we would take notice, that what is here, and fometimes in the old teffament, called the heart, is in the text, and elfewhere, called the Confcience, w hich.fuppofeth this to be in every `man : It is further clear from the daily experience of all in all times; for fometimes it is pnufing to duty, fometimes it is chal- lenging for the omiff on of duty, or for commiffion of the contrary evil ; fometimes it is (peaking peace, fometimes it ig marring peace, and denouncing war as it were ; all which
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