on A &s 24. 26. 5 dire &ion of Confcience, to take orders (to fpeak fo) from it, fo as, when Confcience pointeth at filch and fuch a thing as evil, to fland and f f} there, without daring to meddle with it,or move towards it ; and, when it holdeth forth fuch or fuch a. thing to be a duty, ftraightway to give obedience to it. Herein mainly confifleth a good Confcience (confidering it with refpe& to its exercife, when once made good) to have our Confcience laying nothing againfl us, and without having ground to fáy any thing againfl us ; when it cannot challenge us, and fay, That it enjoined us to do fuch or fuch a thing, and that yet we did it not ; or that it enjoined us to forbear fuch or fuch a thing, and that yet we did -it not ; or that it enjoined us to forbear fuel, or fuch a thing, and that yet we went on to the doing of it, fo that, when we come be- tfore God, it may have nothing to reprove or challenge us for, nothing to condemn us in ; but, as it holdeth out our duty to us fro the word, jufl fo to endeavour to .. behave in all thin . For the zd thing propofed to be fpoken to, viz. That a believer ought, and, if he be tender, will walk fo, as he may not offend his Confcience ; there three things will confirm it. r. The very nature and office of his Confcience : If fo be that Confcience fpeaketh for God, and is appointed by him as his deputy, to be a remem- brancer of duty, and a reffrainer from fin ; then the awe of God, and love to him, will make a man that is tender, walk according to the dire &ions of Confcience : Hence it is, that Rom. t 3. 5. the commands that are laid on for God's fake, are alto laid on for Confcience fake, Where- fore (faith he) ye mujineeds be fubjet!, not only for Wrath, but alfo for Confcience fake; that is, from the awe of God, that putteth us to our duty, and from refpe& to Confci- ence his deputy. In this refpeEt the voice of Confcience is the voice of God; for,as a man cannot be tender who re- fufeth to hear the word of God, fo neither can he be ten- der who refufeth to comply with the dire&ions of his Confcience fpeaking the mind of God to him. A fecond reafön is drawn from the great advantage that floweth from the teflimony of Confcience ; it giveth much quiet- nefs and Tweet peace in all ftraits and troubles, and much D 3 eoníir.
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