berty, as Rom. 14. 2. One believeth that he may eat all things . Another that h weak, eateth herbs ; he will not take the liberty that (rod alloweth him ; as it was with many in the primo- primitive times, who thought not all meats to be alike lawful as to their ufe. Tho' this fort of Confcience fhould be informed, in order to its being brought up to the ufe of its lawful liberty ; yet, while it is infirm, and hath no clearnefs in the thing, it ought to lay on bands for abfL :ration, as the apoflle faith, i Cor. S. 13. If meat make my brother to offend, I will not eat fiefh while the world flandeth, left I make my brother to, offend < .fiecaufe, by the example of his eating (as he faith before) his weak brother is emboldned to eat alto, and fo Confcience, being weak, is woasnded : All which faith, That we ought to fludy fo be well acquainted with the word of God, that Confcience may be rightly informed thereby. Secondly, There are other five forts of Confciences, that fail in pra&ice or application of the rule, which ought no more to be laid weight upon in pra&íce, than the for- mer. The fijt is a too narrow Confcience, that challeng- eth too foon (with which many in thefe days are not much troubled, but rather run on the contrary extre- mity) as when a man's light is not clear in a thing that is indifferent, as the weak Confcience was wounded for eating a little flesh ; thus, an infirm Confcience will readi- ly challenge and heighten a fin without ground ; which is efpecially to be found among new beginners, who ufe to have a number of challenges for this and that, which yet cannot well abide the trial : Several particulars might be inflanced in, as they will be fometimes challenged and difquieted for coming into fuch a company, which yet they might have done warrantably ; for not fpeaking when poflibly it was their duty to hold their tongue ; for fpeaking, when yet it was their duty to fpeak ; for taking fo much meat and drink, which yet is but fufficient for the fuffentation of nature ; tho' they quefrion not fuch meat and drink to be lawful for the kind, yet they are challenged and troubled without ground, as to the mea- fure and quantity. 2. A
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