Durham - BV4615 D87 1732

ing and favoury fermons (wherein if there be any thing that doth not fo fully anfwer expectation, let it be im- putted to the writer from his own mouth, whole copy was fo very incorre&, that the fitting it for the view of the world hath caufed no (mall labour to me) I need fay the lefs of it ; only in general, I would humbly offer thefe few things, Fire, We would above all things look well that once we have a good confcience, not only morally (that is, when confcience judgeth itfelf bound to own God's revealed. will for its rule, and when it impelleth or puiheth the man to a& according to that rule, and withal the more ordinary difpofition of his will is to comply with thefe impulfes of his confcience, which may be where there is no fpecial or faving grace) but gracioufly fo ; which neceífarily prefuppofeth a ftate of regeneration, and the heart's applying itfelf by faith (the gift of God) to the blood of fprinkling, which both purgeth and pacifieth cleanfeth and calmeth the confcience; which fpeaketh bet ter things than the blood of able, yea, bath a cry, able to outcry the loudeft cries of the molt clamorous and guil- ty confcience, and is that wherein all difquieting chal- lenges and accufations for fin are only fafely funk and and put to filence, fo as they íha11 never again fwim a hove and talk to the final forrow and íhame of fuch as are led through grace to take this courfe with them , as the now funk and any other way filenced challenges of moft men and women, will once moft certainly. rife on them, and fpeak at a high rate againft them, never any more taP hold their peace from grievoufly galling and gnawing ac- cufations ; For to the unclean and unbelieving nothing is pure, but even the mind and confcience is defiled. Secondly, The confcience being thus made good, we would endeavour by all fuitable means to keep it fo, that we may be in cafe on warrantable and good grounds to fay with -the apoffle, LVe trufi we have a good confcience in all things, willing to live honefily, Heb. 13. 18. And if at any time the confcience of the Chriftian be defiled and wounded by new contracted pollution and guilt, and challenges begin thence to arife and to difturb the peace nd fev et repefe of the foul, there would be on all fuck occafions

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