A freatife ofConicience. I . It is fupreme : It bathhigheft authority ; it is the Fnoft un- controlable and abltft witnefle that can be; the greateft,weigh- tieft witnefie in the world ; better then ten thoufand witnef fes. Though all the world do condemne us,yet if our own con - fciences do not, we need not fear : And fo on the contrary, if confcience do condemne us, it will be fnnall comfort chi-nigh all the world flacter and commend and excufe us . It is a fu- preme witneffe . Though all the Angels in heaven fhould come and beare witneffe, their witnefi'e is not fo uncontrol- able as confcience is. There is no appealing from the witneffe ofconfcience ; we mull be tried by it . Ifconfcience do accufè and condemne us, the Lord only is greater then our confcience, r: ohn 3.20. and will give judgment with it when it doth its office. And it our confciencedonot condemne us, we may be confident to (land before all the judges and kings in the world, yea, We mayhave confidence torrards God, faith the text. 2. And as confcience is fupreme in bearing of witneffe, fo alfo it is fu- preme in commanding. All the commands of it are powerfull and fupreme : it will not be flighted : it bindeth kings and princes : Nay, though God himfelfe command the contrary, yet can we not difobey confcience without (inne. By this it ap peareth, that when confcience doth witneffe its witneffe is fupreme ; when confcience commandeth, its command is fupreme. 2. Confcience as it is fupreme in witneffing or commanding, fo it is impartial) in judging. It refpeeteth no perlons, no e Rates, but accufèth the richeft as well as the pooreft, the great- eft as well as the meaneft. It made great_Belfhazzer fo to quake that thejoynts ofhis loyns were fooled, and his knees fmote one againi another, Dan. S. 6. It made great Felix to tremble to heare Paul (peak of righteoufnefie and of judgement. Felix;; thought to (care Paul ; but confcience feared Felix. so on the other fide, it is impartial) in excu(ing. It will give evidence of the goodworks of the pooreft in the world, as well as ofthe wealthieft. Art thou never fo mean ? thy confcience will be as ready to excufe thee ifthou haft done well, as ifthou wert the E greateft
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