A rreatife ofConfcience. 33 done or omitted : where I fhali confider, firfi, the office of confcience in this behalf, viz. L. To judge, 2.To counfel : and then the adjuncts of confcience in difcharging this office. r. Confcience judgeth ofa thing to be done, whether it be good or evil, lawful or unlawful. As we try the weight ofgold by a pair of balances, fo confcience trieth all our actions by Gods word. It is the oracle of God : As the Jews went to Gods oracle to enquire ofthe Lord, fo our confcience is Gods oracle to enquire ofand to determineofthings whether they be good or evill : It is a judge in the bofome. When the queftion in Corinth was;whether women íhould be uncovered when they pray, the Apoftle fendeth them to confcience for judge- ment. judge in your (elves, faith he, whether it be comely or no ; that is, Put it to the judgement ofyour own confciences. So fay the difciples to the Jews ; Whether it be better to obey god or man, judgeye ; Put it toyour own confciences. Thus ye fee it is the officeofconfcience to judge of an ac`fion to be done whether itbe goodor bad , lawful! or unlawful!. z. The fécond office ofconfcience is to counfel for the doing ofthat which is good,forbearing of that which is evil. This is that faithful! friend in our bofome, that voice within us andbe- hindus, faying,This is the way; wall¿ in it. M;rk the words there; ye fec tiefe twooffices ofconfcience. This is the way ; there is the judgement ofconfcience and Walke in it; there is thecounfel of confcience. Nay, confcience Both not only give good counfel, but if it have leave it will bring arguments to perfwade to follow it : it will tell us the thing is wet- pleating to God, ofgood report, that which will bring peace to our hearts. And fo on the contrary, ifit be evil , confcience will counfell us to forbear, yea bring arguments to d iffwade ; O do it not :it will tendto the difhonour ofGod, andbe offenfive to others, and Woundour fouls, &c. It was confcience that with-held David from killing Saul, and preft him from it by a flrong ar- gument, O he is the Lords annoynted. It was confcience that withheld Iofeph from y eilding to the enticings ofhis Miflretfe, and yeilded him anargument to difl'wade him from it. How F fh.ill 1 r. Confcì.. encejudg. eth. I Cor. I I. 1;. y. Confci- encccoun fclleth. I Sam,z4. IO.
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