ATreatife o fConftience. 43 If that cannot be done, then it is lawful( to follow coníci- Pflnfw. ence notwithftanding the doubts and fcruples of it. Obferve that place well. Deut. 13.1. 6--c. the Lord commandeth if a Duet. falfe Prophet Should come amongft them todraw them from I, z, 3.4 the truth, and Should Phew a fìgne or miracle to conhrme his doarine, and the figne Should come to paffe (which might put doubts and fcruples into their consciences) nevertheleffe confcience inclining to the truth they are bound to nand to that : for thefe doubts and Scruples do not argue a want of faith, but only a weakneffe of it. I. This fheweth what need we have to labour to have our ,vfe I. confciences rightly informed. It is a comfortable thing for a Chriflian to have his confcience fo fully illightned as that he can without doubtingsor fcruple difcharge the duties bothof his general and particular calling : And it is a great dinurbance to .a Chrinians mind , when his confcience is fo weak and igno- rant that he cannot perform his duties without doubts and fcru- pies whether he is right or no,efpecially in matters ofgreaten moment. It is a great mifery to have our confciences blind, whichShould be our guides, and which it is a (inne to difobey. This is the reafon why S. maul doth fo often fpeak, l wouldnot have you ignorant, i Cor. Io. T. & tr . 3. It is a very great mife- ry that ones confcience Should be ignorant what to do, what to hold, what to follow : I fay, it is a lamentable mifery, that manywho have followed thedirec`lions of confcience, Should by it be led todeath and damnation, to do things contrary to Godsword, What a mifery was it for the jewel to have zeal and not according toknowledge ? &c. ILThisfhould teach us toufe the means truly to inform con- vfe 2. fcience, Without knowledge the heart is not good that is, it is Prov tI 9 molt profane. There be three means to get knowledge. a . Let Means to us pray untoGod that he would open our underftandings; that get know. as he hath given us confciences toguide us,fo a1Fa he wouldgive ledge. our guides eyes that they may beable todirect us a right. The I truth is it is God only that can foundly illighten our confcieno ces: and therefore let us pray unto him to do it. All cur Study - G 2 ing,,
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