.f1 rreatife o fConrczence. caufe againfi the houle of Ahab and the PrieRs ofBaal ; but it fuffered him to maintain the high places which 7eroboamhad fet up. Thus G.,fmaliel's cons fence made him fpeak well for Paul, and yet continue (it feemeth) in much other evill. This confcience will retrain from great [taring linnes, or from fuch as the man hath no natural propenfity unto : but others which feeme of a lower nature, or which are fuitable to a mans par- ticular delres, there confciencè will fwallowwithout remorfe. As civil people, that cannot fwallow down couzenage and in- juíict, and yet neg!ec`t ofprayer and other religious duties ne- ver troubleth them. And fo Tome profeffours, who cannot o' mit hearing Sermons and talking of Religion, and yet can refl: without the power thereof. 3. It is remifï'e; that is, though it doth counfel and direa, yet it doth it with fuch coldnefle and rernifleneffe, that it is ea- fily anfwered and put off. Thus is was with `David. It cannot be thought but his confcience Paid, Plot not agains`1 Vriah's life: but he would; and fo confcience let himdo it. This confcience will be anfwered with every flight and idle excuse : As when confcience telleth one, Your wayes arenot good : I Wifhyou to re- pent, andmake your peace with Cod; it may be the man an- fwereth, Tea,fo Imean to do; but I cannot yet intend it : when! have difjiatch fuch and loch bufinefe then Iwill do it, If confci- ence fpeak again, Yea, but you were belt to do it now ; True,faith he, I know it, 1 know it. If god would give me repentance I would repent : It hisgift ; of my felt Icannot do it. Or when it telleth himof family duties, it may be he anfwereth , l have no leafure; fo long asIgo to cod by my felf, I hope it will ferve turn. Or when it telleth him of his wickedneffe, it may. be he anfwereth, _Many eorfe then I have foundmercy; and I hope fo [hall 1. This is theconfcience that letteth a mans heart fay, I'hall havepeace. Now confcience being remifl'e and cold, it is eaG1y put off and anfwered with thefe idle and foolifh excu- fes, or with fome other pretenfes like there, and fq letteth the man go and live as before. This confcience is like Eli, which laid, Ye do not well,my fanned, but exercifedno feveritv to caute them to do otherwife. H 2 Deut. 29. 19. y! ---____
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