6. Liflw ro rfuVoice ojCJtJfdente. Of the Nature, Corruption and, &c. that Ground that is of it felf but too too fruitful. Thus the DMJil makes ufe of the Ear, through .it he blows up the Bladder of Pride, bX t~e Breath of popular Applaufe and Pra1fe. An_d thus he makes ufc of the lafcJvtous Eye as a burnir't· Glafs to fer the Heart on Fue; and fo alfo he makes ufe of t he other Senfes as Sinks of Luxury and Intemperance. Now if you would keep your Confciences dear and undefiled, fet a ftri tt quard and narrow Watch 11pon all thefe Paffag;cs to your Hearts ; critically examine every Thing that goes in, and every Thing that comes out by thefe Gates; an·eft whatever cannot produce its Pafs and Warrant from the Word of God; keep the fame Watch upon thefc Gates, that God would keep on the Gate of the H(twcnly City, the Ne1V ']eru{ttlem. It is faid, Rev. 2 1. 27. That th(re JIJall in no Jvift enter into it any thing that defilcrh. \Vhy fo let us who would keep our Confciences clear, guatd all th:.: Approaches to them .w ith the fame ftriB.nefs, and let nothing that defilet h enter in by thefcApproachcs to our Hearts. Sixthly and Lffftly, take this Direction,. Be Jure to liften to the Voice of Confcience. Thofe that ftop their Ears and will not hear Confdence when it d ireCts and reproves, fhall be fure to hear it loud enough when it lhall accufe and condemn them. Confciencc is the Voice of God in the Soul; why now if this Voice be fiighted, beware left the next time it fpcak to you in Thunder. Do nothing contrary to the Dictates of your Confciences; for this wil1 provoke God to give you up to a reprobate Senfc, and judicially to harden you in your Sins; for if finning againft your Confciences doth not corrupt them by making them infenfible and ftupid, it will certainly corrupt them by making them enraging and defpairing. Well now, for your Encouragemenr, let me t ell you, wh il e you arc carefu l by · following thefe DireClicas to keep your Confciences clear, you !hall alfo keep them peaceable. It is the foul nefs of a Gun that makes it recoil in difcharging: And fo it is the foulncfs of Men's C011ji'imces-that makes them recoil back again upon them in difcharging of their Offices. But wh ile Confcicnce is kept clear and void of Offence, it will be alfo kept free from quarrelling with you, and from accufing and condemning of you. So much for this Time and Text. SERMON XXVII. A DISCOURSE U P 0 N PERSEVERANCE IN PR AYE R. THES S. v. 17· Pray without ceajing. T . HIS Text is one of thofe many Commands that the Ap~jlle Jays down in this Chapter; being now almoft at the e~d and clofe of hts Epift.le, and ~ot willing to omit the mentionmg of Duues fo neceffary for thm Pralh~e;
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