274 A PRESERVATIVE FROM SIN AND FOLLX. 58. Q. When may you be said toact contrary to your conscience, or to sin against it ? A. When I speakor do anything which I know or think to be unlawful. Reason against this sin. Because conscience is that inward guide which God has appointed in man to direct and govern bim, and he can have no true peace or joy without obeying it. Scripture. "Prov. xx. V. The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord. Rom. ii. 14, 15: Those that have not thewritten law are a law to themselves, their conscience bearing witness, and their thought accusing or excusing them. Rom. zie. 5. Let everyman be fully persuaded in his own mind. Verse 22. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which be alloweth : but he that doubtetb, whether it be lawful to eat flesh, is damned, or self-condemned, if be eateth it. 2 Cor. i. 12. This is our rejoicing, the testimony of our son- science. Prov. xviii. 15. But a wounded spirit who can bear ? which may sig. nify a conscience bitterly afflicted for sin." 59. Q. What is intemperance? A. It is when I indulge nayappetite to excess, either in eating or drinking ; this is called gluttony and drunk.. enness.'g 60. Q. When may we be said to indulge our appetites, or eat and drink too much ? A. Whenwe eat and drink so much asis hurtful tothe body, or disorders the mind, andunfits us for our duty. Reason against this sin. Because most and drink were appointed of God, and given to man to maintain his health, and to render him fitter for his duty, both in body and mind. Scripture. "Luke xxi. 34. Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts he over-charged with surfeiting and drunkenness, lest the day of judg. ment come upon you unawares. Prov. xx. 21. Be not amongst wine-bitrbers, amongst riotous eaters of flesh, for the drunkard and the glutton 'shall come to poverty. 1 Cor. vi. 10. No drunkard shall inherit the kingdomof God." 61. Q. What do you mean by wantonness? A. It is when our words or our actions are lewd and immodest, and when we indulge unclean thoughts and desires. Reason against thissin. Modesty is as it were a natural virtue to a child, so that lewdness makes him appear like a monster. Besides, those who are lewd and immodest when they are young, become great sinners generally before they are old. Scripture. "2 Tim.,ii. 22. Flee youthful lusts. Rohn. xiii. 14. Let us walk honestly, or honourably, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and. wantonness. Eph. v. 3, 4, 5, 6. Fornication and all uncleanness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints. Neither filthy speech, nor foolish talking ; for no unclean person bath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, or of God :and because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the chil- dren of disobedience." 62. Q. When may we he said to delight in evil company ? A. When we readily follow their enticements, and continue among them willingly, and without necessity, notwithstandingtheir wickedness. Reasonagainst this sin. Because evil company draws young people innen. sibly by degrees into their evil opinions, and their wicked practices. Scripture. " Pros. xxii. 24, 25. Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man thou shalt not go, lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. Prov. xiii. 20. He that walketh withwise men shall hewise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. 1 Cor. xv. 33. Evil communica- tions corrupt good manners." 63. Q. When may webe saidto he guilty of a waste of time ? A. Three ways chiefly. 64. Q.. What is the first way of wasting time ? A. 1. When Tam lazy and slothful, and make an unreasonable waste of time by excessivesleep, or by sauntering about and doing nothing. Reason against this sin. Because time and the daywere given as for work and business of some kind or other t nor is any thing excellent and valuable that relates to this life or the life to come, to be obtained without industry and diligence.
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