Page images
PDF
EPUB

5. By Discourse of Reason, syllogistically, S. Matt. xxvii. 3. 1 Sam. xxiv. 5.

Confcience in the major, is Lex.

in the minor, Teftis,
in the Conclusion, Judex.

II. What are the several Offices of the Conscience ?

1. To apply general Truths to ourselves,

2 Sam. xii. 7. Jer. viii. 6.

2. To bear Witness of, Rom. ii. 15.

1. GOD's Laws.

2. Our Actions.

3. To comfortus in our Obedience, Ifa.xxxviii.3.

4. To accuse us of Sin, Rom. ii. 15. Rev. xx. 12.

5. To judge, Pfal. iv. 4.

1. Our Actions, Rom.xiv. 22, 23. Lam. iii. 40. 2. Our Persons, 1 Cor. xi. 31.

III. What is it to have a Conscience void of Offence ? ἀπρίσκοπον συνείδησιν.

When our Confcience cannot accuse us of doing any thing Offensive to GOD or Man.

1. Confcience is GOD's Vice-Gerent in the Soul.

2. Rightly enlighten'd, it dictates nothing but GOD's Commands.

3. All GOD's Commands concern Himself, or else our Neighbour, S. Matth. xxii. 37, 38.

4. When we do what it commands, our Conscience excuseth and comforteth us, 2 Cor. i. 12. 5. It accuseth for nothing but Sin.

6. Therefore when we do nothing Offensive to GOD or Man, then our Confcience is void of Offence, Aft. xxiii. 1.

IV. How

IV. How must we carry ourselves towards GOD and Man, so as to have a Confcience void of Offence to both.

1

1. TO GOD.

1. Love Him, Deut. vi. 5.

2. Defire Him above all Creatures, Phil

iii. 8.

3. Seek Him before all Treasures, S. Matth.

vi. 33.

4. Believe Him in all His Assertions.

5. Fear Him above all Powers, Jer. v. 22.

6. Trust on Him in all Conditions, Pfal.

Ixii. 8..

That He will either,

1. Prevent the Afflictions you fear, Pfal.

xci. 5.

2. Support you under them, 2 Cor. xii. 9.
3. Sanctify them to you, Rom. viii. 28.
4. Or remove them from you, 2 S.Pet.ii. 9.
7. Rejoice in Him more than in all Enjoy-
ments, Phil. iv. 4. Habak. iii. 17, 18, 19.
8. Meditate on Him in all Occasions, Pfal.
cxxxix. 18.

9. Pray to Him all your Days, I Theff. v. 17.
10. Praise Him for all your Mercies, I Theff.

ν. 18.

11. Perform all His Commands, Ecclef.xii.13.
12. Aim at His Glory in all your Actions,

1 Cor. x. 31. Rom. xiv. 6.

1. Because He made all Things for Him

self, Prov. xvi. 4.

2. He is the End of all Things, Rev. i. 8.

2. To Man.

1. To all.

1. Love all, S. Matth. V. 44. Hebr. X. 24. 2. Pray for all, 1 Tim. ii. 1.

3. Do Good to all, Gal. vi. 10.
4. Forgive all their Wrongs and Injuries
which they do us, Col. iii. 13. S. Luk.
xi. 4.

5. Be courteous to all, I S. Pet. ii. 17. and
iii. 8. Rom. xii. 10.

6. Be just to all, Mic. vi. 8. 1 Theff. iv. 6. 2. To good Men.

1. Love them above others, because they

are,

1. More wife, Eph. v. 15.

2. More just,

3. More lovely, Col.ii. 10. Eph.v. 26, 27.

4. More honourable, than others, 1 Sam.

ii. 30. Prov. xii. 26.

2. Do good to them especially,

1. By preventing their Dangers.

2. By comforting them under Afflictions.

3. Communicating to their Necessities,

1 S. Joh. iii. 17.

3. To evil Men.

1. Pity their sad Estate, Cant. viii. 8.

2. Reprove them for their Sins, Lev. xix.

17. Mal. xviii. 15.

3. Use all Means to win them to Christ.

USE.

1. By shewing them good Examples,
S. Matt. V. 16. I S. Pet. iii. 1.

2. By praying for them.
3. By wife Counsel and Advice.
Consider S. James V. 19, 20.

Keep your Consciences void of Offence.

DIRECTIONS.

1. Get your Confcience regulated by GOD's

Word, Pfal. cxix. 105.

2. Get your Conscience directed by His Spirit,
Pfal. cxix. 133. S. Joh. xvi. 13.

_ well-grounded and fettl'd, Rom. xiv.

5. S. Pet. 1. 12.

4. Do nothing against Confcience, Rom. xiv.
22, 23:

5. Do every thing out of Confcience, Rom.
xiii. 5.

6. Avoid secret as well as open Sins, 1 S. Joh.
iii. 20.

7. Choose the greatest Sufferings, rather than
do the least Sin; for,

1. There is more real Evil in the least Sin.

2. The least Sin deserves greater Sufferings.

8. Balk no Duty.

1. For Fear, Act. iv. 18, 19.

2.

Favour, S. Joh. xii. 43.

3. Or Interest.

MOTIVES.

1. A good Conscience will be a Comfort to us
in the midst of all our Troubles, Prov. xv. 15.
2 Cor. i. 12.

2. An evil Conscience will be a Trouble to us in
the midst of all our Comforts, Prov. xviii. 14.
3. Unless we keep our Confcience void of Of-
fence here, it will witness against us hereafter.
4. Be our Tormenter for ever, S. Mar. ix. 43,44.
5. But a good Confcience will be our eternal
Joy.

:

The End of the Second Volume.

« PreviousContinue »