SERM. indifferent, as they are neither commanded XIII. nor forbidden, so it is the proper Business of Confcience to regulate them accordingly, and to approve or condemn us, according as we have observ'd or tranfgrefs'd the Law of God: And to have a Confcience void of Of fence towards God and towards Men, is to make our Actions conformable to the Law of God; which takes in a vaft Compass of Duty, because it includes in it all the Duties we owe to God and our Neighbour They can't be faid then to have a Confcience thus void of Offence, who are very diligent and induftrious in the Performance of fomè Duties, but are carelefs and neglectful of others; who will do only what is agreeable to their Inclinations, and hazard the Neglect of every thing else; obferve one Duty, and compound for the reft: But they who obferve a Uniformity in their Actions, and take care to perform their Duty in all things; who are as careful in keeping one Commandment as another; who think it as much a Sin to be uncharitable and cenforious, as to rob or steal; to be an Extortioner or unjust, as to be a Sot or a Drunkard, &c. For indeed they who seem to be very conscientious in fome things, and the reverse of it in others; who feem to be rigid and zealous in

the

the Performance of fome few Virtues, and SERM. shew an Abhorrence of fome particularVices, XIII. which don't happen to be agreeable to their Conftitution, tho' at the fame time they in dulge themselves in other Vices that are altogether as bad ; who can fwear, lye and cheat, and yet at the fame time thank God they are not as other Folks are, Adulterers, Drunkards, &c. I fay, thefe have no Pretence to Confcience, because a truly confcientious Difpofition would direct them to a Uniformity in their Actions, and lead them to a stedfaft Adherence to all those Principles of Morality and Religion, which are either imprinted in them by Nature, or reveal'd to them by the Word of God; it would direct them to the ftrait Paths of Virtue, and teach them to avoid all Temptations that lie in the way of it; it would indeed teach them a general Rectitude, and a univerfal Obedience to all Parts of their Duty. But who, you'll fay, is fufficient for these things? Who can acquit and justify himself before God, as to the perfect Innocence and Integrity of his Life? Who can fay, I have made my Heart clean, I am free from my Sin? Now, tho' it is not in a Man's Power to obferve and do his Duty in all things, without fome Deviations, fome in

voluntary

SEAM voluntary Miftakes, yet our Endeavours XIII. certainly are in our Power, and those it is expected that we make ufe of. God does

not require any thing of us above what we are able, but then he requires what we have in our Power to do, and where we have not Power, he will fupply the Want of it with his divine Affiftance.

But let it be obferv'd further, that to have a Confcience void of Offence towards God and towards Men, will fignify but little if it be put in practice only at particular Times, for 'tis neceffary that it be so always. The Apostle's Conscience was not only void of Offence, but it was always fo, 'twas what he exercis'd himself in the whole Courfe of his Life. This requires a conftant, fteady Temper of Mind; no fudden Flashes of Piety, that go off as foon as they come, and feem to be rather the Fever of Confcience than the natural State of it; no tranfient Thoughts, that die upon our Hands; no fhort Tranfports and Fits of De votion, fuch as it is in the Power of every light Affliction to ftifle and fupprefs, but an even, regular, uniform Course of Life. They are therefore very much mistaken, who think they have preferv'd a clear Confeience, and thoroughly difcharg'd their Duty,

Duty when they have perform'd fome Acts SERM of Religion at a few ftated Times, and then XIIL give themselves the Loofe, and undo every thing they had done before, as if the Obr ligations they are under to lead a good Life were not of equal Force and Strength one time as well as another. And yet there are many who, when they have perform'd their Duty at fome certain Times, attended the Service of God in publick, and behaved themselves on fuch Occafions as every good 'Man ought, will fit down as well pleased, and reft as well fatisfied, at least as to all outward Appearance, as if they had thoroughly discharged their Confcience; tho' perhaps they have fcarce done a good Action at any other time in the whole Course of their Lives, but on the contrary have indulged themselves in all manner of Ini. quity; who will lye, and cheat, and revile their Neighbours, and (as long as they can keep themselves within Covert, and screen their Immoralities from the Eye of the World, or the Law) commit the greatest Villainies imaginable, And this is most common among thofe who truft in themfelves that they are righteous, and defpife. others; who when they have perform'd their religious Task of going to fome public Place

of

SERM. of Worship at the ufual Times for fo doing; XIII. fay, when they have performed their Task, (for fuch they make it, whose Lives are not of a piece with it) aim at nothing further; who can pray with their Mouth, and enterta Malice and Rancour in their Heart; who can lift up their Eyes to Heaven, and their Hands againft their Brethren; fuch are apt to think all is well, they may do whatever they pleafe, every thing in them is commendable and praise-worthy. This is a way of discharging the Confcience in deed, if it will be fo discharged. But this will not do; this will ferve no Purpose but a bad one; for religious Duties muft not be changeable, like the Weather, but conftant and habitual; not by Fits and Starts, like fo many Points at unequal Diftances from one another, but in one regular Motion like a ftrait continued Line.

And, in order to it, we muft not let any thing break in upon us, and engross too much of our Time; for the Time past can't be recall'd, the Time that is to come is not to be depended on, and we are only fure of that which is prefent. But to this, per haps, it will be objected, that there is no living in the World without spending a great deal of Time in worldly Affairs; and

that