An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

On the contrary side, in another extreme, there is the Enthusiast, who rejecteth the Scripture as a dead letter, and doth adhere only to revelations, to pretended workings of Gods Spirit, to the manifest light within them: Do not these even boast in their joys and ravishments? Do they not, when unable to answer arguments, fly to a light within them? But what ground is there for this? Is not the Apostles command, That we should not believe every spirit, but try them? 1 John 4. 1. And how must that be but by the Scripture? You see then, that it is not conscience simply and alone, but a Scripture-conscience that is the ground of comfort. To leave that, and to trust in our conscience, is to make our consciences a Bible, to attribute infallibility to our selves. Now this Scripture is not only a Rule for our conscience in matters of faith, but also of manners, of righteousness towards man. Conscience must witness to thee, not only that thou art in the true Religion, but also doest walk in holy conversation. It must testify of thy righteousness towards man, as well as of Religion towards God. This was Paul's continual exercise, Act. 24. 26. To have a conscience void of offence towards God, and towards man. There are many voluminous Tractates of Cases of Conscience, De jure & justitiâ, Of Righteousness towards man. And although the Scripture doth not particularly decide Law-cases, yet it layeth down such general rules, that by them particulars may easily be decided, if our hearts were not corrupt. As for example, that famous rule, What you would have men do to you; do ye to them, Mat. 7. 12. Our Saviour after he had given religious precepts about prayer; &c. he addeth this, to show that Religion and righteousness must always go together. And Adrian the Emperor was so affected with this Rule, saying, He had it from the Jews or Christians, that he commanded it to be written on the doors and gates of his Palace; and before he would punish any offender, would inform him of this Rule. And our Saviour saith, This is the Law and the Prophets. A great expression. Look then to thy conscience, that it take the Scripture for a Rule in its adequate nature. For faith and conversation, this is no rule for conscience to go by. Others do say, every ¹one is to look to himself; but the word of God that must bear evidence to thee by thy conscience.