Thinkest thou this to be right? I refer it to thy own Conscience, whether this be right yea or no; and thus the Scripture speaks often. When God would stop the mouth from all contradiction, and not leave opposers a word to say, he leaves it upon them to say all. Moses intending to prove that none could prevail against Israel, unless (God provoked by sin) delivered Israel up into their hands, gives this demonstration of it (Deut. 32.31.) Their Rock is not as our Rock even our enemies themselves being Judges; I refer this to our enemies opinion, whether the Dunghill gods, the Idols whom they serve and trust to, be like Jehovah, the living God, whom we have (and ought) to serve and trust to. You that are our enemies, do you think your Rock is like our Rock? I know you do not. The Apostles, Peter, and John, referred it back to the judgment of their Judges, whether it were fit for them, to obey their commands, yea or no, when they called them, and charged them to preach no more in that name, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, (Acts 4.19.) Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. We have received a command from God to preach▪ Go teach all Nations (Math. 28.19.) and we have received a command from you not to preach; now we leave it with you, whether it be fit for us to obey God or you. So the Apostle having admonished the Corinthians to flee from Idolatry, presently adds (1 Cor. 10.14, 15.) I speak as to wise men, judge ye what I say; I have given you the rule, and I leave it to your consideration, what's best and safest for you to do. I speak as to wise men, that's a holy insinuation; As if he had said, I know you are wise men, men of understanding, and therefore I do not so much command you to obey what I say, as to judge what I say; ⟨p. 5⟩I am much persuaded you cannot judge otherwise in this thing than I do; There is so much truth and reason in what I say, that you cannot but say so too. The same Apostle speaks again in a like form about women's praying uncovered; Judge in your selves, is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered (1 Cor. 11.13.) As if he had said, I do not stand wholly to my own judgement in this case of conscience, I dare refer it to you, and stand to yours. Thus in many things we may appeal unto the Consciences of those we deal with;
Thinkest thou this to be right? I refer it to thy own Conscience, whether this be right yea or no; and thus the Scripture speaks often. When God would stop the mouth from all contradiction, and not leave opposers a word to say, he leaves it upon them to say all. Moses intending to prove that none could prevaile against Israel, unless (God provoked by sin) delivered Israel up into their hands, gives this demonstration of it (Deut. 32.31.) Their Rock is not as our Rock even our enemies themselves being Judges; I refer this to our enemies opinion, whether the Dunghil gods, the Idols whom they serve and trust to, be like Jehovah, the living God, whom we have (and ought) to serve and trust to. You that are our enemies, do you think your Rock is like our Rock? I know you do not. The Apostles, Peter, and John, referred it back to the judgment of their Judges, whether it were fit for them, to obey their commands, yea or no, when they called them, and charged them to preach no more in that name, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, (Acts 4.19.) Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. We have received a command from God to preach▪ Go teach all Nations (Math. 28.19.) and we have received a command from you not to preach; now we leave it with you, whether it be fit for us to obey God or you. So the Apostle having admonished the Corinthians to flee from Idolatry, presently adds (1 Cor. 10.14, 15.) I speak as to wise men, judge ye what I say; I have given you the rule, and I leave it to your consideration, what's best and safest for you to do. I speak as to wise men, that's a holy insinuation; As if he had said, I know you are wise men, men of understanding, and therefore I do not so much command you to obey what I say, as to judge what I say; ⟨p. 5⟩I am much perswaded you cannot judge otherwise in this thing than I do; There is so much truth and reason in what I say, that you cannot but say so too. The same Apostle speaks again in a like forme about womens praying uncovered; Judge in your selves, is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered (1 Cor. 11.13.) As if he had said, I do not stand wholly to my own judgement in this case of conscience, I dare refer it to you, and stand to yours. Thus in many things we may appeal unto the Consciences of those we deal with;
