Heaven upon earth in the serene tranquillity and calm composure, in the sweet peace…

yet there is still a truth in the connection, betwixt supposing a person to have a good Conscience, and our bearing burden with him, and taking a more kindly lift of his condition in prayer: And this is the reason why the Apostle makes use of this ground to press and stir them up to pray for him, and to show that he expected the help of their prayers; And indeed its no small encouragement in prayer to make mention of a persons name particularly to God in prayer, when we know that it is the name of one that is a friend of his, as Abraham is called.

yet there is still a truth in the connexion, betwixt supposing a person to have a good Conscience, and our bearing burden with him, and taking a more kindly lift of his condition in prayer: And this is the reason why the Apostle makes use of this ground to press and stir them up to pray for him, and to shew that he expected the help of their prayers; And indeed its no small encouragement in prayer to make mention of a persons name particularly to God in prayer, when we know that it is the name of one that is a friend of his, as Abraham is called.

All these serve to commend the great advantages that attend the having of a good Conscience, and to lay a strong obligation on us to pursue after it; and they may some way direct us how to walk, so as we may attain, and entertain a good Conscience; and they may withal help to make some discovery to us, if we be tender in our walk. But we come now to the Apostles assertion, We trust (sayeth he) we have a good conscience: from which we would observe a few things, wherein we shall be more general, 1. Then Observe, That there is a very great difference betwixt Consciences; some Consciences are good, some evil; some are clear and pure, some are unclear, impure, and defiled; As the Apostle shows, ⟨p. 281⟩2 Tim: 1. 3. When he says▪ I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience; and while he says, Tit. 1. 15. To the pure all things are pure, but to them that are defiled, and unbelieving is nothing pure, but even their conscience is defiled; Every man has a Conscience, but not the like Conscience: So that (I say) there is a great difference betwixt Consciences; even as great as there is betwixt men: As sin has brought a long train of pollutions and defilements with it, so that they reach the whole man, the very Conscience it self not excepted; o special grace hath a mighty powerful influence where it comes; and reaches the whole man, and the Conscience in particular; though not perfectly in this life: think no […] that all mens Consciences are alike; and as ye will not trust every mans word, so should ye not trust every mans Conscience.