The fourth (and last) volume of discourses, or sermons, on several scriptures

First,¹ If you would have your Consciences clear, get them rightly informed. How can Conscience be clear, so long as the Fogs and thick Mists of Ignorance and Error possess it? Labour, therefore, to let in spiritual Light into it, that you may see how to cleanse it. It is as much Vanity to go about to cleanse an ignorant Conscience, as it is in vain to sweep a dark Room. An ignorant, conscientious Man, that knows not the Limits of Sin and Duty, may, after a great deal of pother with his Conscience, leave it much worse ⟨p. 364⟩than he found it, and cast out Jewels instead of Rubbish: Indeed it is impossible for an ignorant Man to have a good Conscience, whether we respect Duty or Comfort; in point of Duty I have showed you formerly that Ignorance will make Conscience unnecessarily scrupulous, or daringly presumptuous: Now neither can an ignorant Conscience be good in respect of Comfort, because through Ignorance Conscience oftentimes quarrels at that which is a true Ground of Rejoicing. Conscience is that Glass whereby we may both view our selves, and also our Actions: Now as a Glass, when falsely framed, represents a beautiful Face monstrous and frightful, so Conscience, when falsely informed, makes even lovely Actions appear misshapen and terrifying, by distorted Representations of those Things that are lawful, and perhaps our Duty also. Therefore in the first place, get an enlightened Conscience if you would get a good Conscience; for what says the wise Man,² Prov. 19.2. That the Soul be without knowledge, it is not good; or, as some Translations have it, a Soul without knowledge is not good; it is indeed good for nothing, unless ⟨p. 365⟩it be to make Men sin conscientiously, and to embolden them to commit the greatest Wickedness in the World with Peace and Comfort. Thus, says our Saviour, John 16.2.³ Whosoever killeth you shall think that he doth God good Service, through the Error and Mistake of their Conscience. So in