The door of salvation opened by the key of regeneration

Like an ignis fatuus (as pure and perfect a light as the Quakers make it) it leadeth men out of Gods high way into those bogs and quagmires wherein they sink and perish. I question not, but the heathens did follow their polluted consciences in their idolatrous practices. And sure I am, that Paul might thank his corrupt conscience for persecuting Jesus Christ. I verily thought, saith he, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Christ, Acts 26,9. Mark the words, they are full of weight, Pauls conscience told him 'twas his duty to suppress Christianity. Was not his obedience to the commands of this conscience a sad sign that he was to be saved? Further Christ telleth his Disciples, John 16.2. That they who killed them, should think they did God good service. Observe, here was pure light within men, that made them think that they did God the greatest service in doing his Church the greatest disservice. Tertul. tells us, that Maximinian the Emperor esteemed Christianorum sanguinem diis gratissimam esse victimam: ⟨p. 92⟩the blood of Christians to be an acceptable sacrifice to the gods. Is any man so mad, as not to think, that if such a Pilot steer, the ship by answering to its motion must needs be cast away,

Saul would out of conscience have slain the Gibeonites, 2 Sam. 21.2. and broken the Covenant which had been sworn to by the Israelites. His conscience was evil, and could not speak his condition to be good; an evil conscience will call bitter sweet, darkness light, evil good. It will leave plain precepts, and walk by extraordinary Providences, Isa. 36.18, 19, 20. Jer. 50.7. It preferreth a strong impulsion of its own spirit before that word which is the will of Gods spirit,