testimony of conscience in their favour. Though it may be supposed to be difficult to give a just and accurate definition of conscience; yet every man knows, that it is something distinct from reason, and every other faculty of the mind. It is conscience, which enables men to distinguish right from wrong, or moral good from moral evil. It is conscience, which teaches them their moral obligation to do what is right, and to avoid what is wrong. And it is conscience, which approves them for doing right, and condemns them for doing wrong. It is this faculty in the breast of christians, which testifies in their favour, when they do right, but condemns them when they do wrong. The question now before us is, when do christains have the testimony of conscience in their favour?

The apostle had the testimony of conscience in his favour, and all christians sometimes have the testimony of conscience in their favour. But when does conscience testify in their favour? I answer,

1. When it testifies that they have done what is right. It is always right, that they should do "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, and whatsoever things are of good report." And when they do any or all these things, they always have the testimony of conscience in their favour, that they have done what is right. Conscience always knows and approves what is right in itself considered; and as all men sometimes do what is right in itself considered, so all men sometimes have the testimony of conscience so far in their favour. Accordingly, we find all men professing to act conscientiously, sometimes and in some things; and we have no reason to scruple the sincerity of their profession. But though conscience approves of all men for doing what is right in itself considered; yet this is but a partial approbation, and consistent with the highest disapprobation. This leads me to observe,

2. That christians have the full testimony of conscience in their favour, when it testifies not only that

they have done right, but have done right from right motives. It is the proper office of conscience to judge, not only whether christians do what is really right, but whether in doing what is really right, they act from proper motives. Christians may do a great many things that are right, from wrong motives; but conscience never approves of their acting from wrong motives. The apostles rejoiced in having the testimony of conscience, that they had acted from right, and not from wrong motives. "Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world." They acted from benevolent, and not from selfish motives; they acted from heavenly, not from worldly motives; they acted from grace, and not from nature; they acted to please God, and not themselves. For acting from these pure and holy motives, their conscience approved and applauded them, though the world despised and opposed them for it. All real christians sometimes act from the same noble and virtuous motives; and whenever they do, they have the testimony of their conscience in their favour; that they have lived and acted in christian simplicity and godly sincerity. I now proceed to show,

II. That this testimony of conscience in their favour affords them good ground to rejoice.

1. Because it assures them, that they have internally, as well as externally obeyed God. All real christians have that love, which is the fulfilling of the law. The divine law primarily requires the heart, and external actions only as expressions of the heart. The first and great commandment is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." God requires every person in every precept to obey him from a holy, benevolent heart. He never requires any external action to be done sepa

rately from pure, holy love. None who are in the state of nature, ever act from this true love to God and man. They have not the love of God in them. They are under the entire dominion of a sinful and selfish heart, which is not obedience to, but a transgression of the law of God. They have not, nor can have the testimony of conscience, that they have ever internally obeyed God in a single instance. God has shed abroad his love in the hearts of real christains, who delight in his law after the inward man. They not only do the actions which God requires, but do them from pure and proper motives. When conscience is allowed to do its office, it makes the same distinction between external and internal obedience, that the divine law does. It approves of internal obedience, but disapproves of external obedience, which does not flow from internal obedience. Unrenewed men seldom allow conscience to do its whole office; that is, to judge what manner of spirit they are of, but only to judge what manner of actions they perform. They are satisfied, if conscience testifies that they act in external conformity to the divine law, though their hearts are far from God. But real christians habitually allow conscience to do its whole office, and judge of their hearts, as well as of their actions, which flow from their hearts; and it gives them no satisfaction to have conscience testify in favour of their external conduct, unless it testifies also in favour of the christian simplicity and godly sincerity of their internal views and intentions. Conscience is as ready to approve of right motives of action, as to condemn wrong ones. Whenever christians impartially consult conscience, it never fails to approve of whatever they do from pure and benevolent motives. So long, therefore, as they keep their hearts with all diligence, and do what is internally as well as externally right, they have the approbation of conscience, which affords them a just and solid ground to rejoice, which all the world cannot take away. David says, "Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them," or destroy their peace,

And it was a proverb in Israel, "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man shall be satisfied from himself." As the reproach of conscience is extremely painful, so the approbation of conscience is extremely pleasant and joyful. And it is peculiar to christains to have the approbation of conscience, which is a permanent source of joy and consolation both in prosperity and adversity, because it affords them infallible evidence, that they have done their duty.

2. Christians have reason to rejoice, when their conscience testifies in their favour, because it affords them infallible evidence, that they have the approbation of God. Conscience is God's vicegerent in every human breast, and always says the same things that God says. It approves of what God approves, and condemns what God condemns. When christains feel and act as their conscience dictates and approves, they may know that God approves their views and conduct, and that their hearts are right in his sight. And it is only by the testimony of their approving conscience, that they can possibly know that they are at peace with God, as well as with themselves. Unless their conscience approves of their heart, they cannot know that God approves of it. Accordingly, the apostle directs christians to determine whether they have the approbation of God, by determining whether they have the approbation of their own conscience. He says, "As many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby ye cry Abba Father. The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." When the conscience of christians testifies, or bears witness in their favour, that they have the spirit of adoption, that is, a holy, filial, dutiful spirit, then they may certainly conclude that they are the sons of God, and stand entitled to the everlasting favour and enjoyment of God. When conscience ap

proves of the heart, it is an infallible evidence, that God approves of it; or when the heart and conscience unite their testimony in the favour of christians, they have the highest evidence that they are the children and heirs of God. No witness of the spirit, without the witness of conscience, can give christians an infallible evidence, that they have the approbation of their heavenly Father; but when their conscience approves of their heart, they may certainly know that he approves of them. Hence says the apostle John, "If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God." This peace of conscience which christians enjoy, stands inseparably connected with peace with God, which is a source of peculiar joy and satisfaction. David esteemed the favour of God as the source of peculiar joy. There be many that say, who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart more than in the time that their corn and wine increased." And again he says, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee." And again he says to God, "Thy favour is life, and thy loving kindness is better than life." The apostle tells christians, that "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." And he joins himself with christians in saying, "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience experience; and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts."

3. Christians have reason to rejoice, when their conscience bears testimony in their favour, because it af fords them infallible evidence, that they will sooner or