prudential considerations respecting them. It is a monitor in every man's own bosom that may be called, in a qualified sense, the voice of God within him. It is not wholly subject to his own controul : for though much may be done to bribe, or silence it, yet some- times it will speak out, and force the most obdurate sinner to listen to its voice.
The rules whereby it judges are various : where the light of revelation does not shine, it has no better rule than the law of nature, or the law of a man's own mind. It is then regulated by every man's own ap- prehensions of good or evil ; and therefore must of necessity give a verdict more or less erroneous, as the person's mind is more or less instructed in moral truth. On this account, it would not be easy with respect to heathens to determine precisely what a conscience void of offence is; for certainly, allowances must be made for the different degrees of light which men enjoy. But with respect to us, who live under the clear dispensation of the Gospel, these difficulties in a great measure vanish. The following considera- tions may help to throw some light upon the subject.
The conscience is not to be judged void of offence merely because it does not accuse us. There are many so thoughtless and dissipated that they give them- selves no time to reflect. They are engaged in a continual round of business or amusement ; they shun all those scenes which would be likely to bring their sins to remembrance ; they avoid all serious conver- sation ; and thus they pass months and years without feeling any remonstrances of conscience : that faculty is lulled asleep ; and, if by any means it be in the least degree awakened, every method is adopted to check its clamours, and restore its wonted tranquil- lity. Of such persons God speaks by the Prophet. Hosea, when he says, " They consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness."
There are others who imbibe principles which are well calculated to weaken the influence of conscience. They take it for granted, that there is no great evil in sin ; that God will never execute his threatenings