misled by imperfect views of the law, by misrepresentations of facts, or false testimony. While her decisions are seen according to the light she obtains, they are sometimes incorrect, and very different from what they would have been had she possessed more light, and a clear view of the whole ground. It is, however, a pleasing thought that God limits our duty by the extent of our understanding; and "if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."

Besides imperfection in knowledge, there is another source from which conscience is liable to be misled. The lusts of the flesh, which war against the soul, are often so clamorous as to bewilder the understanding, and misdirect the decisions of conscience. Nor is it to be doubted that one conscience is often misled by paying undue regard to the decisions of other consciences-just as the judge of a court may be misled by an undue deference to precedents, or the former decisions of celebrated judges. Perhaps, however, there is nothing by which conscience is more frequently misled, than party passions. These demons of mischief seem to have not only a power to prevent the discovery of truth, but to present evil in the garb of good, and good in the garb of evil.

Conscience always condemns us when we disobey her dictates; and she is right in so doing. For we are always guilty when we do that which we know to be wicked, or believe to be so. It does not, however, hence follow, that we are

always guiltless

when we obey the dictates of conscience. For we

may be under the influence of evil passions, which mislead conscience or prevent her from clearly discovering what is right. But even in this case, our sin does not consist in obedience to conscience, but in the indulgence of evil passions and prejudices, or a wicked disposition.

Paul once verily thought he ought to do many things contrary to Jesus of Nazareth; these he did in persecuting the Christians. After he became a Christian he could say, "I have walked in all good conscience before God unto this day." This declaration implied the whole course of his persecuting career. Yet he did not hold himself guiltless in what he had done; for he had been "exceeding mad" against the Christians, and had pursued them with unrelenting cruelty. But he obtained mercy, because he did it ignorantly and in unbelief. His ignorance did not excuse the malignity of his passions; yet his guilt would have been far greater than it was, had he acted against the dictates of his own conscience.

Paul was a Jew both by descent and by education, and he was of the strictest sect of the Jewish religion, a pharisee. As conscience is subject to the influence of education, Paul's conscience doubtless dictated to him that it was right to defend the doctrines in which he had been educated, and to op pose what he deemed opposite doctrines. He did so with uncommon zeal till new light burst into his mind. But as soon as he was convinced that the Jesus who had been crucified was the promised Messiah, his conscience dictated a change in his course- and the natural ardor of his soul was then

turned into a new channel. His zeal was still as great as before, but it was now directed by the wisdom which is from above, and not by party hatred or any cruel passion.

Whatever appears to conscience to be truth, she of course approves as right. I believe it to be impossible for her to do otherwise. Whenever she approves of error, it is because she mistakes it for truth. Such is her integrity, that she will always condemn what appears to her false in opinion, or sinful in temper or practice. In this way she proclaims her origin to have been divine; and she often evinces that she is illuminated by the Spirit of God. She may be called not only God's Monitor, but God's Advocate in the soul. She pleads for what she thinks is pleasing to God; and often inflicts severe pain or remorse on those who disregard her admonitions, or transgress her requirements.

The consciences of well educated children teach them that it is right to honor father and mother. Of course, they receive for truth the religious doctrines which are inculcated on their minds in childhood. Hence the children of different countries and different sects become tenacious of different opinions. Till further enlightened, the conscience of each child will approve what he was taught to regard as divine truth. For either of them to act contrary to what he believes to be right would be morally wrong or sinful. Hence a respect is due to the consciences of those who have been educated in error a degree of respect too, which I fear is seldom shown by Christians towards Pagans and Mahometans, and by Christians of different sects

towards each other. Moral integrity is ever to be respected; and this may exist and be evinced, by persons who are in great errors on religious subjects.

As to the religious opinions received in childhood, conscience can have little to do in regard to their reception, except by enforcing respect to parental authority, or the instructions of superiors. But after a person becomes adult, and capable of examining for himself, if new opinions are proposed for his reception, conscience must surely have something to do. If the opinions are opposite to those which have been imbibed by education, conscience will hesitate, and oppose their reception, until she shall be convinced or persuaded that they are according to truth. This is ever to be expected of persons of integrity of heart. Nor is this caution to be censured; on the contrary, it is to be commended. But as soon as the person becomes convinced that the proposed doctrines are true, then conscience will assuredly give her voice for their reception.

If the preceding remarks on conscience are correct, is it not a clear case that the doctrine of total sinfulness must be a mistake? If our nature is wholly sinful, how has it happened that God has such a faithful advocate and reprover in the breast of the transgressor? If, as the Westminster Assembly supposed, our whole nature became corrupt and sinful by the fall, it might have been expected that conscience in the unregenerate would always be found on the side of sin- would uniformly call evil good and good evil, and employ all the influence she possesses for the promotion of vice; that

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instead of condemning the felon for his crimes, she would say to him "Well done good and faithful servant. Is not every remonstrance in the unregenerate against a sinful course, a declaration in favor of God, that he did not curse our race with a nature wholly sinful? And is it not enough to fill any reflecting mind with horror, to think what must have been our condition, and what must have been the character of God, had such been the fact?

NO. XIV.

Thoughts on Regeneration.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.” John iii. 6.

These words were uttered by our Lord in his conversation with Nicodemus, to enforce the doctrine which he had just stated in the following words

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Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." From the two passages in connexion it has been inferred, that all the posterity of Adam come into the world in a state of total sinfulness. Why else, it is asked, do they need to be born again? It seems not to have been duly considered that our Lord did not say "that what is born of the flesh is sin." What he said was of a different import from this. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit." By these declara

He indeed said,