A conscience void of offense
And if it is in fact directed by that rule, then he has the answer of a good conscience toward God. A good conscience is what the apostle elsewhere calls a conscience void of offense. So what he at one time expresses thus, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day, Acts 23:1, he means at another time by that expression, In this I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God and toward man, Acts 24:16.
Now, in order to this, there is absolutely required, first, a right understanding of the word of God, of his holy and acceptable and perfect will concerning us, as it is revealed there. For it is impossible that we should walk by a rule if we do not know what it means.
There is required, second, and how few have reached it, a true knowledge of ourselves: a knowledge both of our hearts and lives, of our inward tempers and outward manner of life. For if we do not know them, it is not possible that we should compare them with our rule.
There is required, third, an agreement of our hearts and lives, of our tempers and manner of life, of our thoughts and words and works, with that rule, with the written word of God. For without this, if we have any conscience at all, it can be only an evil conscience.
There is required, fourth, an inward perception of this agreement with our rule. And this habitual perception, this inward consciousness itself, is properly a good conscience, or, in the apostle's other phrase, a conscience void of offense toward God and toward man.
1771 text
7. And if it be directed thereby in fact, then hath he the answer of a good conscience toward God. A good conscience is what is elsewhere termed by the apostle, a conscience void of offence. So, what he at one time expresses thus, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day, Acts xxiii. 1. he denotes at another, by that expression, Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man, ch. xxiv. 16. Now in order to this, there is absolutely required, first, a right understanding of the word of God, of his holy and acceptable and perfect will concerning us, as it is revealed therein. For it is impossible we should walk by a rule, if we do not know what it means. There is, secondly, required (which how few have attained?) a true knowledge of ourselves: a knowledge both of our hearts and lives, of our inward tempers and outward conversation: seeing, if we know them not, it is not possible that we should compare them with our rule. There is required, thirdly, an agreement of our hearts and lives, of our tempers and conversation, of our thoughts and words and works with that rule, with the written word of God. For without this, if we have any conscience at all, it can be only an evil conscience. There is, fourthly, required, an inward perception, of this agreement with our rule. And this habitual perception, this inward consciousness itself, is properly a good conscience; or (in the other phrase of the apostle) a conscience void of offence, toward God and toward man.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 12 in the 1771 Works. Second Corinthians 1:12.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.