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Worldy Policy, not to prejudice the truth of a good Conscience. [ 1340]
RAchel having stollen her Fathers Idols,* 1.1 when he pursued her, and came to search for them in the Tent;* 1.2 she having hid them in the Camels litter, and sitting upon them, entreated him not to be angry, though she rose not up to him; For she was sick, as she pretended, and said; It was with her after the manner of Women: If by the custome of Women, she would be understood to be in travell, then she told a flat lie; but if by a trick of mental reservation, she did use that ambiguous phrase, with an intention to deceive, then at the best she did but Equivocate; and even in so saying, and so doing, she made a flat breach of Conscience. Thus many amongst us desire to be at as little charge as may be possibly,* 1.3 whether to the State or to the Church; And therefore when they are pressed by or for either of these, then they are politickly s••••k in the purse, make themselves poor and needy, and will hardly part with a penny, (if they can but with common civility or shamelesse impudency keep it) which favors not onely of unthankful hearts to God,* 1.4 but shews, that they have most wretched Consciences, caring not what they do, so as they may keep that, which (falsly) they call their own.