Ductor dubitantium, or, The rule of conscience in all her generall measures serving as a great instrument for the determination of cases of conscience : in four books / by Jeremy Taylor ...

RULE 1. A right Conscience is that which guides our actions by right and proportion'd means to a right end.

THE end is, Gods glory, or any honest purpose of Justice or Religion, Charity or Civil conversation. Whatsoever is good for us, or our neighbours, in any sense perfective of our being as God purposed it, all that is our end. The means ought to be such as are apt instruments to procure it. If a man intends to live a severe life, and to attend Re∣ligion, his End is just and fair, and so far his Conscience is right: but if his Conscience suggest to him, that he to obtain his end should erect Colleges of Women; and in the midst of Feasts, and Songs, and Soci∣ety, he should Preach the Melancholy Lectures of the Cross, it is not right; because the end is reach'd at by a contrary hand. But when it tels him, that to obtain continence he must fast and pray, watch diligently, and observe prudently, labour and read, and deny his appetite in its daily attempts upon him, then it is a right Conscience. For a right Conscience is nothing but right Reason reduc'd to practise, and conducting Moral actions. Now all that right Reason can be defin'd by, is the propounding a good end, and good means to the end.