Bum. Ay, but what Hands have we Citt? for it will come to that at last.
Citt. Those Heads will find Hands, never trouble your self, if there should be occasion; but 'tis too early-days for that sport yet. 'Twas an unlucky thing however to be so surpriz'd; For our Friends did no more dream of the Sacrament, then of their Dying day.
Bum. Well there's no recalling of what's past: But the Question is how we shall avoid it for the time to come.
Citt. Nay Bumpkin, there's a Trick worth two of avoiding it, we'l Take it next bout, and then we're safe; we'l carry it; I'le undertake by fifty Voices.
Bum. But cannot the Aldermen hinder you from putting it to the Vote?
A Designe upon the Common-Council.
Citt. 'Tis the custom of the City I confess, for the Lord Mayor to Summon and dissolve Common-Councils, and to put all points to the Question; but we'l finde a cure for that too. 'Tis a thing we've been a good while about already; the bringing down the Authority of the City into the Major part of the Commons.
Bum. Now if the Mayor and Aldermen should be aware of this, they'l never endure it; but we must leave that to time. But hark ye Citt. I thought our Friends refusing of the Sacrament had been matter of Conscience.
Distinctions of Consciences.
Citt. Why so it is man, but take notice then, that you are to distinguish of Consciences: There is, First, a plain, simple Conscience, and that's a Conscience that will serve well enough to keep a man Right, if he meet with nothing else to put him out of the way. And then there's a Conscience of State, or Profit; and that Conscience yields, as a Less Weight does to a Greater; an Ounce turns the Scale, but a Pound carries the Ounce, and no body blames the Weaker for being over-power'd by the stronger. There is a Conscience of Profession too; which is a Conscience that does not so much regard the Reason of the thing, as the being True to a Party, when a man has past his Word: and this is the Conscience of a man of Honour, that fights for his Whore. There is likewise a Conscience of Religion, and that's a quiet peaceable Conscience, that rests in the Affections of the Heart, in submission to Lawfull Institutions; and in serving God, and doing Good to our Nighbour, without Noise or Ostentation.