The divine life in three treatises

5. Walking with God doth much prepare for sufferings and death, in that it breedeth quietness in the conscience: so that when all is at peace within, it will be easy to suffer any thing from without. Though there is no proper merit in our works to comfort us, yet it is an unspeakable consolation to a slandered persecuted man to be able to say▪ These evil sayings are spoken falsely of me, for the sake of Christ: and I suffer not as an evil doer, but as a Christian: And it is matter of very great peace to a man that is hasting unto death, to be able to say as Hezekiah, 2 King. 20. 3. [Remember now, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight:] And as Paul, 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith▪ henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, &c.] And as 2 Cor. 1. 12. For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world:] such a testimony of conscience is a precious cordial to a suffering or a dying man: The time that we have spent in a holy and heavenly conversation, ⟨p. 273⟩will be exceeding sweet in the last review, when time spent in sinful vanity, and idleness, and in worldly and fleshly designs, will be grievous and tormenting. The day is coming, and is even at hand, when those that are now the most hardened Infidels, or obstinate presumptuous sinners, or scornful malicious enemies of holiness, would wish and wish a thousand times, that they had spent that life in a serious obedient walking with God, which they spent in seeking worldly wealth, and saying up a treasure on earth, and feeding the inordinate desires of their flesh. I tell you, it is walking with God, that is the only way to have a sound and quiet conscience: And he th• is healing and settling his conscience upon the Love of God and the Grace of Christ, in the time of his prosperity, is making the wisest preparation. for adversity: And the preparation thus made so ong before (perhaps twenty, or forty, or threescore years or more) is as truly useful and comfortable at a dying hour, as that part which is made immediately before.