Heaven upon earth in the serene tranquillity and calm composure, in the sweet peace…

The 2d. Character whereby it may be known, is, the mean and way that a man taketh to quiet his Conscience when it is wakened; A good Conscience as it yieldeth a man peace and testifieth well concerning his state; so that peace riseth not so much from this that he hath no sin, as from ⟨p. 52⟩his flying to Jesus Christ for the pardon of sin; he may have peace as to his sincere and universal aim at Holiness, and as to his honest and serious endeavour to abstain from every known sin, as it was with David, Psal. 18. 20, 21, 22. but as to the satisfying of Divine Justice he hath hath no peace, but in resting on Christs satisfaction alone; for though his way may be and is good in respect of his single following of duty, for he readeth, prayeth, meditateth, &c. yet corruption in a great measure polluting all these works and duties of his, as to the acceptation of them on their own account and for themselves; he finds that they are in some respect but dead, as wanting much of the soul and life of them, neither can he have peace till he betake himself to Christs blood: though he were communicating every day, praying every hour, &c. yet he hath no peace in these till Christs blood speak peace; as we may see in David, who though he had peace intimated by Nathan, yet is not thoroughly quiet for all that, and therefore he prayeth Psal. 51. Cause me to hear the voice of joy and gladness; there is no healing of his wound till a word from God himself do it: It is on the contrary an ill token, when a Conscience seeth sin, and can speak peace to it self on this ground, that there is mercy in God; and yet never applieth the blood of sprinkling, to purge it from dead works; nor seeketh to have the Word spoken as it were from Gods own mouth: and on the other side the legal Conscience will make amends to God, will give him Sacrifices enough, and perform many duties to him, looking for his acceptance only on account of these, and that is as ill a token; but a good Conscience resteth not on any of these; but though it hath the sacrifice of a broken and contrite spirit to offer to God, yet it doth not rest on that nor on any duty, but is put beyond these, to rest on Christ and on his Sacrifice, Purge me with hyssop. &c. saith David, Psal. 51.