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

Rise, Is, when men lay too much weight on great, though yet but common Gifts, as on liberty in Prayer, and warmness of the affections therein, on Preaching notably, and one standing it out in sharp Trials with the approbations of others, it may be even of the best, or when they have been helped to do some extraordinary things, as in the Primitive times, some Professors were helped as Gods Instruments to cast out Devils, to speak with tongues, &c. who yet were not sound at the heart; it is on this ground that Christ goeth, when He saith, Luke 13. 27. And Matth. 7. 22, 23. Many shall come to me in that day, saying▪ Lord, we have prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and done many wonderful works: All which are (as I just now said) but common Gifts, though some of them at least, extraordinary; and when men come to have any measure of these beyond others, they will not be beat from it, but will go to death with it, that all is right with them: The 3d. Rise, is from some supposed spiritual sense and comfort, and from some flashes of joy; These temporary Believers spoke of, Matth. 13. and Heb. 6. 4, 5. attained to some tasting of the good Word of God, and of the ⟨p. 58⟩powers of the World to come; such as once come this length, do what they will, and live as they will, have it (as it were) always sounding in their ears, nor suffer they it to go out of their heads, that such and such a day they met with God, and that he spoke peace to them, and therefore they are persuaded that matters are right betwixt him and them; and yet all this while they may be unsound at the heart, The 4th. Rise is, From folks habituating themselves to speak good to themselves, and from maintaining their presumption, and dulling and deadening their own Conscience; whereupon, in Gods righteous Judgement, Conscience becometh a plague to them, so that they will dispute and debate with and against any Minister, Neighbour, or Friend, that would convince them of the evil and danger of their State and Condition; and the heart being by them, thus deceived, speaketh and pleadeth for them, and deceiveth them back again, they are honest olks, and were never heard with their Neighbours, none have any thing amiss to say of them, and their own Conscience justifieth them, and what should more?