A37045:193
Heaven upon earth in the serene tranquillity and calm composure, in the sweet peace…
Heaven upon earth in the serene tranquillity and calm composure, in the sweet peace and solid joy of a good conscience sprinkled with the blood of Jesus and exercised always to be void of offence toward God and toward men : brought down and holden forth in XXII very searching sermons on several texts of Scripture ... / by James Durham.
Edinburgh: printed by the heir of Andrew Anderson, 1685
Title page typeset from the transcription.
HEAVEN upon EARTH in a Serene and Smiling good Conscience. › Sermons on acts n24.16 › Sermon 5
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3dly. These things being wonderful in themselves, we shall come now to enquire a little into the reasons of this, and they are of Two sorts. 1. Some speak sinful infirmity in men, even godly men. 2dly. Others speak Sovereignty in the holy God
3dly. These things being wonderful in themselves, we shall come now to enquire a little into the reasons of this, and they are of Two sorts. 1. Some speak sinful infirmity in men, even godly men. 2dly. Others speak Soveraignity in the holy God
For the First sort that speak infirmity in us, and are culpable causes of the thing, They may be these, 1. Ignorance, and Unclearness in the Understanding and Judgement, for the most eminent Believer in his best Condition Knoweth but in part; and as his Judgement is mistaken, so readily will his Conscience be, which accuseth or excuseth according as the Judgement is informed; Conscience pre-requireth, and some way pre-supposeth Knowledge; And therefore the man that wanteth knowledge, is called weak, so the Conscience of the weak Brother is spoken of, Rom. 14. And 1 Cor. 8. that is, weak through want of Knowledge. 2ly. The best and most eminent Believers have a remainder of Corruption in them; and therefore are in hazard, and in a manner ready to side with, and entertain a mistake, if Believers were free of Corruption, it might be thought impossible that they should thus Err, but that will not be till the Soul be separated from the Body; so long as Corruption remaineth there will be a hazard, and readiness in so far, and in some things to mistake, and to follow the misguiding of a mis-informed Conscience. 3dly. Believers are sometimes rash and hasty in drawing a sudden Conclusion, and too negligent in previous trying; taking that for Gods mind, which is not so indeed; as may be ⟨p. 77⟩seen in Samuel, who taketh Elia• for Gods anointed; and in Nathan, who approveth of Davids resolution to build the Temple, not only as it was a good work in it self, but as his present duty; much of their Error flowed from hae; As he sayeth in another Case,