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

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 ha•e; As he sayeth in another Case, Psal. 116. v. 11. I said in my haste, all men are liars. 4ly There may much of this evil arise from the suffering of a prejudice to sit down or settle, when a Believer is prejudged, he may hear many things, and not take them well up; so the Disciples had drunk in a prejudice at the Cross, and therefore, when Christ spoke of Suffering to them, it's said, they understood him not. 5ly. Believers are sometimes un-aware engaged in a Conclusion, that biaseth their light, and maketh their Conscience partial, as in searching and finding out what might clear them, so in seeking out grounds to maintain their Opinion by; Thus Jobs Friends did first apprehend, and take up Job to be an hypocrite, and accordingly thought it their duty to bear in the Conviction of it upon him;