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

though yet at some other times God promoved his promise that way; even as sometimes from other things sinful; as in Judahs falling in incest with Tamar his daughter in law, he promoved the performance of the promise concerning the Messiah his Incarnation. 2ly. For the exercise of his People, and particularly of his Ministers, he will sometimes suffer differences and mistakes to arise;; and indeed they prove to be very exercising now and then to his own, as it was a great part of Jobs exercise, that his friends condemned him for a hypocrite; and how often complaineth he, that they vexed his soul, and were a burden to him? yet if his godly friends had not been suffered thus to mistake and err, he had wanted that piece of profitable exercise, for no profane men would have had such access to table, and prosecute a dispute of that nature against him; but it exceedingly heightened his exercise, that his godly friends should have been thus at difference and in tops with him: This also furthered the exercise of the Apostles, and was the occasion and rise of Pauls being apprehended and▪ committed to prison▪ viz. when he condescended to purify himself, with these men that were under a vow, according to the Ceremonial Law, as the divine historian gives the account Acts 21. though the Lord had designed to send him to Rome, and in order to that end, Paul must come to Jerusalem, and be in the Temple; and to make way for that, so m•y Jews shall think, that these Ceremonies of Moses his Law are to be still observed; and the rest of the Apostles shall with all think it needful that Paul should condescend so far to please these overzealous ⟨p. 80⟩Jews, which he did, and it may be condescended but too far. 3ly. The Lord by the rising of such differences and mistakes, may intend the further spreading of the Gospel, as he did in that instance of Pauls sending to Rome; and in the contention that fell in betwixt Paul and Barnabas; which made them part company; by which the Gospel came to be preached in moe places, when thus parted asunder, then it would probably have been, had they stayed together; and its not un•ke that they both had their wonted liberty in praying, and preaching▪ without any direct and explicit challenge breaking their peace on account of that their difference and parting. 4ly.