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

2dly. Another sort of Reasons may be drawn from Gods Sovereignty, so ordering it for his own wise, and holy ends; to wit, for the good of his People, and his own Glory: as he afflicteth them in other things; though not without sin in them, yet not always with respect to their sin; As we may see in Jobs trial; Even so when they are taking pains for clearness of Conscience, and to get Gods mind in such a particular, he may, and sometimes doth blast all their pains, so as they attain not to the desired clearness in it, I say in such or such a particular; because (as was hinted before) the main business of their eternal state falleth not under these debates; and this we say he doth in his Sovereignty, for these and •he like wise and holy ends.

2dly. Another sort of Reasons may be drawn from Gods Soveraignity, so ordering it for his own wise, and holy ends; to wit, for the good of his People, and his own Glory: as he afflicteth them in other things; though not without sin in them, yet not alwayes with respect to their sin; As we may see in Iobs tryal; Even so when they are taking pains for clearness of Conscience, and to get Gods mind in such a particular, he may, and sometimes doth blast all their pains, so as they attain not to the desired clearness in it, I say in such or such a particular; because (as was hinted before) the main bussinesse of their eternal state falleth not under these debates; and this we say he doth in his Soveraignity, for these and •he like wise and holy ends.

1. That he may empty and humble his own People, That when they see they cannot win to clearness, and satisfaction in a Particular of so little moment, and consequence, by making that to be so much their exercise, he may hide pride from their eyes, and lay them low before him. 2dly. As in this, he mindeth their humbling, so their upstirring; by such means, he puteth them to be more serious in seeking him; for oftentimes, when men find things to go easily with them, they are in hazard to betake themselves unto, and sit down in as easy a way of Duty, and to •lack their diligence. 3dly. He doth this for trial; to make discovery of the unsoundness of some, and to prove the sincerity of others; he will, by suspending Light and Clearness in such a particular take a proof of folks tenderness, whither they will forbear, while they are unclear, or, whither they will untenderly go on; It being a main thing that maketh trial of mens tenderness, when God, by this means, layeth, as it were, a Bond and Restraint on us, and so putteth us to it, to try whither we will hold here, or proceed further; if there be tenderness, it will appear in such a case; This discovered Saul,