A37045:280
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 n1 peter 3.21 › Sermon 2
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.
A 2d. Case, wherein folks may remain unclear, or mistaken, where Conscience answereth clearly, is, when their Inclinations, or Affection▪ sway to one side, and Conscience swayeth to another; Then readily the Affections make such a noise and clamour, and Inclination and Tentation so sway, and drive to the contrary, that the voice of Conscience is not taken up, yea, scarcely heard: Even as when a Case is proposed to a Judge, and he speaketh soberly, in determining the same; the unsatisfied party raiseth such a clamour and noise, that his determination is not understood, no• it may be, so much as heard; so it is, when men are biassed with their own Inclinations, and Affections, though Conscience speak, yet these will speak out answers to convince, and persuade to the contrary; As it was with Balaam, who would not understand, as it were, nor take the answer which he got, but went again and again for another: Or as the People of the Jews did often, when the Prophet told them clearly the mind of the Lord, yet they would needs contradict him (as we see they did, Jer. 43. 2) and say, It was not the Word of the Lord, but he was set on by some other, to speak so; their Inclination and Affection being swayed to such a side.
A 2d. Case, wherein folks may remain unclear, or mistaken, where Conscience answereth clearly, is, when their Inclinations, or Affection▪ swey to one side, and Conscience sweyeth to another; Then readily the Affections make such a noise and clamour, and Inclination and Tentation so swey, and drive to the contrary, that the voice of Conscience is not taken up, yea, scarcely heard: Even as when a Case is proposed to a Judge, and he speaketh soberly, in determining the same; the unsatisfied party raiseth such a clamour and noise, that his determination is not understood, no• it may be, so much as heard; so it is, when men are byassed with their own Inclinations, and Affections, though Conscience speak, yet these will speak out answers to convince, and perswade to the contrary; As it was with Balaam, who would not understand, as it were, nor take the answer which he got, but went again and again for another: Or as the People of the Iews did often, when the Prophet told them clearly the mind of the Lord, yet they would needs contradict him (as we see they did,