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

ye would also look, if there hath been any defect in advising with Conscience, or in proponing the case to Conscience, and discovering the same, ye would endeavour to amend it, and to make a new address, as it were to your Conscience before God, for finding out Light. 3dly. Look back on your carriage, since that darkness began; for Christians may possibly have been in a tender frame, when this darkness came upon them; yet because they get not Light so soon as they would have it, and because the •ord keeps up himself for a time, it may be their impatience has broken out, and there has been sinful wrangling with God in secret, and the heart hath been somewhat raised, that he should deal so with them, especially▪ •hen they have found that they have been honest in the main; somewhat of this was in Job, who took on him, under his dark exercise (as himself confesseth) to meddle too much, and too boldly with Gods secrets, that were too wonderful for him; It may be often thus with Believers, who, though they may be in a good frame, and keeping up the peace when the dark exercise comes on them, yet confuse themselves by other miscarriages under it, and by their carnalnesse in reference to it; Whereby it comes to pass, that the exercise that at first came from Gods Sovereignty, turns in the continuance of it, to be for their sin a chastisement, which they are made to take with, whither they will or not; We think this was Jobs case, and he was made to take with it, ere the exercise was removed from him: These things ye would look to, and reflect on them, that you may know how to apply your selves accordingly, and to do as they shall call you, and as the case requires.

ye would also look, if there hath been any defect in advising with Conscience, or in proponing the case to Conscience, and discovering the same, ye would endeavour to amend it, and to make a new addresse, as it were to your Conscience before God, for finding out Light. 3dly. Look back on your carriage, since that darkness began; for Christians may possibly have been in a tender frame, when this darkness came upon them; yet because they get not Light so soon as they would have it, and because the •ord keeps up himself for a time, it may be their impatience has broken out, and there has been sinful wrangling with God in secret, and the heart hath been somewhat raised, that he should deal so with them, especially▪ hen they have found that they have been honest in the main; somewhat of this was in Iob, who took on him, under his dark exercise (as himself confesseth) to meddle too much, and too boldly with Gods secrets, that were too wonderful for him; It may be often thus with Believers, who, though they may be in a good frame, and keeping up the peace when the dark exercise comes on them, yet confuse themselves by other miscarriages under it, and by their carnalnesse in reference to it; Whereby it comes to passe, that the exercise that at first came from Gods Soveraignity, turns in the continuance of it, to be for their sin a chastisment, which they are made to take with, whither they will or not; We think this was Iobs case, and he was made to take with it, ere the exercise was removed from him: These things ye would look to, and reflect on them, that you may know how to apply your selves accordingly, and to do as they shall call you, and as the case requires.