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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 romans n9.1 › Sermon 1
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.
5ly. Observe, That there is no Testimony of a Conscience that can be satisfying, but the Testimony of a Conscience sanctified, and in a sanctified frame; therefore he thinks it not enough to say, My conscience beareth me witness, but he addeth, in the Holy Ghost; And in that passage, 1 Pet. 3. 21. It's not the answer of Conscience simply, but the answer of a good conscience, of a waking, tender, spiritual, and well enlightened Conscience, that satisfieth.
5ly. Observe, That there is no Testimony of a Conscience that can be satisfying, but the Testimony of a Conscience sanctified, and in a sanctified frame; therefore he thinks it not enough to say, My conscience beareth me witnes, but he addeth, in the Holy Ghost; And in that passage, 1 Pet. 3. 21. It's not the answer of Conscience simply, but the answer of a good conscience, of a waking, tender, spiritual, and well enlightned Conscience, that satisfieth.
Use, Therefore ere men lay much weight on the testimony of their Conscience, they would first put it •o proof▪ and see that it be the Testimony of a sanctified Conscience, and in a sanctified frame; if a man be not of some credit, his Testimony will not be of much weight in any matter; it is even so with Conscience, as to it's Testimony.
6ly. Observe, That sometimes, and in some Cases, Believers may very warrantably attest their Conscience, and appeal to it's Testimony; some Believers in the old Testament, and some in the new have done it: Tho (as we said before) the attesting of Conscience be a very grave and solemn thing, and would not be used at all times, and in all cases, yet at some times, and in some cases, it may be warrantably used, when rightly gone about: I shall name Three or Four Considerations, or Cases from the Text, for clearing of it. 1. Conscience may be attested, when the matter that we assert, requireth such a solemn attesting of it; And these things concur here to clear, that the matter wherein he attesteth his Conscience, is such, For, 1. It is a thing that concerneth Gods Glory not a little, that his Servant and Messenger is not walking according to the flesh, 2. It tendeth to the edification of others; for if he had not removed