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

So in the love of a Husband to his Wife, and of a Parent to his, or her Child, it's one thing to love on a mere natural account, and another thing to love such a Relation, Christianly, and out of Conscience to God; though the former is not condemned, yet it's this latter that maketh it to be a conscientious, and acceptable love before God. The 3▪ is, That the action be gone about in the right manner, as such a particular action or duty is commanded to be done; As for instance, if it be a word of Instruction, or Admonition given by us to another; that it be given prudently, lovingly, and tenderly; or what ever the action be in reference to others, that our manner of going about it, be such as may adorn the Doctrine of Christ, and make the action to shine the more convincingly to others, because of our suitable way of discharging it; that we may have a Testimony in their Conscience, and may gain them, or further gain them to the love of God, and of godliness: But this cannot be so well instanced in particulars, because several duties require their own suitable way of performing of them. The 4th. thing that must go along, with every Action, is, That it be mixed with Faith, Heb. 4. 2. Not only the Faith of such an Action being good, and lawful in it self, (for that is always presupposed) but these two things here are further requisite. 1. That the Action, or Duty be gone about in the strength of Jesus Christ, so that it may have a Superior Spiritual principle, to wit, Gods strength acting in it, and not our own simply; that crowd of witnesses chronicled, Heb. 11. are said to do all they ⟨p. 161⟩did, this way, viz. By faith, That is not only by Faith▪ exercised on Christ, for accepting of them, but also by Faith exercised on the strength of Christ, to be born through in the doing of what they did. 2. That not only Faith be exercised for divine strength in doing, and that the doers be denied to their own strength, but that there be also a resting on Christ, for the acceptation of their Persons and performances; and this is al•e requisite, as any of the former; because, though a Person do that which is good in it self, and have all the other requisites to the Action, yet, if there be a falling in this, Conscience will not speak peace; By faith (It's said,