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

First, Consider that the right performance of our actions and duties, or the making of them such as they should be, dependeth very much on the nick of our discharging them; so that though a man should deliberate never so well before, if he be in a carnal frame, or have a selfie end •o the time of performance, he will be at a loss of his peace, and much miss his mark; as the Apostle hath the word, Philip. 3. 13. I press toward the mark; In his aiming at holiness and a good conscience, he levelleth all his actions at that mark, the prize of the high calling of God; I shall make use of this similitude for illustrating it, let a man with a Bow or Musket level never so well, or take never so just a visie, if his hand waver in the instant of shooting, he cannot readily hit the mark; Even so, though a man (as I said) deliberate and advise never so well with his Conscience before he do a thing, if in the time of doing, he take not heed tenderly and steadily to it, but fall carnal and selfie in it, he cannot have peace as to the performance of that action. 2dly. Consider that we are so ⟨p. 168⟩very tickle in our frame (as the duties of holiness are some way in themselves) and our hearts so unstable, light and frothy, that though we should level them right just now, yet they will be ready quickly to start aside as a deceitful how upon out hand; It cannot therefore be sufficient ground for the testimony of a good Conscience, to deliberate in undertaking, except a man observe and reflect on his Conscience, and study to carry it along with him in the very time of his acting: Our hearts are like to a distempered Clock or Watch, which being just now set never so right, ere we are aware, it will go wrong; it will point the hour aright now, and within a little it's quite out of course, because there is some defect or fault within, the Wheels not being evenly, or the Balance not justly poised, or some other such cause; Even so though our heart were in a suitable frame just now, presently, and ere we turn us about (as it were) it's out of frame, so that we cannot well take our aim from it; It is so very deceitful, that it abides not in frame. 3dly. Consider that unless this reflecting on Conscience, in the time of performing the action, or duty, be, a man will be at a loss of one of these two;

First, Consider that the right performance of our actions and duties, or the making of them such as they should be, dependeth very much on the nick of our discharging them; so that though a man should deliberat never so well before, if he be in a carnal frame, or have a selfie end o the time of performance, he will be at a loss of his peace, and much miss his mark; as the Apostle hath the word,