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

The 1. Use, I say, •s for instruction, would ye know, and be instructed in a main piece of a Christian walk, and practice, here it is, to be often reflecting on your bygone way, and hearing what Conscience sayeth of it; To be looking from your youth up, what ye have done, ⟨p. 191⟩what have been your more habitual thoughts, words and actions, and hearing what Conscience sayeth of them, of such a word or discourse, of such a voyage or journey, and so of other actions; and to be putting it to pass it's Sentence on them, and to be trying whether we have peace in them, and Conscience it's good Testimony concerning them, or not. To this purpose we might allege that place, Rev. 4. v. 6, 8. (Which we suppose to be mainly▪ and most properly meant of tender Ministers of the Gospel, yet it may well by proportion be applied to tender private Christians) Where these Four beasts are said to have eyes before▪ and behind, and to be full of eyes within; Eyes before, intimating that they should be tender in finding out what is to be done; Eyes within, intimating that they should be watchful over their own heart, and way, over their own present frame & walk, looking not only before, behind, and about them, but within themselves; And Eyes behind, intimating that tender Christians should have, and in some measure indeed have, an eye (as we use to speak of very watchful, and accurately observing persons) in their neck, looking to what sticks and cleaveth to their heels, as it were, when they have past any Action or Duty, as the word is Psal. 49. 5. Where the Psalmist speaketh of the iniquity of his heels compassing him about; As knowing well that in every step of his way, he leaveth some •oul vestige, or print behind him, and therefore looketh back on it: This then we propose as a piece, and a special piece of a tender walk, viz. That Christians, not only deliberate before they do, and look to Conscience while they are adoing, but that also they reflect, and look back upon the Action, when it is done and past. To clear this a little further, there are Three main things that a Believer is called to, in reference to what is past, 1. Examination of himself, and his way, 2. Laying of himself and his way to and before his Conscience informed by the Word, 3. Judging of himself according as he find eth his way to be, when he hath laid it before his Conscience: