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

These Evidences of the neglect of this duty being palpable; we come now in the Second place close to the reproof of it, and expostulation for it; and is there not just ground for both? I dare say, if many of you were asked about this duty, it would be found to be an unknown duty to you; a duty that ye walk not under the conviction of its necessity; a duty that ye are not mourning for the neglect of, nor employing Jesus Christ for grace to get it suitably performed: and can that, think ye, be a tender walk, that is so very short, and defective in so main a duty, and in so great a piece and part of a tender walk? when especially persons are not duly sensible of it, nor suitably affected with it; Let me but ask such of you, who make little account of the neglect of this duty, these few questions. 1. Do ye think that there is such a thing spoken of in the Word of God, and that there is such a thing within you as a Conscience; and if ye think ye have Consciences, have ye them for no end nor use? or will ye let them (as it were) be in you, and lie by you, as things given you to no purpose? 2ly. I ask you, is there nothing in your case, or way, that needeth a review? Is all right, and nothing out of order? will ye own these to be truths? If not, ought not this mean to be used for helping you to find out what is wrong, and what is right, if any thing be right? It were a strange thing for a profest Christian, to think, or say, that he is altogether right, and that he needs ⟨p. 223⟩not to examine himself; and yet he must either think this; or else he says on the matter, that he ears not whether he be right or wrong, which indeed the practice of many says plainly, or he must examine to find out what is right, and what is wrong. 3ly. I would ask you, do you think that your Conscience will be always quiet, because ye command it not to speak; or rather, is there not a time coming, when it will speak, whether ye will or not? or do ye think, because ye have no remembrance of your faults, that your forgetting of them now will blot them out of your Consciences Register, or rather should ye not judge your selves, that ye may not be judged? According to the Apostles word, 1 Cor. 11. v. 31. And on the contrary, should ye not think, that if ye do not judge your selves, ye will most certainly be judged? 4ly.

These Evidences of the neglect of this duty being palpable; we come now in the Second place closse to the reproof of it, and expostulation for it; and is there not iust ground for both? I dar say, if many of you were alked about this duty, it would be found to be an unknown duty to you; a duty that ye walk not under the conviction of its necessity; a duty that ye are not mourning for the neglect of, nor imploying Jesus Christ for grace to get it suitably performed: and can that, think ye, be a tender walk, that is so very short, and defective in so main a duty, and in so great a piece and part of a tender walk? when especially persons are not duely sensible of it, nor suitably affected with it; Let me but ask such of you, who make little account of the neglect of this duty, these few questions. 1. Do ye think that there is such a thing spoken of in the Word of God, and that there is such a thing within you as a Conscience; and if ye think ye have Consciences, have ye them for no end nor use? or will ye let them (as it were) be in you, and ly by you, as things given you to no purpose? 2ly. I ask you, is there nothing in your case, or way, that needeth a review? Is all right, and nothing out of order? will ye own these to be truths? If not, ought not this mean to be used for helping you to find out what is wrong, and what is right, if any thing be right? It were a strange thing for a profest Christian, to think, or say, that he is altogether right, and that he needs