A37045:451
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.
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.
The 2d. Use serves. To let us see the rise, reason and cause of the great anxiety, perplexity and vexation, that is among most men, so that they toil night and day, and have no satisfaction; its even this, that they do not seek after the peace and joy that are founded upon, and result from the Testimony of a good Conscience; no wonder that such persons live, and die utter strangers to all solid peace and joy, which only grow on this Root: This is a main cause also of the little peace, and great heartlessness, that is among even Believers themselves, that either they are not so seriously endeavouring to have the Testimony of a good Conscience, or they are not so ⟨p. 241⟩careful to draw their rejoicing from it, but are untender in their walk, or are as so many Bees fleeing from this flower to the other of worldly enjoyments, seeking to suck some sweetness, and satisfaction from them, and do not, as it becomes them, reflect on Conscience; that they may have a Testimony of sincerity from it; and that on that ground, they may be quiet, cheerful, and joyful.
The 2d. Use serves. To let us see the rise, reason and cause of the great anxiety, perplexity and vexation, that is among most men, so that they toil night and day, and have no satisfaction; its even this, that they do not seek after the peace and joy that are founded upon, and result from the Testimony of a good Conscience; no wonder that such persons live, and die utter strangers to all solid peace and joy, which only grow on this Root: This is a main cause also of the little peace, and great heartlesnesse, that is among even Believers themselves, that either they are not so seriously endeavouring to have the Testimony of a good Conscience, or they are not so ⟨p. 241⟩careful to draw their rejoyceing from it, but are untender in their walk, or are as so many Bees fleeing from this flower to the other of worldly injoyments, seeking to suck some sweetnesse, and satisfaction from them, and doe not, as it becomes them, reflect on Conscience; that they may have a Testimony of sincerity from it; and that on that ground, they may be quiet, cheerful, and joyful.