A37045:457
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.
If it be so (which is the •se of the Doctrine) Is it not a wonder from whence the peace that many pretend to, comes? Is it not a wonder, that the most part of men and women can so easily affirm the Testimony of their Conscience to be for them, when there is neither exactness of life, not tenderness of walk, nor diligence in Self-searching, nor holy jealousy, nor impartial and single trying whether it be well grounded or not? And yet they will at the very first confidently pretend to Conscience its Testimony: If many of you were put to it, can you give such evidences or grounds for its Testimony, as Paul does here? If not, how comes it to pass, that ye are so ready confidently to lay claim to it? And yet, ala•e! there is nothing more ordinary, in the generality of these that are most carnal and secure, then ⟨p. 246⟩boldly to assert that they have a good Conscience, and an honest heart. Is not this very strange, wonderful, and even […], that under the clear Sun-shine of Gospel light, Satan should get so great advantage, as thus […] harden the hearts, and blind the Consciences of so many poor wretched creatures, and at this rate to de•ude and […] them, as to prevail with them confidently to assert and maintain, that which they call their honesty, which yet is nothing else but rotten-hearted […], and to […] their peace of Conscience, which is nothing but a Soul-murthe•ng, and damning […] ▪
If it be so (which is the •se of the Doctrine) Is it not a wonder from whence the peace that many pretend to, comes? Is it not a wonder, that the most part of men and women can so easily affirm the Testimony of their Conscience to be for them, when there is neither exactness of life, not tenderness of walk, nor diligence in Self-searching, nor holy jealousie, nor impartial and single trying whether it be well grounded or not? And yet they will at the very first confidently pretend to Conscience its Testimony: If many of you were put to it, can you give such evidences or grounds for its Testimony, as Paul does here? If not, how comes it to pass, that ye are so ready confidently to lay claim to it? And yet, ala•e! there is nothing more ordinary, in the generality of these that are most carnal and secure, then