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

if we should be put to reflect particularly on every thing that we have done, on what hath been committed, and on what hath been omitted, and the several aggravations, and circumstances of every one of these, and to go through every one of them, according to the exact Rule, it would take us many days; yea, if the Conscience should give way to scrupulousness in this, there should always be an examination of our examination (which yet may, and in some cases ought to be) and so on in infinitum, that there should never be an end of this work, to the exclusion of others, clearly called for, which cannot be: That is not then (we conceive) the Lords end, in pressing on us this duty of Self-examination; whereby he designs to extricate the Souls of his People, out of disquietness, and not to involve them further in it. Yet 3ly. We say, that its necessary, as to Believers peace in their duty, that they examine the series of their way, though they cannot reach every particular action, or all its circumstances; and that they think no duty to be so clear, nor any sin to be so little, as resolvedly to pass it, without reflecting on it, so far as is possible: and in examining the series, and tract of their way, They would consider, 1. The matter of their actions, whether it was good and approven of God, or not. 2. The manner of them, Whether they have endeavoured to do things after the due order, and in the prescribed manner. 3. What they proposed to themselves, as the general main end, and scope of their actions, whether it was the glory of God, o• not; we find much of the Saints Testimony of their Conscience, to be founded upon this; as we may see here, in Paul, We have had (says he) our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you wards, not with fleshly wisdom, &c. And in David, who […], Psal. 119▪ 59. I thought on my ways▪ and turned my f•et into thy testimony; There is great difference betwixt a mans way, or path, and ⟨p. 255⟩every particular step of his way or path; David proposes to himself the series of his way to be examined, and wherein he found himself faulty, he makes haste to go out of it, and turns his feet into Gods testimonies; He was endeavouring to be watchful in every step of his way while it was before him, to have it right;