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

The Fourth is, That there may be a good Testimony of the Conscience, in a particular action, when as to the action, complexly considered, a Believer may see ground to be humbled; there being two parts in him, the renewed, and un-renewed part; sometimes the corrupt and un-renewed part may so restrain him, that he cannot do that which he would; and yet he may have some peace here, in as far as according to the renewed part, he allows not himself in that prevailing of the corrupt and un▪ renewed part, but is afflicted with, and protests against the same; so the Apostle says, Rom. 7. 15, 16, 17. That which I do, I allow not; •or what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I; if then I do that which I would not, I consent •nto the law that it is good, and it is no more I that do it▪ but sin that dwelleth in me, for to will is present with me, but ⟨p. 262⟩how to perform that which is good I find not; He wants not ground of challenge from the unrenewed part; yet he hath pea•e on this account, that he can & doth warrantably distinguish betwixt the law of his mind and the law of his members; and he maintains the peace of a good Conscience in some respect, not as to his being free from all guilt, in respect of his unrenewed, or corrupt part; but in respect of the opposition which the renewed part made unto it; in respect of his corruption he looks at, and cries out of himself, as a sinful miserable and wretched man; and yet in respect of his grace, he looks at, and proclaims himself to be a happy man through Christ Jesus, and on that account heartily thanks God: I grant that Believers have need of much singleness, and self-denial here; yet they cannot have peace, unless they thus distinguish; and by the way (which might be a distinct doctrine) let me say, that a Believers not admitting of the Testimony of his Conscience for him, when he hath ground for it, is the cause of much heartlessness, and a mighty obstruction of his peace, comfort and joy; when he knows not, how to wail out the Testimony of a good Conscience, from a crowd, and heap (as it were) of challenges for much guilt.