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

That which many men call a good mind, or meaning, •s often the cut-throat of their peace, and hardeneth them against just challenges. 3ly. When men are ignorant of the Law of God, it makes them to have peace, when they have no ground •or it; such are ready to think, that they have given obedience to Gods commands, and that they have the Testimony of a good Conscience, because they know not the extent, ⟨p. 265⟩and spiritual meaning of the Law of God; as we may see in that man spoken of, Matth. 19. who said, all these have I kept from my youth up; He did no• grossly dissemble when he said so, but he was ignorant (as I said […] now) of the spiritual meaning and extent of the Law; he thought he was not covetous, if he did no• oppress, and knew not what it was to post-pone all things in the world to God, and that he was bound in some cases, and as he called him to it, to quite all, and to follow Christ; and therefore turns his back on Christ, when he is put to the trial: how many will have a great deal of peace, such as it is, after they have prayed, bee• hearing a Sermon? resting on the […] performance, when in the mean time, they never discerned what it was to perform these duties spiritually; they fancy that they are not guilty of breaking the first […], if they have not down-right worshipped any other God but the true God, and know no spiritual […]; that they are not guilty of murder, if they shed no man• blood, and know not, that rash anger is […] breach of that command, and murder before God; and so in other commands. 4ly. When providence seems to countenance some particular in mens hand, and it goes with them; they are ready to think in that case, they have the Testimony of their Conscience, and so speak peace to themselves; as we see in Micah, when he has made his Teraphim, Ephod, and molten image, and meets with a vagrant Levit coming along, who […] to stay with him; Now (says he) I know that the Lord will do me good, s•ing I have a Levit to be my Priest; He looks on providences furnishing him with a Priest, as Gods approving of his making these images: we will also find in Rachel and Leah, two instances of this,