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

For the 2d. thing, viz. Some false grounds (even beside these) that men use to rest upon; we shall name these four, that are very unsound, and unsicker, and they are implied in the Text. The 1. is implied in Godly sincerity: for clearing of which, ye would take notice, that there may be a moral sincerity in mens practices that is not godly sincerity; which is opposite to more gross counterfeiting and dissembling; This we find to have been in Abimelech, Gen. 20. who said to God, In the integrity of my heart have I done this; The man said not one thing, when he intended another; this moral sincerity will not prove a solid ground of the Testimony of a good Conscience; therefore we see that God plagues A•imelech, notwithstanding his moral honesty and sincerity; it is true, it may extenuate, and in some respect excuse a mans fault, as it does Pauls persecution, who did it ignorantly, and out of unbelief, and the Jews their zeal, which was not according to knowledge; but as the thing it self was not warrantable, so no such thing can be a solid ground of peace; therefore the Jews zeal does not warrant them in that they did; nor Pauls persecution to be no sin, as neither the one ⟨p. 267⟩nor the other, nor both of them together, warrant these spoken of, 1 John 16. who, in killing the servants of Christ, thought they did God good service; the matter must be right, otherwayes there can never be ground for a good Testimony of the Conscience; There is somewhat of this kind of sincerity in many Merchants and Tradesmen, which makes them, if they be any way morally honest in their dealings, to think, that they have Religion enough, and sufficient ground for a good Testimony from their Conscience; but alas, this will not do the business, nor obtain such a Testimony; it is not sure for nought, that Paul puts in this word for a ground of his Testimony, Godly Sincerity.

For the 2d. thing, viz. Some false grounds (even beside these) that men use to rest upon; we shall name these four, that are very unsound, and unsicker, and they are implyed in the Text. The 1. is implyed in Godly sincerity: for clearing of which, ye would take notice, that there may be a moral sincerity in mens practices that is not godly sincerity; which is opposit to more gross counterfeiting and dissembling; This we find to have been in Abimelech,