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

We shall in the first place, speak some what shortly to the explication, and scope of the words; There are three expressions in his assertion, concerning his Conscience, which hold forth a very high attainment, The 1. Is, a good conscience; The word good signifies not only that which is • profitable good, but also that which is a fair, pleasant and delectable good; insinuating, that it is such a Conscience, as hath some what in it commendable, beautiful, and amiable, fitted to make others fall in love with it; so much the word signifies. 2 Tim. 4. 7. and Matt. 26. 10. The 2. is, We trust, Holding out the confidence whereby he asserts the having of a good Conscience; its not such trust, as many of us have, which we use to call our good hope, Which is rather a conjecturing, or▪ guessing, then any well-grounded confidence; but its such a confidence, and persuasion, as is founded on good and solid grounds. The 3•. is, in all things, holding forth the extent of it, as if he had said▪ in our private walk, as Christians; and in our public employment, as Ministers of the Gospel; in our suffering for Truth, and in our doing for it, even in all things, we have a good Conscience▪ 2ly. There is the evidence, or explication of this, in the words following; because it might be thought strange, that he should so confidently assert a good Conscience in all things, as if he had been without sin; He explains his meaning in other three words, showing what he takes to be a good Conscience; The 1. word is willing, which holds out his kindly inclination, and the determinateness of his resolution anent the thing, it was his desire, design, and delight, to be right in every thing; as Nehemiah was, to fear Gods name; and though he came so far short, as that the evil which he would not, he did, and the good which he would fain have done, he could not come at it; yet he delighted not, he approved not himself in the evil, neither did he design it, but rather had it for his burden and affliction; as he gives us an account, Rom. 7. This then is the Apostles meaning in that high assertion, viz. that it was ⟨p. 274⟩