A37045:507
Heaven upon earth in the serene tranquillity and calm composure, in the sweet peace…
Heaven upon earth in the serene tranquillity and calm composure, in the sweet peace and solid joy of a good conscience sprinkled with the blood of Jesus and exercised always to be void of offence toward God and toward men : brought down and holden forth in XXII very searching sermons on several texts of Scripture ... / by James Durham.
Edinburgh: printed by the heir of Andrew Anderson, 1685
Title page typeset from the transcription.
HEAVEN upon EARTH in a Serene and Smiling good Conscience. › Sermons on hebrews n13.18 › Sermon 1
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2ly. Observe, That a man under many mistakes, misrepresentations, and reproaches, may have a good Conscience; so that a man is not in reference thereto obliged to stand to others thoughts, and judgement of him; Thus it was a small thing for this same Apostle, to be judged by mans judgement; As he tells us, 1 Cor. 4. v. 3. Therefore ye would beware to lay weight on mistakes, mis-representations, or false reports of men; since a good report, and a good Conscience go not always together; Paul went through good report and ill report, and digested all these things; so that his peace, and the Testimony of a good Conscience were not thereby marred.
2ly. Observe, That a man under many mistakes, misrepresentations, and reproaches, may have a good Conscience; so that a man is not in reference thereto obleidged to stand to others thoughts, and judgement of him; Thus it was a smal thing for this same Apostle, to be judged by mans judgement; As he tells us, 1 Cor. 4. v. 3. Therefore ye would beware to lay weight on mistakes, mis-representations, or false reports of men; since a good report, and a good Conscience go not alwayes together; Paul went through good report and ill report, and digested all these things; so that his peace, and the Testimony of a good Conscience were not thereby marred.
3ly. Observe, That clearness as to a good Conscience under mistakes and reproaches, is a great and notable ground of confidence and boldness, to such as are so mistaken and reproached; many times men care but little for a good Conscience; but when all the world (as it were) comes in a mans tops, the confidence of a good Conscience is an excellent, and none-such friend and companion; it hath great weight with Paul here, and is a sufficient counter-poise to all the reproaches and calumnies they could load him with; though he was looked on even as the filth of the world, and the off-scourings of all things.
3ly. Observe, That clearness as to a good Conscience under mistakes and reproaches, is a great and notable ground of conidence and boldness, to such as are so mistaken and reproached; many times men care but little for a good Conscience; but when all the world (as it were) comes in a mans tops, the confidence of a good Conscience is an excellent, and none-such friend and companion; it hath great weight with Paul here, and is a sufficient counter-poise to all the reproaches and calumnes they could load him with; though he was looked on even as the filth of the world, and the off-scourings of all things.