A37045:520
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.
The •se serves to show you, that you should not look on a good Conscience as an empty, or airy fancy, or notion, or as a thing that is not attainable, or as a thing that was never attained by any; ye see the Saints have come a good length in it: and next to the glory of God, this is the end, for attaining whereof, they take all the pains to have a good Conscience; even that they may win at this calmness and tranquility, at this peace, comfort and joy of Soul resulting from a good Conscience; even as men labour, and take pains to win at some thing in the world, that they may have a more convenient, commodious and comfortable life in it: and comparing the words of this text with these of Acts 24. 16. Its very clear, that whoever are seriously, and suitably exercised to have a Conscience void of offence towards God, and towards men, they may, through Gods blessing, win at a clear, calm and pleasant Conscience: the one was Pauls study there; the other is his attainment here: If we compare the state of our Conscience with the strai• of our former walk; it will very easily be found, that the want of this calm and pleasant Conscience, flows from our not being suitably exercised to godliness, and to the having a Conscience void of offence towards God, and towards men: This, alas! This is it, that wounds our peace, and […] our spiritual mirth, that makes us •ow down, and walk heavily (as it were) without the Sun; if there were more serious and hard pressing after holiness, in all manner of conversation among us; we would not readily be such strangers to the serene tranquility, comfort, and refreshing that flow from a good Conscience.
The •se serves to shew you, that you should not look on a good Conscience as an empty, or ai•y fancy, or notion, or as a thing that is not attainable, or as a thing that was never attained by any; ye see the Saints have come a good length in it: and next to the glory of God, this is the end, for attaining whereof, they take all the pains to have a good Conscience; even that they may win at this calmnes and tranquility, at this peace, comfort and joy of Soul resulting from a good Conscience; even as men labour, and take pains to win at some thing in the world, that they may have a more convenient, commodious and comfortable life in it: and comparing the words of this text with these of