A37045:536
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 2
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.
1. Then for clearing the Doctrine by parts; in it we take in these three ingredients, to make up the evidence of a good Conscience. 1. That a mans walk be honest 2ly. That it be an universal honesty in all things. 3ly. That there be an willingness, or hearty purpose towards universal honesty, whereon the great stress of the quietness of a persons Conscience lies, viz. The sincerity of the purpose, or a heart-willingness: And we may consider all these, either negatively, so that without this evidence there cannot be a good Conscience; or positively, so that where this evidence is, there is a good Conscience.
1. Then for clearing the Doctrine by parts; in it we take in these threeingredients, to make up the evidence of a good Conscience. 1. That a mans walk be honest 2ly. That it be an universal honesty in all things. 3ly. That there be an willingness, or hearty purpose towards universal honesty, whereon the great stress of the quietness of a persons Conscience lyes, viz. The sincerity of the purpose, or a heart-willingness: And we may consider all these, either negati•ely, so that without this evidence there cannot be a good Conscience; or positively, so that where this evidence is, there is a good Conscience.
For the First, What is an ho•est walk? 1. We conceive it is not that which most men count honesty, viz. For a man only to think, or fan•y himself to be honest; a mans own apprehension is not the rule of his trial, but that which will abide the trial before God. 2ly Honesty here, looks not to absolute perfection, and such as hath no defect; it is a thing that is not ruled, and measured by our will, but by Gods will revealed in his word, though it come not up the full length of that which his revealed will calls for: And we conceive that it doth more particularly consist in these four, 1. That on the matter, it be in things allowed and approven of God; For there neither is, nor can be any honest living, except our supposed duties, and our practices be allowed and commanded of God; and here a good intention, or an honest mind, if the thing thwart the word of God; will not prove honesty, because, as to the matter it is not right, as Paul shows,