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

many times men are dragged (as it •were) by the heels, or by the hair to the obedience of a command, who yet have little, or no love to it, or esteem of it; much therefore of our sincerity may be gathered from our affection to, and esteem of duty; when we are drawn to it, not so much from fear of the punishment that may follow on disobedience to the Command, as from love to and esteem of the thing commanded; which doth not so much force and compel, as it doth sweetly incline and move us to it. 2ly. This universality must be in respect of mens design▪ and deliberate purpose, to practice all commanded duties, without allowed balking any one of them; which is, when in the prosecuting of holiness, they lay all Gods Commandments before them, as David said he did, Psal. 18. 22. All his judgements were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. 4ly This universality must be in respect of our endeavour to prosecute, and use all the midses and means that may further us toward the suitable discharge of all called for duties, and towards the promoving of holiness in all manner of conversation; and endeavouring to carry a long all the ⟨p. 295⟩circumstances that are requisite, to the making of our actions truly Godly: A man that would have a good Conscience, as to the honesty of his walk, would omit nothing appointed by God, that may promove him in the way of holiness: And, O! how vastly comprehensive this is; it takes in endeavour• to prevent and eschew all temptations, snares and impediments, of what ever sort that may mar and let him in, following forth his course of holiness; and in his exercising of Faith in God, through Christ, and dependence on him, to be with speed brought forward to the end thereof; that he may in some measure be in case to say with the Apostle, I have finished my course: These words of the wise man, Prov: 3. 5, 6. are to this purpose observable, in all thy ways acknowledge thou him, and he shall direct thy paths; Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding; There would not only be an acknowledging of God in this, and that particular action, but in all our ways; as we would be careful to make use of him, and to trust him, so we would eschew leaning to our own understanding. This universal extent of our endeavour is so necessary, that without it we cannot have peace;