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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 3
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.
Where we have the asserting of an interest in God▪ and of a kindly relation to him with holy boldness; And yet they plead not a perfection in the fear of God; but a desire to fear him; Their desire, design, resolution and endeavour, was to fear him; So Matth 5. vers. 6. They are pronounced by the Lord to be blessed who hunger and thirst after righteousness; Which speaks plainly no absolute perfection; And say they, Psal. 44. All this is come upon us, yet have we not forsaken thee, nor dealt falsely in thy Covenant; Though they had many infirmities and failings, which they did not deny but take with; yet they humbly avouch adherence to God and to his Covenant, so as they did not forsake him, nor deal treacherously in it; they assert their sincerity in cleaving to him, notwithstanding of all that came upon them: This ground is frequently made use of, Psal. 119. and particularly vers. 6. Where the Psalmist says, Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandments; as if he had said, my Conscience shall not blush, nor be confounded, but have confidence and quietness, though there be not a perfect up▪ coming in obedience to all things commanded, if I have a respect to all, and an honest design and purpose to be at all. 4. it cannot be otherwise, if we ⟨p. 308⟩consider, that Conscience will, and must be calm and quiet, when God accepts of a mans way▪ Now though there be not absolute perfection, yet if there be reality and sincerity, and no short-coming allow, approven, nor consented to, but wrestled against and opposed; God will accept of our way: Its said, 2 Cor. 8. vers. 9, 10. That God accepts of a willing mind, according to that which a man hath, and not according to that which he hath not; If a man improve well, seriously and sincerely the outward things given him, though there be some providential obstruction to the performance, yet on account of his honestly willing mind, he is graciously accepted; Which holds proportionably in other points and parts of obedience; Thus the Lord says,