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

but here is a promise of pardon to the man that is fled to Christ, and to the blood of sprinkling, as I am, and makes use of Christ in the promise, for renewed intimation of pardon, or for renewed pardon, as new guilt is contracted, And thus he is kept quiet, that the challenge wins not in so far, nor goeth so deep, as to sting him in his vital parts (to speak so) the heart of his peace and quietness is kept still alive, t•ugh he be in quick and sharp exercise under the challenge. 2ly. Because challenges will not soon nor easily be got removed, nor the Conscience quickly, and without difficulty calmed, as we see in that fore-mentioned instance of David, Psal. 51. There is need therefore of continuing in the fight, and of drawing conclusions from solid and undeniable premises and grounds, to quiet the Conscience, ⟨p. 363⟩and ward off challenges, so as they may not wound and quite mar peace; as Paul doth, Rom. 8. 1, 2. It might have been said to him, Thou hast been complaining of a body of death, and that with thy flesh thou servest the law of sin, and is not that a grievous challenge against thee? It is true (as if he said) But there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ, That is the making use aright of the targe or shield of faith; But to put the matter out of doubt, he goes on, and subsumes, and draws the conclusion; (for the words are applicative to himself; and spoken with a considerable regard to his own particular exercise, set down, Chap. 7.) I, by faith, am fled to Christ for refuge, and so am in Christ, and therefore there is no condemnation to me: and indeed, when ever challenges come in from sense, and Conscience put through other, or mingled together (as it were) blown upon by temptation, which will pursue the Believer hardly; Its needful to reason from the grounds of faith, to ward off the blow, and to quiet the Conscience: And this, though it be a reflex act of faith, which does not justify, yet it serves to reason the Conscience into peace and calmness; and there is need of faith acting thus reflexly, though not (as I said) to justify, yet to bring home the peace and comfort of Justification, and renewed extracts, and intimations of pardon. 3ly. Its necessary that Believers quiet themselves positively, by comforting & confirming themselves In the faith of what the promise speaks, and in the hope of what they have to expect: