Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Again, the Believer may gather his Pardon and Salvation from that peace and joy which he finds in his own heart. There is a kind of Peace and Joy springing out of Moral Virtues, which because of their Congruity to Reason leave a serenity on the Soul where they are lodged: Mens sibi conscia recti is a great matter; a good Conscience is murus aheneus, a wall of brass to the owner. Seneca saith, Res severa est verum gaudium, True joy is in the severe prosecution of Virtue. Hierocles tells us, That the pleasure of the Virtuous [Greek or Hebrew], imitates the joy of the gods. And it was a Point of ancient Philosophy, [Greek or Hebrew], Virtue is sufficient to Happiness. But the Peace and Joy in believing is of an higher nature: Those in the Moralist come but from the face of Reason smiling on ⟨p. 419⟩the Congruity which is in Moral Virtues to it self; there is nothing of Grace or Christ in them: But these in the Believer come from the reconciled face of God shining upon the Heart in a Mediator. Those in the Moralist exceed not their own sphere of Reason; but these in the Believer pass all understanding, Phil. 4.7. and are full of glory, 1 Pet. 1.8. Heaven comes down in them, and puts a pure serenity on the Heart: The Believer now dwells in Paradise; the light of Gods Countenance shining as a clear Sun; Christ as a Tree of Life dropping down Pardons and Graces; the holy Spirit being as a perpetual spring of Virtues and Comforts; the fragrant Promises breathing out the odours of Love and Mercy; the sweet voice of Peace and Joy uttered from Heaven, echoing and making melody in Conscience: Nothing here but green pastures and still waters, and placid Heavens; not a cloud from the Law to darken the light, not an ache in Conscience to break the rest, not a spot of unremitted sin to stain the serenity. Oh what manner of Peace and Joy is here! A Stranger, a Pagan Philosopher intermeddles not with them. These are to be found in the Raptures of a Cyprian, or in the Consolations of an Austin or Bernard. In such a state as this, what should the Believer do? May he not break out in the proper Idiom of Faith, My Lord and my God? May he not finely conclude, My sins are forgiven me? Nay, Ought he not to do so, and with David, call upon all that is within him, ⟨p. 420⟩