No man is the Object of our special Love as a Christian merely because he is a Member of a particular Church but only as a Member of the Church Universal i. e. the particular Circumstances and Practices that confine determine and fix him as a Member in this or that or the other Assembly are not the first Ground and Foundation of my Obligation so to Love and do good to him although they may add to it but only Christianity And if any think that a Church Covenant c. engage to a more special regard I answer That is not because they are a particular Society so join'd nor as such merely but because Christians Else might the Congregation of Condemners here V. 21 be really obliged to Love one another better than Gods People and Heritage the Righteous and Innocent whom they Persecuted but I think 't is undeniable that every one is obliged by the Divine and Christian Law to love a Good better than a Bad man though Confederate with him in never so strict and sacred bonds of Union and Association I grant that there is an act and fruit of Christian Love proper to Members of Particular Societies as such which cannot be extended to Christians at large Unassociated Or to Speak more Congruously Since actual Coparticipation of God's Ordinances is the Formal act of a Particular Church as such and this joynt Communion is an Act or Fruit of Christian Love Depending upon a Condition which Christians are obliged to perform but oft will and do suspend though sometimes not without Sin it follows that this Act of Love is not to be extended to those that do not observe the Condition In short the Condition is Consent For Common Christianity though it do oblige a Man to consent to partake of those Ordinances indefinitely with any true Church of real Christians yet it does not confine him to this one individual of which I am a Member but permits him a liberty to chuse the best and fittest for his edification and other conveniencies yet not that neither without the Advice and Direction of Christ's Officers or wise judicious Christians or allowance or connivance at least of the supreme Powers Christian who are obliged to promote and countenance yea and constrain Men by Law to communicate in God's Ordinances and by no means permit them to be Recusants there I say God's Ordinances in general and as his for as yet I do not descend to consider them in this or that or the other particular Mode Dress Habitude or way of Administration Now except other Circumstances concur no Man by me can regularly be forced to communion with me though he may be exhorted to it 'T is not his Duty but his Freedom which I cannot conclude though possibly the Magistrate may he must determine it himself at least if the Publick Laws interpose not and till he do it though he be in a remote capacity to be the Object of this Love yet actually he is not the immediate Object of it but potentially only But if he think to hang off and will not resolve one way or other I look upon it as part of the Magistrate's office to take care that he do live in actual Fellowship with some particular Congregation or other And 't is conformable to right Reason that the Laws which establish this among Christians should determine men to that particular Society which lies in their Vicinity caeteris paribus not permitting them to ramble where they list whereby the Law will be eluded Yet do I not think that 't is in the Magistrate's Power to compel all the Neighbourhood to participate in all Ordinances whether qualified or no. Exhortation before receiving the Communion c. There is a bar laid against this by an over-ruling former Law viz. that of Christianity which the English Liturgy owns 3. The Consequence of all is That Publick-Spiritedness ought to respect Goodness and christian Goodness mainly in abstraction from all Circumstances of Persons and Things and that no Bonds of Relation c. should further engage our hearts than may be consistent with the general Obligation to own and honour our common Christianity Thou art a confederate Member of a particular Church and lookest upon thy self as obliged with a more special Love to embrace the Christian with whom thou dost walk in Fellowship I disallow it not but can'st thou dote so much as to think that thou mayst be a Heathen to all the world beside and they such to thee No all the Acts of Love which thou extendest to the Members of thy own society are as thou hast opportunity to be extended to all that really own Christianity except only such as prerequire their consent and those also upon occasion if they regularly desire it and all in as true a degree of sincerity though not perhaps in as high a degree of intention as if they were of thine own particular combination 'T is madness to conceit that the particular obligations of Christianity do or can null the General 'T is true some men are to be to us as Heathens and Publicans but then it must be after a due and regular procedure against them According to the tenor of that so prudent so equitable so Charitative Christian Law Matt. 18.15 16 17. But to paganize the whole world unseen unheard un-understood undealt with is a piece of Charity which no Charity can Christianize Can I then dare I condemn unchristen unchurch the Christians in Africk in Asia or America or the European in Greece and its Communion c. or the Protestants in Germany Hungary Poland Sweden Denmark Holland France c or this little Universe or distinct World where I reside If I do I am worse than an Infidel 'T is a Catholick Rule Gal. 6.10 As we have opportunity let us do good to all Men especially to them who are of the Houshold of Faith Here is a distribution of the whole World into two Classes In some community of Nature efflagitates our kindness in others peculiarity of relation as Housholders with us All these not some only must have something special What have I to do to make balks where God makes none Heb. 13.1 Let Brotherly love continue 1 Pet. 2.17 Honour all Men Love the Brotherhood Fear God Honour the King What is this Brotherhood What only the Members of that particular Society I am embodied with Away away the Brotherhood comprehends all Christians is never so much as once in the New Testament restrained to a single Congregation exclusively when Love is commanded to it or commended when extended to it 1 Thes 4.9 10. But as touching Brotherly Love ye need not that I write unto you for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another And indeed ye do it to all the Brethren which are in all Macedonia but we beseech you Brethren that ye abound more and more He is a Stranger to the Acts and Apostolical Writings that does not observe all
to be destroy'd That is our strongest and most delightful bent of Will being for God and goodness against Sin we sin not out of Love to sin as dntiful Subjects obey their Sovereign out of love to obedience Yet so masterful and imperious are our Corruptions that they will fight against us under their Chains and taking their advantage knock us down and ravish us that according to Rom. 7.18 to the end we sometimes do that we would not or do not that we would our delight being in the Law of God after the inner Man which no unregenerate Man can truly say But the Law in our Members does 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 counterwar and captivate and Sin dwelling in us does overbear our most determinate purposes in some particular Act although for the-main and in the general course of our lives we keep it under alway dislike it are afflicted with it would give Worlds to be rid of it and use God's appointed means for mortifying it that we may gain an absolute Victory Though it may get the better in some slighter skirmishes yet we remain Masters of the Field In brief when Sin has our liking allowance love delight 't is a King when not a Tyrant The former is inconsistent with Sanctification not the latter therefore does not debar our right to Pardon and Peace though it may darken our Evidence and so damp our Comfort But if we enjoy this assurance that God is ours we have Evidence also that Grace is ours Pardon is ours Peace is ours and therefore may solace our selves in its abundance Psal 37.11 As on the contrary antecedently to this assurance there can be no secure and well bottomed although there may be a fallacious and presumptuous Peace For Peace of conscience alway supposes Peace with God and this discovered by some overt act else 't is but a drunken Dream If a Man have no testimony that God is reconciled to him 't is all one in effect as if he were not reconciled The old Maxim must here obtain non esse non apparere tantidem sunt The privilege we enjoy is to us a non-entity the comfort we feel not to us is not My Soul is in woe because I have offended God my trouble cannot must not cease till I know that the offence is past by and forgiven no nor then neither wholly if I be an ingenuous Child I shall be grieved whenever I review the disingenuous baseness of my behaviour toward my heavenly Father although he resolve never to remember it to my prejudice yet with this difference before pardon I shall be afflicted with a tormenting Sorrow the issue of Fear which will at present extinguish and overthrow my comfort but after sense of Remission only with a more generous Compunction and godly Sorrow the fruit of Love consistent with although it something diminish and detract from the fulness and sweetness of my Consolation If I can sit down content under the dishonour I have done and the Provocation I have given unto my affectionate and tender hearted Father I am an unworthy Child nay if I so little and lightly regard his anger as to be in no pain but at ease under it and so affront and undervalue his Love as to be at rest and content without it I am a Rebel not a Child a Devil not a Saint Now let a Messenger be with me one of a thousand to shew my uprightness Job 33.23 24. that I have sincerely observ'd the Conditions of the promise of Pardon and therefore God is gracious to me and saith deliver him from the pit execute not the sentence of Condemnation pronounced by the Law against him I have found a Ransome or Atonement the Satisfaction my Justice hath received at the hands of the Redeemer shall be available for him to all intents and purposes as fully as if he himself in person had given it Mine anger is turned away from him I am at peace with him I have pardoned him If I have good testimony of this it quiets my Heart dispels my Doubts allays my Sorrows satisfies my Conscience replenishes my Soul with Comfort and Peace Hence that sweet reviving Proclamation Isa 40.1 Comfort ye Comfort ye my People saith your God speak ye comfortably Hebr. to the heart to Jerusalem and cry unto her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because her warfare is accomplished 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because her Iniquity is pardoned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because she hath received from the band of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 two double for all her sins There is an express causal Connexion betwixt these things Proclaim Comfort because 't is thus and thus Here are three Grounds of Comfort and all from your God I begin with the last and lowest which is therefore the Foundation 1. Punishment inflicted to the Satisfaction of Justice She hath received two double She i. e. the Church a Body complex and compounded of Head and Members If not in the Members yet in the Head Christ Jesus she has born the Indignation of the Lord in so full a measure that all the further claims and demands of Justice as to her are sinally silenced as far as they concern the Penalty And 't is not unusual in Scripture for that to be ascribed to the Head Christ Body the Church which is proper to the Body Head and this in consideration of the Mystical Union and Communion betwixt the Head and Members Act 9.4 Saul Saul why persecutest thou me 2 Cor. 1.5 As the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation aboundeth by Christ Rom. 8.17 if we suffer with him Isa 49.3 And said unto me thou art my Servant O Israel in whom I will be glorified 'T is apparently spoke to and of Christ as the whole Context demonstrates But let the sense be proper and not relative to Christ viz. that the Body the Church had suffered Double i. e. sufficient in the estimate of her tender and compassionate God who is afflicted in all her Afflictions and in the depths of his Love makes aggravating greatning Representations of all the Miseries she groans under as if she had born Punishments truly more than proportionable to her sins yet this implies both an antecedent Compensation made by Christ in vertue whereof God is so wonderfully propitious and candid in his Opinion and Sentiments concerning her Sufferings And also that although these were not a real and full Satisfaction in the nature of the thing yet they were accepted as such and so accounted in the repute and benign Interpretation of her reconciled God who seems as it were repentingly and rueingly to declare this as Jer. 31.20 Hosea 11.8 9. 2. Since there seems to be not only a causal dependance of these three and the Comfort here tendred but also of each upon other that the latter appears to be a ground and reason of the former hence grievous Suffering is alledged as the Motive upon which the Divine Majesty was pleas'd to
North Country Poet. An imperfect Copy of his Verses for and against Sleep made in his younger Years when at the University were Printed under the Name of the Famous Cleveland several other of his Poems deservedly valuable remain in the Custody of some Friends He had a copious Library and abundance of the chociest Books of which he made good use having a notable facility in turning over Authors and picking the Quintessence out of them He would never be perswaded to put any thing to the Press though often solicited to Print something but reply'd there were Books enough Printed But a Gentlewoman in the Neighbourhood being in great trouble of Conscience often came to visit him whilst he discours'd with her she seem'd to be much satisfied and her Spirit appeased but when she was gone from him she was as much cast down and disconsolate as ever whereupon she earnestly desired him to write down some Pertinent Meditations that she might have recourse to when she was absent from him which he did and gives some account of in his Epistle to the Reader perfixed before this ensuing Treatise yet could not be perswaded to let it see the Light while he lived yet shewed some willingness it should be Printed after his decease having before writ it out by his own Hand in readiness for the Press and design'd for Publick Good which upon the Importunity and Encouragement of several Friends is now accomplish'd by his surviving Widow that all the Voluminous Labours of such a wise Master-builder might not be lost since most of his Writings for his own use were in Short-hand and not fully Legible or Intelligible by any there being many unknown Characters of his own inventing interspersed But to come to the last Scene of this worthy Man's Life He had endured the acute pains of the Pleurisie four several times yet through the Blessing of God as often recovered out of it though upon frequent occasions complaining of a pain in his side yet by Temperance and the use of Means he was wonderfully shored up in the midst of his Travels Studies and Preachings August the 4th 1693. he rid from his own House at Horton to Leeds being as well as ordinarily in competent Health Preached that day being Friday the Preparation Sermon for the Lord's Supper Lord's-day August the 6th he Preached twice Administred the Lord's Supper was wonderfully enlarged both in Expressions and warm Affections so that some were ready to think he was in Heaven already and admired the Grace of God in him Wednesday August 9th was the Monthly Publick Fast he was long at Work spent himself exceedingly On Thursday Night he begun of his old Distemper the Pleurisie which now made the fifth vigorous Assault he was by the Physicians advice Blooded twice but his Distemper prevailed and turned rather to a Fever yet still the violent Pain in his side continued but he was very sensible and patient under it August 24th he desired the assistance of a Friend in drawing his Will which he Subscribed the 26th after that he made a most Pathetical affecting Exhortation to several Christian Friends then present who observed that the Graces of Faith and Humility which had been eminent throughout the whole course of his Life did grow and encrease to the very last he was nothing in his own Eyes had the most self-debasing Expressions imaginable Poor Creature sinful Worm vile Wretch that had intruded into the high calling of the Ministry and had no Gifts no Graces no Abilities to discharge such a Trust He even loathed himself for it and if the Great God should spurn him out of his Presence he could not but justifie him Oh! wo is me that I have sinned I even tremble to appear before the dreadful Tribunal of God who will come with flaming Fire to take vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Remember what I preach'd to you from that Text I have endeavour'd to discharge a good Conscience though with a multitude of Imperfections and have not shunned to declare unto you the whole Counsel of God and I bless God for the sweet Communion I have had with you in his Ordinances and humbly beseech him to supply the breach that is shortly to be made and to send you a Man of Judgment fitted with his Spirit that may better discharge his Duty than I have done who deserve to be made a Spectacle of Misery to Angels and Men But blessed be God for hopes of Salvation through the Blessed Mediator Jesus Christ Oh the infinite Riches of free Grace And here he fell into an holy extasie of Joy but the Expressions cannot be retriev'd those who were present being too deeply Affected to take the Particulars in Writing or Memory Several Instructions likewise he gave to his Relations The Night after he grew very weak and his Vital Spirits decay'd more and more till the next Morning about Seven of the Clock having taken a solemn leave of his dear Wife and Children and with great Faith and Chearfulness recommended his Soul into the Hands of his dear Redeemer he encountred the Pangs of Death August the 27th 1693. being Lord's-day and entred upon his Everlasting Rest being aged Sixty Years On Tuesday August the 29th he was Buried many sad and sorrowful Hearts both of Ministers and Christian Friends attending the Funeral His Corpse was solemnly Interred in the Chancel of the New Church in Leeds nigh the Remains of good Mr. Wales as himself had desired September the 6th 1693. upon the Peoples request two of his Brethren Preached Funeral Sermons at his Meeting-place on Mill-Hill to a mighty concourse of People the one treating upon Acts 20.38 Sorrowing most of all for the Words which he spake that they should see his Face no more The other treated upon that Text 1 Kings 13.30 And he laid his Carkase in his own Grave and they mourned over him saying alas my Brother Thus dyed this holy Man of God that hath left few behind him of the same Spirit a Dutiful Child to his godly Parents a Loving Husband to his lovely Wife an Indulgent Father to his hopeful Children a Faithful Friend to all that feared God a Consciencious Laborious Minister and Tender-hearted Watchman over the Souls of his Flock A Person of great worth in all Men's account but his own indeed it was strange to see a Man of such eminent Parts and rare and raised Accomplishments to have so mean an esteem of himself he thought himself below others though he was higher by Head and Shoulders than most of his Brethren He was cloathed with Humility this was the upper Garment put upon all his other Graces and was his bravest Ornament which rendred him Conspicuous in the Eyes of all that knew him Though much more might be said of him yet let his own Works Praise him in the Gates and let us all make sure of our State and make hast after him to that
Christians every where called Brethren even by those who were not of the same particular Congregation Acts 10.23 and 11.29 and 14.2 and 15.1 3 23 32 33 40. and 16.2 c. I challenge all the World to give but one Instance out of the Bible where Christians of any particular Church were not stiled and owned under the Name of Brethren by any one or more Persons of another Congregation though of different Nations nay where Christians though not embodied as they phrase it were not so called as Acts 28.14 c. All then that are Partakers of the same heavenly calling are holy Brethren Heb. 3.1 And this Title is not at all given to Christians with relation to a particular Church but only the Catholick and upon common Catholick grounds and no other Since then the whole Community of Christians must be acknowledged for Brethren Love them as Brethren having compassion one of another be pitiful be courteous not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing but contrarywise blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a Blessing 1 Pet. 3.8 9. For 1 Joh. 3.14 We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren he that loveth not his Brother abideth in Death ver 15. Is a homicide ver 10. Is not of God but manifests himself to be a Child of the Devil chap. 4.20 cannot love God And sure if even Enemies must be lov'd that we may be like our Father Matth. 5.44 45. and brotherly love be extended to Strangers as the coherence in Heb. 13.1 seems to evince but the duty enjoyn'd there with the reason of it much more viz. entertaining them as we would do Angels Neighbours may challenge it upon a stronger ground and Brethren most of all and that in such degrees as take in all things from the meanest Offices to the very laying down our Lives for them 1 Joh. 3.16 Jam. 1.26 If the not bridling a ferocient Tongue render a Man's Religion vain let those with trembling measure the consequence who neither will govern Tongue nor Heart Lastly That part of the Catholick Church comprehended within the confines of any particular Kingdom is and ought to be the more immediate object of every individual Subjects or Members Christian Honour Love Care and Respect to be manifested by his Prayers for it Communion with it defence of it and obedience to it in all lawful things seeking its good in the use of all lawful means with a Religious care and caution neither to say nor do nor allow and permit any thing which we can hinder to be said or done to its prejudice For what is done for or against a part redounds to the whole 1 Cor. 12.26 and this is to be Publick Spirited viz. to embrace the Publick with an universal Love Care and Endeavour active for its Good preventive of its Hurt and Damage deploring its Corruptions and Miseries labouring with affectionate Industry to remedy and heal them Upon these Principles the old Nonconformists Bradshaw Hildersham Ball c. and many of the later edition loved respected defended and held Communion with the Congregations in the Church of England where they could as appears by their publick Writings and known Practice notwithstanding the bitter Reproaches and Censures of some few who I wish had as well studied the Case 'T were a great impertinency and folly for me here to engage in a defence of that which has had and yet hath so many more able Advocates though if I do not forget and flatter my self somethings occur which nearly touch the merit of the Cause yet not observed by any and I will not betray that which for the main my Conscience tells me is a good Cause with so short and imperfect a plea as the straits of a little Chapter confine me to therefore in prosecution of my General design I shall only suggest something of a more common influence and wave particulars till better occasion or call 1. In the Church of England are some I wish there were more Thousands of as Sober Pious Discreet Judicious Christians and Hundreds of as Learned Religious Ministers as Europe affords who in their Judgments and Consciences seem to be abundantly satisfied with and strongly plead for its Communion upon grounds of very great moment to instance only in the late calm Discourses of the Reverend Dean of Norwich Now for me or any Man to send all these quick to Hell as mere Infidels or worse as without Christ Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel the true Church Strangers from the Covenants of Promise having no hope Atheists in the World Eph. 2.12 may discover what Spirit we are of but will very little recommend our own Christianity in observance of the Rule Phil. 2.3 Rom. 12.10.1 Cor. 13.5 7. 2. The Church of England and Dissenters agree in all the main Substantials of Christianity the difference only lies in a few controverted things of very inconsiderable consequence in comparison The same Christian Doctrine in all the Fundamental Points the same general design to promote Holiness of Life the same Worship in the Essential form and matter and means the same Ministry of Persons separate to perform Divine Offices in the same form of Churches viz. Congregational who are embodied not meerly by the civil Sanction but consent to submit to the Ordinances and Ministers of Christ which with the Departers I call them rather than Dissenters constitute the Explicit Covenant and Essence of the Ministerial Call but differing only in a few circumstantial Doctrines in external Modes and Rites disputed and disputable to the Worlds end And shall so light matters alienate us imbitter our Spirits envenom our Censures when we agree in the main Ah Sirs should God Almighty thus mark Iniquities who could stand Does he appoint a Sacrifice for Sins of Ignorance and Infirmity hold Communion with us notwithstanding them not impute them to us And shall such things be unpardonable only in the Church of England which judges its own Constitution the most excellent in the World and thinks it has as much to say against you as you against it as much to say for it self as you for your selves which you can no more convince than it can you Lastly To justifie your departure nothing can be justly alledged but fear of Sin in Communion Now nothing can determine what is what is not Sin but God in his Word You are then obliged to produce Scripture as clear to prove Communion a Sin as 't is clear from Scripture that 't is your duty to obey the Magistrate in lawful things For if the Communion which he commands be not unlawful you ought in Conscience to obey him in it Rom. 13.5 The General includes the Particular But I profess amongst all the Writings against Communion I have not yet seen any one or more Scriptures alledged which apart or in conjunction will evidently and certainly bear such a consequence Now turn we the
unutterable Agonies and Woes of Hell and the horrible Tempest of Divine Vengeance and indignation in everlasting Burnings which will be tormenting above all that any understanding but that of God can comprehend the bitter Weepings Wailings and Gnashings of Teeth without Ease Release Mitigation Relief or End this intolerable after-clap of Sin is even to the remembrance and fore-thought almost as Cruciating as it self to the sense and feeling will be confounding God's Writing down all our Miscarriages in his Book out of which all the Power and Policy in the World can never expunge them his setting even our secret Sins in the light of his Countenance which makes them infinitely more visible than the Sun in the Firmament is a consideration that sticks and stabs us to the Heart and Murders all our Comforts at once and buries us in Horror Yet now if there can be any good token found that this Hand-writing is blotted out If a Man can be assured that Iniquity and Transgression shall by God be remembred no more this is the most reviving transporting Solace in the World But how can I have a Testimony that God hath thus privileged me How shall I know that he will forgive and forget my wickedness if he do not tell me Who can search into the bottom of his Counsels and know his purposes and practice in Heaven if himself do not reveal them And there are but two ways of revealing any secret thing viz. by words and by works Words spoken and written Deeds in Signs The Holy Scriptures reveal God's general Will to pardon some yet do they not name but only describe the Persons giving their true and lively Moral Character setting down at full such Qualifications as may be to any Man a clear Evidence who is and who is not made happy in this forensecal Mercy of Justification If an Angel from Heaven should address himself to thee with this Comfortable Message That thy Iniquities are pardoned If a Bath-kol a voice in Thunder should name thee and say Be of good Comfort thy Sins are forgiven thee thou could'st not be secure that this was not an Illusion to abuse thee into Presumption if thy inward sense did not report those tokens on which the Word of God does suspend thy Pardon But if thou canst but produce these all the Angels and Voices from Heaven imaginable though as particular and clear as possible telling thee thou art unjustified must be acknowledged accursed Deceptions because they Preach another Doctrine than Christ has done in the Gospel Gal. 1.8 Well then that thou may'st find a good token for good thou need'st not ascend into Heaven to search the Archives or court Rolls of the upper Bench there nor turn over the Book of Life in a curious tracing out thy particular name but having duly informed thy mind what are the signs of a Pardoned State look within thy Soul and Conscience and diligently enquire and examine without Partiality and a biass selfward whether the present State Constitution and Frame of thy heart be that in reality which is enrolled in the promises of the Book of God the Scripture which tender to thee Conditionally the forgiveness of Sin produce but those Conditions let it but appear upon sound Evidence that will satisfie thy self and the World and thy Judge that having truly repented of thy Sin thou livest under the Dominion of Faith and a good Conscience and Justice it self is obliged to Faithfulness for the granting thee Indemnity and Remission and the sense thereof in thy own Soul For if a Man can truly say that he hath repented and stands to what he has done in stedfast Resolutions never to return to folly his Reflections upon former Sins will not be torturing though they may be grieving because he hath the promise of Mercy and Pardon Isa 55.7 Acts 3.19 which Justice it self is obliged to perform For Conditional Promises in themselves are Dispensations of free love which was not obliged by any necessity or Congruousness to offer such Blessings upon such terms yet once made and the Conditions observed the Donation of the Mercy becomes the interest of strict Justice and Righteousness But although the New Covenant admit of Repentance which that of Works could not yet this Condescention is only through a Mediator Jesus Christ If therefore to thy Penitence thou do not superadd Faith in him neither will those after Thoughts be sound nor introductive of Peace because without Christ our Righteousness and Peace objective and causal without us Jer. 23.6 1 Cor. 1.30 Mic. 5.5 Eph. 2.14 there can be no Pardon and Peace formal within us Rom. 8.1 and without Faith no Justification no Christ Rom. 5.1 Joh. 3.18 36. Yet both these must be evinced to be sincere and sound and thereby be themselves justifiable and justified which nothing can do but the exercise of a Good Conscience Acts 24.16 This alone is to us the surest Evidence that our Repentance and Faith are unfeigned and that we deceive not our own Souls Indeed the basis of all true bliss and solace is a good Conscience in Justice and Innocency toward Man Inoffensiveness and Piety toward God Moderation and Sobriety in my self the contrary to these and Comfort are incompatible 'T is but a colloguing with my Conscience to my utter Confusion to tender it Peace if it be not pure Jam. 3.17 No Man can be groundedly quiet in Mind if filthy in Heart and Life If thou be a Devil thou must carry thy Hell about thee visibly or under disguise in its self or its Causes Thou hast no just Right to the sweets of Religion if a stranger to its Power A Mans first Designs for Joy are or ought to be laid in Self-survey and Reflection If he can find nothing of God within he can take comfort in nothing of God without but by an unjust Usurpation and Sacrilege All the goodness of God signifies nothing to an ill Man But a Good Conscience or heart is a continual Feast Prov. 15.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that finds all right at home who has no rebuke nor cause thereof from the Domestick Comptroller and Comforter in his Bosom is happy Now there can be no goodness in Conscience but only from God and as far as in Conjunction with God God in thy Conscience makes it good for he is all Goodness and there neither is nor can be any except in and from him And all the goodness which is in thy Conscience from him is first from his Faithfulness acting under his Love in the Covenant wherein he promises to give a new heart of Flesh Ezek. 36 26 27. Jer. 31.33 and Write his Laws in it by his Spirit of Promise which he engages shall cause us to walk in his Statutes c. Next and under Faithfulness all the goodness in thy Conscience is from Justice For the Right that Fidelity gives to Mercy Justice is obliged to maintain God must perform his Word because he cannot