on nen. z 3. fib. 2Zi S path a moll fweetly refrefhing and flrongly comforting fruit growing out of it, when it is attained ; and who- ever have through grace attained it,' have never found reafon to think their labour loft, or their pains ill-be- flowed, or too great : The ca1mnefs, compofure and tranquillity of foul, with the holy and humble confi- dence and boldnefs to God -ward, with the cheerfulnefs and joy that result and flow from this difficult exercife, fuperabundantly compenfe all the labour and pains be- flowed on ir. That we may be ftirred up, and pro - voked, vigoroufly to endeavour, in the ftrength of Chrift,the having and maintaining a Confcience void of of- fence toward God and men, and f mewhat of the peace and joy that flow from the well - grounded affurance of its being attained, we have made choice of thefe words, to fpeak a little to them ; wherein the apoftle, i. Affects his attaining of this, with confidence and boldnefs ; Llre trufl (faith he) we have a good Confcience. 2. He proves his affertion, by giving an evidence of the truth of ir, or by explicating that which he calleth a good Confcience, In all things (faith he) willing to live bonefîly ; endea- vouring in every thing to walk according to the rule, and to approve ourfelves to God. We ihall,in the firftt place, (peak fomewhat Ihortly to the explication and fcope of the words. There are three expreffions in his affertion concerning his Confcience, which hold forth a very high attainment ; the frfl is, A good Confcience The word good fignifies, not only that which is a profitable good, but alto that which is a fair, pleafant and delectable good ; infinuating, that it is fuch, a Confcience as hath fomewhat in it commendable, beau- tiful and amiable, fitted to make others fall in love with it ; fo much the word lignifies, z 2im. 4. 7. and, Matth. 26. io. The fecond is, We truly ; holding out the confi- dence whereby he affects the having of a good Confci- ence : It is not Inch truft as many of us have, which we ufe to call our good hope, which is rather a conjecturing or gueflîng, than any well- grounded confidence ; buc it is fuch a confidence and perfwafion, as is founded ón good and folid grounds. The third is, In all things', holding forth the exterkt of it; as if he had Paid, In our pri-
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