commands and loves, certainly, God and he are not reconciled, 2 Tim. iii. 5; and whatsoever his form of godliness be, God esteems him to be yet in a state of perdition. For whosoever saith he knows God, but yet loves not, and keeps not his commandments, he is a liar, 1 John ii. 4. And if any man love not his brother, whatsoever show of peace and friendship is between God and him, I am sure God saith, He that does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother, 1 John iii. 10; he is a child of the devil, and therefore has no true peace with God.

3. He whose quiet of heart and conscience is from false peace, is willing to take it for granted, that his peace is sound and good; and cannot abide to look into, or to inquire into his peace, to try whether it be true, or whether it be false or no; being, as it seems, afraid lest stirring the mud and filth that lies in the bottom of his heart, he should disquiet it. And for this cause it is that such an one cannot endure a searching ministry, 2 Chron. xxxvi. 16; Acts vii. 54, nor will like that minister who will dive into the conscience, by laying the heart and conscience open to the light and purity of God's word.

Thus I have showed you what is a first and chief impediment to be removed, viz. presumption and false hope, if you would have true peace; for false hopes breed only false peace.

CHAPTER XV. CONCERNING FALSE FEARS.

The second head to which I reduced impediments to true peace, is false fear; for if you doubt, fear, or despair of your estate without cause, it will much disturb and hinder your peace.