Upon Uprightness, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Of the Uprightness of God.
THat with an upright man, God will shew himself upright, is evident, For
1. It is agreeable to his Nature, Psal. 25. 8. Good and upright is the Lord. He is an upright God, and therefore loves Uprightness. How can he chuse then but shew himself upright to an upright man? Simplicity is Gods first Attribute, and Simplicity is the upright mans chief Property; there must needs therefore be a singular kindness between these two.
2. It is agreeable to his Method. All stories Divine and Humane shew thi… to be his usual way. Witness Noah, he was upright in a rotten Age, and the Lord was not behind with him: Witness Abraham, who walked before him and was upright, and God though he was long, yet he was sure in rewarding him; So to Caleb, so to Job, so to David, to all: no man can come out, and charge God with neglect, or unfaithfulness towards him herein.
3. It is agreeable to his Honour and Interest. It is a Princes Honour and Interest to stick to his faithful and upright servants, or else he will quickly have none such about him. He would rather lose a World than lose his Honour; and therefore in this Psalm he is brought in, overturning the earth rather than leave upright David to his Enemies. If fidelity and kindness will win him servants, Satan shall have but a few. He can boldly implead all the world, much more his people, Mic. 6. 3. O my people what have I done unto thee? testifie against me. He would scorn to deal by his servants as Satan doth, drive them into a snare, and there leave them; promise them a World, and pay them with an Hell.
4. It is agreeable to his Promise, Psal. 97. 11. Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. However this seedness may be wet and sad, yet they shall have a joyful harvest. If any man on earth can lay claim to the promises, it is the upright man. What an unspeakable comfort is this, to lay the finger of faith on any promise in the Bible, and say confidently this is mine? say no more I am weak and useless and sinful, Art thou upright? his word is past, and there's an end, all the promises in this blessed Bible are in travail to be delivered into thy heart. To the upright man he will shew himself upright. And that in these particulars.
SECT. I.
I. IN over-looking his Infirmities. This was Hezekiahs prayer at that famous §. 1. Overlooking his infirmities.Passeover, 2 Chron. 30. 18, 19, 20. The good Lord pardon every one that hath prepared his heart to seek God, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary. And the Lord hearken'd to Hezekiah. There were divers really upright, yet not rightly and fully purified as you may see, 2 Chron. 29. 34. For the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctifie themselves, than the Priests. Here were upright Levites, yet not sufficiently purified, but Hezekiah obtained for them a pardon of course, for they had done what they could, and the Lord had mercy on them. A very great comfort for Ministers or People, that through straits of time, or any unavoidable hindrance, are not rightly sitt…d and furnished for their respective duties; and are afraid to come, and more afraid to stay away; The good Lord will pardon such a one, it was an oversight, the heart was sound at the bottom, and God will never break with any of his for an infirmity. Compare Saul and David, Saul had foolishly (at most covetously) spared Agag, and a prey, and he is cast off for it and loseth his kingdom. David defiles the Wife, and then kills the Husband, and he is spar'd: he is, its true, sorely beaten, but not turn'd out of doors. Again, take Peter and Judas. Judas through covetousness betrays his Master, and Peter through fear denyes and forswears him. Judas is sent by the Gallows into Hell, and Peter is receiv'd into mercy. And why this different dealing? why, David was in the bent of his heart upright before God, and Saul in the bottom of his heart was for himself; Peter resolved to lose his life before he would forsake his Saviour, and Judas never followed him but for the bag. And therefore the Lord graciously pardons the unwilling infirmities of his people, for he sees the integrity of their hearts. As a faithful Husband is more satisfied with the bewailed failings of his poor Wife, than with the studied observances of an adulteress; so the Lord our God he can better connive at, and bear with the mourn'd for infirmities of his dear children, than with the fain'd compliance of rotten hypocrites.
And what a treasure of comfort is this for you that fear God? and let none else meddle with it; your infirmities are many, and your fear great, lest they should sink you for ever: you have such raging passions, brutish lusts, frequent distractions, base distrust, un-heavenliness of heart out of ordinances, and dulness in them; these are your burden, these your fear: now all these are within the Grant of pardon made in the Cov…nant of Grace, and you that are upright in heart, if any in the world, have an undoubted interest therein; and so are forgiven in Heaven, and will be forgiven in your Consciences, so far as is good for you, and shall be forgiven at the last day. And you have Gods word for it, Psal. 32. 1, 2. Blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiven, whose sin … covered. But who is he that may claim this blessing? Verse 2. In whose spirit there is no Guile, that is an upright man, that is no hypocrite. When therefore you have fallen into sin, do not sit poring and questioning your eternal state, but speedily and seriously set about the work of repentance and faith in the blood of Christ, that you may be made whole.
Indeed after some great fall, or extraordinary fit of spiritual slumber, it is not amiss to clear and resettle the ground work, (so far may the building be decayed, that it may be easier to build anew, than to repair the old.) But it is neither wisdom nor duty upon every slip to condemn your state, or to conclude, that because you are wounded or sick, therefore you are dead. Question your act, but not your state, condemn your acts of sin, but do not condemn your state of grace, nor brew more tears than you need to drink. For supposing you to be true men to God, resign'd to him, resolv'd for him, and walking with him, to your power, he hath graciously promised to pardon iniquity, transgression and sin, sins of all sorts and sizes of them that fear him and hope in his mercy.
And mark it for your com…ort, that it belongs to Gods Truth and Uprightness to pardon such a sinner. 1 Joh. 1. 9. If we confess our sins, he is Faithful and Just, to forgive … our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It is happy for us that we can plead mercy to God for pardon, but when we do uprightly confess and forsake our sins, we may plead his justice and faithfulness. O Lord, as thou art just and faithful, bestow a pardon on me, I beg it in the uprightness of my heart, bestow it in the uprightness of thy word. For thou hast said, with the upright man I will shew my self upright.
SECT. II.
II. THe Lord will shew himself upright to an upright man, in Defending §. 2. Defending his Person.his Person. He is made sometimes the Butt of malice. Hell and earth conspire against him, as in this Psalm, vers. 4, 5. Snares of death, flouds of ungodly men, sorrows of Hell all bent against him. A plain argument of the sad de…eneracy of mankind, to be so desperately set against the Image of God in man, and hate those that never did them wrong, and that for his sake that alwayes doth them good; yet so is the case, the most innocent man cannot escape by them unto Heaven, without many onsets; they bend their bow and lay their snares, can hardly sleep for rage. Wrongs and Scorns, and Fines and Prisons are their usual Charity; he that departs from evil, ever makes himself a prey. The generality of the world are alienated from the life of God, and enemies in their minds to all that live it; and O that I could speak and write it in tears of grief and compassion! A Drunkard, a Swearer, a Whoremonger may live quietly by them. He that never read the Scriptures, that never prays with his Family, shall have all their good will, and go quietly by them into destruction: but if a mans Conscience be once awakened, if he retrive his course, and fall to earnest prayer, change his company and sinful courses, dare not prophane the Sabbath, or take Gods Name in vain, or swear as before, then up do all his neighbours rise against him, watch him, censure him, malign him, and (if possible) ins…are him; while he (poor heart) thinks them no hurt, prays for them, and only strives to save his own soul, and others if he can.
But here you may rest safoly, Prov. He is a Buckler to them that walk uprightly! The Buckler covers the Souldier, and God cove… the upright man. They must shoot through God, that can wound you to your …. They hit him in the eye, that aim at you; and they that will incounter him, meddle not with their match, Exod. 19. 4. I bear you on Eagles wings. Other Fowls bear their young in their claws, so that the Fowler may kill the young, and the old one be safe; but the Eagle carrie… her young on her wings; so that who wounds the young, must shoot through the dam: so doth God carry his upright ones; God will suffer before them, the Lord will suffer with them, Deu…. 32. 11. As the Eagle—spreadèth abroad her wings, taketh her young and beareth them on her wings; So the Lord, &c. That is a sweet word, Psal. 7. 10. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. Thou hast perhaps no great friend to shelter thee, nor great estate to ranso…e thee, but thou hast a great God for thy defence, whose work and care it is to save the upright in heart. I am thy shield, saith God to Abraham, fear not: if Omniscience be able to see, and Omnipotence able to help, thou art sure enough. And therefore fear not thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel: I will help thee, saith the Lord, Isa. 41. 14. A worm is a poor creature that few love, and none fear, so are the seed of Jacob persons that few love, and none fear, and such are most obnoxious to dangers; yet sayes God, fear not thou werm. A worm in the hand of God can withstand a world; and the Gates (the utmost power and policy) of Hell shall not prevail against one upright man, Prov. 13. 6. Righte…ness keepeth him that is upright in the way? His inno…ence is his shi…ld, And the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong, in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him. His all-seeing eye, his all-ruling provid…nce is imployed in finding out all the designs of your enemies, to frustrate them or overrule them, and to secure you whose hearts are perfect or upright before him. How secure would you be against a subject by such a word from a King? and may you not rest more on his word, who is the King of Kings? If you have his Pass you may go safe enough, even through Armies of Aliens.
Observable is that story in Josephus, of Gods special Providence this way. The Emperor Caligula commands Petronius, his Deputy in Judea, to set up his Image in the Temple. The Jews (ever since their Captivity, …een against Idolatry) b…g and crave, and at length offer their necks and lives to him, rather than admit such a profanation. Petronius pities their condition, and forbears to execute his Masters command. But the Emperor is inraged, and sends his Deputy a Letter to slay himself, the usual doom of such persons. But Caligula shortly dyes, and his Letter meeting with some delay, was not brought unto Petronius, till just after he had received the news of his death; and thus he escaped. Behold the admirable Providence of God to those that stand upright.
Go forth therefore in your might, consider your duty and faithfully do it. Take no sollicitous care what shall befall you. Study not events, but study your work; not what man or Devils will do, but what you ought to do, and not an hair of your head must fall to the ground. Wickedness proceeds from the wicked, but with the upright man he will shew himself upright.
SECT. III.
III. THe Lord will shew himself upright §. 3. Strengthning his Graces.to this man, in Strengthning his graces, and prospering him in his soul. His Graces are weak, his bones dried, his soul is poor and needy. He is poring a whole week by times to find one plain evidence, one evident Grace of God; but having an upright heart, and being a plant of Gods planting, they shall increase and grow up as the calves of the stall. The Child painted on the wall, that grows not, unless it grows more dim; but the Child in the bosome, that hath a principle of life; though it cryes it grows; though sick sometimes yet grows, and at length grows a strong and lusty man: so in this case, the painted hypocrite hath no cubit added to his stature; no, he grows worse and worse, his varnish wears off, and nothing remains at length but a sepulchre without paint. But an upright man though he groan he grows; though he have some qualms, and doubts, and troubles, yet he gets ground, and (though insensibly) gathers strength.
It cannot be, but that a sincere heart who is diligent in the means of Grace, must be changed from glory to glory, Mic. 2. 7. Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? certainly they do; He receives good, though he perceive it not. As a living man, that feeds heartily, must needs gather strength, unless he have some predominant disease upon him; though perhaps he perceive not at every meal renewed strength: So an upright man, being truely alive to God through Jesus Christ, and careful in the use of all Gods Ordinances, must needs increase his spiritual strength, though perhaps he sees no present profit by this prayer, or that Sermon, unless he lye under the tyranny of some imperious sin for a time, Prov. 10. 29. The way of the Lord is Strength to the Upright; which most properly may dignifie, that Religion secures an upright man, according to the last Point; but it is most true in this sence, the wayes of God and Godliness are strength, and bring strength to the upright. He that is planted in the house of the Lord, shall still bring forth fruit.—To shew that the Lord is upright, Psa. 92. 13, 14. It is one thing to be placed in the house of the Lord, so many a carnal Gospoller is, hath a seat there and appears there from one years end to another; but it is another thing to be planted there, to have a root of Knowledge, Repentance, and Uprightness, and such must needs grow, and go from strength to strength.
Be not therefore discouraged, O ye of upright heart, for your grain of mustard-seed will become a Tree; though your graces seem weak, they shall be strong: To him that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. You have a little faith and love, Habenti dabitur. God hath said it, you shall have abundance: Despise not the day of small things, ply your Oars, the Ship is passing though you think it stands still, and you will be at the shore ere you be aware, Ephes. 6. 24. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Here's that blessing that reaches even you. [Grace] All Grace, of all sorts and sizes, [be with] it may be with you, though it appear not to you, [with all] in all ages of the Church, and in all places of the World, [that love our Lord Jesus Christ] perhaps thou canst not preach for Christ, write, nor consult, nor fight for Christ, nor but thou canst love Jesus Christ. Thou canst love him as a Lord to Rule thee, as a Jesus to Save thee, as a Christ to teach thee: why, here's Grace in the promise, in the blessing for thee. But Christ must be loved (in sincerity) Jesus Christ, himself, and Jesus Christ for himself. And then be assured that Grace shall be multiplied to such a soul. As it is Gods judicial method when men are resolv'd to go on in sin, to give them up, Rev. 22. 11. He that is filthy let him be filthy still: So when a man is uprightly bent to serve him, he spurs them on with his word and spirit, saying, He that is righteous let him be righteous still, and thus herein to the upright man, he shews himself upright.
SECT. IV.
IV. THe Lord shews himself upright §. 4. Hearing his Prayers.to the upright man, In hearing his prayers, Prov. 15. 8. The Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: But the Prayer of the upright is his delight. No musick so sweet to men, as sincere prayers are to God. The upright man delights to pray, and the upright God delights to hear. How pleasant is the childs first language to the father? he had rather hear it than an elegant Oration; and the reason is, first, it is his own child, and secondly, it speaks (poor thing) as it thinks; there is no colour upon its words, nor dissimulation in them: Even so the prayers of the upright man are most welcome to God his heavenly Father, for the child is his own, and then his prayer is the counterpane of his heart. He cries against his sin, and also he hates it: he sues for Grace, and he doth heartily long and indeavour for it: and Hearts can come into Heaven, when Words must stand at door. He gets out of the hearing of many a starch't Oration, but Psal. 145. 18. He gets nigh to them that call upon him, to them that call upon him in Truth. O when confessions are the sad note of a bleeding heart; when supplications are the real breath of an hungry soul, the Lord listens to such melody.
There is a vast difference between the formal note of a young beggar, and the sensible cries of him that is half starved: we neglect the former, and are ready to serve him only with reproof; but when the other cries that begs in truth, his face cries, his rags cry, his tears cry, the whole beggar cries, then we draw out our heart and hand unto him; even so doth our gracious God, he slights and hates affected words, coming from an unaffected heart; but when the heart comes up with them, then he comes, and brings his alms with him, and his reward before him. O what incouragement should this give to an upright heart! Thou hast an ear for God, and he hath an ear for thee. Thou art ready and quick in thy obedience, he is as quick and ready in his audience; thou art punctual to yield to him in any thing, he is punctual to yield in any thing unto thee. In a word, thou art resolved to do his will, he is resolved to do thine. Hence L…ther boldly, Fiat voluntas mea quia tua est, Let my will be done, because its thine. Thine are broken prayers, but they are upright prayers. There is no Rhetorick in them, …but there is Logick in them, there are arguments that will conquer God himself. Qui palmâ militat lentius pugnat, qui pug…o ferit, palmam fert. Dr. Arro.There is no argument on earth like Integrity, nor in Heaven like the Blood of Christ.
Object. Ah, but then I fear my state, and doubt of my sincerity, in that I have pray'd long for such a child, for a better memory, for strength against some sins, and have received no answer; and so may conclude my self a very hypocrite.
Answ. 1. God often delights in prayer, The Ly… ness leaves her young, till they have almost kill'd themselves with roaring, and returns to them at last gasp, to teach them courage.when he seems to deny it, and never denies his servants but when the deni… is better then a grant. You must distinguish between delaying and denying: our God delayes, to try us, not to deny us, to make us cry the louder; so he put off Jacob to whet him on the more; seem'd to be weary of his company, but he would not pass so; lames him, yet hee'l pray, and wrestle on one leg rather then give out: So the woman of Canaan. Drink is more welcome, when very thirsty; and when the Lord sees you cannot be without a mercy, you shall have it. And then the Greatness of the mercy, shall pay for the length of its stay; and like money at Interest, so your pray…s which have been long on the file, shall bring the greater increase back again.
Answ. 2. God often hears our Prayers, when we perceive it not. In this sence he speaks once and twice, yet man perceives it not, Psal. 138. 3. In the Day when I cried, thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. On the same Day that his letter was sent, he had an answer, and what was it? Why, he was strengthned with strength in his soul. If he were not answered in the Letter, yet he was answered in the Better. He often gives Gold, when we ask for Silver. If he denied Abraham for Ismael, he gave him Isaac. He denies Moses Canaan, but gave him Heaven.
Sometimes our thirst for more, makes us think we have received none. As rich covetous people never have enough, because their desires are insatiable. When you are arrived at Heaven, you shall see that the Lord did book every Petition and answer it, in the best manner for you. It may be you are denied for one child, but God gives it you for another; or perhaps the Grandchild reaps the prayers that you sowed for the Father. The Lord gives you not a stronger memory, but yet bestows on you a softer heart; you discern no strength against some sins, yet you have deeper throws of repentance for them. Still this is a truth inviolable, that the upright mans Prayer, when it is put up in Christs name, for things agreeable to Gods will, is graciously heard and answered in mercy.
Let not therefore your Fathers seeming denials trouble you; for our wise God sometimes yields to the suits of Satan himself, while he demurrs upon the supplications of his own Servants, I had almost said of his own Son. Compare Job 2. 5. and Luke 8. 32. with Gen. 17. 18. and Mat. 26. 39. But then his Grants to Satan are for his greater Confusion, and his Denials to his Children are for their greater Consolation.
SECT. V.
V. THe Lord shews himself upright to the upright man, In comforting §. 5. Comforting him in his straits.him in his straits, Psal. 116. 6. The Lord preserveth the simple, (that is, the upright) I was brought low and he helped me. His integrity freeth him not from the common infirmities of mankind, as wants, sickness, prisons, losses, crosses, unkindnesses, and death it self at last: but his God takes special care to support and comfort him, and at length deliver him. In all these storms he is sure of Sunshine, and you know the Sun-beams when it shines, do guild every drop that the clouds pour down, and make the storm as a calm: So the face and favour of God, doth refresh the upright in heart, for Psal. 11. 7. The righteous Lord loveth righteousness, his countenance doth behold the Upright. And unworthy is that man of Heavens Glory, that prefers not the sharpest sickness, the darkest prison, the heaviest cross with the light of Gods countenance, before the riches of Egypt with his frowns.
This made Paul and Silas sing in prison, when Foelix trembled on the Throne: And they say, the Apostle James was so chearful at his Martyrdom, that one that drew him to the Tribunal, was converted by it. For Death that King of terrours, that dismounts the proudest spirits, the most effectual refuter of all Atheists, and Surprizer of Hypocrites, is disarm'd of all its terribleness by an upright heart. Isa. 57. 2. He shall enter into peace, they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in their uprightness. The Bed of an hypocrite is a Grave, wherein he lyes rotting in his sins; the Grave of an upright man is a Bed of spices, wherein his body is at rest, whose soul hath walked before God in his Uprightness.
O be of good chear then all ye single-hearted ones: The handkerchief of Gods love shall wipe away your tears, his cordials shall stay your faintings. The Lyons shall roar, and the young Lyons suffer hunger, but they that fear the Lord shall want no good thing. If wants be good for you, look for them; if sickness be good for you, be content with it; if prisons, if losses, if crosses come, they shall do you no hurt: A summo Bono nil nisi Bonum. Every stream of Providence, how fierce soever, is turn'd through that Promise, All things shall work together for good to them that love God. His Properties, his Promises, his Providences do all smile on the true-hearted man. Poor men, your straits may be great; Poor women, your pangs may be sharp; but All's for good, yea for the best. God is with you, the great, wise, and holy God. And is this nothing? Are the Consolations of God small with you? If he give quietness, who then can make trouble? Heaviness may indure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. The story alwayes ends well to the sincere-hearted man, Psal. 112. 4. Unto the upright ariseth light in the darkness. Dark providences may well be born, when clear promises are sealed upon the heart. This was noble Hezekiahs comfort, when all forsook him, Isa. 38. 3. Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in Truth, and with a perfect heart. I have done uprightly with thee, now deal uprightly with me; now remember, and the Lord hath too good a memory to forget such a man in his needs; he gives him a Lease gratis of fifteen years both of Life and Kingdom.
Who would not intirely love and serve such a God? The poor mans Friend, the sick mans Doctor, yea and Bed-maker, the prisoners Companion, the true-hearted, the unwearied, the everlasting God, a very present help in trouble. Name that strait, wherein God hath not supported or relieved his people Ask thy Fathers and they shall tell thee, how in six troubles and in seven he hath been with them. All the Patriarchs can prove this, Abraham, and Job, and Daniel. Speak we only with David, was he not very poor, when he sent to crave of Nabal? God gave him Content, and at last Plenty: Was he not in dreadful hazard in Keilah, in Gath, in Mahanaim? but he came off well, and dyed in his bed: Was he not upon a time very sick, so that some said, An evil disease did cleave to him? yet God remembred him, and made him safe and sound. All the Saints will bear witness for God, that he is no flincher of his friends; yea at last all men shall say, Psal. 58. 11. Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. Though things seem to go cross with his poor children, yet take one thing with another, he deals very uprightly with them. In very faithfulness thou hast afflicted me. If they want a fuller table, yet they have a lighter heart; if they have not such costly clothes, yet they have more healthful constitutions; if they reach not such vast treasures, yet they can injoy the light of Gods countenance, which is far better.
Artabazus thought himself wrong'd, when Cyrus gave him a Golden cup at a feast, and to Chrysantas only a kiss of Respect; deeming thereby, that he had a lesser portion of kindness, than the other: and shall not we much more value his glorious smiles, above the greatest earthly gifts? Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: For his love is better than Wine. Though you be not delivered from your straits, yet being upheld in them, you are well. It was all one to the three Worthies to be kept in the fire, as to be kept out of it. One way or other light shall spring to the righteous, and joy to the upright in heart.
SECT. VI.
VI. THe Lord shews himself upright §. 6. Directing him in his Doubts.to the upright man, In directing him in his doubts, Prov. 11. 3. The integrity of the upright shall guide them. Many an upright man is under great doubts, and knows not what to believe or what to do. Arguments and pleas on both hands, Great men on one side, and Good men on another, (for seldom are they both on a side) likely reasons court his Assent either way. The commands of men sometimes countermanded by his Conscience, and he wants parts, learning, and judgement to cleave an hair, and state the case exactly, either of Faith or Fact. Now in this case, when he hath us'd the means of resolution, that he is capable of, the integrity of the upright shall guide him. His plain honest heart is neither suspicious of more evil to be in men, or things, then evidently appears; nor on the other side, doth he study extricating Salvo's, or subtle evasions to sleep with a whole skin, and salute the upper party: but according to his best knowledge, he fixes his faith and orders his actions by the Rule of Gods Word, which he knows will best bear him out.
An upright man sometimes meets with Doubts in matters of Faith; but herein he stands fairest for that promise, which Christ hath made, to lead his into all truth. Though his integrity may not secure him from Error, that it will not; yet 'twill secure him from being an Heretick.
He hath Doubts sometimes about things to be done; towards God in his Worship, towards men in his Life. In the former, he studies the will of God in his Word, knowing that nothing which is offered to him, will please him, unless directed by him. And for Men, he is relieved in most of his doubts by that golden Rule, Mat. 7. 12. What soever ye would that men should do to you, do ye to them.
And lastly, he is perplexed with some Doubts about the Love of God, and the salvation of his Soul; but here also his Integrity so guides him, that he is far from presuming, though he be loth to despair, and the Lord gives him Comfort from his Sincerity, though he want the joyes from Assurance. And is not uprightness a choice Jewel to lay claim to this guidance? Psal. 25. 8. Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will he teach sinners in the way. This conducting a poor sinner in the way, flows from his Goodness and Uprightness, and therefore as long as there is a drop of goodness, or a dram of uprightness in God, the penitent sinner shall never lack a guide. And to this refers that promise, Isa. 30. 21. Of a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand or to the left; alluding (as some think) to a Schoolmaster prompting his Scholar over the shoulder, how he should pronounce his words, when he (poor child) is puzzled and knows not what to say: even so will God lead his upright ones in the way that he shall chuse, when they are in the dark; and you shall find that Scripture true, Prov. 13. 6. Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
Resolve then in such cases, after you have us'd the means of illumination, as Jehoshaphat in another, O Lord, I know not what to do, but mine eyes are unto thee. I perceive the blindness of my eyes, but thou seest the uprightness of my heart, I would do thy will if I knew it; teach me thy way, and I will walk in thy truth: consider my weakness, and neither leave me in perplexing doubts, nor suffer me to erre from thy will. And be sure God will not forsake thee, for it is plain that many an honest heart is preserved in the way of truth, when many of great, but unsanctified parts, have fallen into damning errors: With the upright man he is us'd to shew himself upright.
SECT. VII.
VII. GOds uprightness will yet appear, §. 7. Clearing his Integrity.In clearing his integrity. Sincerity hath the sweetest visage, but bad men put on it often the foulest vizard, and many a dear Saint wears the note of an hypocrite to his grave. Though you see that no man is so far from hypocrisie as this man, no sin he hates more, yet this character is usually fastned on our plain-hearted man.
It is the subtlety of Satan to charge the Saints with those sins whereof he is sure they can hardly clear themselves till the day of judgment: And those are commonly these two, 1. Covetousness. 2. Hypocrisie. Both which, for the nature of them, lye so within, that it is almost impossible to refell his charge. Hence the Apostle is driven in the former to make his appeal to God, 1 Thes. 2. 5. For neither at any time us'd we flattering words, as ye know, [for this you can clear us] nor a cloak of Covetousness, God is witness, [herein God only can purge us.] And the like the latter, Rom. 1. 9. For the Lord is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit, &c. And the upright Lord will clear up these mens integrity, first or last. Holy David lay under many heavy charges, and that for a long time. How long will ye turn my glory into shame? Naught he was, not fit to live in his own native Country, he hatch'd treason against Saul, and undermin'd his Government, and Religion he had none, but at length his Righteousness did shine as the noon-day; Saul himself was convinc…d of his integrity, and acquitted him, though thereby he condemn'd himself. So upright Job past for a notorious hypocrite among his enemies, for he was accounted no other by his friends, but the Lord brought out his Justice, as a Lamp that burneth.
And what is more common in the World, than to brand every one for an hypocrite, that is but serious in his Religion? If any man do humbly and conscientiously indeavour to live according to his Covenant in Baptism, do set himself against the world, the flesh, and the devil, and deny the pomps and vanities, wherein the generality of men do wallow; presently his envious and carnal neighbours, when they can tax him with nothing, condemn him for an hypocrite: his outside is smooth, but inwardly he is an arrand hypocrite: but his upright God, that knows his heart, will clear him sooner or later; at furthest at that great day of setting things at right. The Lord Jesus will come with his thousands of Saints, Jude vers. 15. to convince the ungodly world of all their hard speeches, which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. See here you implacable wretches, this is the man, this the woman, whom you condemn'd for hypocrites; they were praying for you, while you were cursing them; I knew their uprightness and will now declare it, Thus shall it be done to those I delight to honour, and you must go with a curse into eternal torments.
Rejoyce in the Lord therefore, O ye Righteous, and be glad all ye of upright heart. Be not dismay'd at mens rebukes, these Reproaches do but adde to your Crown: And God permits them, to make you search your hearts the more. Though these be poor commodities, yet you may make a trade of them, and live the better for them. They charge you with the Foxes pranks, and you have the Foxes Nature. They charge you with one fault, and thereby you find out another; they write Hypocrite, and you subscribe Formal, Dead, Secure, and chief of Sinners. And know for your comfort, that your names shall have a Resurrection as well as your bodies; and you shall shine in glory, when your enemies shall only shine in flames. And even in this world your God doth justifie you in their Consciences; the most of them could wish their souls in your souls stead, for all their talk; at least when pale death stares them in the face, then O let me dye the death of the Righteous, and let my latter end be like his. It is not oft that an hypocrite goes undiscovered to his grave; nor very oft that an upright man dies without the testimony of the Centurion, even from men; Certainly this man was a dear child of God.
SECT. VIII.
VIII. THe Lord shews himself an §. 8. Stablishing him to the End.upright God to the upright man, In Stablishing him to the end: its elementary fire that goes out, the Coelestial ever burns, Prov. 10. 29. The way of the Lord is strength to the upright. He only is the persevering man. The fixed Stars appear but small, the blazing Star looks far greater; but the former abide from age to age, and the latter being but exhalations, compounded of corruptible matter, are spent and consumed to nothing; they had perhaps more eyes fixed on them than on the others, but they waste away: Even so an hypocrite may make a greater blaze in his profession, may be more admired and talk't of in the world; but the real Saint is fixed, he abides, no tempest can shake him, he is built on a Rock and abideth for ever. The way of the Lord is strength to the uprighs: Every prayer strengthens him, every Sermon strengthens him, yea every temptation (like the wind to a wellrooted tree) causeth his roots to spread, and stand the stronger: moved he may be, but not removed, fall he may, but not fall away: and yet an upright tree (you know) falls not so soon as that which leans. An upright man never makes a right Apostate, Psal. 25. 21. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me: for I wait on thee. Two good props to a weak Christian. He may say, Lord, I have but weak graces to preserve me, I have no parts or learning, I have few friends to hold me up in thy wayes; But I have (thou knowest) a sincere desire to please and serve thee; O let integrity and uprightness preserve me, and the rather for that I wait on thee: I wait in the use of the means of perseverance, and I wait by faith upon thy promise. If sincerity will not hold me up, I must fall.
He that walks in a narrow way, must not reel; if he reel he is in danger to fall. The true Christian goes in such a way, leaning is next to falling. The upright man walks uprightly, and therefore surely. He hath liv'd to see great Scholars, great Professors, and great Preachers, dwindle to nothing, but by Grace he stande. Sirs, this is a great comfort, and security to a poor soul; my stock is small, yet I hope I shall never break. I drive but a mean trade, but I perceive I go not backward: better … be a mean Saint, than a great hypocrite: my heart is sound, I have no secret reserves, I know nothing by my self. I cannot run so fast as others, but I am in the way, that will certainly bring me to Gods holy hill, Job 27. 5. Till I dye I will not remove my integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.
Among the many needless fears of the servants of God, this is one that disquiets the soul, when God stands only looking on; namely, shall I hold out? I am a very weak creature, the fall of one tree shakes another, I have seen great Cedars fall; they were once as confident as I, if tryals come, what will become of me? Study and believe that excellent Scripture, Jer. 32. 40, 41. I will make an everlasting Covenant with them, that I will not turn from them to do them good. Make a stand here poor soul. The eternal true and upright God is entred with thee, even with the weakest and youngest believer, into an everlasting Covenant, that for his part notwithstanding all thy infirmities, he will never (mark) never turn away from doing thy soul good. O but my fear is, (saith many an upright heart) that I shall forsake him, and turn from him, there is my fear. Mark what follows then, But I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. So then as God will not turn from thee, so thou shalt not depart from him, and how then shouldst thou fall away! and all this is in his everlasting Covenant, that …annot be disannulled.
When therefore your fears come cold upon your hearts, concerning your Perseverance, plead this Scripture with God, fasten it on your souls, fear not your falling off with a fear of Dissidence; you are allow'd a fear of Caution, that will make you stand the faster, but beware of a fear of Dissidence, that will make you fall the sooner. Look you to the rise, root, and beginning of your Religion, and God will look to the end of it. Though thy grace was but like a grain of Mustard-seed, yet it shall come to be a great Tree. Job 8. 6, 7. If thou wert pure and upright—Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end shall greatly increase. He that hath taken root in Christ, can never wholly wither.
SECT. IX.
IX. GOd will shew himself upright to the upright man, In bestowing §. 9. Bestowing outward blessings on him.outward blessings upon him, Prov. 28. 20. A faithful man shall abound with blessings. To these he can make the clearest claim; of these … hath the truest tenure: Alwayes provided that they be for his good. Prov. 14. 11. The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. The eyes of the Lord are upon him and his house to do him good, From the beginning of the year, to the end of the year. Health, wealth, peace, and full contentment shall be heaped on him; so far as they are good for him. That upright Caleb, whose Title of honour it was, that he followed God fully, Numb. 14. 24. had a double portion (so the Learned say) in the Land of Canaan.
He that hath the soveraignty over the world, and all that therein is, loves them; and he that loves gives, and that liberally, Prov. 15: 6. In the house of the righteous is much treasure. We count our Friends tokens among our treasure: Every loaf of bread, every shilling in his purse, every corn, yea every grass-pile in the field is a friends token to the upright man, so that in his house there is a world of treasure. The upright God doth (in effect) say to his Angels every day, Recommend me to such a child this morning, and carry him from me his daily bread, this or that mercy that is good for him. Hence that ample promise, Psal. 84. 11. For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield: The Lord will give Grace and Glory: No good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly. O blessed promise! Dost thou want Direction? He is a Sun: Dost thou want Protection? He … a Shield: Dost thou want Grace? He will give Grace: Wouldst thou have Glo…y? He will give that also: Hast thou …eed of other good things for thy comfort in this life? No good thing will he with-hold from them that walk upright…y. Sit down now and think, what thou …anst wish or need that is not here promised. And this from that God that cannot deceive, able and resolved to make good his word. Put all the worldlings Lands, and Palaces, and Bonds, and Bags …nto one scale, and this one verse into the other, and try whether will weigh down: you will quickly discern they are lighter than vanity, and this one verse of more weight, than the whole world. Rest your weary hearts in this, if health were good for me, I know I should have it: if riches were good for me, I should have them: for I have my upright God in a bond, that he will with-hold no… good thing from me. Nay once more see… Psal. 112. 2, 3. The Generation of the upright shall be blessed: wealth and riche… shall be in his house, and his righteousness endureth for ever. Thy great care and fea… is about thy posterity; loe, here's a promise for them also: the generation of th… upright shall be blessed. Though we cannot certainly be assured of this to every upright mans child, yet this promise gives the upright man more ground o… hope, than any hypocrite or wicked ma… in the world hath.
There is a Stock of your prayers going in Heaven, and there is a Stock of God promises in the Bible, why then shoul… you distrust? sooner or later your post… rity will certainly reap them, either i… temporal or spiritual mercies; he ma… be long, but he will be sure; the Cove… nant is made with you and yours, an… the generation to come shall fare the better for your integrity. Abraham he hardly injoyed one foot of that land, which fell to him for his trueheartedness, but his posterity had it all. And many an upright man lives and dyes but with an ordinary estate, for he dare not do wrong to grow rich, but the Lord remembers his posterity, and his seed shall be mighty in the earth, the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Hold on therefore in your integrity, you are in the way of preferment, Prov. 21. 21. He that followeth after righteousness findeth life, righteousness and honour; he finds more than he lookt for: 'Tis true, the vilest men may be exalted, and the posterity of evil men may be both great and good; but they have no such promise for it, as you have. They may have fairer houses, finer fare, costlier clothing, but they have a curse with it, and a sad reckoning to come. O therefore for your healths sake, for your estate sake, for your posterities sake, but above all for your souls sake, for an upright Gods sake study integrity: be true-hearted, sincere-hearted, and whole-hearted men for God.
SECT. X.
X. GOd will shew himself upright to §. 10. Crowning their Integrity.his upright ones, in Crowning their integrity; 1. With Internal Peace: Melchizedek was first the King of Righteousness, and then King of Salem, King of Peace; and where Christ hath ingraven Sincerity, which is the true Righteousness, then follows Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost. There's no Rest but in Religion, nor any sound Peace but in Piety. Others may have Quiet of Conscience, but the upright man hath the Testimony of his Conscience, that is quite another thing. Theirs is but a truce, a dayes sickness will break it. The hypocrite hath a Conscience Pacified, but what's this without a Conscience Puri fied? It is Righteousness and Peace that only will kiss each other. The quie… of most mens Consciences, is from thei… Blindness, not from their Goodness; thus the beasts are well, because they know n… better, fear no worse: Thus millions ly… still and dye like Lambs. If these had mor… knowledge, they would have less quiet. They are like the malefactor in a dungeon, that sees not his misery, or as the bird busie at the chaff, when the Net's unseen: One thundering threat set on by the spirit of bondage, will spoil all their mirth. There can be no true peace, where sin is suffered in quiet. It were well for such as you to be frighted; Cries were your best Musick, and Tears the best Nectar you could drink: you must be let blood or dye, such is your disease that you must be lanc'd or lost. But now, when true grace comes in, after that spiritual conflict that breaks the heart of sin, the Conscience hath a sweet peace, or at least ground for it. The Law charges, the Devil charges, Conscience in Christs blood, that discharges. He that makes Conscience of sin, hath his Conscience quit from sin. Now I can eat and sleep and go in the dark, my Conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, though the earth be removed, and the Mountains carried into the midst of the sea, yet here's tranquility. In the world ye shall have Tribulation, but in me, saith Christ, ye shall have peace; and this is the fruit of uprightness, Isa. 32. 17. And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever. While Francis Spira kept on in his upright way, he had a heaven of peace; but after his sinful compliance, he had not one day or hour of quiet in his soul. And it is recorded that Cicero, when dying and reflecting on his warping and temporizing, he cried out, O me miserum, O me nunquam felicem, &c. Sincerity and Serenity live and dye together.
And 2. With Eternal Glory. There he payes home the upright man for all. When his God leads him into the Land of Uprightness, Psal. 143. 10. there he shall meet with all Gods hidden ones, of whom the world was not worthy. Ah poor hypocrite! he knows not what to do, when he dyes; each step he takes is towards Hell; the longer he lives, the nearer his destruction, Job 27. 8. For what is the hope of the hypocrite though he hath gain'd (wealth, repute, &c.) when God hath taken away his soul? Their very hope, which is all the comfort that's left them, will flee away and leave them in the bryars. But then the upright man shall be some body. Here he is a Prince unknown, there he enters his kingdom. Here he is under a cloud, there the righteous shall shine as the Sun for ever and ever. As he that hath an Estate in Reversion, though he live poor a while, yet the Estate will fall, An inheritance uncorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away; and this as sure as God is in Heaven, and thy name in the Bible, Genes. Ibi nec malitia nec militia, nec poena nec poenitentia, nec peccatum nec perditio. Ibi Rex veritas, Lex charitas, Possessi… Eternitas, Sermo non valet exprimere, experimento opus est. Prosper.17. 1. Walk before me, and be perfect: I will be thy exceeding great reward. Who can desire more than him that is Alt? It will be merry, when the upright God and the upright Man, do meet. Art thou he that receiv'd my dear Son, and resign'd thy heart so freely to him? Art thou he that gave inward, universal, and constant obedience to my will? Art thou he that stuck to me in such and such times and tryals? Art thou he that walked righteously, and spake the truth in thy heart? Come up hither, Angels put on his Crown, sing an Authem ye sons of the morning at my upright servants coming home. Come enter thou into the joy of the Lord. Here live, and love, and rejoyce for ever. Psal. 140. 13. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence. Now many a poor upright heart hath hardly a house to cover his head, scarce a bed to rest on, here he must not dwell, and there he must not dwell; but there is but one life between him, and a glorious Palace, whereof the spangled firmament is but the floor. He hath an house pav'd with Rubies, and fill'd with Saints and Angels, like so many Suns, and there he shall dwell and sing among them world without end. Into that Corporation all upright men may come, and their greatest enemies will never follow them. Seeming Saints will be in the Church, none but Sincere Saints must come into Heaven. Mat. 5. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Rejoyce therefore in the Lord, O ye Righteous, and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart. O what a shout will there be in Heaven, when all this blessed Tribe meet together, and have Christ among them? and then you shall see, how the righteous Lord loveth righteousness, and his countenance doth behold the upright. Then shall you be paid for every drop of blood, for every drop of tears, for every step, for every thought that you have laid out for his Name.
And thus you have the second general Point, in my poor manner opened to you, namely, Wherein God shews himself upright to the upright man.