The Anatomy of Secret Sins, Chapter 5
PSAL. 19. 13.
Then ſhall I be upright, and I ſhall be innocent from that great tranſgreſſion.
CHAP. V.
YOu may remember that heretofore we have handled Davids petitions againſt ſinne, 1. In ſecrecy. 2. In preſumption. 3. In dominion. Now we proceed to ſpeak ſomething of the concluſion or inference, which that holy and ſweet Pſalmiſt draws from all this [Then ſhall I be upright and innocent from that great tranſgreſſion.]
To me it ſeemeth that Davids ſpecial aime, that white or mark which he had in his eye, was this, to be upright, he knew well, that that was it which God looked for, which God moſt of all prized, and which (for his ſoul) would prove moſt neceſſary and comfortable; and withall he well knew that the allowance of ſecret ſinnes, or the wallowing in great tranſgreſſions, were quite contrary thereto; And therefore he prays earneſtly againſt them, that he might ſecure and maintain this.
Q. D. O Lord, above all things in the world I deſire to be upright, and this I ſhall never be, unleſſe my heart be cleanſed of ſecret ſinnes, and my life of preſumptuous and reigning ſins, for thy mercies ſake cleanſe my heart, let me not love and work wickedneſſe there, and for thy goodneſs ſake keep my life, let me not act tranſgreſſions there, O that thou wouldeſt do this for me then, then ſhould I be that which (above all) I deſire to be, then ſhould I be upright.
I will ſtand no longer about the words, only they afford unto us this propoſition.
Doct. THat it ſhould be the great bent, aime, deſire and endeavour of a man to be upright. Gen. 17. 1. It ſhould be the deſire and endeavour of a man to be upright.I am the Almighty God, walk before me and be thou upright. q. d. this all in all which concerns thee, which I eſteeme, and which thou muſt ſtudy, Deut. 10. 12. And now Iſrael, what doth thy Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his wayes, and to love him, and to ſerve the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy ſoul. Q. D. I have done you much good, thought on you in your afflictions, brought you out of Egypt, preſerved you through the ſea, and in the wilderneſſe vanquiſhed all your enemies for you, preſented you into a land flowing with milk and honey; Now all that I require, and that you are to look too, is that your hearts be upright, that you beſtow your love on none but me, your ſervice on none but me, that I have all your heart, and all your ſoule, Joſh. 24. 14. Now therefore fear the Lord, and ſerve him in ſincerity and truth, q. d. this is the thing that doth concern you nearly, this is the end of all your mercies, and the utmoſt of all your returnes, if you will be any thing, or returne any thing to God (who hath done all for you) then be ſincere and true, be upright, 1 Sam. 12. 23. I will teach you the good and the right way, ver. 24. Only fear the Lord, and ſerve him in truth with all your heart. Q. D. You have ſhewed falſe hearts towards your God, in that you would put off his government, and you may perceive by the thunder and raine, how he takes this at your hands, but repent, and forſake him no more, but get you upright hearts to walk with him, and cleave unto him, Phil. 1. 9. This I pray, &c. ver. 10. That you may approve things that are excellent, that you may be ſincere.
I need not quote more places from the Scripture, which abundantly delivers this truth unto us: onelyonly for the farther Explication of it, I ſhall enquire theſe particulars.
Four things.
1. What it is to be upright.
2. Why we ſhould ſo ſtudiouſly aime at, and labour for uprightneſſe.
3. What uſeful applications in all kindes of this to our ſelves.
4. Then the reſolutions of ſome Caſes of Conſcience for the ſtay of thoſe who ſuſpect their own uprightneſſe: