The sure trial of uprightness opened in several sermons upon Psal. xviii, v. 23…The sure trial of uprightness open'd in several sermons upon Psal. xviii, v. 23…

2. The Darling Corruption engrosses the Thoughts. There is a natural levity and featheriness in the Mind, a strange inconsistency and discurrency of the Thoughts, but Love will fasten them intensely upon its Object. From hence it is that habitual and delightful Thoughts are the best discovery of our Hearts and our spiritual State. Words and Actions may be over-ruled and counterfeit for divers Reasons, but Thoughts are the invisible productions of the Soul, and without ⟨p. 47⟩fear or mask, without restraint or disguise, undissemblingly discover the Disposition of the Heart. Thoughts are the Immediate Off-spring of the Soul; and as the Waters that immediately flow from the Spring are strongest of the Mineral, so the Thoughts are most deeply tinctured with the Affections. A Saint is therefore described by his meditating ¹in the Law of God Day and Night, which is the natural and necessary Effect of his Delight in it. Uncounterfeit Religion² and Holiness consists in the order of Love, as St. Austin briefly and fully describes it. The Will is carried to its Object and End by the Motion of Love, and Love applies the Mind entirely to the Object to which it is strongly inclined. When the Heart is corrupt, the ordinary Current of the Thoughts is in the Channel of our Lusts. The contriving Thoughts, the Devices of the Mind, the contemplative Thoughts and inward Musings are conversant about the beloved Lust that engages the Mind to it. Thus when Covetousness is the reigning Passion, the Mind is in continual exercise to compass secular Ends: 'tis full of Projects how to order the Means most successfully to increase Riches, and how to remove ⟨p. 48⟩what-ever may obstruct the main Design. The Spirit is captivated, and like a drudge in a Mill is continually grinding for the satisfaction of the earthly Appetite. When the more sensual voluptuous Passions are predominant, the contriving Thoughts are to make Provisions ³for the Flesh to satisfy the Lusts thereof. The Understanding is debased to be the Pander and Caterer for the intemperate and incontinent Appetites. The ambitious Spirit lays the Scene how to obtain his desired Honour, and forecasts how to ascend to some place of Eminence: so Anger soured into Revenge, envies at the Excellencies and Advancements of others, turns the Mind to plot Mischief.