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…

The contemplative Thoughts and Musings of the Mind, are also fixed on the darling Lust. As a Holy Believer in whose Heart the desire of enjoying God in Heaven is the supreme Affection, frequently ascends in his Mind thither, and by solemn serious Thoughts substantiates his future Happiness, and has an unspeakable glorious Joy in the lively hopes of it: Thus the unrenewed Heart turns the Thoughts to the desired Object, either in representing it in all its Charms, or in ⟨p. 49⟩reflections upon the enjoyment of what is past, or in expectation of what is to come, and pleases it self with the Supposition instead of Fruition. A proud Person entertains vain-glorious thoughts of his own Worth, and worships the vain Idol himself: In his Mind he repeats the Echoes of Praise, that his foolish Flatterers lavish upon him. 'Tis recorded of Nebuchadnezzar, that as he walked in his Palace, he said, Is not this great Babylon that I have built, for the House of the Kingdom, by the might of my Power, and for the Honour of my Majesty? His high towering words were the Expression of his Thoughts, and discovered Pride to be the reigning passion of his Heart. The sensual Wretch surveys his Carnal Paradise, and personates the Pleasures of Sin by impure Imaginations: his fancy runs riotously over tempting Beauties: by an active Contemplation he contracts a new Stain, and induces a new Guilt upon himself: he commits the same Sin a thousand times, by renewing the pleasant Thoughts of it, and by carnal complacence in the remembrance.

The contemplative Thoughts and Musings of the Mind, are also fix'd on the darling Lust. As a Holy Believer in whose Heart the desire of enjoying God in Heaven is the supreme Affection, frequently ascends in his Mind thither, and by solemn serious Thoughts substantiates his future Happiness, and has an unspeakable glorious Joy in the lively hopes of it: Thus the unrenewed Heart turns the Thoughts to the desired Object, either in representing it in all its Charms, or in ⟨p. 49⟩reflections upon the enjoyment of what is past, or in expectation of what is to come, and pleases it self with the Supposition instead of Fruition. A proud Person entertains vain-glorious thoughts of his own Worth, and worships the vain Idol himself: In his Mind he repeats the Ecchoes of Praise, that his foolish Flatterers lavish upon him. 'Tis recorded of Nebuchadnezzar, that as he walk'd in his Palace, he said, Is not this great Babylon that I have built, for the House of the Kingdom, by the might of my Power, and for the Honour of my Majesty? His high towring words were the Expression of his Thoughts, and discover'd Pride to be the reigning passion of his Heart. The sensual Wretch surveys his Carnal Paradise, and personates the Pleasures of Sin by impure Imaginations: his fancy runs riotously over tempting Beauties: by an active Contemplation he contracts a new Stain, and induces a new Guilt upon himself: he commits the same Sin a thousand times, by renewing the pleasant Thoughts of it, and by carnal complacence in the remembrance.