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…

Our Saviour tells us, He that commits ¹Sin, is a Servant of Sin: an indulgent course of Sin denominates a Person a Slave of Sin, and a Rebel against God, and is utterly inconsistent with Sincerity. 'Tis true, an upright Man may fall by sudden surreption, by an insinuating Infirmity into a foul Sin, from which he has a settled aversation, and keeps himself in the general Course of his Life: and that single Act of Sin is a blemish of his Integrity, but retracted by a speedy Repentance, does not denominate him a Hypocrite. One may be pale from an accidental surprise by fear, or red through a sudden flush of Blood from Anger, yet not be so by Complexion; for the Complexions, Pale and Sanguine, are drawn by the Pencil of Nature, the lively Characters of the predominant Humours, and are usually visible in the Countenance.

Our Saviour tells us, He that commits ¹Sin, is a Servant of Sin: an indulgent course of Sin denominates a Person a Slave of Sin, and a Rebel against God, and is utterly inconsistent with Sincerity. 'Tis true, an upright Man may fall by suddain surreption, by an insinuating Infirmity into a foul Sin, from which he has a setled aversation, and keeps himself in the general Course of his Life: and that single Act of Sin is a blemish of his Integrity, but retracted by a speedy Repentance, does not denominate him a Hypocrite. One may be pale from an accidental surprize by fear, or red through a suddain flush of Blood from Anger, yet not be so by Complexion; for the Complexions, Pale and Sanguine, are drawn by the Pencil of Nature, the lively Characters of the predominant Humours, and are usually visible in the Countenance.

1. 1John 8.

But although an upright Person keeps himself from the gross Acts of Sins that are clearly against natural Conscience, and supernatural Grace; yet whilst we are clothed with Flesh, the Body of Sin does not finally expire, and Temptations are as importunate as Flies about us, (from whom the Tempter has his Title) that 'tis morally impossible to be absolutely undefiled: therefore Uprightness requires that we should carefully consider our weak side, what Passions we are most inclinable to by our Temper, and so diligently fortify our selves against them, that they may not have dominion over us; and though we cannot arrive, yet we may advance towards the complete conquest of Sin. And in our endeavours against the Sins to which we are most inclinable, and that often foil us, Constancy is inseparable from Sincerity. If we neglect the humbling of our Souls for unavoidable Infirmities the earnest seeking for the Divine Mercy and Grace, and a careful watching against them, we so far decline from Uprightness.