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…

There are two Requisites to make a certain Sign of a thing: 1. If the Sign be never without the Thing signified. 2. If the Thing be never without the Sign. The Redness of the Sky is but a Contingent Sign of fair Weather, because the appearance of it in the Morning ⟨p. 75⟩is often followed with Storms and Rain; and sometimes a fair day is without that visible Sign. But Day-light is an infallible sign of the Sun's being risen: for its ascending in the Horizon always causes day, and without the presence of the Sun, all inferior Lights can never cause Day. Thus the abstaining from the beloved Lust is a sure sign of Uprightness: For 'tis inconsistent with Hypocrisy, and the inseparable Effect of Sincerity. 'Tis inconsistent with Hypocrisy: till Divine Grace cleanses the Heart, alters the Taste of our Appetites, and purifies our Affections, we shall never detest and forsake our own Sins that are fleshed in our Natures.

There are two Requisites to make a certain Sign of a thing: 1. If the Sign be never without the Thing signified. 2. If the Thing be never without the Sign. The Redness of the Sky is but a Contingent Sign of fair Weather, because the appearance of it in the Morning ⟨p. 75⟩is often followed with Storms and Rain; and sometimes a fair day is without that visible Sign. But Day-light is an infallible sign of the Sun's being risen: for its ascending in the Horizon always causes day, and without the presence of the Sun, all inferiour Lights can never cause Day. Thus the abstaining from the beloved Lust is a sure sign of Uprightness: For 'tis inconsistent with Hypocrisy, and the inseparable Effect of Sincerity. 'Tis inconsistent with Hypocrisy: till Divine Grace cleanses the Heart, alters the Taste of our Appetites, and purifies our Affections, we shall never detest and forsake our own Sins that are flesh'd in our Natures.

'Tis true, there may be an abstaining from some Sins, when the Heart is not sincere towards God: for some particular Sins are opposite to the respective Tempers of Men, and the Averseness from them is not the Effect of Supernatural Grace, but of natural Constitution. As that Meat that is delicious to one Palate, to another is distasteful; so the Sins that have a Temperamental Relish to some, are disagreeing to others.