The second thing wherein this uprightness of mans state doth consist. These two, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, were the sum of all those Sermons in which Paul gave counsel both to Jews and Gentiles what to do that they might be saved. And this is the work of all Gospel Ministers in showing unto man his uprightness. He that is converted, and believeth, he that turneth from sin, and taketh hold of Jesus Christ by faith for righteousness, is in a better state of uprightness, then when he was first made upright. The Prophet (Hab: 2.4.) speaking of faith, and that which is opposite to it self-confidence, useth this word, Behold his soul which is lifted up (namely in thoughts of any self or creature-sufficiency) is not upright in him. A proud soul is not an upright soul. What is pride? surely this, for a man to think himself in a good condition, or that he is well enough, that he wants nothing, as it is said of the Church of Laodicea (Rev: 3.17.) when yet he is empty and guilty, poor and penny-less in spirituals, wanting ⟨p. 388⟩every thing, especially a sight and sense of his poverty and wants; yet this is every mans thought of himself, till he is showed what is indeed his uprightness. The natural mans spirit is lifted up, not to God nor in God by faith and repentance, but in himself. The soul thus lifted up is not upright (saith the Prophet, and what faith he next?) But the just shall live by his faith. As if he had said; The man that lives by faith, or the man that believes, and so lives upon Christ, is upright and hath an uprightness which will hold him right, which the uprightness of creation did not. Then the whole matter of mans uprightness was in himself, and he was to stand upon his own bottom, having no promise of support. But now the main matter of mans uprightness is out of himself, and besides, himself hath a promise to be supported in his uprightness. Man by the grace of repentance, turning from sin, and by the grace of faith closing with the Lord Jesus Christ, is set right in the Court of heaven, and shall be preserved (in his uprightness) by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
The second thing wherein this uprightness of mans state doth consist. These two, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, were the summe of all those Sermons in which Paul gave counsel both to Jewes and Gentiles what to doe that they might be saved. And this is the worke of all Gospel Ministers in shewing unto man his uprightness. He that is converted, and believeth, he that turneth from sin, and taketh hold of Jesus Christ by faith for righteousness, is in a better state of uprightness, then when he was first made upright. The Prophet (Hab: 2.4.) speaking of faith, and that which is opposite to it selfe-confidence, useth this word, Behold his soule which is lifted up (namely in thoughts of any selfe or creature-sufficiency) is not upright in him. A proud soule is not an upright soule. What is pride? surely this, for a man to thinke himselfe in a good condition, or that he is well enough, that he wants nothing, as it is sayd of the Church of Laodicea (Rev: 3.17.) when yet he is empty and guilty, poore and peny-lesse in spiritualls, wanting ⟨p. 388⟩every thing, especially a sight and sence of his poverty and wants; yet this is every mans thought of himselfe, till he is shewed what is indeed his uprightness. The naturall mans spirit is lifted up, not to God nor in God by faith and repentance, but in himselfe. The soule thus lifted up is not upright (saith the Prophet, and what faith he next?) But the just shall live by his faith. As if he had sayd; The man that lives by faith, or the man that believes, and so lives upon Christ, is upright and hath an uprightness which will hold him right, which the uprightness of creation did not. Then the whole matter of mans uprightness was in himselfe, and he was to stand upon his own bottom, having no promise of support. But now the maine matter of mans uprightness is out of himselfe, and besides, himselfe hath a promise to be supported in his uprightness. Man by the grace of repentance, turning from sin, and by the grace of faith closing with the Lord Jesus Christ, is set right in the Court of heaven, and shall be preserved (in his uprightness) by the power of God through faith unto salvation.