Heaven upon earth in the serene tranquillity and calm composure, in the sweet peace…

For the First, What is an ho•est walk? 1. We conceive it is not that which most men count honesty, viz. For a man only to think, or fan•y himself to be honest; a mans own apprehension is not the rule of his trial, but that which will abide the trial before God. 2ly Honesty here, looks not to absolute perfection, and such as hath no defect; it is a thing that is not ruled, and measured by our will, but by Gods will revealed in his word, though it come not up the full length of that which his revealed will calls for: And we conceive that it doth more particularly consist in these four, 1. That on the matter, it be in things allowed and approven of God; For there neither is, nor can be any honest living, except our supposed duties, and our practices be allowed and commanded of God; and here a good intention, or an honest mind, if the thing thwart the word of God; will not prove honesty, because, as to the matter it is not right, as Paul shows, Rom. 10. Speaking of the Jews their zeal. 2ly. That there be an honest end, else though the action be good on the matter, if our end be sinister or selfie, it will mar the honesty of the action; Thus Christ says, Matth. 26. 10. of that good woman, She hath wrought a good, or an honest work on me; which he clears to be so, from her end, in ⟨p. 292⟩that she poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. It was not out of vanity and ostentation, but from an inward h•art-respect to me; and at least in Gods design, she hath been fore-signifying my burial. 3ly. Honesty takes in rectitude, or straightness in the manner of our going about the duty; For if the manner be not right, as well as the matter, the action will not be honest; The word honestly (as we show) signifies honourably, pleasantly, desirably, worthily; as that word, Matth. 26. 10. doeth; Now a thing cannot be commendable and worthy, if it be not right for the manner, its but hypocritical; Therefore its said of the woman that brake the B•x of Ointment on the Lord, That she did wash his feet with tears, and •ipe them with her hair out of love, she was tenderly affectionate, and very real in her going about that work: This will seclude many good works on the matter, which are called in this same epistle, dead works, because not done in the loving, lively, spiritual manner, that God requires. 4ly. An honest walk must be from an honest principle;