1. Uprightness and Integrity of heart and way. To this qualification belong many sweet promises of protection, such is that Prov. 2. 7. He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly, Psal. 7. 10. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. If your hearts be true to God, these promises shall be truly performed to you, but beware you deceive not your selves in so great a point as this is; thy heart cannot ⟨p. 283⟩be an upright heart, except 1. it be a renewed heart; the Natural heart is always a false heart, 'tis only regeneration that gives the heart a right temper and frame; all the duties and labours in the world can never keep that heart right in its course, which is not first set right for God by a principle of renovation. (2.) We cannot judge our selves upright, except uprightness be the settled frame and standing bent of our hearts, Psal. 119. 112, 117. It is not our integrity in one or two single actions, but in the general course, and complex frame of our lives and ways, that will prove our integrity to God. (3.) Then may we reckon our selves upright, when the dread and awe of God's all-seeing eye keeps our hearts and steps from turning aside to iniquity, Gen. 39. 9. 2 Cor. 2. 17. That's a sincere and upright heart indeed, that finds it self at all times, and in all places overawed from sin, by the eye of God upon him. (4.) That man's heart also is upright with God, who purely aims at and designs the glory of God, as the scope and end of his life and actions, who lives not to himself, neither acts ultimately and principally for himself, but lives to God as a person dedicated and devoted to him, Rom. 14. 7. (5.) That heart also is upright with God, which governs it self and its ways by the directions and rules of the Word, Psal. 119. 11, 24, 133. Happy is that soul that finds such evidences of integrity in it self, when it is brought to the trial of it at the Bar of the Word, Heb. 4. 12. At the bar of conscience, 2 Cor. 1. 12. at the bar of afflictions, Psal. 119. 87. and at the bar of strong temptations, Gen. 39. 9. The eyes of the Lord shall run to and fro through the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of such whose hearts are thus perfect towards him.
1. Uprightness and Integrity of heart and way. To this qualification belong many sweet promises of protection, such is that Prov. 2. 7. He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly, Psal. 7. 10. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. If your hearts be true to God, these promises shall be truly performed to you, but beware you deceive not your selves in so great a point as this is; thy heart cannot ⟨p. 283⟩be an upright heart, except 1. it be a renewed heart; the Natural heart is always a false heart, 'tis only regeneration that gives the heart a right temper and frame; all the duties and labours in the world can never keep that heart right in its course, which is not first set right for God by a principle of renovation. (2.) We cannot judge our selves upright, except uprightness be the setled frame and standing bent of our hearts, Psal. 119. 112, 117. It is not our integrity in one or two single actions, but in the general course, and complex frame of our lives and ways, that will prove our integrity to God. (3.) Then may we reckon our selves upright, when the dread and awe of God's all-seeing eye keeps our hearts and steps from turning aside to iniquity, Gen. 39. 9. 2 Cor. 2. 17. That's a sincere and upright heart indeed, that finds it self at all times, and in all places overawed from sin, by the eye of God upon him. (4.) That man's heart also is upright with God, who purely aims at and designs the glory of God, as the scope and end of his life and actions, who lives not to himself, neither acts ultimately and principally for himself, but lives to God as a person dedicated and devoted to him, Rom. 14. 7. (5.) That heart also is upright with God, which governs it self and its ways by the directions and rules of the Word, Psal. 119. 11, 24, 133. Happy is that soul that finds such evidences of integrity in it self, when it is brought to the trial of it at the Bar of the Word, Heb. 4. 12. At the bar of conscience,
