The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

And what reply then should we be able to make? for who can think that any who acknowledge a God; and understand at all what that name imports, should value at so low a rate, as we (visibly) do; the eternal fruition of his glory, and a present Sonship ⟨p. 360⟩to him, the pledge of so great an hope.

He that is born Heir to great Honours, and Possessions, though he be upon great uncertainties, as to the enjoyment of them (for how many interveniencies may prevent him?) yet when he comes to understand his possibilities, and expectancies; how big doth he look and speak? what grandeur doth he put on? His hopes form his Spirit and Deportment; But is it Proportionably so with us? Do our hopes fill our hearts with joy, our mouths with praise, and clothe our faces with a cheerful aspect, and make an holy alacrity appear in all our conversations?

He that is born Heir to great Honours, and Possessions, though he be upon great uncertainties, as to the enjoyment of them (for how many interveniencies may prevent him?) yet when he comes to understand his possibilities, and expectancies; how big doth he look and speak? what grandieur doth he put on? His hopes form his Spirit and Deportment; But is it Proportionably so with us? Do our hopes fill our hearts with joy, our mouths with praise, and clothe our faces with a cheerful aspect, and make an holy alacrity appear in all our conversations?

But let not the design of this discourse be mistaken. 'Tis •o• a presumptuous confidence I would encourage, nor a vain ostentation, nor a disdainful overlooking of others when we fancy our selves to excel. Such things hold no proportion with a Christian Spirit. His is a modest, humble exaltation, a serious severe joy; suitable to his solid, stable hope. His Spirit is not puffed up, and swollen with air, 'tis not big by an inflation, or a light and windy humour; but 'tis really filled with effectual pre-apprehensions of a weighty glory. His joy accordingly exerts it self with a steady lively vigour, equally removed from vain lightness, and stupidity from conceitedness, and insensibleness of his blessed state. He forgets not that he is less then the least of Gods mercies, but disowns not his title to the greatest of them. He abases himself to the dust, in the sense of his own vileness; but in the admiration of Divine Grace,