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

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, ⟨p. 361⟩he rises as high as Heaven. In his humiliation he affects to equal himself with worms, in his joy and praise with angels. He is never unwilling to diminish himself, but afraid of detracting any thing from the love of God, or the issues of that love.

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 fancie 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 puft up, and swol'n with air, 'tis not big by an inflation, or a light and windy humour; but 'tis really fill'd 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, ⟨p. 361⟩he rises as high as Heaven. In his humiliation he affects to equal himself with worms, in his joy and praise with angels. He is never unwilling to diminish himself, but affraid of detracting any thing from the love of God, or the issues of that love.