2. This Uprightness shines in the Plainness of his life. There are few Criticisms in the life of an upright man. He's plain and that's his prayer, Psal. 27. 11. Lord lead me in a plain path, that's my desire. He hath no quirks, or tricks of legerdemain. If he cannot stand by plain dealing, he'll fall by it: when he trades and bargains, though he be discreet and careful, yet he is plain: When he reproves a fault or advises, he is sober, wise and affectionate, but still he is plain: his discourse and Sermons though elaborate, yet still plain. Among his very enemies though he be cautious and considerate, yet there he is plain also: Lead me in a plain path because of mine enemies. He is like Him, that wished his body were made of Chrystal, that his sincerity might ⟨p. 57⟩be transparent. Such was that Martyr, whom the persecutors required to discover his companion, whom they were prosecuting, promising to him his own life for the discovery, and so either by denying his knowledge of the place of his friends abode, or by betraying it, he might have saved his own life; after a little pause, breaks out into these words, Mentiri non possum, prodere nolo, I cannot lye, and I will not betray him; and so laid down his life, to save one of the Brethren. Here was an upright man, that would not tell a lye to save a life, that had rather dye than lye. He will be plain, though he suffer for it. But how generally is this plainness banished out of the world? every man almost walking in a vain show, disguising their intentions, looking one way and rowing another, that the Tropics are not more distant, than most mens intentions are from their Actions. And so I come to the Object about which this uprightness of life is conversant.
2. This Uprightness shines in the Plainness of his life. There are few Criticisms in the life of an upright man. He's plain and that's his prayer, Psal. 27. 11. Lord lead me in a plain path, that's my desire. He hath no quirks, or tricks of legerdemain. If he cannot stand by plain dealing, he'l fall by it: when he trades and bargains, though he be discreet and careful, yet he is plain: When he reproves a fault or advises, he is sober, wise and affectionate, but still he is plain: his discourse and Sermons though elaborate, yet still plain. Among his very enemies though he be cautious and considerate, yet there he is plain also: Lead me in a plain path because of mine enemies. He is like Him, that wisht his body were made of Chrystal, that his sincerity might ⟨p. 57⟩be transparent. Such was that Martyr, whom the persecutors requir'd to discover his companion, whom they were prosecuting, promising to him his own life for the discovery, and so either by denying his knowledge of the place of his friends abode, or by betraying it, he might have saved his own life; after a little pause, breaks out into these words, Mentiri non possum, prodere nolo, I cannot lye, and I will not betray him; and so laid down his life, to save one of the Brethren. Here was an upright man, that would not tell a lye to save a life, that had rather dye than lye. He will be plain, though he suffer for it. But how generally is this plainness banisht out of the world? every man almost walking in a vain shew, disguizing their intentions, looking one way and rowing another, that the Tropicks are not more distant, than most mens intentions are from their Actions. And so I come to the Object about which this uprightness of life is conversant.
