A plain discourse upon uprightness showing the properties and privileges of an upright man…A plain discourse upon uprightness shewing the properties and priviledges of an upright man…

1. An upright man is a great enemy to Craftiness or Subtlety. Though he studies to be Wise, yet he delights not in Cunning. Craft is wisdom degenerated, it is wisdom devested of honesty. A tang of this was in that practise of Rebecca, Gen. 37. 35. to procure the blessing for Jacob by a wile. But it cost him many a sweating day, and many a frosty night: Guile and guilt go hand in hand, Job 15. 5. Thy mouth utters thy iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty. Carnal policy was never friend to inward piety; ¹though it sometimes wears Lambs wool without, yet it is always lined within with the Foxes fur: But the true and holy God disappoints the devices of the crafty, and drives the counsels of the froward headlong, Job 5. 12. An upright man is clear in his thoughts, and though discreet, yet candid and fair in his dealings. And I doubt not to affirm, there is no lawful calling under Heaven, but may be managed without this sinful craftiness. Away then with that idle pretence, that without it few Tradesmen can subsist. Cursed is that trade that cannot stand without sin, saith worthy Mr. Capel. Better beg than sin, better starve than damn. Well fare the integrity ⟨p. 68⟩of those noble Athenians, who in their war against the rest of Greece, were told ²by Themistocles, that he had a Stratagem against their enemies, but it was not to be told publicly: so they wished him to tell it to Aristides. He tells him it was to set the Arsenal on fire, where all the Ships of the Grecians lay. Aristides presently told the people, his design was indeed Profitable, but not Just; and thereupon it was exploded by them all. Certainly the greatest wisdom in the World is to be a right honest man.

1. An upright man is a great enemy to Craftiness or Subtlety. Though he studies to be Wise, yet he delights not in Cunning. Craft is wisdom degenerated, it is wisdom devested of honesty. A tang of this was in that practise of Rebecca,