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…

II. The Lord will show himself upright to an upright man, in Defending ¹his Person. He is made sometimes the Butt of malice. Hell and earth conspire ⟨p. 85⟩against him, as in this Psalm, vers. 4, 5. Snares of death, floods of ungodly men, sorrows of Hell all bent against him. A plain argument of the sad degeneracy of mankind, to be so desperately set against the Image of God in man, and hate those that never did them wrong, and that for his sake that always doth them good; yet so is the case, the most innocent man cannot escape by them unto Heaven, without many onsets; they bend their bow and lay their snares, can hardly sleep for rage. Wrongs and Scorns, and Fines and Prisons are their usual Charity; he that departs from evil, ever makes himself a prey. The generality of the world are alienated from the life of God, and enemies in their minds to all that live it; and O that I could speak and write it in tears of grief and compassion! A Drunkard, a Swearer, a Whoremonger may live quietly by them. He that never read the Scriptures, that never prays with his Family, shall have all their good will, and go quietly by them into destruction: but if a mans Conscience be once awakened, if he retrieve his course, and fall to earnest prayer, change his company and sinful courses, ⟨p. 86⟩dare not profane the Sabbath, or take Gods Name in vain, or swear as before, then up do all his neighbours rise against him, watch him, censure him, malign him, and (if possible) ensnare him; while he (poor heart) thinks them no hurt, prays for them, and only strives to save his own soul, and others if he can.