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…

IV. The Lord shows himself upright ¹to the upright man, In hearing his prayers, Prov. 15. 8. The Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: But the Prayer of the upright is his delight. No music so sweet to men, as sincere prayers are to God. The upright man delights to pray, and the upright God delights to hear. How pleasant is the child's first language to the father? he had rather hear it than an elegant Oration; and the reason is, first, it is his own child, and secondly, it speaks (poor thing) as it thinks; there is no colour upon its words, nor dissimulation in them: Even so the prayers of the upright man are most welcome to God his heavenly Father, for the child is his own, and then his prayer is the counterpane of his heart. He cries against his sin, and also he hates it: he sues for Grace, and he doth heartily long and endeavour for it: and Hearts can come into Heaven, when Words must stand at door. He gets out of the hearing of many a starched Oration, but ⟨p. 94⟩Psal. 145. 18. He gets nigh to them that call upon him, to them that call upon him in Truth. O when confessions are the sad note of a bleeding heart; when supplications are the real breath of an hungry soul, the Lord listens to such melody.

IV. THe Lord shews himself upright ¹to the upright man, In hearing his prayers, Prov. 15. 8. The Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: But the Prayer of the upright is his delight. No musick so sweet to men, as sincere prayers are to God. The upright man delights to pray, and the upright God delights to hear. How pleasant is the childs first language to the father? he had rather hear it than an elegant Oration; and the reason is, first, it is his own child, and secondly, it speaks (poor thing) as it thinks; there is no colour upon its words, nor dissimulation in them: Even so the prayers of the upright man are most welcome to God his heavenly Father, for the child is his own, and then his prayer is the counterpane of his heart. He cries against his sin, and also he hates it: he sues for Grace, and he doth heartily long and indeavour for it: and Hearts can come into Heaven, when Words must stand at door. He gets out of the hearing of many a starch't Oration, but