A61396:188
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…
A plain discourse upon uprightness showing the properties and privileges of an upright man / by Richard Steele ...A plain discourse upon uprightness shewing the properties and priviledges of an upright man / by Richard Steele ...
London: printed for E. Calvert, 1672
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
VII. Gods uprightness will yet appear, 1In clearing his integrity. Sincerity hath the sweetest visage, but bad men put on it often the foulest visor, and many a dear Saint wears the note of an hypocrite to his grave. Though you see that no man is so far from hypocrisy as this man, no sin he hates more, yet this character is usually fastened on our plain-hearted man.
VII. GOds uprightness will yet appear, 1In clearing his integrity. Sincerity hath the sweetest visage, but bad men put on it often the foulest vizard, and many a dear Saint wears the note of an hypocrite to his grave. Though you see that no man is so far from hypocrisie as this man, no sin he hates more, yet this character is usually fastned on our plain-hearted man.
- 1§. 7. Clearing his Integrity.
It is the subtlety of Satan to charge the Saints with those sins whereof he is sure they can hardly clear themselves till ⟨p. 107⟩the day of judgment: And those are commonly these two, 1. Covetousness. 2. Hypocrisy. Both which, for the nature of them, lye so within, that it is almost impossible to refel his charge. Hence the Apostle is driven in the former to make his appeal to God, 1 Thes. 2. 5. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, [for this you can clear us] nor a cloak of Covetousness, God is witness, [herein God only can purge us.] And the like the latter, Rom. 1. 9. For the Lord is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit, &c. And the upright Lord will clear up these mens integrity, first or last. Holy David lay under many heavy charges, and that for a long time. How long will ye turn my glory into shame? Naught he was, not fit to live in his own native Country, he hatched treason against Saul, and undermined his Government, and Religion he had none, but at length his Righteousness did shine as the noon-day; Saul himself was convinced of his integrity, and acquitted him, though thereby he condemned himself. So upright Job past for a notorious hypocrite among his enemies, for he was accounted no other by his friends, but the Lord brought