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…

VIII. The Lord shows himself an ¹upright God to the upright man, In Stablishing him to the end: its elementary fire that goes out, the Celestial ever burns, Prov. 10. 29. The way of the Lord is strength to the upright. He only is the persevering man. The fixed Stars appear but small, the blazing Star looks far greater; but the former abide from age to age, and the latter being but exhalations, compounded of corruptible matter, are spent and consumed to nothing; they had perhaps more eyes fixed on them than on the others, but they waste away: Even so an hypocrite may make a greater blaze in his profession, may be more admired and talked of in the world; but the real Saint is fixed, he abides, no tempest can shake him, he is built on a Rock and abideth for ever. The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: Every prayer strengthens him, every Sermon strengthens him, yea every temptation (like the wind to a well-rooted ⟨p. 111⟩tree) causeth his roots to spread, and stand the stronger: moved he may be, but not removed, fall he may, but not fall away: and yet an upright tree (you know) falls not so soon as that which leans. An upright man never makes a right Apostate, Psal. 25. 21. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me: for I wait on thee. Two good props to a weak Christian. He may say, Lord, I have but weak graces to preserve me, I have no parts or learning, I have few friends to hold me up in thy ways; But I have (thou knowest) a sincere desire to please and serve thee; O let integrity and uprightness preserve me, and the rather for that I wait on thee: I wait in the use of the means of perseverance, and I wait by faith upon thy promise. If sincerity will not hold me up, I must fall.

VIII. THe Lord shews himself an ¹upright God to the upright man, In Stablishing him to the end: its elementary fire that goes out, the Coelestial ever burns, Prov. 10. 29. The way of the Lord is strength to the upright. He only is the persevering man. The fixed Stars appear but small, the blazing Star looks far greater; but the former abide from age to age, and the latter being but exhalations, compounded of corruptible matter, are spent and consumed to nothing; they had perhaps more eyes fixed on them than on the others, but they waste away: Even so an hypocrite may make a greater blaze in his profession, may be more admired and talk't of in the world; but the real Saint is fixed, he abides, no tempest can shake him, he is built on a Rock and abideth for ever. The way of the Lord is strength to the uprighs: Every prayer strengthens him, every Sermon strengthens him, yea every temptation (like the wind to a wellrooted