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…

Whereas an hypocrite he is quite another man, Mat. 23. 5. For all their works they do to be seen of men: and therefore they chose Trumpets to distribute their alms with, and corners of Streets (Streets would not serve, but corners of Streets) that so two full Streets might view them in their prayers: and so (poor creatures) they paid themselves before the great Payday, Verily, I say unto you, they have their reward. Their thought is, how will this or that man like this word or action? If such and such commend me and applaud me, I have enough. But the upright man looks at God, and a smile from him gives ⟨p. 143⟩him content. He may endeavour to compass the good opinion of men, but he will serve God first, and hate any base courses to procure the praise of men. Its part of his Character, Rom. 2. 29. Whose praise is not of men, but of God.

II. The second mark of an upright man is, He chiefly loves God. To love the Lord our God with all the heart, with all the soul, with all the strength, is an infallible Character of an upright man. When it comes to be a disputable case between God and Mammon, God and the Belly, God and Relations, God and a right Eye or Hand; if thou cannot find (at least for the most part) thy soul determining for God, over-ruling the case in his behalf, and that thy love to him can make thee contemn the world, and all that is in it; fear nothing, thou hast an upright heart. Try now, do you use the World to enjoy God, or do you make use of God to enjoy the World? ¹Do you love him for himself, do you love him like himself, in every thing, above every thing?

1. 1He love• thee little, O Lord, that loves any thing with thee, which he loves not for thee Aug.