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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.
Resol. 1. The censures of others should make us more severe in trying our selves. To doubt of sincerity, is one thing; to try it, is another. When they charge the State of hypocrisy upon us, we should mourn for the Habits of hypocrisy in us; and bless God that their opinion for substance is not true; they do but say what you might have been. And when your ⟨p. 170⟩estate is questioned never so unjustly, 'tis a good way to pass a Fine upon it, and make it surer. And so you will be gainers not losers by such surmises.
Resol. 1. The censures of others should make us more severe in trying our selves. To doubt of sincerity, is one thing; to try it, is another. When they charge the State of hypocrisie upon us, we should mourn for the Habits of hypocrisie in us; and bless God that their opinion for substance is not true; they do but say what you might have been. And when your ⟨p. 170⟩estate is question'd never so unjustly, 'tis a good way to pass a Fine upon it, and make it surer. And so you will be gainers not losers by such surmises.
2. While your heart is right with God, heed not the censures of men. Who more upright than Job? yet hypocrisy was his charge, an hypocrite was his badge; so David, so our dear Lord Jesus himself. The malicious world will be sure (as was said) to charge those faults on you, whereof there is no clearing in this life. Resolve with Paul, 1 Cor. 4. 3. But with me it is a very small thing, that I should be judged of you, or of mans judgment, but he that judgeth me is the Lord. We shall at last fall to an equal sentence, and till then we have reason to rejoice, that we are counted worthy to suffer this reproach for his Names sake. Nazianzen saith, we must be dunged with reproaches, that we may be more fruitful.
2. While your heart is right with God, heed not the censures of men. Who more upright than Job? yet hypocrisie was his charge, an hypocrite was his badge; so David, so our dear Lord Jesus himself. The malicious world will be sure (as was said) to charge those faults on you, whereof there is no clearing in this life. Resolve with Paul,