The upright mans character and crown. Preached in a sermon at Pauls before the…

Answ. Thou mayest thrive in¹ grace, though thou doest not perceive it. The plant grows, but not always in one place. Sometimes it grows in the branches, sometimes secretly in the root: so an upright soul still grows, but not always in the same grace; sometimes higher in the branches, in knowledge; sometimes he thrives in the root, in humility; which is as needful as any other growth. If thou art not more tall, yet if thou art more lowly. Here is a progress, and this progress evidenceth the vitals of sincerity.

Answ. Thou mayest thrive in¹ grace, though thou doest not perceive it. The plant grows, but not alwayes in one place. Sometimes it grows in the branches, sometimes secretly in the root: so an upright soul still grows, but not alwayes in the same grace; sometimes higher in the branches, in knowledge; sometimes he thrives in the root, in humility; which is as needful as any other growth. If thou art not more tall, yet if thou art more lowly. Here is a progresse, and this progresse evidenceth the vitals of sincerity.

1. 1Answ.

XIII. The upright man orders¹ his conversation aright, Psal. 50. 23. To him that orders his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. The upright man is [Greek or Hebrew], a pattern of holiness; he treads evenly; ⟨p. 39⟩be walks as Christ did, 1 Joh. 2. 8. Though the main work of Religion lies within, yet our light must so shine, that others may behold it; The foundation of sincerity is in the heart, yet its beautiful frontispiece appears in the conversation. The Saints are called jewels, because they cast a sparkling lustre in the eyes of others. An upright Christian is like Solomons Temple, gold within and without: sincerity is a holy leaven, which if it be in the heart, will work it self into the life, and make it swell and rise as high as heaven,