______cr_h_efure Trial of Vprightllefl_s.______ 3_8_l fiom Divi:tc Grl cc, but wafl:c.:i Nature : B~1 t that Joftpb in the Vigour of his Age, rhc "fin ning ScafOn, kept himfC1f undefilcd, was rh:.:: fitre J)nuprom of Sincerity. Jet _has rhi:; T<.:Himony from God, tlnr !Je was a ;mfeEf uprig,bt frlnn : and in Ehc Depth of Ius Affiidi on, he tdls his Ji.ifpicion<; f riends, Till I_ di~, I wi~! ;rot ren:o'V~ my lntest:ity from r~e : Job 1 ' · 4 , 1, my lleart jhall .not '."eprlltlcl~ _me Jo_long a! I h ve; that IS , of rctg_nmg Hypocn_fie ;.>f \~rluch 6, 7· rhcy had acculcd ~lint . H1s U~ngl~neis he proves b.y- an InduC:hon .: He prc1crv d hunfelf tl:om the Sin of lHs Age : In Ius Yourh, when fenlual Lu fl:s arc unperuous, he made a ;;;;~;;;:a~~::'~~ ,1}:::;;,:',/~',:t'"P.:{~t, l1i~fefr;;~~1 ~~1~0$~; 1Sb~?l:;~ 1c.;ri~1st1~~ W.J$ a 1\1agl!harc, and i!l the cxerctfC of Ius Office, b~s !'oot never ~Jajled to deceit, and n~ B!otdeav'cl to !Jh' 1-:lancl: Upon this he appeals to the tnlJ ghtncd Tnbunal Above, Let me t~, :~'~f'~~~ c~:1.~;~';'~~/~~~,~r~~::;r, 1;,'~i;M~7::~~ h~bte~p~"~;n;,~c~filf.d ~:~ the Cauje of bis fr/a;z-Servnnt or .Maid-Servant that contended rvith him: though in fu ll Pro1jKriry, ycr fo compaaionare, that as a Father he fed the Poor, and clothed the Naked. He was 10 fcnf,blc of his dependent mutable Sra·rc here, that Gold was not his H ope, nor the fine Gold bis Conjirle11ce ' anct fo Heavenly aqd Spiritual in his Mind and Affections, that Jg rift! not rejoi ce becaufe bis Wealtb was greet, ~and becaufe his Hand hadgottenfhuch. This .Refl~Chon upon the T emper of his Hearr, .-,ntd his Deportment in his profpcrous Stare, was rhc main affiuancc of his Imegriry. -} 1~;,. i be APPLICAi iO N. •. Let us be excited ro make a Judgment of our !elves byrhis Rule. The true Decifion of our Spuirual Stare, refitlrs from the Tefl:imony of Confcicnce concerning our Uprightncf:S or Inlinceriry. if our Hearts condemn us not of predominant Hypocrific, 1~mc indul gcJ habitual S~n,. then have we qo,jidence toward~ God, that we are ac~epted of lum. If Conkiencc be mhghtned and fatthful in the Tnal, a Man cannor deliberately deceive himfclf : he mull know whether his Rcfolutions and Endeavours be to obey all t he Will of God; or, whether, like an inrermirting Pulfe, that fometimcs bears regularly, and then faulters, h~ is zealous in fom.e .Duties, and cold or care.lefs in others ? Saul would offer Sacrifice, bur not obey the D1vme Command to deftroy all the Amaleki tes : for his Part iality and Hypocrifie he was rejected of God. Bur 'ris rhe Character of Dav id, he was a Man after Gods o1vn H eart, in that he did all his Will. 'Tis not the Authority of the Lawgiver, but other Motives that fway thofe who obfcrve fome Commands, and arc refpeC:tlefs of others. A Servant that readily goes to a Fair or a Feafl: when fent by hi s Mallcr, and neglects other Duties, does not his Maller's Command from Obedicne, but his own Choice. Sincere Obedience is to rhe Royalty of rhc Divine Law, and is commenfiuate to its Purity and Extent. There are rwo Requifite> to make a certain Sign of a thing: 1. If the Sign be never wirhour the Thing fig11ified. 2. If the Thing be never without the Sign. The Rednefs of the Sky is but a Contingent Sign of fair Weather, becaufe rhe Appearance of it in ~~~ ~,'~\fit1~$;~,~~1 f~~~w~~;::~1l~t7;'~~ ~~1a~i~I~;S~~~ ~f~~~~~~~1~ ~~:n~~~:~ ~1~~ its afcending in the Horizon alwayscaufes Day, and without theprcfence of the Sun, all inferiour Lights can never caufe Day. Thus the abllaining from the beloved Lull is a fure Sign of Uprightnefs : For 'tis inconfillenr with Hypocrific, and the infeparable Effect of Sincemy. 'T1s inconfillentwirh Hypocrifie: ttll Divine Grace cleanfes the Heart, alters rhc Talle of our Apperires, and purifies our Affections, we /hall never detell and forfake our own Sins that are flefh'd in our Natures . 'Tis true, there may be an abfiaining from fome Sins, when the Heart is not fin cere :~~~\,~ fv~~ref~A r~,~~~~:~~~tn~~n:h~~:fe~f~~ ~u;~~h:~~~~~~a~~"l,~~'~?~~~~i ConO.ttution. As that Meat that is delicious to one Palate, to another is dill:all:eful ; lo ·*fs ~Ue~~·~ ~;v~1~Z~:h~e~~ft~~~ ~~;\~~t~;~.:~;,.~r~h~ 1aR~~~:~at~~~~f;sdoes nor move th~m till thofe Notes are fl:ruck that are harmo~ious with their Difiemper, and then delightfully tranfporred, they fall a dancing rill thetr Srrcngth is !pent. Thus Tempcanons arc prevalent according to the Complexional Lufis of Human Nature. But when there is no Harmony and Agtcemem between the Objects without, and the Affections :11~!:::~ ~~1~~~~~r~i;l~~~;~::eD;~~r~s, !;;1l:f~~~1~sI~~li~~ti:~10~ ~~~~~~~~~;t,~s ;~~: vctous Wretch, whofe Soul dcoves to the Earth, may feel no Temptation at rhc Sight ~~
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