Chap. 33. An Expfstion aspen the B00%of J© B. Verf. 23. 385 then, to thewuntomanhis saprighrnefs, is to flewhim his awne up- rightnefs. But you will fay ; Is themeffenger or interpreter, onlyto tell man how good he is,and what good he bath done ? and fo to flat- ter him into a good opinion of himfelfe, or of his owne good deeds ? I anfwer ; Thisfbewing unto man his uprightnefs, may be taken Firh , As implying the mans ignorance of that uprightnefs which he hath or that he bath an uprightnefs, but doch not know nor underhand that he bath it. 'Tis fo fometimes with the found godly man, as well as with the ficke , when ( though in bodyly . health, yet)he is difcornpofed and troubled in mind ; For then though he bathan uprightnefs of heart,an integrity towards God, or (as fob fpeakes of himfelfe) the root of the matter in him; that is, though he be truely converted and really godly, yet he feeth it not, -fuch temptations of Satan and troubles of mind al- fault him, fuch clouds of doubt, and darknefsare upon him, that he is not able to make out his owne hate. Tn this cafe the faith - full metTenger or interpreter comingto him and inquiring how it its with him, picks out this from him, that there is an uprightnefs, and an integrity ofheart inhim towards God, and that his hate is good, though he-cannot difcerne ir. For as the life and hate of .grace, is alwayes a fécret tochofe who have it not ; fo 'tis often a fecret to thofe that have it. Some m.en,never, fewmen alwayes underhand their owncondition, and 'tisvery hard tomake them underhand ir. For as it is with many hypocrites, and with all prefumptuous ones, you cannot beat them out of a good opinion of thetufelves ; though they are hark naught, rotten at heart, and have nothing to falve themfelves up with, but a little boldnefs andcon :lidence, yet they will not be p rfwaded off from their falfefoundations, and deceitfull bottoms; they will be good in their owne eyes,upright in their owne opinion,and doenot doubt but all's well with them, and will be well with them alwayes; Now, I fay, as it is with force hypocrites, and all prefumptuous ones, they thinke themfelves to have an uprightnefs which they have not ; fo many are upright and fincere, who fee it nor, and 'cis a veryhard worke, thehardeh worke that the Minihers of the Gofpel have to make themunderhand and fee their ovine ssprighrnefs. p cl d Secondly,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=