Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v9

Chap. 3 t. ran Expoltiott sepan the Book! of J o a. Verf. 6. That God may know mine integrity. The word which we tranflate integrity , may be underftood ilwo wayes. Firft Generally, and fo it is that grace which runs through andGraces, all our duties ; Integrity is a generali vertue, or the verme of all our vermes , Integrity adornes and crownes all There is an integrity in every thing that is truely good, and the more any man excells in goodneffe, the fuller he is of integrity, The word, as hash been {hewed heretofore, properly fignifieth perft Rion or fimplicicie ; horaa fimplicity, not ignorant amp city. The Scripture calls it allo finglenes ofbear:, in oppofition to that double mindcdnefTe or coniplexednes which is in hypo- crites whole hearts are not tingle, but plighted and folded to wrap up and hide the badnes and bafenes oftheir purpofes. ?ob was as famous for this Grace ofintegrity before his tryall as he was in and after it for the graceof patience. Therefore the Lord faid to Satan (chap.z.3. )Haft thou confidered myfervant fob,that there is none like him in the earth, and/fill he boldetbfag his inte- grity. lob held his integrity, thatis, his fncerity,though he could hold nothingelfe, and the Devil! had made many violent afiaults to pull that from him too. Secondly, Integrity may be taken esri&ly, as oppofed to deceit or vanity; in the former verle ; fo it notes the righteouf. neffeof a mans way and practice, when he (leaks fquarely and fayrely with all men that he hath to doe with ; And thus 'cis the fame with honeftieand faithfullneffe.He that perforrnech his pro - mile according to engagement, and difchargeth his rrutt accord - ding to agreement is a manof integrity; As he that Both good to many is a man ofcharity, fo Ise that doth right to all is a man ofintegrity. 'Tis integrity in this latter notionwhich Yob feemes here to put to the teft and tryall of God; For as in the former verte he had' protefted, that bisfoots hadnot hafted to deceit, fo in the verfe following he protefteth, that no blot had cleaved to his bands. In both he obviates or taketh off that fufpition of un- righteous dealing inany way ofcommerce or convenewith men as a man, or of unrighteous diftributions unto men as a Magi_ ftrate or a man of Authority. As to both which duties his Z x friends 3-53

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