An upright heart longs and desires still to be more upright it groanes under the guile that it finds remaining in it self and warrs against it and longs to be delivered from it An upright heart is a heart perpendicularly directly and chiefly for God in all its aimes and ends it exalts God in all things and above all things because he only is to be exalted Uprightnesse exceedingly desires and indeavours to improve every price in its hand to the glory of God the giver Ioh. 7.18 An upright heart is not satisfied with its own tryal but desires God should try it and goes to God to do it Thus did upright David Psa. 26.2 139.23 24. And upright Iob. Let me be weighed in an even Balance saith he Iob 31.6 An upright heart can comforâ—ably appeal to God in its worst condition except in some cases viz. in case of ignorance of its own integrity or in case of some guilt charged upon it by God conscience or Satan or in case of some Temptation wherein Satan by his sophistery mis-represents him to himself and fantacy joyning with Satan gives a false Idea and representation of things to the understanding whereby it comes to passe that conscience doth accuse when it should excuse in such cases an upright heart cannot nor dares not to own its own integrity nor appeal to God but if it be not hindered by the interposition of some one of these or the like it can comfortably appeal to God in its worst condition as is evident by divers examples as in Hezekiah 2 King 20.3 and in Iob Job 23. ver 10 11 12 Chap. 16.17 and in Ieremiah Jer. 12.3 David 1 Chro. 29.17 Paul 1 Thes. 2.10 An upright heart is a soyl wherein the immortall seed of the word takes kindly rooting springs up and brings forth fruit in some measure more or lesse as Christ affirms in that Parable Mark 4.8 Integrity or uprightnesse is a growing and spreading plant it is a plant which how small soever it be at its beginning if once planted grows greater and greater it is alwayes greater at last then at the first This Bildad hinted to Iob Job 8.7 and this Christ plainly affirms in the Parable of the mustard seed Mat 13.31 32. Uprightnesse is a plant that will thrive though in a barren soyl Finally Integrity or uprightnesse is an abiding plant It is a plant that will live under a torrid or a friged Zone a plant that will bide the hottest Summer and the coldest Winter my meaning is it will hold out in the hottest persecution and in the greatest defection An upright heart abides in the truth and the truth abids in it The upright do hold on his way Job 17.9 An Hypocrite may professe the truth and go farre in the profession of it for a time but he will not alwayes abide in it sooner or later he will fall off quite as is evident by those Texts quoted in the Margin but an upright heart will hold on its way hold out upright in crooked times it will hold fast its integrity whatever it part with else as God and an upright man affirms Iob 2.3 and 27.5 6. As an Hypocrite will not abide in the truth no more will the truth abide in him Truth may be in an Hypocrite for a time but it will not abide in him God doth sooner or later take it quite from him but truth in an upright heart it abideth there so saith the Apostle The annointing which ye have received of God abideth in you 1 Joh. 2.27 Truth in an upright heart is in its proper element and therefore abideth there These appearances of an upright heart which I have collected from the bare Word I thought not amisse here to insert and for brevity sake I will multiply no more but proceed to the fourth appearance of a new heart 4. A new heart is a self loathing heart as appears by Ezek. 36.26 compared with ver 31. A new heart will I give you saith the Lord and what follows Then shall ye remember your own evill wayes and your doings that were not good and shall loath your selves in your own sight c. Thence it is evident that a new heart is a self-loathing heart it loaths it self for all its iniquities and for all its abominations for all its guilt of sinne and for all the filth of sinne that it sees in its self for its inward corruptions as well as its outward transgressions 5. A new heart is an obedient heart a heart made pliable to the Will of God as appears by the fore-cited place Ezek. 36. A new heart will I give you saith the Lord v. 26. And cause you to walk in my Statutes and keep my judgments and do them ver 27. Hence it is evident That a new heart is a heart pliable to all the revealed Will of God a heart on which the Word of God and the Works ofGod make impression and it is therefore called a heart of flesh Ibid v. 26. 6. A new heart is a heart new principled it hath in it principles above nature above morality to wit Divine principles principles of grace by which the whole new man is acted 7. Another appearance of a new heart is this A new heart is alwayes accompanied with a new spirit A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you saith the Lord Ezek. 36.26 A new heart and a new spirit are here coupled in infusion by the Lord which shews they are twins born together they alwayes go together live everlastingly together this David pointed at Psal. 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me c. David knew that where God gave a new heart he gave a new frame of spirit also and therefore he puts both into his bill when he put this promise in suit When God makes the heart new he makes the spirit new also he frames it of another fashion points it towards another course raiseth it from Earth to Heaven meekeneth it and makes it more easie to be intreated 8. The principles then being new and the spirit new where the heart is made new it must needs follow in the next place by necessary consequence That the life and conversation is new also for these being made new cannot but produce newnesse of life therefore I conclude this thus A new heart alwayes produceth a new life if the heart be new the life will be new also Christ if truely formed in the Creature is formed in every part of the Creature in the whole man in the whole life and conversation of the man from his convertion and new birth This is the last but not the least demonstrator of a new heart of a new Creature and such as without which no man can ever safely conclude that his heart is new or his Creation new He hath chosen us in him before the foundation
sorrow it consumes the body of death it brings a consumption on sinne it weakeneth the power of naturall corruption and warreth succesfully against the most Giant-like corruption it comes from the heart of a sinner and it goes to the heart of sinne 16. Finally Evangelical sorrow is a reforming sorrow it makes a man truly turn from sinne from all sinne unto the Lord and this is indeed the great distinguishing Character of it and that which demonstrates the truth of it contrition without conversion is not Repentance unto life He that sorrows for his sinne and turns not from his finne unto the Lord his sorrow is but a sorry one Humiliation without Reformation saith one is but a foundation without a building and reformation without humiliation is but a building without a foundation a building which will not stand Humiliation and Reformation God hath coupled together in his Gospel-Promises wherein Repentance is fully described Therefore Repentance unto life must needs consist of both these Evangelical Contrition and true Conversion are so coupled together that they cannot be sundered wheresoever sorrow for sinne is found it is attended with true turning from sinne unto the Lord. And this is the second essential part of true Repentance And this the Scripture cals conversion Repent and be converted saith the Apostle in the forecited place Act. 3.19 it is as if he had said mourn for sinne and turn from sinne if ever you would have your sinnes to be done away He that truly turns from sinne turns from all sinne He that turns not from all sinne doth not truely turn from any sinne God requires a sinner to turn from all his transgressions and he that truly turns from sinne doth this He turns from all sinne in affection in purpose and resolution he allows not himself in any known sinne he loaths all sinne and conscionably indeavours to forsake all sinne and get every corruption mortified therefore saith the Apostle Godly sorrow worketh Repentance unto salvation his meaning is it produceth Reformation to wit a true turning from all sin unto the Lord. He that truly turns to the Lord doth it not feignedly as Hypocrites do but unfeignedly cordially with his whole heart as the Prophet speaks with full purpose of heart to walk in all the wayes of God This the Apostle cals Repentance unto Salvation and this is attended with carefulnesse and circumspection for time to come cleering of our selves or apologie for our selves of our detestation of our fact indignation or exceeding anger with our selves for our offences Feare to wit feare of relapsing into our former sinnes again vehement desire to wit after strength and assistance from Christ for the present and future time Zeal to wit in the performing of all good duties contrary to our former special sinnes Revenge to wit a holy revenge on our selves subduing of the body and keeping it under lest it should hereafter be an instrument of sinne as it hath formerly been All this is evident by the language of the Apostle in the forecited place 2 Corinth 7.11 Wouldest thou then know whether thy Repentance be Repentance unto Life or no whether it be such as truly demonstrates the holy Spirits saving habitation in thy soul and the truth of thy faith yea or nay thou must then have recourse to both the parts of true Repentance fore-mentioned to wit contrition and conversion and if by what hath been said it appears to be truly such know that it is a sure argument of thy eternal happinesse bless God for it and labour to grow in it OBEDIENCE ANother work of the holy Spirit of God on man demonstrating his saving habitation in man and a mans eternal salvation by Christ is Obedience to wit sincere and Cordial Evangelical Obedience to the revealed Will of God This Obedience and this onely God requires and accepts of his Elect in and through Jesus Christ. That this Obedience is a work of the Spirit of God in man appears both by Argument and by Scripture 1. By Argument thus Naturally the heart of man is obstinate stubborne and disobedient to the Will of the Lord deceitfull above all things and Hypocritical in all its wayes doting on Legal and never minding Evangelical Obedience and nothing can make such a change in the heart and soul of a man as of stubborne and disobedient of Hypocritical and deceitfull to become sincere and Cordial in Obedience and of a doter on Legal to become an Evangelical obeyer of the Will of the Lord But the Almighty Spirit of God whose proper office it is to renew the Image of God in fallen man Therefore this Obedience must needs be the work of the Spirit of God in whomsoever it is By Scripture this is evident likewise I will put my Spirit within you saith the Lord and cause you to walk in my statutes and keep my Iudgments and do them Ezek. 36.27 Hence it is evident That it is the Spirit of God which works the heart of man to Obedience That this Obedience is a work of the Spirit of God in man demonstrating his saving habitation and sanctifying operation in man is evident by the language of the Apostles We are his witnesses of these things and so is also the Holy Ghost whom God hath given to wit savingly to them that obey him to wit Cordially and Evangelically Act. 5.32 And by that of Peter We are Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience 1 Pet. 1.2 That this Obedience is such a work of the Spirit of God in man as demonstrates his eternall salvation by Christ is farther evident by these Scriptures following Christ being made perfect became the Author of eternall salvation unto all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 Obey my voyce saith the Lord and I will be your God and ye shall be my people Jer. 7.23 If ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my Covenant then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people and ye shall be unto me a kingdome of Priests and an holy Nation Exod. 19.5 6. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Mat. 7.21 He that doth the Will of God abideth for ever 1 Joh. 2.17 By these Texts it is evident That thâ—s Obedience is such a work of the Spirit of God in man as lively demonstrates his eternal happiness Quest. But what is this Obedience you speake of How may it be defined Sol. It is a special work of the Spirit of God in man whereby he is inabled to apply Christ unto himself according unto all his promises and himself unto Christ according unto all his Precepts Under these two general heads the whole work of Obedience is comprehended as is evident from the words of the new Covenant I saith the Lord will be your God
a grace which keeps a man quiet within when all things are troublous and very unquiet without it is a grace which possesses a man of himself when dispossessed of all earthly comforts it is a speciall work of the Spirit of God in the soul enabling a man not stupidly but quietly to bear whatsoever God lays upon him without feeling murmuring or repining against God or man in heart or in tongue or fainting under his chastising hand When it is thus with a sufferer for Christ then may he be said to suffer according to the will of Christ in this particular to wit patiently 4. Christ requires joy in sufferers for his will Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations Rejoyce and be exceeding glad saith Christ. Rejoyce in that day and leap for joy It is divine joy or the joy of grace that Christ here calls for in sufferers for his will it is that joy which Nehemiah calls The joy of the Lord. And this is a holy passion of the soul issuing out of the apprehension of what Christ hath done for it and will do for it reviving elevating and strengthening the soul and carrying it above it self It is a wing grace which whiles the soul is actually possessed of is thereby carried above it self above the world and above Satan Faith and joy are the two wings of the soul which bear it up both in doing and suffering If either of these be câ—ipt the soul is much hindered thereby and exposed to many dangers Joy as all other graces of the Spirit hath different degrees in different times and subjects and is usually greatest in the greatest sufferers and sufferings for Christ. When a man is spoiled in his estate spoiled in his good name spoiled in his body or any thing respecting the preservation or felicity of this life for his faithfullness to the word and will of Christ and yet with the good Prophet Rejoyces in the Lord and joys in the God of his salvation then may he be said to suffer joyfully then may he be said to suffer according to the will of Christ in this particular 5. Christ in his Word calls for courage in sufferers for his will the will of Christ is that he that suffers for a good cause should not be ashamed of his cause nor of his sufferings If any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed Be not thou ashamed of the testimony of the Lord nor of me his prisoner saith Paul to Timothy The will of Christ is That he that suffers for his will should not be afraid If ye suffer for righteousness sake happy are ye and be not afraid of their terrour nor be troubled Fear them not saith Christ thrice in one Chapter Fear noâ— them that kill the body but are not able to kill the soul Phil. 1.28 Christ compares his Church to a company of horses in Pharaohs Chariots which in all probability were the best in Egypt and like to the war-horse which the Lord describes to Iob Job 39. very couragious in the hottest battell Christ by this metaphor hints unto us That his will is that we should be very bold and couragious in whatsoever we do or suffer for his sake and that he expects it at our hands his will is that we should be like a company of horses in Pharaohs Chariots full of spirits and courage in doing and suffering and not like a company of Jades in a Dung-Cart spiritless and unfit to bear any thing for his sake It is Christian-courage that Christ requires in sufferers for his will Christian courage is a grace of the â—pirit whereby a man resolves through the help and assistance of Jesus Christ to cleave close to his word and will and boldly to stand for it mauger all opposition and chuses rather to suffer any thing than omit any thing or commit any thing that should derogate from the honour of Christ. A man doth then declare Christian courage when he is not ashamed nor afraid to own a good cause or appear in it because of suffering when he can suffer for the Gospel or any Ordinance of God and truly say with the Apostle Though I suffer these things neverthelâ—ss I am not ashamed I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ nor of the cause of God And when with the three Children he slights the torment and the tormentor resolving in the strength of Christ to do his duty whatsoever he suffer for it and to cleave close to the word and will of Christ whether deliverance or no deliverance arise here when he is more afraid to displease God than man when he is more afraid of losing things spiritual and eternal than of losing things temporal when he chooses to suffer rather than sinne when he endureth the Cross and despiseth the shame when he refuseth base deliverance and yeeldeth his body rather than his cause his cause being good into a Tyrants hand When a sufferer for a good cause doth thus declare his courage he declares it in a high degree and suffers according to the will of Christ in this particular 6. Christ in his Word requires perseverance unto the end in suffering for his will and it is unto the persevering sufferer that this great reward of reigning with Christ is promised Be thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee the Crown of life He that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved Christian perseverance is a conftant holding out in the Truth to the last breath in the belief love profession and practice of the Truth And this he may be said to do that doth never totally nor finally apostatize from the Truth once received It is possible for one that perseveres in suffering at some time and in some kind and measure to desist from his former forwardness through strong temptations and humane frailty witness Peter who through fear denied his Master and forsware him and yet did after suffer for him 7. The will of Christ is That he that suffers for his will wrongfully should do it for conscience sake For conscience towards God conscience of his duty should be the principall motive inducing him to suffer I do not say the only but the principall motive A man may then be said to suffer for conscience towards God when conscience of his duty is the thing that puts him upon suffering when he to avoid sinne or performe duty exposes himself to suffering when he out of scruple in conscience of the lawfullness or unlawfullness of a thing commanded or forbidden by Authority refuseth it and chooses rather to suffer in his outward man than to baffle his conscience or displease God by rebelling against lawfull Authority which is Gods Ordinance He that doth thus suffer doth suffer for conscience towards God and according to the will of Christ in this particular 8.