Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/191

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way to Heaven: and the man that walkes in that path, doth walk uprightly. And here it may be noted, that to doe what is right in the sight of the Lord, and what is pleasing in his sight,1 Joh. 3.22.
Joh. 8.29.
1 Thes. 4.1.
Rom. 12.1. are for substance one and the same, and so ^aa Exod. 15.26.
Deut. 6.18.
and 12.25.
and 13.18.
and 21.9.
1 King. 9.12.
Numb. 23.27.
1 King. 9.12.
2 Chro. 14.15.translated by the Seventie. The Scriptures mention an uprightnesse of heart, and uprightnesse of life and conversation. Uprightnesse of heart is an holy conformity of heart and soule to the good will and pleasure of God. Thus we reade, God saveth the upright in heart, Psal. 7. 10. The ungodly shoot privily at the upright in heart. Psal. 11. 2. Shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart. Psal. 32. 11. O continue thy righteousnesse to the upright in heart. Psal. 36. 10. All the upright in heart shall glory. Psal. 64. 10. Doe good, O Lord, unto them that be good: and to them that are upright in their hearts. Psal. 125. 4. Good and upright is the Lord. Psal. 25. 8. His will is the most certaine rule of equity and rectitude: and our hearts are then upright, when they stand in an holy conformity to the good pleasure of God. This is sometimes expressed by the phrase of preparing the heart to seeke God,2 Chron. 19.3. or lifting up the heart in the wayes of God.2 Chron. 17.6. And herein is implied, 1. An holy disposition of mind, will and affections, bending themselves to the good pleasure of God, approving, affecting, exercising readily whatsoever he requireth. I know also, my God, that thou tryest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightnesse.2 Chr. 29.17. As for me in the uprightnesse of mine heart, I have willingly offered all these things. 2. A godly fervency of heart, which maketh that in choosing and embracing good things, it is equally more remisse or fiery and strong, as the goodnesse of the things be greater or lesse, of greater or lesse necessity and importance. Thus an upright heart hath respect to every Commandement, but his greatest care is about the weightie matters of the Law, holinesse and justice: and the more excellent the duty, the more circumspect and forward is he in the performance of it. The upright love thee, or they love thee in uprightnesse. Cant. 1. 4. that is, with a strong and vehement love, which is without dissimulation or guile. Therfore (saith David) I esteeme all thy precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way. Psal. 119. 128.   3. An upright mind in all purposes and actions doth aime directly at the right marke, and propose the true end by just and approved meanes. A right end never hath a crooked rule leading unto it: and a right heart doth neither look awry, nor goe by a crooked rule. Thus it issaid