said of Ezra, that he had prepared his heart to seeke the Law of the Lord, and to doe it, and to teach in Israel Statutes and judgements:Ezra 7.10. And on the contrary, when Simon Magus would have bought the gifts of the holy Ghost with mony, Peter rebukes him, saying, Thy heart is not right in the sight of God.Act. 8.21.
Uprightnesse of life, is a conversation,Psal. 37.14 way, or course of life agreeable to the word of God in that calling or vocation, wherein God hath placed us. Thus it is said of David, That he walked with God in truth and uprightnesse of heart.1 King. 3.6. And he that walketh in his uprightnesse, feareth the Lord.Prov. 14.2. He that is upright in the way, is an abhomination to the wicked.Pro. 29.27. The way of the just is uprightnesse.Isa 26.7. He that speaketh uprightnesse shall dwell with the everlasting burning.Isa. 33.14,15. This is expressed by the phrase of going with a right foot. Gal. 2. 14. of ordering our steps aright, Prov. 4. 26. and making even pathes for our feet, Heb. 12. 13. Uprightnesse is an universall and constant cleaving to the Lord, notwithstanding all occurrences that might divert or turne us out of the way. All the upright in heart shall follow it,Psal. 94.15. or, shall follow him; that is, they shall cleave to the Lord, and goe after him continually, and never forsake him, although they endure many and great evils, for his names sake. An upright heart is an heart fixed and established in respect of the object, or maine businesse, opposite to a double, divided mind,Psal. 78.37. wavering between two different objects, unstable, inconstant, turned with every blast,Jam. 1.6,7. resolving now this, anon that, one thing to day, another to morrow, this in one company, that in another. And the pathes of uprightnesse are contrary to all crooked wayes, which leade unto death.Pro. 21.8.
Prov. 2.13,15. Doe good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. As for such as turne aside unto their crooked waies, the Lord shall leade them forth with the workers of iniquity.Psal. 25.4,5. We may take the description of an upright man from the Psalmist in other words, He hath cleane hands and a pure heart, and hath not lift up his soul unto vanity.Psal. 24.4. A pure heart is the foundation of an holy life, and words and works, as it were the building setled upon it.
Uprightnesse is chiefly commanded, most highly esteemed and principally commended in the Saints. For this cause Israel was called Jeshurun, Deut. 32. 15. & 33. 5, 26. Isa. 44. 2. because uprightnesse is the thing, which God requireth in every true Israelite.God
