God that trieth the hearts of all the sons of men, taketh pleasure in uprightnesse.1 Chro. 29.17. The froward and unstable are abomination to his highnes; but such as are upright in their way are his delight. The offerings of an upright heart are free and voluntary, which God graciously tendreth, & lovingly accepteth. The Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.Prov. 15.8. God will not cast off the upright, nor leave his soul in adversity. If thou wert pure and upright, surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousnesse prosperous.Job 8.6.
Psal. 25.21. God will make it known that he doth regard the upright, & though for a time they be in affliction, they shall not be forsaken, or left desolate. Marke the end of the upright, for the end of that man is peace.Psal. 37.37. The wicked may flourish for a time like the Bay-tree, but suddenly they shall wither. The upright may be kept under for a time, but he shall bud and blossome apace in his season, and his prosperity shall endure. The upright shall dwell in the Land, and the perfect shall remaine in it.Prov. 2.21 The righteous shall inherit the Land, and dwell therein for ever.Psal. 37.29. The Tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.Prov. 14.11. The word of the Lord doth alwaies good to them that walke uprightly, Micha 2. 7. God doth pronounce all good to them that live according to his Commandments; instructions will sinke into such hearts, the promises cheare and revive them; by the doctrines they are made wise, they increase in wisdome, they grow from one measure of grace and comfort to another. God is good to Israel, even to them that be of an upright heart;Psal. 73.1. and the word of God doth speake mercie, peace, quickning, and doe good to the upright in heart. The integrity of the upright shall (guide and) preserve them;Prov. 11.3. that is, shall procure good direction from the Lord, both for his service, and for their own happinesse, and make them tractable to follow it. Contrary to this is the condition of the crooked and unstable, who are not led by the word, but overruled by their lusts, and therefore misled by them to their undoing. For thus standeth the opposition: the integrity of the upright shall guide them in the way, and so preserve them: but the frowardnesse of the wicked will keepe them from the way, and so destroy them. The path of the upright is even, strait, plaine,Isa. 40.4. lightsome, good, the next and shortest cut to heaven that can be. I will teach you (saith Samuel) the good and the right way:1 Sam. 12.23. And the Saints pray, Let thy good Spirit bring me into the Land of uprightnessePsal. 143.10.,that
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Of Truth and Uprightnesse.
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