Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/194

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

182
Of Truth and Uprightnesse.

that is, an even and plaine Land, where my feet should not stumble. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and leade me in a plain pathPsal. 27.11. (a way of uprightnesse) that my foot tread not aside, that I doe nothing unjustly, to the dishonour of thy name, or offence of mine adversaries. God is both the Sun and Shield of the upright: their buckler of defence and comfort in this life, their crowne and glory in the life to come. God saveth the upright in heart.Psal. 7.10. He is a Buckler to them that walke uprightly.Prov. 2.7. They may pray with confidence, Let integrity and uprightnesse preserve me, for I hope in thy word.Psal. 25.21. Doe good, O Lord, to them that be good, to them that be upright in heart.Psal. 125.4. Light is sowne for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.Psal. 97.11. Comfort is reserved and laid up in store for them, though hidden for the present, as seed in the ground which will spring and ripen. This life is the seed time of an upright man, the harvest of his comfort shall be in heaven: neverthelesse some portion of that heavenly treasure the Lord doth impart unto him on earth.Psal. 36.10. Therefore the upright are called upon again and againe to rejoyce in the Lord, at all times, in all conditions, to rejoyce heartily before him. Shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart:Psal. 32.11. praise is comely for the upright:Psal. 33.1. All the upright in heart shall glory.Psal. 64.10. Unto the upright there ariseth light in darknesse,Psal. 112.4. scil. God gracious, mercifull and righteous is his light, joy and salvation, or it ariseth, from God, mercifull, gracious and righteous, as some interpret it. The secret of the Lord is with the upright;Prov. 3.32. that is, his secret and hidden wisdome of attaining true happinesse. They are of the Lords privy Councell, his intimate and familiar friends, whom he will instruct in the way that they should choose. They shall abide in the Mountaine of his holinesse,Psal. 15.1,2. and dwell in his presence for evermore.Psal. 140.13. The upright shall dwell with the everlasting burning, and not be consumed.Isa. 33.14,15,16. The Lord will astonish them with feares, that give themselves to all manner of sinne and wickednesse: but as for them that love and follow uprightnesse, he communicateth himselfe graciously and familiarly unto them. He stiles himselfe a consuming fire, least his Majestie and power should be contemned: but whosoever draw nigh unto him with a true and unfained desire to please him in all things, they shall feele by the effects, that his presence is most sweet and aimiable. Neither doth the blessing of God reach to the upright only, but to their posterity. The generation of the uprightPsal. 112.2. shall beblessed.