blessed. But as for the crooked and perverse, it is not so with them: for their sins are uncovered, The froward is an abhomination to the Lord, their hope shall perish, they shall be cut off from the earth, they shall be taken in their own naughtinesse, and their end shall be accursed.
The effects of uprightnesse are many, but specially these.
1. An heavenly disposition of heart, whereby we are affected to love all good, and hate all evill truly according to the nature and degree thereof, and to have respect universally, not equally to every Commandment. The high way of the upright is to depart from evill:Prov. 16.17. that is, to depart from evill is the case-way of the upright, in which they walke rightly, fitly, securely or in great safety. The uprightnesse of David is thus described, that he did according to all that the Lord commanded him, and kept his Statutes and his Judgements:1 King. 9.4. that he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the daies of his life.1 King. 15.5. Thus the uprightnesse of Zacharie and Elizabeth, They walked in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord blamelesse.Luk. 1.6. An honest heart mainly desires to please God in matters of justice and judgement, the great and weighty matters of the Law; for God desires mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more then burnt offerings:Hos. 6.6.
1 Sam. 15.22. and in the duties of his particular calling, because every tree must beare his owne fruit, and every man attend to his proper charge: and in such duties, as in respect of time and place be of greater importance, because he must not be wanting to the opportunity: but he takes care withall to be faithfull in every circumstance, pin, hoofe and naile. These things ought ye to have done.Mat. 23.23,24. The upright mans assurance and resolution is this, Then shall I not be confounded, when I have respect to all thy commandments:Psal. 119.6. I have refrained my feet from every evill way, that I may keepe thy word.vers. 101. For they doe nothing with an upright, heart, that give themselves liberty to transgresse any one commandment. If a man shall keepe the whole LawJam. 2.10., scil. in outward and externall actions, and yet offend in one point, willingly and of indulgence, so as by the Covenant of grace he shall be held a transgressour, he is guilty of all. Of frailty and weaknesse a man may, and the most holy doth break every commandment, and is guilty of none, so as it shall be imputed unto him: But he that habitually, willingly, on set purpose,shall
