by him, who are fo at the heart, Romans ii.

28.

(3.) That uprightness of life muft have its root in an upright heart, and spring from thence. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good: and the tree is to be made good, before the fruit can be fo. The children of God by faith in Chrift, have both parts of the character belonging to them: they are righteous and upright in heart too; and as fuch, light and gladness are fown for them, that is,

1. For them and none elfe. The righteous are heirs of God's greatest benefits. All things are theirs, who have Chrift for theirs: but they that are without Chrift, are without hope. They have no title to the privileges of his members, nor meetness for them. The Lord hath fet apart him that is godly for himself but the ungodly, whatever difguife they may put on for a time, fhall not ftand in the judgment, nor finners in the congregation of the righteous: For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish, Pfalm i. 6. Light is fown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart: but there is no peace, faith God, to the wicked. They may justify themselves before men, but God fearcheth the heart.

2. Light is fown for the righteous, and gladnefs for the upright in heart, i. e. for all of this number and character. The eyes of the Lord are upon them, from the greatest down to the leaft. Light is fown for the righteous; of which number all believers are: and gladnef,

for

for the upright in heart, i. e. for fuch as are Ifraelites indeed; whether at prefent ftrong or weak; more grown, or as yet but babes in Chrift. Being in Chrift, in truth, light and gladnefs is fhewn for them, which leads us to fhew,

III. Where it is fown.

The answer to this will come under the following heads, viz. In the purpose of God, In the purchase of Chrift, In the office of the Spirit, In the promises of the Word, In the work. of Grace wrought in the heart, and in the preparations made above in glory.

1. Light is foron for the righteous in, the purpofe of God, which he himself is pleased to open, Jer. xxix. 11. I know the thoughts that I think towards you, faith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. God is willing that the heirs of promise fhould have strong confolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope fet before them, Heb. vi. 18.

2. In the purchase of Chrift, that which he made by dying, and continues to plead, as risen again. He was exceeding forrowful even unto death, to make way for his difciples peace and joy. And what he obtained at fo dear a rate, he again and again affures them of it. Peace I leave with you in the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

3. In the office of the Spirit, and the errand on which he was fent by Chrift. This was to be the conftant comforter of his difciples. And

to

to make way for his coming for this end, Chrift tells them, that it was expedient for them that he fhould go away, elfe the Comforter would not come; but if he went away, he would affuredly fend him. And he has faithfully done it, John xvi. 7.

4. In the promises of the Word: particularly,

1.) In fuch as relate to the light of God's countenance. Matth. v. 8. Bleffed are the pure in heart: for they shall fee God: fee him not only above, but here below, to the begetting that joy in them, which a stranger intermeddleth not with. The fecret of the Lord is with them that fear him, Pf. xxv. 14.

This was

(2.) In fuch as relate to the protection of his power. He that dwelleth in the fecret place of the Moft High, fhall abide under the fhadow of the Almighty, P. xci. 1. He fhall never fuffer the righteous to be moved, Pf. lv. 22. the powerful argument God ufed with Abraham, and it is recorded for the encouragement of all the faithful. Gen. xvii. 1. I am the Almighty God, walk before me, and be thou perfect. Do this, and if Omnipotence can defend thee, thou shalt be fafe: if infinite goodness can fatisfy thee, thou shalt be happy. Fear not, Abram; I am thy fhield, and thy exceeding great reward, Gen. xv. 1. Upon this ground, the Pfalmift concludes for himself and all others of the houfhold of faith, My defence is of God, which faveth the upright in heart, Pfal. vii. 10. He that walketh uprightly, walketh furely; for he walks with God, Prov. x. 9. He shall dwell

оп

on high: his place of defence shall be the munition of rocks, &c. Ifa. xxxiii. 15, 16.

(3.) In fuch as relate to his prefence and fup. port under trouble and affliction. Ifaiah xli. 10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dif mayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Now no chaftening for the prefent feemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them which are exercifed thereby, Heb. xii. 11. BlefJed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, &c. who comforteth us in all our tribulation, &c. For as the fufferings of Christ abound in us, fo our confolation alfo aboundeth by Chrift, 2 Cor. i. 4, 5:

(4.) In fuch promises as relate to deliverance from the evils they feel, or fear. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, 2 Pet. ii. 9. And he hath graciously promised it. Pfalm xci. 15. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him. Thus affectionately he befpeaks his faithful fervants in the time of diftrefs. Ifa. xxvi. 20. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and fhut thy door about thee: hide thyfelf as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpaft.

(5.) In fuch as relate to their inward peace, to counterballance their outward afflictions and trials. Unto the upright there arifeth light in darkness, Pfalm cxii. 4. The righteous fhall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all

2

the

the upright in heart shall glory. See John xvi. 33, &c.

(6.) In fuch as relate to the fpecial conduct of providence directing their steps. Pfalm xxv. 11. What man is he that feareth the Lord? him fhall be teach in the way he shall choose. He layeth up found wisdom for the righteous, Prov. ii. 7, 8. and preferveth the way of his faints. He declareth, I will teach thee in the way which thou Shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye, Pfalm xxxii. 8. We know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, Rom. viii. 28. This God is their God for ever and ever: He will be their guide even unto death, Pfalm xlii.

14.

(7.) In fuch as relate to free access to the throne of grace, and acceptance through Christ for their perfons and duties. The facrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord; but the prayer of the upright is his delight, Prov. xv. 8. He is well pleafed with their approaches to him, and their fincere defires and endeavours to please him; their fpots are covered, and their defects are fupplied, and themselves accepted in the Beloved; in whom God is become a Father of mercies to them, and deals with them as fuch.

(8.) In fuch as relate to fpiritual advantages by publick ordinances. Prov. x. 29. The way of the Lord is ftrength to the upright. And they that wait upon him shall renew their ftrength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint, Ifa. xl. 31. (9.) After

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