&c. Those that have this principle within, have this character, That they are upright in their conversation, Pfal. 37. 14,—to flay fuch as be of upright converfation. This is that which the Apostle means, by walking with a right foot, Gal. 2. 14. Ordering our fteps aright, Prov. 4. 26, Making even paths for our feet, Heb. 12. 13. That is, that one action bear proportion to another, and all good, according to the rule, Gal. 6. 16. Not turning afide to any crooked path. Pfal. 125.4, 5. In order to this, thofe that do indeed mind their Soul-profperity will, or fhould propound to themselves thefe three questions.

1. An liceat? May I do this, and not fin?

2. An deceat? Is this becoming a Chriftian? May I do this, and not wrong my profeffion ?

3.

An Expediat May I do this, and not give offence to others?

This Heaven-born principle, let it haye its full liberty of working, it will incline the heart to this. And this is the way to order the converfation aright: So as to inherit that promife, Pfal. 50.23, To him that ordereth his converfation aright, will I fhew the falvation of God.

(7.) Providences improved. Pfal. 107.43, Whofo is wife, and will obferve these things,

even they fball understand the loving kindness of the Lord. Puzled, and astonished fuch a Šoul may be fometimes, at the ftrange dif penfations of God, but not offended, fo as to face about. Still he holds on his way, in the paths of Righteousness, Mic. 6. 9, The Lord's voice cryeth unto the City; and the Man of wisdom fhall fee thy Name; hear ye rod, and who hath appointed it.

the

(8) All this in the fight of God, 2 Cor. 2. 17, But as of fincerity, but as of God, in the fight of God, Speak we in Chrift. That God may be pleafed, I Thef. 4. 1. And we approve our felves to God, 2 Cor. 5. 9.

2. It is impoffible the Soul fhould profper, or be indeed in any capacity of profpering that is not clothed with it: For where this Inner is not, the other Outer garment is not. It is fo, as I told you, that this Garment of Righteousness wrought in us, and that the Righteoufnefs wrought for us, are never feparated the one from the other, fo that the Soul that is altogether deftitute of it, is in a Christless state, naked, and deftitute of all fpiritual clothing, Rev. 3. 17. God, at first, fent forth Man into the World: compleatly apparelled with it, being created in righteousness and true holiness: but Satan, by his fubtilty, ftript him of it, and he became naked, Gen. 3. 7. And thus he continues, till by the powerful Word and Spirit

of

of Chrift, his heart is made willing to come unto Christ, to receive him, reft upon him, and abide in him. Till then, he is utterly deftitute of all the materials of this garment, Some indeed, of whom there may be fome hopes that they have obeyed the Call, and are come to Chrift, are but poorly clad, even half naked, which is a fad fight. But these have none at all, they are naked all over, though infenfible of it. They have no life at all, nothing of this principle, i Joh. 5.12,He that hath not the Son, hath not life.

3. The better the Soul is clothed with this garment, the more it doth, and the bet ter it will profper. For confider.

(1.) The more we have of this Garment of Righteousness, the more the Soul is brought into and preserved in its right temper: The health of the Body consists much in its right conftitution, when it is not fo oppreffed with corrupt humours, but that it can relish its ordinary food, and can do that work that is to be done, by God's appointment, wherein it is fet, and is not indifpofed, by sickness, or weakness. Into fuch a right temper, this righteousness, when the principles of it are exercised, doth bring the Soul. This prevails against the ill humours the Soul is subject unto. It prevails against those noisom lufts that war against the Soul, as the Apostle speaks, 1 Pet. 2. 11. It is compared

pared, Eph. 6. 14. to a Breaft-plate, which if it be good, preferves the principal parts of the Body; the Breaft, wherein the vital parts of Man are clofely coucht together. So this righteousness preferves the principal part of a Christian, it keeps the Confcience pure, the Soul undefiled; fo far as it is exercifed, it will keep a Man from his own iniquity, Pfal. 18. 23. That which by nature he was more prone unto, then to others.

(2.) The more we have of it, and the better we are clothed with it, the more the Soul will be carried after God. It raiseth the heart above all worldly enjoyments, fo that. it cannot settle upon them, as others do, Pfal. 4. 6, 7, There be many that say, who will fhew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. When David's heart was brought into its right temper, he could really, and truly, and with much warmth, and strength of affection, fay, Whom have I in Heaven but thee? And there is none upon Earth, that I defire befides thee, Pfal. 73. 25, 26.

(3.) The more we have of it, the more the Soul is fitted for Communion with God. By the first principles of it, a man is brought into a faving relation to God: but by their exercise and increase of it,it is fitted for a more fenfible Communion with God. There must be a fuitableness between neigh

bours

bours that enjoy Communion together. Now the more we have of this, the more fuitableness there is in us, to the holy nature of God, I Job.1.7, But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.

(4) The more we are clothed with it, the greater worth and excellency is put upon all natural, and civil righteoufnefs. Eve ry action, so much as of this principle is exercised in it, fo much it turns to the wellfare, and profperity of the Soul. Duties of the fecond Table are turned, as it were, into duties of the first, as Heb. 13. 16. To do good, is a duty of the Second Table; and Sacrifice (whileft it was a part of God's worfhip) a duty of the Firft. But when in doing good to others, we act upon principles of Religion, and what we do to Man, is out of love to God, and out of refpect to his authority over us, and to teftifie our thankfulnefs for his goodness unto us; it is through Christ, acceptable to God, as an act of Religion, and fo as advantageous to keep the Soul, in a thriving, profpering frame, Jam. 1.27, Pure Religion before God and the Father is this, to vifit the Fatherless, and Widows in their affliction

(5.) The more we have of it, the better evidence we have for Heaven; True,though we had as much as any Man living, it could

not

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