but the Humour of the Age; nor influenc'd by a multitude of evil Examples; whatever others do, he will ferve the Lord. * HE is one that keeps the Prize continually in his Eyet; for the fake of that defpifing both the foys and the Sufferings of this prefent Life; and animated in the various Periods of his Courfe by the Views of the Heavenly Glory, is ftill progreffive; growing and encreafing in Grace more and more. He has fix'd upon one Portion both for Heaven and Earth: Whom have I in Heaven but thee? And there is none upon Earth that I defire befides thee. || But one God that He ferves, one Happiness that he feeks, for both Worlds: And in the Service of this God, and feeking for this Felicity he grudges no Pains, is affrighted at no Calamities, but proceeds upon this Refolve, Tho' I should die for thee, yet will I not deny thee. * HE is one that's aiming at compleat and finless Obedience, making the Word of God * Joh. xxiv. 15. † Philip. iii. 12, 13, 14 | Pfal. ixxiii. 25. Mat. xxvi. 35. the the Rule, and God himself the Pattern which he feeks to conform to; endeavouring to be Perfect, as his Father which is in Heaven is Perfect. * NOW what a mighty Influence this must needs have upon the whole of his Conversation, and ealings with Men, is too evident to need Enlargements. In brief, The Perfect and Upright Man is one who denies all Ungodliness, and Worldly Lufts; living Righteously, Soberly and, Codly in this prefent World. † TO conclude this Head, and compleat this Character, we are now made Perfect by the Righteoufnefs and Sufferings of our Lord Jefus Chrift, upon our fincere complying with the Terms of the Gospel; fo as to be accepted in him, and for his fake, as if we had perfonally fulfilled all Righteousness. On this account the Apoftle challenges Men, or Devils to alledge any thing that shall blemish the Piety, or prove a Bar to the Acceptance of the true * Mat. v. ult. Titus ii. 12. Belie Believer: Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect, &c. *. In this Senfe we are faid to be prefented blameless, without fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing. † NOW what is it the Pfalmift designs by calling upon us to Mark, and behold fuch a Perfon; but that we should so obferve his ways as to walk in them? That we fhould take notice of him as an Example; not only fixing our Eyes upon, but endeavouring to imitate the Man that walks Uprightly. This we are encourag'd to do, by being further directed to obferve the happy fue of fuch a Course of Life; which, if fuitably attended to, and thought of, could not but prove a prevailing Motive, and Excitement to our Duty. This leads us, II. To confider the End of the Perfect and Upright Man. And as this is propofed, fo it is fufficient to filence all our Objections against a Religious Life: And to make us ample and infinite amends for * Rom. viii. 33. † Ephef. v. 27. of all the Difficulties, Sufferings and Uneafineffes we may meet with in the Service of God; tho' never fo great, or numerous, The End of that Man is Peace. WE may fometimes fee the Righteous remarkably deliver'd out of their Calamities in this Life; and tho' they may labour under very great hardships for a confiderable time, yet Mercy, and Abundance Crowns their latter End. Their Faith, Patience, and Integrity are rewarded with Temporal Bleffings. The Advancement of Job is a known, and famous Inftance of this; but, however, it fares with a good Man while in the World, yet he is fure of Happiness at his going out of it. The Death, and the Eternity of fuch a one is Peace. 1. THE Death of the Upright is Peace. If we take his End for the Conclufion of his prefent Being, and caft our Eyes upon him on a Death-bed; even then, and there he Enjoys a Peace which is worth more than all the World. §. (2.) §. (1.) HE has Peace in looking backward to a paft Life. He can with great Compofedness and Tranquility, take a Survey of all his Actions, and the whole of his Behaviour. THE Wicked Man, when he comes to Die, finds a raging Hell kindling in his Breaft, in reflecting on his past Course; and the fharp twinges of the Worm that never dies, ftriking thro' his Heart and Soul. His Confcience calling his Sins to his Remembrance, and wounding with fuch bitter Regret and Remorfe as throws him into the utmoft Confufion; and makes him cry our under the intole rable Anguish, O that I had my Days to evil over again! Or, O that I had no Life at all, fince now I am like to be miserable in the thoughts of what is already spent ! When on the other Hand the Pious Man can fay with Hezekiah, when he was bid to fet his House in order, for he must Die. * Remember, now, O Lord! How I have " " Ifai. xxxviii 1, 3. walked |