2. Wrought in us by the Spirit. Naturally we are full of guile and falseliood, off and on with God ; the deceitful old man ])rcvaileth over then), and hath them under his power : Eph. iv. 22, ' That ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt, accoi-ding to the deceitful lusts.' A man in that estate dealeth crookedly and perversely with God till the heart be renewed by grace, and God cast it into the mould of regeneration. It is bowed and bended to carnal things, and therefore as useless ; as things that are battered and bowed are cast into the furnace that they may receive a new shape, so doth God new moidd us and fashion us : Ps. li. 10, ' Create in me a clean heart, O God ; and renew a right spirit within me.' It is the Spirit of
380 SERMONS UPON PSALM XIX. 13. [SeR. V.
God puts US in this right frame, that we may not deal deceitfully witli God: Eph. iv. 24, 'And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness ; ' opposite to those deceit- ful lusts spoken of in the 22d verse, which do by subtlety carry sinners captive to their slavery. Holiness and truth is a sign of God's image wrouglit upon the soul. Good inclinations and actions are false and deceitful without this.
3. Whereby we are inclined and fixedly bent. There is a difference between velleities and good wishes and a hearty volition, between sudden motions and imperfect and wavering resolutions, which may be without fruit, and that fixed deep bent of heart which beareth up a christian in all his actions towards God : 1 Chron. xxii. 19, ' Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God ; ' Acts xi. 23, ' And exhorted them all, that with full purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord,' rfjirpodeaei t?'}9 Kap8ia<i, by a full decree and bent of soul. Others have wavering purposes, faint inclinations, superficial or slight motions, that come to nothing : Deut. v. 29, ' Oh, that there were such an heart- in them.' There is a moral integrity when they do not dissemble, and a supernatural sincerity when there is a foundation of grace to carry us out constantly and uniformly to God in a course of obedience ; such a purpose as produceth considerable endeavours henceforth to serve God fi-om right principles and to right ends.
4. To please God in all things and offend him in nothing : Col. i. 10, ' That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing.' He that is upright with God maketli it his business to please God, not to please himself or his own flesh : Rom. viii. 12, ' We are not debtors to the flesh, to live after the flesh.' Not to please men : Gal. i. 10, ' For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ ; ' but to please God by doing the things which he hath commanded : Ps. xl. 8, ' I delight to do thy will, 0 God ; yea, thy law is within my heart ; ' and avoiding the things which he hath forbidden : Ps. cxli. 4, ' Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works ; ' and as far as he knoweth the mind of God, and frailty incident to human nature will permit him.
So that in uprightness three things are considerable, by which it is discovered —
[1.] Purity of intention. It is a bent of heart towards God, or a desire to please him whosoever be displeased, whether our own flesh or the world. Therefore it is called ' godly sincerity,' 2 Cor. i. 12, because it chiefly respects God, his eye and 'approbation, and his glory and honour : 1 Thes. ii. 4, ' For we speak not as pleasing men, but God.' We urge our hearts. So Col. iii. 22, * Not with eye-service, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.' There is a deep impression of the awe, and fear, and love of God upon our hearts : 1 Cor. X. 31, ' Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' God is at the end of all their actions.
[2.] There is constancy and uniformity of endeavours. There is a desire to please God at all times and in all places ; at one time as well as another, not by starts. It is but a humour if we do it in good moods only. Job saith of the hypocrite, Job xxvii. 10, ' Will he delight him- self in the Almighty ? Will he always call upon God ? ' The worst
VeR. 13.] SERMONS UPON PSALM XIX. 13, 381
men have their good moods. They use duties as we do strong waters, in a pang, not for a constant diet ; soon grow weary of their observance ; but a godly man is uniform : Ps. cxix. 112, ' I have inclined my heart to keep thy statutes always unto the end.' In all conditions, prosperity and adversity, in good report and ill report. It is a double and a crooked heart that only mindeth God in its need. So in all places, in private and closet duties, between God and our own souls, as well as public duties liable to the notice of others. A sincere christian is alike in all places and in all companies, because God is alike everywhere ; he prayetli with as much strength and earnestness when alone with God as in the company of others. His Father seeth in secret. Mat. vi. 6 ; and there he hath the advantage of a religious privacy and retirement, and can more freely enlarge himself in the presenting his own wants and requests to God. He is not one that is devout abroad, but slight and careless at home : Phil. ii. 12, ' Ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence.' It was all one when Paul was by or when he was away ; as birds in the wood sing as sweetly as when in houses and dwelling-places of men.