and allow in ourselves what it condemns in others. But where the heart is truly upright, conscience will act, not according to any selfish views or principles, but with strict ecpuity, according to the unerring standard of the Gospel. This is essential to real integrity: and, when God has "put truth in our inward parts," and " renewed a right spirit within us," such will as- suredly be the effects : conscience will be a light within us : it will be like a compass, that will guide us in the darkest night : it will be God's vicegerent in the soul, acquitting or condemn- ing according to truth, even as God himself will do in the day of judgment. It will summon the whole man to give account of himself from day to day : it will cause all the actions, words, and thoughts to pass in review before it : in short, it will suffer no disposition, no habit, no inclination, to exist in the soul, without comparing it with the written word, and having reason to believe that it will be approved of the Lord.]
4. A life in habitual accordance with these prin- ciples—
[After all, " the tree must be known by its fruit." We can know nothing with certainty respecting the heart, but by the life. God sees it as it is in itself: we can discover it only by its acts. Behold then the upright man in his daily walk. See him searching with all humility the word of truth, and imploring direction from God, that he may understand it aright. Behold him giving up himself, in body, soul, and spirit, to the Lord from day to day ; and rising, above all earthly considerations, to the contemplation and execution of God's blessed will. Behold his searchings of heart also, and holy fear lest any hidden abomination should lurk within him. Hear him crying to God for his effectual aid: " Search me, O Lord, and know my heart : try me, and know my thoughts : and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting f." Then compare with this, his temper, his spirit, his conduct : and then you will see, though doubtless with manifold imperfections, " an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile."]
Here is real uprightness of heart. Let us next contemplate,
II. The blessedness that awaits it —
A person possessed of this character will have much to bear —
[We greatly mistake if we think that such a person will be approved of all ; or that he will have no trials within his own soul. No, indeed: he will, like Paul himself, have "fightings
f Ps. exxxix. 23, 24.