A plain discourse upon uprightness shewing the properties and priviledges of an upright man / by Richard Steele ...

SECT. II.

II. Use. THe second Improvement of this Point is for Re∣prehension:

• 1. Of those that Disturst an upright God.
• 2. Of those that Distast an upright Man.

1. That Distrust an upright God. No greater trouble to an upright man, than to be suspected and distrusted, to have his word question'd, and his wayes miscon∣strued. Good and upright is the Lord, and he cannot indure to be called in question. They that know him will take his word, for more than this world is worth, Psal. 9. 10. They that know thy Name, will put their trust in thee. But alas! how few are these? if we run over those very par∣ticulars wherein he shews himself up∣right, you shall find much distrust in the world, yea in the very best. If we be in Danger, how sew can quiet themselves in Gods promise of succour? If we have fallen into Temptation, how long ere we can heartily believe our pardon sealed in

the blood of Christ? when we begin to Pray, which of us believes, that as sure as we ask, we shall receive? how diffi∣cult to relye upon the grace of God for perseverance, or on the promise of God for all good things in this life, and for a Crown of glory in another? O the wretch∣ed distrust of mans heart! whence else do men run to unworthy means, to at∣tain their desires every day; and lean no more on him, or on his word, than on a weak staff, that we dare not trust? you can trust a man when he hath money in his hand, you should trust God when he gives money in the Promise. The World should know we serve a God, whom we dare trust. The promise is ever as good, as the thing promised. He is no flincher with whom you deal. To distrust him, is to devest him, and that of his dearest Attribute, his Truth. When we distrust God, we make him man; when we trust in man, we make him God.

How many experiments have you read, nay how many experiments have you had of his uprightness to you? and must they all stand for nothing? What man can come out and say, I was under such a promise, but I never had the benefit of

it? I trusted Jacobs God in vain? And must you be the first instances of his unfaithfulness? God forbid. To instance; what disquieting thoughts have we, sometimes, about provision for our Chil∣dren? they'l be left succourless, and quite forsaken, (and unworthy courses are sometimes taken to prevent it) and yet we know they will fall Wards to God, and that the Generation of the upright shall be blessed. And because here perhaps you may reply, that herein you do not so much question Gods uprightness, as your own, therefore see in another In∣stance, what perplexities are Gods ser∣vants in for his Church, when it is rent with schisms, eclips'd with errors, op∣press'd with troubles? And yet he hath undertaken to rule the world for his Churches good, and that the Gates of Hell (stronger than armes on earth) shall never prevail against her. O silence then and charm down your unbelief, and cre∣dit this word, To the upright man, he will shew himself upright.

2. This Reproves those that Distast an upright man. He that is unlike God, can∣not but dislike both him and his likeness. Wonder of wickedness, that ever any reasonable creature should hate his Ma∣kers

picture; dislike the men that are after Gods own heart, and the better the man, the worse to hate him. It was so in the be∣ginning, is now, and will be world without end. 1 Sam. 29. 6. Surely (sayes Achish to David) as the Lord liveth, thou hast been upright; nevertheless the Lord favours thee not. Let a man be never so honest, chari∣table, unblameable, yet if he discover his integrity by reproving sin, by a strict watch over his words, by a peaceable demurring at a thing he is unsatisfied in: there's some of you though you never saw him, were never disoblig'd by him, yet out of an inveteracy against God (it can be nothing else) you dislike and declaim a∣gainst him. If this man have an hundred excellent qualities, and but one defect or fault, all his good qualities are buri∣ed, and he goes with you under the no∣tion of his single sin. But on the other hand, let a man be never so ignorant, unclean, swearer, drunkard, Atheistical; yet divers of you can imbrace him, de∣light in his company, or at least he shall live quietly by you, and (if he do not personally affront you) no Magistrate shall ever be inform'd of him, that he might reform him. And (to see your equity) if this man have an hundred ill

conditions, and but some one good quality, as perhaps of an obliging carriage, all his faults are silenced, and he obtains a favourable character from this single vertue; which shews clearly, that your spite is at the good man, as he is good, or else you would cry down other mens faults as well as his, and lend to them a mantle as well as to others.

If pride be bad, or covetousness, or passion, why do you not blame them, where-ever you find them?

Object. Perhaps you'l say, they are bad (its true) in any, but they are intollera∣ble in one that professes more Sanctity than others.

Answ. His sanctity or profession are neither faults nor faulty, but these you have an aking tooth at: and though they do aggravate his Sins before God, yet I hope with men he may pass better, that hath but one or two faults, than he that hath an hundred. And if you be not ha∣ters of God, you ought to love him bet∣ter that hath a few errors, and those bewailed, (for so all upright men do, though you see them not) than him that abounds in them, and rather glories in them, than mourns over them

Object. I know your usual saying, you dislike none but hypocrites, an upright man you could love in your heart.

Answ. Can you prove all them hypo∣crites, whom you distast? and can you justifie your suspicion, where you can make no proof? I think there is no greater a sign of an hypocrite, than easily to judge others so. But for all your professions, I am perswaded, if Christ himself were now on earth, and should be so severe in his life, as never to laugh; so impartial in reproof, as to spare neither Prince nor Priest; so heavenly in his discourse, as al∣wayes to draw it to some spiritual mat∣ter; abundance of Christians would utter∣ly dislike him, never consort with him, but pursue him to his cross again. Alas! it is integrity and honesty you hate, and the affront is to God more than to men herein. And is not this hatred without a cause? Is not this to rage at Beauty, and to have an Aversion to Innocency it self? Are not these men (such as I have de∣scrib'd) the best husbands, the best pa∣rents, the best children, the best servants, the best subjects, publick Goods, Prov. 11. By the blessing of the upright the City is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. O relent towards them, and

let your love and pity run in the stream with Gods. Carry your selves to them, as you think David, Paul, or Christ would do if they were here; and judge in your own Consciences, whether they would sort with vile swearers in an Alehouse, or with upright mourners in a Chamber: you cannot have a better coppy than Him in the Text, and therefore with the upright man, shew you your selves upright.

Notes

• §. 2. Reproof.
• Semper •…•…∣liena vir∣t•…•…s form•…•… dolosa 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• O qua•…•…tus est in po∣pulo Chri∣stia•…•… ho∣•…•…or Christi, ubi Religio ignobilem facit & mali co∣guntur •…•…obiles 〈◊〉〈◊〉 viles habe∣antur. Salv.