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Vera virtus radices agit.
Seneca.
THings have their specification from their form. Christ in the soul, or truth in the heart, is the form of a Christian. Hence is that expression, Hee is a Jew that is one in∣wardly, so hee is a Christian which hath Christ in him, and hee up∣right whose heart is so; therefore is uprightness annexed in the 94, Psal. and the 15. verse, to that which is its proper subject, and without which, it subsists not, nor can, to wit, the
heart; Ʋpright in heart, all the upright in heart shall follow righteousness. A good man is called a good man as hee can derive goodness from within; * 1.1A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good. Truth treasured up in the heart is the onely true treasure, and then out of this treasure, motion made to this, and to that expence from hence up∣on God, upon man; this is a good man, and bringeth forth that which is good, an upright heart. A man is noted for an evill man, as evill sei∣seth the heart. Son of man, these men have set up Idols in their hearts, should I ••ee inqu••red of at all by them? Ezek. 14. So to set up truth in the heart, as that, and onely that which I love to bow down to, and bee governed by; this is an upright heart. It is said of the Devill, that hee abode not in the truth, because no truth is in him, Joh. 8. 44. whilst hee was in heaven, heaven was not in him, but pride, and that is hell where ever it is. Truth in the heart, and wee abide in truth, that is, wee walk in it, and ate ruled by it. Lust in the heart,
and let the creature bee where hee will, in heaven, or on earth, hee a∣bides in this, is led up and down by this, and not by truth, and so is cal∣led according to that which is in him, and informs him a sinful, deceitful hearted man. There is truth in the heart, ••or in the midst of the heart, the expression is, I think with allu∣sion to the natural form of the heart. The heart hath a tunicle, and a ven∣tricle, one to cover it, the other to hold life, bloud and spirits, and these small ventricles are in the midst of the heart and these the life of the heart; Truth within the tunicle of the heart is not enough, it must bee in the ventricle, in the midst. The expression imports th••s much, that if truth bee not in the soul as the soul of the soul, as the life bloud in the heart, giving life and motion to all, the soul is not healed by it of its unsoundness, and so con∣sequently no upright heart. The Psalmist speaking of a righteous man, saith, That his mouth speaketh wisdome, and his tongue talketh of judgement: But is this enough to give the formality of a righteous man.
Many can talk very soundly, and ju∣diciously, and yet very unsound at heart: Observe therefore what fol∣lows, where hee centers the formali∣ty of integrity, the Law of God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide, Psal. 37. 31. the small lines of truth, the string of the heart; the Law of God, a Law in and unto the heart; binding and loosing that which lives as it were a life by it self, continually moving when all other parts are still; that this organ which makes so many steps to others, and yet not making one step, but in, and under the Law of Truth and Christ, this is an upright heart.
Luke 6. 45.