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If affliction like a dark night overspread the upright, for their correction and trial for a time, yet light is sown for them, and in due time will arise unto them, Psa. xxxiv. 9, 10. Moreover, this uprightness does not only provide well for a person's self; but if any thing can procure a blessing to his children, and his children's children, uprightness will, Prov. xx. 7. The Holy Ghost saith, the generation of the upright shall be blessed, Psa. cxii. 2.

Secondly, The spiritual blessings which belong to the upright, are manifold.

1. The upright man is God's favourite, even his delight, Prov. xi. 20.

2. He is hereby assured of his salvation, Psa. xv. 1, 2. For although an upright man fall into many grievous sins, yet presumptuous sins, Psa. xix. 13, shall not reign over him; he shall be kept from the great transgression; he shall never sin the sin unto death; yea, he shall be kept from the dominion of every sin.

3. By uprightness a man is strengthened in the inward man; it being that girdle which buckles and holds together the chief parts of the Christian armour, Eph. vi. 14. Nay, it is that which gives efficacy to every piece of that armour: it strengthens the back and loins, yea, the very heart of him that is begirt with it.

4. He that is upright, is sure to have his prayers heard, Jer. xxix. 13, and to be made able to profit by the word of God, and by all his holy ordinances. Do not my words, saith God, do good to him that walks uprightly? Micah ii. 7.

5. The upright man's services to God in prayer, hearing, receiving sacraments, &c. though performed with much weakness and imperfections, shall, through Christ, be accepted of God, 2 Chron. xxx. 18 - 20. Nay, where there is not power, the will of the upright man is taken for the deed, 2 Cor. viii. 12; and where there is power and deed both, even there the uprightness and readiness of the will is taken for more than the deed, according to that commendation of them, who were said not only to do, but to be willing a year