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cannot be hid from the eyes of God, with whom you have to do, and before whom you walk, Heb. iv. 12, 13, who will bring every secret thing to judgment, Eccles. xii. 14. Wherefore take continual notice, that you are in the sight of God that made your heart, Psa. xciv. 9 - 11, who requires truth of heart, Psa. li. 6, and who perfectly knows the guile or truth of your heart. This will much further your uprightness; for who can dare to promote and dissemble in the presence of his Lord and judge, who knows his dissimulation better than himself?

Seventhly, Unite yourself more and more strongly unto your head Christ Jesus, by faith and love; continually renounce your own wisdom, righteousness, and strength, that you may every day be more and more united unto him. Grow daily in faith and hope in him, from whence you shall more and more partake of his fulness, Phil. iii. 8, &c., even grace for grace, John i. 12, 16. For the measure of your uprightness, will usually be in proportion to your faith. For in proportion as the branch partakes more of the vine, so it draws more virtue and bears more good fruit, John xv. 5.

Eighthly, You must, with an holy jealousy of the deceitfulness of your heart, examine yourself often; not only of what you have done, and now do, but of the motives and ends of your religious actions; as was before directed in the marks of uprightness. Lay yourself often to the rule of uprightness, that is, the will of God, and finding yourself defective, study and labour to amend, and be upright, and that to the utmost of your power.

Ninthly, Excuse that measure of uprightness which you have, and be more thankful for the little you have, than discouraged as many are, because they have no more. If you find yourself upright, be abundantly thankful, and resolve to keep and increase it by all means. Keep your heart thus with all diligence, Prov. iv. 23; then, as all other graces, so this of uprightness will increase in the using.

Tenthly, and lastly. Use the means of all means,