to our walk and conversation before the world, lest we bring reproach on the name and cause of Jesus! The world sees not the Christian in his closet. It knows not his close walk with God in secret. These things it laughs to scorn. But it watches him in his dealings and engagements with itself and children. It listens to our words, when in matters of duty and business we are compelled to have dealings with it, and judges us and our profession of Christ accordingly.

Oh! how careful then should you be that it may have no real ground of speaking evil of the ways of God: but that through evil report and good report you may be found upright before men, "having a conscience void of offence both toward man and God."

The uprightness mentioned here is peculiar to those, and those only who love Christ. "The upright love Thee." This is the evidence of their being truly upright. Gospel uprightness hath its peculiar marks of excellence, just as the uprightness of graceless souls hath its peculiar defects. Was that defective both in its beginning and its end? This is excellent both in its end and its beginning. The Spirit of the Lord is its spring-the glory of Christ Jesus is its great aim and object.2

Now this "Godly sincerity" of which the Apostle 2. 2 Cor, i, 12.

1. Acts xxiv. 16.

opeaks, exactly answers to the uprightness of our text. And he says concerning it, that it is by the "grace of God." It is "godly" because it comes from God, and leads to God. It is not of flesh and blood, neither by the will of man--but of God-and not only of God, as we may say of all other things. This uprightness of heart is the special gift-the covenant-gift of God.' This "one heart" is the "godly sincerity" of which St. Paul speaks, and the

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uprightness" of which Solomon speaks. It is opposed to the double heart of the hypocrite: to the subtle and crooked policy of the world. It is the "single eye" of which our Master tells us "the which if a man hath, his whole body is full of light."

This uprightness is distinguished also from the uprightness of the mere moral man in respect of its great aim and object. Its great desire is to please Christ Jesus, and to live for His glory. Its great aim is not to obtain the favour of the world, but the favour of Him who created us by his word, and redeemed us by his blood.

Hence, David (Ps. cxxv. 4.) i. e. whose hearts are straight with God: who desire to serve Him with an upright purpose of soul: who live by Faith on Christ Jesus, and whose words and actions are without dissimulation—" Israelites INDEED in whom there is no guile."

"The upright LOVE Thee." It is equally true that Christ loves the upright. Solomon tells us so.1 How great is this expression Brethren: God" DELIGHTETH in the upright." His soul takes pleasure in the upright man as one in whom he sees his own glorious image reflected.

God has put peculiar honour in Holy Scripture on men of this character. He has marked them out as men of no common character.

Speaking of Job's uprightness, God marks him out as one unequalled. "None like him in the earth, a perfect man and upright."2 Mention is made of his wealth, and his greatness, and his power, but when God glorieth over Satan in having such a servant, he makes mention only of this. He does not say "Hast thou considered my servant Job, none so rich, so princely, so honourable" but, none SO UPRIGHT!"

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See again what a monument of glory God hath erected to his servant Caleb-" But my servant Caleb'3 And why was Caleb thus distinguished above the host of Israel? "Because he had another Spirit in him"-a nobler and more excellent spirit than they all. And wherein did this appear?" He followed the Lord FULLY." By referring to Joshua 14th c. 7-9 v. you will find that it was the upright

ness of his heart-the righteousness of his eye to God's glory, which drew from the Holy One of Israel such commendation. Twelve spies had been sent out to spy out the land of Canaan, and bring again their report. After forty days they return to the camp of Israel, bearing a cluster of grapes and other fruits of the land. They reported that the land was good, but the people strong and mighty, and moreover they dwelled in walled cities. The other ten who went with him suited their report to the feelings and prejudices of Israel. But Caleb brought word to Moses as it was in his heart. With uprightness and sincerity of soul he spake what he believed to be true; and hence God greatly honoured him, and as long as Holy Scripture is read and loved-as long as God's name is feared upon earth THIS shall be testified of the uprightness of Caleb "that he followed the Lord fully and spake that which was in his heart!"

Christian Reader, do you not feel reproved by this upright Jew? Does not his boldness and sincerity condemn you? Have you not sometimes found yourself afraid of man's wrath and man's frown? Instead of walking and speaking with sincerity and uprightness of soul, we have walked and spoken as if afraid of the truth. Forgetting God's presence, you have trembled at the opinion and opposition of a poor sinful world that lieth in wickedness. Oh! for