The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 1 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Of the particular parts of the Christian armour: and firſt of the girdle of veritie.
§. Sect. 1 ANd thus the Apoſtle hauing taken away all retchleſſe ſecuritie and foole-hardines, and alſo ſtrengthened vsus with true valour and Chriſtian fortitude,Of the girdle of veritie. in the next place he deſcribeth the armour of God which wee are to buckle vntounto vsus. Where firſt wee are generally to obſerue, that wee are not curiouſly and ſcrupulouſly to ſearch out the reaſon why ſuch and ſuch vertues are likened to theſe or thoſe peeces of armour: as for example, why he calleth truth a girdle, righteouſnes a breaſt-plate, faith a ſhield, &c. for it was not the Apoſtles purpoſe ſo exactly to fit the ſimilitudes, as may appeare 1. Theſſ. 5.8. where he indifferently aſcribeth the name of breaſt-plate both to faith and charitie, by which here hee vnderſtandeth righteouſneſſe; but onelyonly briefly and generally to ſhew what vertues and graces of Gods ſpirit are moſt neceſſarie for a Chriſtian, wherewith hee may be enabled to reſiſt his ſpirituall enemies, continuing his former allegorie taken from warres.
But let vsus come to the armour it ſelfe, which is both defenſiue and offenſiue: the firſt part is the girdle of veritie. The word here vſed ſignifieth a broad ſtudded belt vſed in warres in ancient times, wherewith the ioynts of the breaſt-plate, and that armour which defended the bellie, loynes and thighes were couered. And by this, truth is reſembled: whereby ſome vnderſtand the truth of religion and of the doctrine which we profeſſe, others vnderſtand hereby truth and vprightnes of heart, or the integritie of a good conſcience, whereby wee perfourme all duties of religion belonging to God and our neighbour in ſimplicitie, without all hypocriſie and diſſimulation. But becauſe both are notable and neceſſarie parts of our Chriſtian armour; I ſee no reaſon why wee may not take it in both ſenſes,VVhat we are to vnderstand by the girdle of veritie. ſeeing the Apoſtle doth of purpoſe ſet downe vnderunder theſe metaphoricall words, the chiefe vertues and graces wherewith wee are to arme our ſelues againſt our ſpirituall enemies. Firſt therfore here is required truth of our religion which we profeſſe: and ſecondly, that we profeſſe it truly, that is, with vpright & ſimple hearts.
§ Sect. 2 For the firſt: That our religion muſt be grounded on Gods truth.it is the foundation vponupon which all other duties to God or man are to be built; for if they be not grounded on Gods truth, but deuiſed by mans braine, they are but humane dotages which the Lord will not accept; neither is it to any purpoſe that wee ſhew our ſelues earneſt and forward in religion, vnleſſe it be true and conſonant to Gods word. For as the faſter that thoſe trauaile which are out of the way, the further they are from their iourneys end; ſo the more earneſt and forward that wee are in trauailing the bypaths of error, the further we are from Gods kingdome: and therefore Sathan careth not greatly whether we be of no religion or of a falſe religion, whether wee worſhip no God at all, or a falſe God, or at leaſt the true God after a falſe manner, whether wee perfourme no dueties vntounto God, or ſuch as being not agreeable to Gods truth are abominable vntounto him. Firſt then wee muſt containe all our actions within the compaſſe of Gods word, and whatſoeuer wee profeſſe and practiſe, it muſt hauehave his ground and warrant from this truth, if wee will be accounted true members of Gods militant Church,1. Tim 3.15. which is therefore called the pillar of truth, 1. Tim. 3.15. becauſe contemning all errours and doctrines of men, it faithfully keepeth the truth of Gods word. And as ſouldiers were girt about with that ſtrong and broad ſtudded belt, wherewith their loynes were ſtrengthened, and ſo enabled to ſuſtaine the fight without wearines; ſo wee are to compaſſe our ſelues about with truth, whereby wee may be ſtrengthened when as we know that we fight in a iuſt quarrell; neither ſhall wee eaſily be deceiued with Sathans temptations and falſe ſuggeſtions, if we be girt about with the girdle of verity. And hereby appeareth the neceſſitie of this peece of armour: for ſeeing Sathan is a liar from the beginning, it behooueth vsus to be compaſſed about with truth, that the bright beames thereof may diſcouer and diſperſe all the foggie miſts of Sathans errors and lies.
§ Sect. 3 But it is not ſufficient that wee profeſſe the truth, That we muſt profeſſe the truth, in truth and ſimplicitie of heart.vnleſſe it be in truth, that is, in integritie and ſimplicitie of heart, without all hypocriſie and diſſimulation. For how glorious ſoeuer our profeſſion euen of the true religion be before men, yet it is abominable in the eyes of God, if it be not in truth and from an vpright heart, but counterfeite and hypocriticall. Whatſoeuer duties and good workes we perfourme, though neuer ſo excellent in thēſelues, yet are they not acceptable in Gods ſight, if they be not ioyned with integritie and ſimplicitie. For example, prayer is a notable part of Gods worſhip; but if we doe not call vponupon God in truth, but with fained and deceitfull lips, that we may hauehave the praiſe of men,Matth. 6. our praiers are odious and Phariſaicall, Matth. 6. Thankſgiuing is an excellent dutie, but if with the Phariſie wee giuegive thankes rather to boaſt of our gifts, then to ſhew true thankfulnes to the giuer,Luk. 18. we ſhall not be approoued of God. Giuing of almes is a worke acceptable vntounto God, for it is a ſacrifice wherewith he is well pleaſed,Heb. 13.16. Heb. 13.16. but if they be not giuen in ſimplicitie of heart, but in hypocriſie, that we may be ſeene of men, it ſhall hauehave the hypocrites reward, Matth. 6. In a word,Matth. 6. this truth and ſimplicitie of heart is ſo neceſſarie, that without it, whatſoeuer we doe it is not regarded; for God is a ſpirit, Ioh. 4 24.and he will be worſhipped in ſpirit and in truth, Ioh. 4.24. According to that, Ioſh. 24.14. Feare the Lord, Ioſh. 24.14.and ſerue him in vprightnes and in truth. Which if wee perfourme, our ſeruice of God will be acceptable in his ſight, though perfourmed in great weaknes, and mingled with many imperfections: otherwiſe, though wee offer thouſands of rammes, and whole riuers of oyle, that is, omit no outward coſt and labour in Gods worſhip,Mich. 6.7.8. yet will it be abominable in his eyes, Mich. 6.7.8. Let vsus therefore with our Sauiour pray vntounto God,Ioh. 17.17. that wee may bee ſanctified with his truth, that not onelyonly whatſoeuer wee doe may be grounded on Gods truth, but that woe may doe it in truth and vprightnes of heart.