Christ the Way and the Truth and the Life, Chapter 12
CAP. XII. Some general uses from this usefull truth; that Christ is the Truth▪
HAving thus cleared up this truth, we should come to speak of the way of beleevers making use of Him, as the Truth, in several cases, wherein they will stand in need of Him as the Truth. But ere we come to the particulars, we shall first propose some general uses of this usefull point.
First. This point of truth, serveth to discover to us the wofull condition of such, as are strangers to Christ, the Truth: and oh if it were beleeved! for
1. They are not yet delivered from that dreadful plague of blindenesse, errour, ignorance, mistakes, under which all are by nature, a condition, that, if rightly seen, would cause the soul lie low in the dust.
2. Whatever course they take, till they come to Christ, and while they remaine in that condition, is a lie, and a false, erroneous, and deceitful way: for still they are turning aside to lies Psal. 40: 4. and seeking after them Psal. 4: 2.
3. Whatever hopes and confidence they may have, that their way shall carry them thorow; yet in end they will be found to inherite lies Ier. 16: 19▪ and meet with the sadest disappointment that can be: for in stead of the followshipe of God, Christ, angels, and glorified spirits, they shall take up their lodging with devils and damned souls: and that because they have made no acquantance with the way of truth; and the way wherein they are is but a lie, and a falshood: and so of necessity must deceive them.
4. All their literal and speculative knowledge shall not avail them, so long as they are strangers unto Him, who is the Tr…th. Their knowledge is but ignorance because it is not a knowledge of Him, who is the Truth.
5. They have none to go to, for help and light, in the day of their darknesse, confusion and perplexity: for they are not reconciled unto the Truth, which alone can prove steadable and comfortable in that day.
6. They can do nothing to helpe themselves out of that state of darknesse and ignorance; and whatever they do to helpe themselves, shall but increase their darknesse, and misery: because there is no truth there, and Truth▪ even the Truth, alone can dispell these clouds of errour, mistakes, ignorance, &c.
Secondly. Hence we see the happy and blessed condition of beleevers, who have imbraced this Truth, and gotten their souls opened to Him, who is the Truth: for,
1. They are, in part, delivered from that masse of lies, mistakes, misapprehensions, errours, deceitfulnesse and ignorance, under which they lay formerly, and all the unregenerate do yet lye: and though they be not fully delivered therefrom, yet the day is comeing when that shall be, and the begun work of grace and truth in them is a certane pledge thereof: and at present they have ground to beleeve, that that evil shall not againe have dominion over them, they being now under grace, and under the guidance of Truth.
2. Howbeit they have many perplexing thoughts, doubts and feares of their state and condition, and think many a time, that they shall one day or other perish by the way; and all their hopes and confidence shall evani…h; yet having given up themselves to Truth, and to the Truth, they shall not be disappointed in end. The Truth shall land them saife on the other side. The Truth shall prove no lie.
3. They have a fast and steadable friend to go to, in a day of darknesse, clouds, doubts, when falshood and lies are like to prevail, even the Truth, who alone can help them in that day.
4. Howbeit the knowledge they have of God, and of the mysteries of the gospell, be but small; yet that small measure, being taught by Him, who is the Truth, and flowing from Truth, shall prove sanctifying and saving.
5. They have ground to hope for more freedome from errours and deceitfull lies, than others: for they have chosen the way of truth, and given themselves up to the leading of Truth.
Object. But do not even such drink-in and receive and plead for errours, as well as others: and is it not sometime found, that they even live and die in some mistakes and errours?
Answere I grant the Lord may suffer even some of his own to fall into, and to continue for some time in errors, yea and it may be all their dayes, as to some errours, that hereby, all may learne to tremble and feare, and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. 2. Some may be tryed thereby Dan. 11: 35. 3. Others may break their neck thereupon. 4. To punish themselves, for not making that use of Truth, and of the Truth, that they should have done: yet we would consider these few things.
1. That there are many moe unregenerat persons that fall into errour
2. If his people fall into errour at any time, they do not alwayes continue therein to the end. God for his own glory maketh, some time or other, truth shine in upon their soul, which discovereth that mistake, and presently, the grace of God in their soul maketh them to abhore the same.
3 Or if some continue in it to their dieing day; yet they repent of it, by an implicite repentance, as they do of other unknown, and unseen evils, that lye in their soul; so that that errour doth not destroy their soul.
4 There are some grosse errours, which a regenerat soul cannot readyly imbrace, or, if, through a mistake, or the power of a temptation, they do imbrace them, yet they cannot heartyly close with them, whatever for a time, through corruption and pride, they may seem outwardly to do: and that because the very dayly exercise of grace, will discover them; and so they will be found to be against their dayly experience; as some opinions of the Papists, Arminians and Socinians, together with the abominable Quakers, which a gracious soul, when not carryed away with the torrent of corruption, and with the tempest of a temptation, cannot but observe to contradict the dayly workings of grace in their soul, and the motions of their sanctified soul, in prayer and other holy dutyes; and so such as they cannot but finde to be false by their own experience.
Thirdly. Here is ground of a sharpe reproof of the wicked, who continue in unbeleef; and
I Will not beleeve, nor give any credite to his promises, wherewith He seeketh to allure poor souls to come to Him for life.
2 Nor will they beleeve His threatnings, wherewith He useth to alarme souls, and to pouse them forward to their duty.
3 Nor will they beleeve and receive His offers, as true.
4 Nor will they beleeve, that He is the true Prophet, Priest, and king, that must save souls from hell and death, and therefore they will not give Him imployment in his offices.
All which cannot but be an high provocation: for in effect, it is to say, that He is not the Truth, nor worthy to be beleeved. Let them consider this, and …ee how they think, he shall take this off their hands. No man will take it well, that another should either call or account Him a liar: and can they think, that Christ shall take it well, at their hands, to be accounted by them a liar? What will they think to be challenged for this, in the great day? Now the truth is, all unbeleevers, as they make God a liar (o horrid and abominable crime! Whose haire would not stand on end to hear this?) 1 Iohn. 5: 10, 11,—He that beleeveth not God, hath made him a liar, because he beleeveth not the record, that God gave of his Son, and this is the record, that God hath given to us eternall life; and this life is in his Son. So do they make the Son of God a liar, in all his sayings, in all his Offices, and in all his works: And they make the holy ghost a liar, in not beleeving that truth, that He hath sealed as a firme truth. They make the covenant of surtyshipe betwixt the Father and the Son a mere lie, and a forgery, o dreadfull! They make the word of truth a lie, and they make all the saints liars, and all the officers of Iesus Christ, who declare this truth, and the saints, who beleeve it and test upon it, liars.
Fourthly. Hence is there ground of reproof to the godly, in that
1. They do not firmely enough beleeve his sayings, neither his promises, nor his threatnings, as appeareth too oft upon the one hand, by their faintings and feares; and upon the other hand, by their carelesnesse and loose walk.
2. They make not use of Him, in all cases, as they ought: his offices lye by and are not improven, no… is He gone to as the Truth, in cases requireing his helpe, as the Truth; that is; in cases of darknesse, doubtings, confusion, ignorance of their case and condition, and the like.
3. They do not approach to Him, nor to God through Him heartyly, and cordially, as the very Truth, and true way.
4. Nor do they rest with confidence upon Him, in all difficulties, as being the Truth, that will not fail them, nor disappoint them.
5. Nor do they rejoyce in Him, as satisfied with Him, who is the Truth, in the want of all other things.
Fiftly. The right consideration of this truth, should keep us in minde of several great duties: such as those,
1. Of pitying those places, where this truth is not heard of, as among Turks and Heathens: or where it is darkened with superstition and mens inventions, as among Papists: or where it hath been clearly shineing, but now is darkened; as in some churches now under the prevailing power of corruption: or lastly where it is not received in its power & lustre, as alas it is too little received in the best and purest churches.
2. Of being thankful to Him, for making this truth known in the world, and particularly in the place, where we Were borne, or had our abode; and yet more, for that he hath determined our hearts to a beleeving of this Truth, in some weak measure; to an imbraceing of it, and to a giving of our selves up to be led, ruled and guided thereby.
3. Of esteeming highly of every piece of Truth for his sake, who is the Truth; studying it for his sake, loving it for his sake; holding it fast for his sake; witnessing to it, as we are called, for his sake: we should buy the truth, and not sell it Prov. 2…: 23. and we should plead for it, and be valiant for it Esai. 59: 4, 14. Ier. 7: 28. & 9; 3.
4. Of taking part with Him, and his cause, in all hazards, for Truth is alwayes on his side, and truth shall prevail at length.
5. Of giving Him imployment in our doubts & difficulties, whether (1) they be about some controverted points of truth, which come to be debated, and to trouble the Church: or (2) about our own estate and condition, quarreled at by Satan, or questioned by the false heart: or (3) about our carriage in our dayly walk. In all these and the like, we should be imploying Truth, that we may be led in truth, and taught by truth, to walk in sure pathes.
6. Of carrying in all things before Him as true: for He is Truth, and the Truth; and so cannot be deceived, and therefore we should walk before Him in sincerity and singlenesse of heart, without guile, hypocrisie, or falshood, that we may look like children of the truth; and of the day, and of light, and children that will not lie or dissemble. Esa. 63: 8. not like these, that lied unto Him Psal. 78: 38. Esa. 59: 13.
7. Of taking Him only for our guide to heaven, by denying our own wit, skill and understanding; and looking to and resting upon Him, who alone is the Truth, and so acknowledging Him in all our wayes, depending on Him for light and counsell, with singlenesse of heart, humility, diligence, and truth in the inward parts.
8. Of giving up ourselves dayly unto Him, and his guidance, and denying our own wills, humors, parties, or opinions: for He alone is Truth, and can only guide us aright: and for this cause, we would acquant ourselves well with the word, which is our rule, and seek after the Spirit, whom Christ hath promised, to lead us into all truth.
Sixtly, should not this be a strong inducement to all of us, to lay hold on and gripe to Him, who is the Truth, and only the Truth? seing,
1. All other wayes, which we can take, will prove a lie to us, in end.
2. He is substance and no shadow, and all that love Him shall inherite substance: for He will fill all their treasures Prov: 8: 21.
3. Such as Imbrace Him, shall not wander, not be misled: for his mouth shall speak truth; and wickednesse is an abomination to his lips Prov. 8: 7. all the words of his mouth are in righteousnesse and there is nothing froward or perverse in them vers. 8. He is wisdom and dwelleth with prudence, and findeth out knowledge of witty inventions vers. 12. Counsell is his and sound wisdom, he hath understanding and strength. vers. 14.
4. He will make good all his promises in due time, and give a subsistence and a being to them all, for He is the Truth, and the truth must stand to his promises, and fulfill them all.
5. He will never, nay never, leave his people, not forsake them. Heb. 13: 5. He is Truth, and cannot deceive; he cannot forsake nor disappoint: He is a spring of water, whose waters fail not Esai. 58: 11. Therefore they cannot be disappointed in end, and perish, who trust to Him.
6. The truth will make them free Iohn. 8: 3… ▪ 36. and so deliver them from their state of sin and misery, wherein they lay as captives; and from that spirituall bondage and slavery, under which they were held.
Seventhly, This to beleevers may be a spring of consolation, in many cases, as
1. When errour and wickednesse seem to prospe… and prevail: for though it prevail for a time; yet Truth will be victorious at length, and the Truth will overcome all. He is Truth, and will plead for truth.
2. when friends, acquantances, relations, faile them; and father and mother forsake them, truth will take them up: He who is the Truth will answere his name, and never deceive, never forsake.
3. When riches, honours, pleasures, or what else their heart hath been going out after, prove like summer brooks: for the Truth will be the same to them in all generations; there is no shadow of turning with Him. The Truth is alwayes truth, and true.
4. When we feare, that either ourselves or others shall fall away, in a day of tryall, and turne from the truth. Though all men prove liars and deceivers, Truth will abide the same, and stand out all the blasts of opposition.
5. When unbeleef would make us question the truth of the promises. The faith of his being Truth it self, and the Truth, even Truth in the abstract, would shame unbeleef out of countenance. Shall Truth faile? Shall not the Truth be true? what a contradiction were that!
6. When we know not how to answere the objections of Satan, and of a false treacherous heart: for Truth can easily answere all cavils: and He who is the Truth, can repell all objections against truth. Truth is impregnable, and can stand against all.
7. When we cannot know, nor discover the wiles and subtility of Satan. Truth can discover the depths of Satan, and make the poor soul more acquant with them; so that they shall not any more be ignorant of his devices, who look to Him.
8. when the thoughts of the deceitfulnesse of our hearts trouble us, the depth whereof we cannot search. This then may comfort us, that Truth can …earch the heart, and the reines Ier. 17. 9, 10.
9. When we cannot tell what our disease and distemper is, and so cannot seek suteable remedies, or help from God, O what a comfort is it, to know and beleeve, that He is the Truth, with whom we have to do, and so knoweth our distemper perfectly, & all its causes and symptoms, Truth cannot be at a stand in discerning our disease; so nor can he be ignorant of the fittest and only saifest cures.
10. When we know not what to ask in prayer, as not knowing what is best for us; it is comfort to remember, that we have to do with the Truth, that is perfectly acquanted with all that, and knoweth what is best.
11. When we know not how to answere the calumnies of adversaries. It is comfortable to know that he is the Truth, that will hear truth, when men will not; and will own and stand for the truth, when enemies do what they can to darken an honest mans good cause. It is comfortable to know, we have the Truth to appeal to, as David had Psal 7: and 17.
12. When we think on our own covenantbreaking, and dealing deceitfully with God. It is comfortable to remember that, though we and all men be liars, and deal deceitfully with Him, yet He is the Truth and will keep covenant for ever, He will not, He cannot deny himself. 2 Tim. 2: 1…
Eightly, Hence we may certanely conclude, that truth, which is Christ's cause, shall at length prevail: for He is Truth, yea the Truth, and so abideth truth; therefore must He prevail, and all the mouthes of liars must be stoped. So then let us remaine perswaded, that truth at length shall be victorious, and that the cause of Christ shall have the victory: though
1. The enemies of truth, and of the cause of Christ be multiplied, and many there be that rise up against it.
2. These enemies should prosper, and that for a long time, and carry on their course of errour and wickednesse with a high band.
3. There should be few found to befriend truth, and to own it, in an evil day.
4. Yea many of those, that did some time owne it, and plead for it, should at length turne their back upon it, as did Demas.
5. And such, as continue constant and faithful, be loaded with reproaches and pressed under with sore persecution, for adhereing to truth, and owning constantly the good cause.
6. Yea though all things in providence should seem to say, that truth shall not rise againe, but seem, on the contrary, to conspire against the same.
Nenthly, May we not hence read, what should be our way and course, in a time, when a spirit of error is gone abroad, and many are carried off their feet therewith, or when we are doubtful what to do, and what side of the disput to take. O then is the fit time for us to imploy Truth, to live near to Him, who is the Truth, to waite on Him, & hang upon Him, with singlenesse of heart.
Object. But many even of his own people do erre and step aside.
Ans. That is true: but yet 1. That will be no excuse to thee. Nay 2. That should make thee feare and tremble more. 3. And it should presse thee, to lye neare to Christ, and to wreastle more earnestly with Him, for the spirit of light and of truth, and to depend more constantly and faithfully upon Him, with singlenesse of heart, and to give up thy soul and wayes to Him, as the God of Truth, and as the Truth, that thou mayest be led into all truth.
Tenthly, This should stirre us up, to goe to Him, and make use of Him, as the Truth, in all cases, wherein we may stand in need of truths hand to helpe us: and for this cause we would minde those particulars.
1. We would live in the constant conviction of our ignorance, blindnesse, hypocrisie, readynesse to mistake a…d erre. This is clear and manifest, and proved to be truth by dayly experience; yet how little is it beleeved, that it is so with us? Do we see and beleeve the atheisme of our hearts? Do we see and beleeve the hypocrisie of our hearts? are we jealous of them, as we ought to be? Oh that it were so! let this then be more minded by us.
2ly. Let us live in the persuasion of this, that He only, and nothing below Him, will be able to clear our doubts, dispel our clouds, cleare up our mistakes, send us light, and manifest truth unto us: Not our own study, paines, prayers, duties, learning, understanding; not Ministers, or professours, and experienced Christians, and the like.
3ly. We should be dayly giving up ourselves to Him, as the Truth, in all the forementioned respects; and receiving Him into our souls as such, that He may dwell and abide there▪ Then shall the truth make us free; and if the Son make us free, we shall be free indeed Ioh. 8: 36.
4ly. There would be much single dependance on Him, for light, instruction, direction, and guidance, in all our exigences.
5ly. Withall, there would be a waiting on Him, with patience, giving him liberty to take his own way and time, and a leaving of Him thereunto.
6ly. We should, by all meanes, guaird against such things as are hinderenees, and will prove obstacles to us, in this matter: such as,
1. Praejudices against the truth: for then we will undervalue light, and reject all the directions and instructions of the Spirit, as not agreeing with our prejudicat opinion.
2▪ A wilfull turning away from truth, as these 2. Tim. 4: 4. Tit. 1: 14.
3. Addictednesse to our own judgments and opinions, which causeth pertinaciousnesse, Pride, and conceite, as thinking ourselves so wise, as that we need no information: and this occasioneth a self confidence.
4. Looking too much unto, and hanging too much upon Men, who are but instruments; crying them up as infallible, and receiving, without further examination▪ all that they say, not like the Bereans: Act. 17. This is a great hinderence to the receiving of truth▪ and very prejudiciall.
5. A neglecting of the use of the meanes, which God hath appointed for this end.
6. Or an hanging too much on them, and so misplaceing them, g…ving them His roome.
7. Leaning too much to our own understanding, wit and knowledge &c.
8. A refisting of the Truth 2. Tim, 3: 8.
These and the like hinderances would be guarded against, lest they marre our attaining to the knowledge of Truth.
7ly There would be much of the exercise of prayer: for this is the maine conduite, and meane, through which light is conveyed into the soul. There would also be a serious and Christian reading and hearing of the word, which is Truth, and the Word of Truth, and the Scripture of Truth, and those duties would be gone about, with (1) much self denyal (2) with much singlenesse of heart. (3) with much humility. (4) with much willingnesse and readynesse to be instructed. (5) with much seriousnesse and earnestnesse: and (6) with faith and dependance on God, for his blessing and breathing.
8ly We would beware, as of trusting to our own understandings, so to the judgments of other men: nor would we look to what suiteth most our own humors, nor to what appeareth most specious and plausible: for that may deceive us.
9ly We would lye open to the influences and rayes of light, by exerciseing faith in earnest desires, as also patient waiting for and single looking to Him: mindeing his name and his relations, promises and engadgments; for the strengthning of our faith, and confidence.
10ly We would labour to keep fast, whatever He teacheth us by his word and spirit; & not prove …ecking vessels. This the Apostle exhorteth to Heb: 2: 1. Therefore we ought to give the more e…rnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip: yea and we should be established in the Truth 2. Pet, 1: 12.
11ly We would beware of resting on a forme of the truth, as those did, of whom we read Rom. 2: …0. and of holding the truth in unrighteousnesse, as these Rom. 1: 18. and of disobeying it as these mentioned Rom. 2: v. 8. see also Gal. 3: v. 1. and 5: v. 7.
12ly But on the contrary, we would so receive truth, as that it might …ule and be master in us▪ captivate judgment, will and affections, and break out into the practice: and this comprehendeth several duties, such as
1. To have the Truth in us; whileas if we practise otherwise, the truth is not in us 1. Iohn. 1: v. 8. and 2: v. 4.
2. To be of the Truth, as belonging to its jurisdiction, power and command 1. Iohn. 3: 19. Iohn. 18: 37.
3. To doe the Truth, by having true followshipe with Him. 1. Iohn. 1: 6▪ and to walk in the Truth 2, Ioh. 4. 3. Ioh. 4. Psal. 86: 11.
4. To have the loyns girt with truth Ephes. 6: v. 14.
5. To receive the love of the truth … Thes▪ 2: 10.
6. To be instructed of him, as the truth is in Iesu… Ephes. 4: 21.
7. To purify the soul in obeying the truth. 1 Pet. 1: v. 22.
This shall suffice for clearing up and applying, in the generall, this excellent truth, That Christ is the Truth. We shall now come and make some more particular use of this precious point, by speaking to some particular cases (which we shall instance in, by which the understanding christian may be helped to understand how to carry and how to make use of Christ, in other, the like cases) wherein Christ is to be made use of, as the Truth; and show how beleevers are to make use of Him, in these cases, as the Truth.