An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Exposition · Sermon 115
SERM. CXV.
GOD is True.
2 COR. 1. 18.
But, as God is true, our word towards was not yea and nay.
IN this Verſe the Apoſtle giveth a reaſon why he did not uſe Lightneſs, or purpoſe things according to the fleſh, viz. Becauſe the word he preached was not ſo much his word, as that which came from God, the Supream truth: and therefore as no Falſhood could fall on God, ſo neither upon his Word that floweth from him. Some indeed underſtand the Word Paul here ſpeaketh of, of his Promiſe to come to them; as if he did thus ſolemny affirm, That he was not unfaithfull in his Promiſe. But the enſuing words do evidently declare, That he meaneth his Preaching: that his Doctrine was not mutable and changeable; For the malevolent Adverſaries that he had to do with, they took occaſion from the altering of his purpoſes, or at leaſt deferring of his Promiſe in that Particular, about coming to them, to charge his whole Doctrine with the ſame levity and inconſtancy; to bring all he Preached into Queſtion, becauſe of that. Whereupon the Apoſtle being far more ſolicitous, for his Doctrine, and his Office, then his own credit, or glory, doth eſpecially fortifie that, and confirm the Truth of that: ſo that, by this we ſee the nature of evil men; Whatſoever failings or weakneſſes may be in a Miniſter, they preſently charge his doctrine with it, and blame his Miniſtry; whereas Gods truth is truth, and thou art to receive it, though the Miniſter may be falſe, and unworthy: but of this wore in its time.
The Apoſtles Argument in this Text, to confirm the truth of the Doctrine he preached, is from the truth of God, the meaſure and Rule of all truth: if his word be a lye, then God muſt be ſaid to lye, which is heynous blaſphemy to ſpeak but God is true. This Expreſſion is taken by ſome to be only Enunciative, and Affirmative, barely aſſerting the truth of God; as if the meaning were, God is true, from whom we have received our commiſſion to preach the Goſpel, and therefore that alſo muſt be true. Others, (and they ſpeak more probably) take it to be an oath, that the Apoſtle doth here uſe a ſacred oath, for the confirming of what he ſaith; and ſo it is the ſame with the Hebrews form of an oath, The Lord liveth: and Heinſius maketh thoſe expreſſions, foreign, 1 Tim. 1. 15. 1 Tim. 4. 9. to be equivalent to this. We take it there to be an oath, but becauſe we have Paul uſing an oath again at the 23d Verſe, I ſhall wave that reſpect at this time, and conſider it only enunciatively, attending to that Attribute and Property which this oath is built upon, and that is Gods truth, God is true.
From whence Obſerve.
That God is true.God is true.
God hath many glorious Attributes: There is his Omniſcience, his God is trueOmnipotency, his Juſtice, and his Mercy: and there is alſo his property of Truth, which is of great uſe and Influence in our comeforts and Duties. This truth of God is often celebrated in the Scripture: Yea, he is not onelyonly ſaid to be true, but truth itſelf, Deut. 32. 4. he is ſo eſſentially, truth it ſelf, that the Word ſaith, It is impoſſible for him to lye, Heb. 6. 18. For, he being truth in the abſtract, no falſhood or lye is compatible with him. Abſtractives admit of no mixture, though Concretives may: Light in it ſelf, or whiteneſs in it ſelf admitteth not of any darkneſs: but as it is in ſubjects, ſo it doth. Now God, as he is ſaid to be Light, and that there is no darkneſs in him at all, 1 John 1. 5. So God is truth, and in him there is no falſhood at all. But let us diſcover this Doctrine in particulars. And
Firſt, There is a twofold Truth. A Metaphyſical Truth, and a Morall, or 1. There is a Metaphyſical and a moral Truth.Ethicall truth. A Metaphyſical truth is the truth of Being, and Entity; and thus the Scripture doth often celebrate the truth of God, making him only to be the Jehovah: He is the foreign, the Am that I am. For if that rule be true, Ens & verum convertuntur, then, where is the chiefeſt and Infinite Entity? there is alſo the Supreameſt Verity. This true being of God is often oppoſed unto Idols, and the Heathens Gods, which have no true being at all. And that God is true in this ſenſe is the very fundamental Article of all Religion, Heb. 11. 6. He that cometh to God, muſt believe that he is. This truth of Gods being is often to be remembred againſt that Atheiſme which doth reign in moſt mens hearts. How could they live in ſuch exceſs of riot, did they believe there was a God? But ſecondly, there is a moral or Ethical Truth, and that is Two-fold, either Verity or Veracity. Verity, is when we ſpeak, or barely affirm that which is true. Veracity, is in our Promiſes, when we faithfully perform them: Now this Twofold truth is eminently in God: There is the truth of his aſſertion, and that is revealed in his Word, which is alſo called truth: So that, whatſoever is affirmed there, can no more deceive us than God himſelf. And then there is the truth of his Promiſes, and the Truth of his Threatnings: the truth alſo of Propheſies, and Predictions, in all which God will be found true. When every man is a Lyar, God is true then in what he ſaith, in what is foretold, in what he promiſeth, and in what he threateneth. Never let the prophane and ſecure ſinner flatter himſelf, hoping it will prove otherwiſe than the Word ſpeaketh. There is no threatening of God will prove a lye.
2. There's a Diviſion of truth; into truth increated, and created. Increated 2. There is an increated, and created truth.truth is God himſelf; and he is called truth, becauſe Gods underſtanding is the meaſure and rule of all other Truths. Nothing in the world is true, but as it is conſonant to his knowledg. It is otherwiſe with us: Our underſtanding is not the meaſure of the truth of things, but there truth is the meaſure and rule of our underſtandings: then is our knowledg true, when it is conformable to the thing it ſelf; but then is the thing true, when it is conformeable to the knowledg of God. So that, herein is the Infiniteneſs and excellency of Truth, as it is in God manifeſted, above that which is in man: So that, man may well, reſpectively to God, be called a lyar, There is no truth in him. Now, becauſe truth, as it is in God, is inviſible, and the ſame with his Eſſence, and we are never able to cown to know Truth but by God: Hence we have the Scriptures given to the Church, as the rule of truth. All truth is from God, whether it be natural or ſupernatural. When any of the Heathens have found out Truth, it was from God, even as all faſhood is from the Devil: ſo that, when the Godly do lye, 'tis from the Devils temptation, the Father of lyes. Thus when wicked and ungodly men have uttered truth, it hath been of God. Now becauſe Supernatural truth could not be diſcerned but by Divine Revelation, and pacefaction. Hence it pleaſed God to make known in his Word, What is that truth which will lead us to Salvation: So that, ſeing we are not able to behold truth, as it is in God, we muſt look upon it as it is in his Word; for God is the hidden Truth, as it were; the Word is the revealed truth: Therefore whatſoever is Scripture, we may conclude of it as ſure and firm Truth, coming from the ſupream truth. If then, ye ask, as Pilate did another way, What is truth? I anſwer thee, The Scripture is truth. No men are true, any further than guided by Scripture, and led by the Spirit of God accordingly. Oh that therefore you did more aw your hearts with the truth of Gods Word! If that ſay, ſin will be bitter in the latter end, though it may bring profit and pleaſure for a while, believe it againſt all the wicked men in the world, and ſay, I do more believe this Text, this Place of Scripture, than all which the wickedneſs of men may oppoſe againſt it.
3. In that God is true, Herein he differeth from man; and is thereby oppoſite 3. In that God is true, he differeth from men and devilsto the Prince of darkneſs. He differeth from man: Therefore it is ſaid, Numb. 23. 19. God is not as man, that he ſhould lye or Repent. To truſt in man, is to lean upon reads. Yea, hence it is, that becauſe God only is Truth, no paſtors or Officers in the Church are to be believed any further than they bring the Word of God: It was Chriſt alone, God and man, that could ſay, I am truth. Neither Auſtin, nor Luther, nor Calvin can ſay, I am truth: Not that therefore the Miniſters of God are therefore to be laid aſide, becauſe they are not infallible: For God hath commanded us to hear them, and to ſubmit to them; only we are not ultimately to depend on them. The Church is called the Pillar of truth, becauſe ſhe doth declare and hold out the Truth, but, ſhe is not the Author of it. We are then to conclude of all men, that of themſelves they have no Truth, they need the Spirit of God to guide them therein: And then hereby is an Oppoſition in God to the Devil: As God is true, ſo the Devil is the Father of Liés, John 8. 44. when he ſpeaketh of his own, he ſpeaketh a lye. Now then conſider, how inexcuſable every wicked man will be. For; on the one ſide, Chriſt, who is Truth it ſelf, he ſpeaketh to the ſinner, to repent, to reforme, promiſing Everlaſting Happineſs to him: Chriſt ſaith, Thy ſinnes have no pleaſure, no profit in them; thou wilt finde them prove a lye to thee. On the other ſide: The Devil he tempteth thee, contrary to Chriſt, he telleth thee ſin is ſweet, it is good and profitable to ſin, he biddeth thee follow the luſts of thy ſoul, thou ſhalt not be damned for all that: and now thou believeſt this Devil, this Father of lies, rather than Chriſt. Oh how unſufferable is this? how great is the Patience of God towards thee? What hearken to the Devil, before God? But even thus Eve did at firſt; ſhe believed the Serpent more than God, and thereby brought ruine upon her ſelf, and Poſterity. Oh that we could convince you enough herein, that you may ſee, with what madneſs and folly your ſinnes carry you away, while you liſten to the Father of Lies, who is the Adverſary of your ſoules, rather than Chriſt; who mourneth over you, ſaying, Oh that ſuch a ſinner did know the things that maketh for his peace!
4. From this truth of God, Hence it is, that we are ſo much commanded in 4. 'Tis becauſe of Gods truth that we are commanded to believe, and truſt in him,Scripture to believe on him, to truſt in him, and to depend upon him: which indeed is a quiet and bleſſed life. For what is that maketh thy heart like a Sea? What is it that cauſeth one. wave to riſe up after another in thy ſoul? Is it not becauſe thou doſt not depend upon this truth of God? Were thy ſoul more aſſured here in, the frame of thy ſpirit would be more joyfull. Two Temptations amongſt others there are, wherein the ſoul cryeth out, as in a Whales belly, not knowing what to do… whereas the confidence of Gods truth would preſently ſatisfie the ſoul. The firſt is, In matters to be believed about the Doctrine that is delivered there: For, becauſe that is wholly ſupernatural above our humane reaſon, though not contrary to it; hence it is, that we have many fluctuations of ſpirit, and our underſtandings are with difficulty captivated unto the Word of God. Though theſe temptations about the Truths of Chriſtian Religion are not incident to all the Godly; and it is a ſpecial mercy to be preſerved from them, yet upon ſome they have come like a violent ſtorm, and therefore there is no way to ſtand diſputing, and arguing, but to ſay, God is true, the Word is true, I believe, when I cannot diſpute, as one Martyr ſaid. But then a Second temptation, which is like a continual thorn in the ſides of the Godly, is their Diffidence and distruſt about the Promiſes of God. They do not live and walk, as if they were true: So that never did any Heretick more ſubtilly cavill againſt the Doctrine of the Scripture, than they do argue againſt the Promiſes of the Scripture, Whether they be ſuch as belong to the Church, or to themſelves; To the Church, when they read the Scriptures, they finde ſuch glorious and excellent Promiſes; that they exſpect ſhe ſhould alwayes have Halcyon dayes, that her enemies ſhould alwayes be vanquiſhed: but alas, they finde experimentally the contrary: They cannot ſee, how Gods Words, and his Works, how his Promiſes and Providences do concurre together: But the reaſon of this is from themſelves. They do not take a right way to underſtand the truth of God in this particular, for theſe three Cauſes, which commonly make the ſenſe to erre about the Object (although, to ſpeak properly, the ſenſe doth not erre, but the judgment of a man, diſcerning according to ſence; for ſenſe would be more properly ſaid to erre, if under ſuch impediments it did not repreſent as it doth.)
Firſt, One impediment in the ſenſe, is the two long diſtance of the Object from the eye: (to inſtance in this ſenfe,) As we judg the Sun leſs than the earth, becauſe of the vaſte diſtance from us, ſo that, till a man take Aſtronomical Inſtruments, and correct Senſe by Art, he misjudgeth about the Suns magnitude: thus is it here, When we go to judg of Gods Promiſes to us, or his Church, we finde not the truth of them, becauſe the wayes of God are too remote from us, his thoughts exceed ours, as much as the Heavens do the earth. Therefore we muſt neceſſarily erre, till we go to the Scripture; that is, as it were, the Artificial Inſtrumennt, whereby we are able to behold that truth in Gods proceedings, which otherwiſe we could not.
A Second Impediment is, the medium indiſpoſitum, when the means of ſeeing is Indiſpoſed; as when we look upon a ſtick in the waters, or the Sun through a dark cloud. Thus, many times, when we judg of Gods proceedings according to his Promiſes, we look through Falſe mediums, we think according to the Principles that men would do in the world, as Luther ſaid, We would think that God ſhould deſtroy Pope and Turk immediately: but all this is becauſe we look through an indiſpoſed glaſs in this particular.
Laſtly, The eye cannot judg right of its Object, when the viſive faculty is diſturbed, when that is infeſted with any evil humors. Thus the ſpiritual eyes even of a Godly man are in ſome meaſure vitiated, and therefore are not able to behold that glory of God in carrying on the Affairs of his Church, and by thoſe very wayes which we would think tend to the deſtruction of the things promiſed, by them he doth fulfill them; for the wayes of the Lord are wonderfull to us, in making good his Promiſes, and commonly they are fulfilled by thoſe means which ſeem contrary to them; even as he cured the blinde man, by mingling ſpittle with clay, which he laid upon his eyes. And thus the Godly ſoul may finde, how God is true in ſpiritual Promiſes to his ſoul; for he obtaineth comfort through deſertions; the way to Heaven he findes through Hell: yea, in ſanctifying Grace, he cometh to higher Degrees in Grace, even by his Failings. So true is that of Suarez, Aliquando ſubſtractio gratiae eſt ad finem gratiae. The end of Grace is accompliſhed by the gradual ſubſtraction and ſuſpenſion of Grace for a time. But I muſt not inlarge herein.
Laſtly, This truth of God is the foundation of all Religion and Godlineſs. For, if there were no truth in the Scriptures, which are Gods truth, if 5. The truth of God is the Foundation of all Religion and godlineſs.there were no truth in the Promiſes or Threatnings, into what a Chaos and Confuſion of wickedneſs would all men fall? There would be no difference between Hell and this World: So that Gods Truth is a Foundation of all Piety in theſe three wayes;
Firſt, The truth of God in his Doctrine delivered to the Church, is the foundation, yea, the Eſſence and ſoul of his Church. In this it doth differ from Jews, Turks, and Pagans; yea, from all Heretical Societies, That ſhe hath the truth of God, and others not: So that, as the ſoul… keepeth the body from rottenneſs, and Putrefaction. Thus alſo the truth of God keepeth the Church from being only a Carkaſe, or to have the Name and Title of a Church, without the thing it ſelf.
Secondly, The truth of God in his Promiſes is the great ſupporter of the hopes of all the Godly. By them alone they are enabled to walk with Peter upon the water, and ſink not, becauſe they believe Gods Promiſes to be true; they do therefore renounce all unlawfull Pleaſures and Profits; they will not leave the fatneſs and ſweetneſs of them to go to thoſe bryars.
Thirdly, The truth of God in his threatnings; That is like a fiery ſword, to keep them from all evil: They know thoſe threatnings are true, and that the World and the Devil prove lyars to all thoſe that ſerve them; therefore they awe their hearts with a continuall fear of them. And certainly, if every wicked man would remember this, That Gods threatnings are true, they will be made good; no wiſdome, no greatneſs, no power can reſiſt him. For, how can the ſtubble withſtand the conſuming fire? this would make them utterly forſake their ſinnes. But whether thou wilt believe or no, Gods Curſes will fall upon thee. For there is this difference between the Promiſes and Threatnings; The Promiſes (many of them) are not made good unto them, unleſs thou do believe; believe, and thy ſinnes are forgiven thee, but the threatnings will be made good to thee, a prophane ſinner, whether thou wilt or not. Gods Word will have its effect, though thou doſt deſire it might be falſe.