The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 12 · Section 1
SECT. I.
THere are divers ſorts of truth▪ of which the Spirit is the Authour, and Divers ſorts of truth of which the ſpirit is the authour. Truth of Doctrine.which he works in all thoſe who do partake of him.
Firſt, The truth of Doctrine, in oppoſition to erroneous and falſe Doctrines: Joh. 17. 17. Thy Word is truth. 1 Tim. 2. 4. Who would have all men to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The truth of Doctrine conſiſts principally in knowing and underſtanding thoſe points and wayes which do teach and guide us certainly unto ſalvation; and this is called the truth in Jeſus: Epehſ. 4. 21. And the truth which is after godlineſs, Tit. 1. 1. This truth doth the Spirit teach all unto whom he is given; he makes them to know the Word of truth, and which is the way of life; he builds them upon Chriſt, and roots them in Chriſt who is, Joh. 14. 6. The way, and life, and truth; and makes them to be ſound in Chriſt Jeſus.
Secondly, The truth of judgement and underſtanding: Joh. 17. 17. Sanctifie Truth of judgement.them with thy truth; by which ſome think is meant the true underſtanding of all things neceſſary to ſalvation: This is called the Spirit of a ſound mind, 2 Tim. 1. 7. a mind not tainted, not corrupted: Sound in the Faith, Titus 1. 13. and Chap. 2. 2.
All who have the Spirit of God, have truth of judgement, they have the Spirit of a ſound mind in the matters of ſalvation, they are ſound in the faith; although they may miſtake in other matters, and differ in their Opinions, yet they are all of them of a ſound judgement in the Eſſential Points of ſalvation; they are ſound in the faith, in the fundamentals.
Thirdly, The truth of heart: Pſal. 51. 6. Thou loveſt truth in the inward Truth of heart.parts: This truth is that which we call uprightneſs and ſincerity of heart, in oppoſition to Hypocriſie; the Apoſtle calls it the unleavened bread of ſincerity and truth, 1 Cor. 5. 8. This kind of truth alſo is the Spirit authour and worker of in all unto whom he is given; he gives them true hearts of truth, ſincere and upright hearts even in the judgement of God himſelf: Job 1. 8. Haſt thou conſidered my ſervant Job that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and eſcheweth evil! Iſa. 58. 3. Remember now O Lord, I beſeech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart.
Fourthly, The truth of ſpeech, in oppoſition to lying, fraud, and falſhood; The truth of ſpeech.as Pſal. 15. 2. He that ſpeaketh the truth in his heart. Epheſ. 4. 25. Put away lying, and ſpeak truth every man to his neighbour.
They that h…ve indeed the Spirit of God, dare not lye, dare not be guilty of falſhoods, &c. the ſpirit of truth ever cauſeth the lip of truth, Pſal. 119. 163. I hate and abhor lying.
Fifthly, The truth of faithful and righteous dealing between man and man, in The truth of righteous dealing.making and keeping juſt Covenants, Promiſes, and bargains; Jer. 5. 3. O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth! (i. e. of juſt and righteous dealing;) this alſo is in them who have the ſpirit: Pſal. 15. 4. He that ſweareth to his own hurt and changeth not. But now what ſhall I ſay? to whom ſhall I ſpeak? how few have the Spirit of God which is the Spirit of truth!
1. How abundantly rife is the ſpirit of error!Few have the ſpirit of God.
2. How unſound are the judgements of men, who do erre concerning the faith, and contend to ſubvert it!
3. How rotten and hypocritical the hearts of men! they profeſs God in words, and godlineſs in words, but they deny him in works; and though they have that ſhew, yet they do deny the power of godlineſs.
4. How lying, and falſe, and fraudulent … are men in their ſpeaking and dealings! one hardly knows when many do ſpeak truth, becauſe we find that they do conſtantly ſpeak lyes, with that boldneſs, and confidence, and impudency, &c. Jer. 9. 5. They will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not ſpeak the truth; they have taught their tongue to ſpeak lyes, &c.
Sixthly, The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love: So Rom. 15. 30. I beſeech you Gods ſpirit is the ſpirit of love.brethren for the Lord Jeſus ſake, and for the love of the Spirit, &c. 2 Tim. 1. 7. God hath given us the Spirit of love. Gal. 5. 22. The fruit of the Spirit is love; and he puts love in the firſt place; In whomſoever the Spirit of God is, in them is a holy and precious love kindled by that ſpirit: A love
Firſt, To God; O love the Lord all ye his Saints, Pſal. 31. 23. And I love the Lord, ſaith David, Pſal. 116. 1. We love him, becauſe he loved us firſt, 1 Joh. 4. 19. Love to God.The Lord direct your heart to the love of God, 2 Theſ. 3. 5. It cannot be but that every one who hath the Spirit of God, muſt love God. For
1. The Spirit renews all the affections, and carries them to their proper object; God is the peculiar object of a renewed heart.Reaſons of it.
2. The Spirit ſets open unto us the precious thoughts of God towards us, and the exceeding riches of his grace; yea and ſheds abroad the love of God in our hearts, Rom. 5. 5. And makes us to know the things which are freely given us of God, 1 Cor. 2. 12.
Secondly, To Chriſt Jeſus; Cant. 1. 4. The upright love thee. Cant. 3. 3. To Chriſt Jeſus.Saw ye, &c. 1 Pet. 1. 8. Whom having not ſeen, ye love. Joh. 21. 17. Lord, thou knoweſt all things, thou knoweſt that I love thee: why, how can it be otherwiſe, but that if one hath the very Spirit of Chriſt, he muſt love Chriſt? If any man love not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, let him be an Anathema Mran-atha, 1 Cor. 16. 22. Would you have this affirmed of any one to whom God gives his Spirit? but it muſt if any of them ſhould not love Chriſt: The Spirit makes the match between Chriſt and us, cauſeth that union, and can this be without a mutual love? can any man give in his heart to Chriſt, and yet not love him?
Object. But every man will ſay that he loves God, and that he loves Chriſt, &c.
Sol. 'Tis true, men generally ſay ſo; but there are few only that do ſo: To love God, and to love Chriſt, isWhat it is to love God and Chriſt.
Firſt, To have the heart entirely ſet upon them.
Secondly, To have the heart moſt ſet upon them.
Thirdly, To deſire exceedingly their preſence and communion.
Fourthly, To take ſpecial delight and ſatisfaction in that communion.
Fifthly, Not to love any thing that is contrary to this, againſt them, or offenſive unto them.
Sixthly, To take heed to walk before them in all well-pleaſing; ſuch a love as this is in every one who hath the Spirit of God.
Thirdly, To all the children of God; and ſervants of Jeſus Chriſt: 1 Theſ. 4. 9. Ye are taught of God to love one another. 1 Joh. 5. 2. Every one that loveth him Love to Gods children.that begat, loveth him alſo that is begotten of him. 1 Pet. 3. 8. Love as brethren. Col. 2. 2. Being knit together in love.
If this be the fruit of the Spirit, then many men have not the Spirit for they Who have not the ſpirit.hate the people of God (The righeous are an abomination unto the wicked, Pro. 29. 27. Yea, and many who talk much of the Spirit, have great cauſe to ſuſpect their hearts, becauſe they do not love the people of God; they do love men of their particular Opinion, and men of their particular intereſt; but if in theſe any of the people of God do differ from them, now they cannot love them, but they have very hard and uncharitable Opinions of them, and ſpeak evil of them, and revile them, and utterly ſhun and decline them.