The Christian Completely Armed, Lecture 10
LECT. 10. Decemb. 12. 1649.
2. HOw requiſite it is for Chriſtians to examine and prove themſelves, Lect. 10.whether they have this Grace of Truth in their hearts, or no. The Holy Ghoſt here puts great ſtreſs upon it, ſetting it in the firſt place. He is like to be quite undone in that day of temptation, that wants it. Every Chriſtian is willing to ſuppoſe that he hath it: therefore it's good to be at certainty about it.
I ſhall for the helping of you, lay down theſe enſuing Rules, by way of Evidences viz.
1. He that hath the Grace of Truth in his heart chuſeth the Word of Truth to be the Rule of all his Actions. He dares not make men his Rule, becauſe he knowes men of high degree are vanity; and men of low degree are a Lie, Pſal. 62. 9. He knowes wicked men are out of the way, and good men may miſs the way: and therefore he dares not walk according to men. Micajah would not ſay, Go up and proſper, though all the Prophets of Ahab had ſaid the ſame with one conſent. Whatſoever God puts into my mouth, that will I ſpeak, 1 Reg. 22. 14. This is that which David layes down, Pſal. 119. 1. and this is that which he practiſed in himſelf, Pſal. 119. 30. I have choſen the way of truth, thy judgments have I laid before me. And as he dares not make men his Rule, ſo neither dare he make any outward Diſpenſations of Providence his Rule. He is a man that adores Providence, and admires Providence, and reſts ſatisfied with all Acts of Providences, and ſearcheth into Providence, but he dares not make it the Rule to walk by, the Glaſs to dreſs himſelf by.
1. He knows all things come alike to all; and that the worſt men, and worſt cauſes, have ſometimes good ſucceſs, at leaſt, for a long time. And,
2. He alſo knows, that the wayes of Providence are very often like the way of a ſhip in the Sea, or of an Eagle in the Ayr; they are full of Riddles and Labyrinths, ſo that man cannot expound or trace them.
3. He knows, that the actings and workings of Providence, are various; theſe wheeles do not alwayes keep the ſame track, therefore he dares not make them his Rule. The Word of Truth is viſible, certain, uniform, given for a Rule; and therefore this he chuſeth; from this he doth not willingly depart, vid. Pſal. 18. 21, 22, 23.
(3.) He that hath the Grace of Truth in his heart, uſeth true and warrantable meanes, for the accompliſhment of all his Actions. He doth not think it lawfull to paſs through all kind of formes that he may attain his deſires; he dares not put upon him any ſhape but one. Not but that a ſincere Chriſtian may be hurried by a Temptation, to uſe ſome meanes unjuſtifiable. Jacob, and his Mother Rebeckah, both of them holy perſons, yet did uſe diſſimulation, to obtain the bleſſing from old Jacob, Gen. 27. 6, 7, 8, &c. But they were ſeverely puniſhed for this ſinne: Jacob was baniſhed from his Fathers houſe, ſerved 20 years a hard Maſter, where he had wages changed ten times: and we do not read, that he and his mother ever ſaw one another upon earth. But though a child of God, whoſe heart is ſincere, may fall into ſuch a practice, yet he dares not juſtifie any ſuch action. David durſt not take away the life of Saul, to come to the Crown, though he was anointed King by that God, who diſpoſeth of all kingdoms; he would not permit another to do it, vid. 1 Sam. 26. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. yea, when an Amalekite came and told him, that he had ſlain Saul, and that by his own deſire, when he was full of anguiſh, and could not have lived many hours, David commanded him to be put to death for that wicked act, 2 Sam. 1. 13, 14, 15. He that hath truth of heart, knowes well, that God hath forbid him to do evil, that good may come thereby, and that he muſt not lie for God, Job 13. 7, 8. He will not chuſe ſinne, to eſcape affliction. Elihu chargeth Job with this, and uſeth it as an Argument to prove him unſincere, Job 36. 21. A true-hearted man knowes that God hath preſcribed meanes, and lookes at them as much as ends; and yet wicked means diſcredit and condemn the beſt ends: vid. 1 Sam. 13. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. there was a very good end, &c. not fighting without ſeeking Gods face, &c. So 1 Sam. 15. 15, 16, 21, 22. This was a good end, to ſacrifice to God of the ſpoyl of his enemies, &c. but the meanes were nought: therefore GOD abhorres it, as an act of Rebellion.
(2.) He that hath truth of heart, doth all his Actions to a good end. His aymes are ſincere, and incorrupt; at leaſt, he deſires they may be ſo, and is much troubled that they are not ſo. He knowes that a good Action is diſcredited, if he that doth it have not a good end, 2 Chron. 25. 2. Jehu failed in this, 2 Reg. 10. He did very many good things, put all the Prieſts of Baal to death, &c, deſtroyed Baal out of Iſrael, ver. 28. God teſtifies for him that he had done, that which was in his heart, ver. 38. unto the houſe of Ahab: But all theſe things were done for baſe ends, to eſtabliſh himſelf in the Kingdom: therefore, Hoſ. 1. 4. God threatens to avenge the blood of Jezreel on the houſe of Jehu. Our Saviour makes this a diſtinguiſhing Evidence between a painted Hypocrite, and a real Saint, Mat. 6. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. They may give as many, and as great Almes; They may give God as many, and as long Prayers, as a ſincere Chriſtian doth; but they differ in their ends. The end of the one, is to get glory from men, to ſatisfie the voyce of Conſcience, &c. The end of the other, is to approve his Heart to God, to glorifie his Heavenly Father, and to teſtifie his Obedience to the Command of God.
(4.) He that hath the Grace of Truth in his heart, is the ſame in private, that he is in publike. The Lining, and the Out-ſide of his garment, are both of one piece; he is clean within, as wel as without: a ſpot upon his skin, is as great a trouble to him, as a ſtain upon his garment. This is that, which our Saviour makes a diſtinguiſhing Note between a Hypocrite, and a ſincere Chriſtian, Matth. 15. 7, 8. the Hypocrite is onelyonly for the out-ſide of Cup or Platter, that that may be clean; but the inward part is full of wickedneſs. This is David's Character of himſelf, Pſal. 18. 23. I was alſo uncorrupt before him, and kept my ſelf from mine iniquity; i. e. from ſecret ſinnes, as well as publike. And Pſal. 101. 2. I will walk in the midſt of my houſe with a perfect heart. A ſincere Chriſtian is as good in his own houſe, as in Gods houſe; in the Cloſet, as well as in the Streets; in his ſecret Chamber, as well as in the Church. He deſires to have a clean heart, as well as clean hands, Jam. 4. 8. Cleanſe your hands ye ſinners, purifie your hearts, ye double-minded.
(5.) He that hath truth, will be the ſame in trouble, and after trouble, Pſal. 78. 34, 35, 36.
Exhortation: That all that profeſs themſelves Chriſtians, would both carefully get and keep this girdle of Truth.
I ſhall here urge it by ſome Motives; and then lay down ſome Helpes and Directions.
1. For Motives.
(1.) Sincerity is the beſt ſecurity, Prov. 10. 9. He tbat walketh uprightly, walketh ſurely; but he that perverteth his wayes, ſhall be known: God knowes him already, and men ſhall know him, when the Mask of Hypocriſie is pull'd off his face: his rough garment which he wore to deceive, ſhall in due time be plucked off, and then his deceit ſhall be made manifeſt. He walkes under Divine Protection; he walkes under the ſhadow of Divine Promiſes, therefore he is in ſafety. He may ſometimes come into danger; but he ſhall be delivered either in danger, or from danger, or by danger: Yea, ſometimes God brings him into a leſſer danger, to preſerve him from a greater, vid. Jer. 38. 38. His impriſonment ſaved him from the danger he might have been in by the enemy, when Jeruſalem was taken. The three Children, Dan. 3. and Dan. 6. were preſerved by their Integrity. The Prophet David never was in ſuch danger, as when he warped a little, and went into the Land of the Philiſtins: He got a ſtrong Hold of Zicklag, from the King of Gath; but that Fort was deſtroyed and he was never in ſuch diſtreſs in all his troubles, 1 Sam. 30. init. His own guard had there been his Executioners, had not God, by a mighty hand, ſtaved them off.
(2.) Integrity of Heart, is the beſt Guide in ſtraits, and doubtful Caſes. This is promiſed. Prov. 11. 3. The integrity of the Upright ſhall guide them; but the perverſneſs of Tranſgreſſors ſhall deſtroy them. It's a marvellous happineſs to have a perfect and faithfull guide in dark and dangerous Travels. It's a priviledge belonging to the godly man, to have Divine guidance, Pſal. 32. 8. He that is ſincere, ſhall have this guidance. It is evinced by what hath been ſaid: Integrity makes the Word his Rule: And that Word is a Lantern; yea, 'tis a Light ſhining in a dark place, 2 Pet. 1. 19. and he that followeth this Light, ſhall ſee his way, when others are in obſcurity: vid. Iſa. 30. 21. The Spirit of God, who is the Soules guide, dwels in a ſincere heart, therefore he ſhall be led in the right path.
(3.) Sincerity of heart will procure Gods acceptance of all your ſervices. Though they be very weak, and very imperfect, yet if they be ſeaſoned with the Salt of ſincerity, they ſhall not be caſt away, Prov. 15. 8. The Sacrifice of the Wicked, is abomination to the Lord; but the Prayer of the Upright, is his delight. It's a marvellous comfort to a Child of God, that his Duties find acceptance: When they do but ſuppoſe that their ſervices are rejected, how are they caſt down? how are they diſquieted? Nothing can ſatisfie them in ſuch a Caſe. Well! if your hearts be ſincere, your prayers ſhall be as Incenſe, and ſweet Odours, in the ſight of God.
(4.) The Services and Ordinances of God ſhall convey ſtrength to you. When the falſe-hearted Chriſtian ſhall winder and molder away, and all which he ſeemed to have, ſhall come to nothing; then ſhall the true hearted-Chriſtian be as one anointed with freſh Oyl, he ſhall be active, vigorous, and ſtrong, This is promiſed in many places, Job 17. 9. The Upright ſhall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands ſhall add to ſtrength. The meat and nouriſhment which is taken by a man, whoſe vitals are conſumed, gives no true ſtrength to him: He may, perhaps, for a little time, appear to be fat, and in good liking, but all his growth is but wind and emptineſs, which in a fit of ſickneſs will ſoon waſh off: But the meat of a man that is ſound, turnes into nouriſhment, and makes him grow: ſo it is with the Soul, the rotten Hypocrite he gets no nouriſhment by the Ordinances; but the ſound Chriſtian gets ſtrength by them. He may not preſently perceive his growth nor does he grow always alike in all graces; but in ſome grace or other he increaſeth, and ſhall increaſe his Spirituall ſtrength, Prov. 10. 19. The way of the Lord is ſtrength to the upright; but deſtruction ſhall be to the workers of iniquity.
(5.) God will pardon, and graciouſly paſs by many failings and infirmities, if the heart be ſound. 1 King. 15. 12, 13, 14. King Aſa was guilty in many things: there were very viſible Defects found in him, contrary to that which the Law of God required. He took away the Sodomites which were in the Land; he removed all the Idols which his Fore-fathers had made; He depoſed his Mother from her Regency, becauſe ſhe had made an Idol in a Grove, but the high places remained ſtill: Nevertheleſs, the heart of Aſa was perfect with the Lord all his dayes: And becauſe he was a man of a ſound heart, God accepted what he had done well, and graciouſly pardoned his Omiſſions. And therefore it is, that David makes the ſoundneſs of his heart an Argument, to move God to forgive his ſin, Pſal. 51. 6. Behold thou requireſt truth in the inward parts, that is to ſay. Lord, although according unto the letter of the Law, thou haſt cauſe to caſt me off, yet according to the tenour of the Goſpel, I hope thou wilt pardon me, for thou knoweſt my heart is right in thy ſight: and, Pſal. 7, 8. he prayes, that God would judge him according to his integrity, and according to the righteouſneſs that was in him.
6. This Grace of Truth is the way to have fellowſhip and communion with God. Hypocriſie, and falſe-heartedneſs, is a bar in the way of our Communion; God will not ſhew his face with joy unto ſuch, whoſe hearts are rotten. Hypocrites may tell you of much Communion they have with God, and of great joyes they find in their ſpirits: but this their joy is but like a Land-flood, it is quickly dryed up again; a few Sun-ſhine dayes ſokes-in all this joy: It is, indeed, but a falſe joy which comes from Satan, transformed into an Angel of Light, and it ſhall be but for a moment. Job tels us, Job 13. 6. that a hypocrite ſhall not come before him. He ſhall not ſee the face of God with any joy. No, no, Communion with God is onelyonly promiſed to ſincerity, Jam. 4. 8. Draw nigh to God &c. Cleanſe your hands ye ſinners, purifie your hearts ye double minded. And therefore David, upon the profeſſion of this integrity, calls upon God for his preſence, Pſal. 101. 2. O when wilt thou come unto me: I will walk in the midſt of my houſe with a perfect heart.
7. Integrity is the way to dant all your enemies. To warp from the wayes of God, will much encourage your adverſaries; it will make them more bold, and more violent: but perſeverance and holding on in your integrity, will▪ in due time, make your hearts fail. Herod was afraid of John Baptiſt, becauſe he was a ſincere man, Mark 6. 20. And it's ſaid of Saul, that becauſe David behaved himſelf wiſely, he was afraid of him, 1 Sam. 18. 15.
8. Sincerity of Heart will be a ſtrengthning Cordial to your ſoules, in the day of affliction and trouble. Integrity is the beſt way to keep you from trouble, and to deliver you out of trouble: but if at any time ye do fall, and lie under trouble, Integrity will be a ſoft Pillow to reſt your heads upon, in the evil day: vid. 2 Cor. 1. 12. This is our rejoycing, the teſtimony of our Conſcience, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, &c. This was that which made the Martyrs ſo joyful in Priſon: This was that which kept up the heart of Job in his great ſufferings; and this made Paul and Silas ſing with ſo much joy, when their feet were faſt in the ſtocks, Act. 16.
9. Integrity will make the end of your life peaceable. You may have Contentions and Warrings, and unquietneſs in the way: but you ſhall be ſure to find calmneſs, and ſerenity, and peace, in the end. This is promiſed, Pſal. 37. 37. Mark the upright man, &c. for the end of that man is peace. The beginning, and the middle of the Hypocrite, may be in ſome kind of tranquillity; but the end will be a ſtorm. Job had many a ſore ſtorm; but his latter end was peaceable and ſerene: That's well, that ends well: the Hypocrites portion is to lye down in ſorrow, Eſa 50. 10, 11. Thus for Motives.
2. For Directions, to get and keep ſincerity, take theſe, viz.
(1.) Study well, and improve aright the Doctrine of Gods Omnipreſence, and Omniſcience. He that doth truly believe that Gods Eye is upon him, will not give way to Deceitfulneſs and Hypocriſie in heart: remember that God is a Heart-ſearching God. This is that Direction which God himſelf gave to Abraham, to keep his heart ſound, Gen. 15. 1. Walk before me, and be upright, This was that which kept David intire, Pſal. 18. 23. I was upright before him, or in his ſight, and kept my ſelf from mine iniquity. The want of this, is made the reaſon of all the falſ-hood of Ephraim, Hoſ. 7. 1, 2. They conſider not in all their hearts, &c.
(2.) Take heed of worldly policy. Fleſhly wiſdome is like ruſt; it will eat up ſincerity, if ye hearken to it. The Apoſtle oppoſeth theſe two one unto another, 2 Cor. 1. 12. In ſincerity and godly ſimplicity, not with fleſhly wiſdome. The foreign is enmity with God. God would have his people to be prudent, and to hear the voyce of right reaſon; Reaſon is not given in vain: Be wiſe as Serpents, &c. but he would not have them make carnal Wiſdom their Oracle. He conſults firſt, the justum, and then the commodum. He that conſults with fleſh and blood will hardly keep upright in declining-Times. Fleſhly Wiſdome would have dictated a hundred things to Daniel, would he have hearkened to it.
(3.) Be much in the Duty of ſelf-ſearching. Take heed of putting too much credit and confidence in your own hearts; He that truſts in his own heart, is a fool, Prov. 28. 26. You have the ſeed of rottenneſs in your ſoules; and if you do not keep them in a conſtant courſe of Phyſick, they will grow corrupt, before you be aware. David's prayer ſhould be your prayer, Pſal. 139. 23. 24. Search me, O Lord, &c.
(4.) Conſider the end of Hypocriſie: It will be your ſhame in this world, Pſal. 119. 80. Let my heart be ſound in thy ſtatutes, &c. Hypocriſie is an in-let and door to all other ſins, 2 Tim. 3. init. a man that hath the form of godlineſs, without the power, will be any thing in time. It will be your ſorrow in another world. Hell is ſaid to be made for Hypocrites, Mat. 24. 51.
Thus much for the firſt piece of this Armour, The Girdle of Truth.