Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 5 · Part 2
The Girdle of Truth.
Epheſ. 6.14. And having your Loins girl about with Truth, &c.
A Girdle properly is a Belt or Girdle, uſed to be worn by Souldiers, to preſerve the Breaſt and Belly.
Truth hath various Acceptations in the holy Scriptures, ſome of which (according to Wilſon and others) you may take as follows.
1. The moſt perfect Divine Eſſence, which is Truth it ſelf, and the Author of all Truth in his Creatures: Thou haſt redeemed me, O Lord God of Truth, Pſal. 31.5.
2. Jeſus Chriſt: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. John 14.6.
3. The Statutes, Precepts, and Promiſes of the Law of Moſes: Thy Commandments are Truth. Pſal. 119.151. v. 142.
4. The whole Word of God, both Law and Goſpel: Thy Word is Truth, John 17.17. Whereof you heard before, by the Word of the Truth of the Goſpel. Col. 1.5.
5. The Light of Nature in Man ſince the Fall, to help him to know God ſo far, as to leave him without excuſe: Which with-hold the Truth in Ʋnrighteouſneſs. Rom. 2.18.
6. True Religion taught and contained in the Goſpel: Who hath bewitched you, that you ſhould not obey the Truth? Gal. 3.1. Tit. 1.1.
7. Truth of Grace, Sincerity, void of Deceit in Heart and Life. I have walked before thee in Truth, Iſa. 30.3. Thou loveſt Truth in the inward Parts. Pſal. 51.6.
8. Fidelity and Faithfulneſs between Man and Man. Jer. 5.1, 2.
9. Judgment and true Juſtice, Truth is fallen in the Streets.
10. Moſt true, far from all Deceit, The Judgments of the Lord are Truth.
11. Truth ſignifieth Sincerity from the Heart, with aſſent of the Mind,Pſal. 19.9. as one truly purpoſeth, &c. without Hypocriſy.
1. But that which is principally intended by the Girdle of Truth according to Expoſitors, is, firſt, the true Doctrine of the Goſpel, called the Word of Truth.
2. Truth of Grace and Sincerity of Heart, called,1 Cor. 5.8. The unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth.
By Loins is meant the Mind, Gird up the Loins of your Mind, &c. A Chriſtian ſhould be of a ſound Judgment, he ſhould be girt about (as with a Girdle) with Truth and Sincerity; Hold the Myſtery of Faith in a pure Conſcience: 1 Tim. 3.9. Maintain the true Religion, and be ſincere and upright in the Profeſſion of it. Why Truth in both theſe reſpects is compared to a Girdle, will appear by what follows.
| Metaphor. | Parallel. |
| A Girdle was of uſe in former times by Souldiers, it was part of their Habit or Armour. | THe true Doctrine of the Goſpel, or the holy Principles of Religion and Sin erity, are of great uſe among all Chriſt's Spiritual Souldiers, in order to the arming of them compleatly. |
| II. A Girdle cleaves cloſe to a Man when 'tis well girt to him, and it is not eaſily unbuckled by an Adverſary. | II. So th… Truth of Chriſt ſhould be faſtened in …ur Hearts and Judgments, that we may not be wavering in our Minds; Stand faſt in the Faith, &c.1 Cor. 16.13. Sincerity ought to cleave to our inward Parts, as a Girdle doth to the Loins of a Man. |
| III. A Girdle compaſſeth a Man about. | III. So the Truth of Chriſt, and Sincerity of Heart ſhould compaſs Chriſtians about, they ought to keep always in the bounds of Truth and Uprightneſs; God hath ſet Bounds to his People, out of which they muſt never go: we muſt not ſwerve aſide to the Right-hand or Left, nor play the Hypocrite, for ſuch that do ſo, cannot be ſaid to be girt about with Truth |
| IV. A Girdle ſtrengthens the Loins of a Souldier, or him that is well girt therewith:Jer. 1.7. Gird up thy Loins, and ariſe and ſpeak unto them all that I command thee; 2 Sam. 22.40. be not diſmaied: as much as if God ſhould ſay,Iſa. 45. be ſtrong for thy Work: Thou haſt girded me with Strength, &c. Their Loins ſhall be looſed; Job 12.21. I will looſe the Loins of the Kings: He weakeneth the Strength of the Mighty: the Girdle of the ſtrong; ſo the Heb. | IV. The true Doctrine of the Goſpel, or that Religion that is according to Godlineſs, joyned with Sincerity of Heart, is the ſtrength of every Chriſtian, or Souldier of Chriſt; if he hath not this Girdle on, his Loins are looſe and weak, and he is as unſtable as Water, as Jacob ſpeaks of Reuben. Let Truth go, nay,Gen 49.2, 3. one Truth go, and how doth it weaken our Hands? or profeſs it with a falſe and deceitful Heart, and how unable are ſuch to ſtand againſt the Aſſaults of the Enemy? On the other hand, when a Perſon is well girt with Truth in both theſe reſpects, he is thereby made ſtrong and couragious. |
| V. A Girdle was uſed to gird on the other parts of the Souldiers Armour; Let not him that girdeth on his Harneſs boaſt himſelf, as he that putteth it off: 1 King 20.11. | V. Truth is that which faſtneth or girdeth on every part of the Chriſtian's Armour, Sincerity compleats and perfects all; what will a Man's Faith, Hope, Righteouſneſs ſignify without the Girdle of Truth, unleſs he keeps within the Bounds of Chriſtian-Doctrine, and is ſincere and upright in the Profeſſion thereof. |
| VI. Girding up the Loins, notes a Preparation for Battel and War. Thus David ſpake of Chriſt, Gird thy Sword on thy Thigh, Pſal. 45.3. O moſt Mighty. Let not him that girdeth on his Armour boaſt, &c. | VI. So the Apoſtle would have Saints ſtand, or be ready to engage their ſpiritual Enemies,Eph. 6.14. having their Loins girt about with Truth. Such a Perſon is prepared to encounter with all Adverſaries of the Soul. We ſhould be girt with the Truth, and girt for the Truth; that is, as another Apoſtle ſpeaks, to contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints. Jude 3. We ſhould be ready to diſpute, fight, make War, as good Souldiers of Chriſt. Opponents are like Combatants; Controverſial Divinity, ſaith Mr. Caryl, is called Polemical Divinity. Caryl on Job 38. pag. 35. Diſputes are Word-Wars; and there have been as hot Wars made by the Pen, as ever were by the Sword. Gird up now thy Loins, &c. ſaith God to Job. The Lord ſeems to ſend him a Challenge to the Battel, by a further Debate: Arm thy ſelf like a mighty Man, get ready for the Duel, for I am reſolved to trie what a Man thou art in arguing. A Saint being girt with Truth and Sincerity, is fitted for any Conflict. |
| VII. We read of girding up the Loins for Travel, or when a Man is to take a Journey. Thus Eliſha ſaid to Gehazi, 2 Kin. 4.29. Gird up thy Loins, and take my Staff in thine hand, and go thy way. It was the Faſhion in thoſe Eaſtern Countries, where they wore their Garments long, and ordinarily looſe, to gird them up, by which they could travel the better. | VII. So Chriſtians ſhould have their Loins girt about with Truth and Uprightneſs, that they may be fitted and prepared to travel Heaven-wards. God's People are Strangers and Pilgrims whilſt in this World, and are travelling to their own Country; and to have their Minds well girt up with Truth, will be a great Help to them in their Journey. A Storm of Perſecution may ſoon blow away the looſe Garment of Profeſſion, if a Perſon be not girt with the Girdle of Truth and Sincerity. |
| VIII. There is mention made of girding up the Loins, in order to ſerving, and attending on Buſineſs: Which of you, ſaith Chriſt, having a Servant plowing, or feeding Cattel, will ſay unto him by and by, when he is come from the Field, Go and ſit down; and will not rather ſay, Gird thy ſelf, and ſerve me? &c. From hence we may ſee, Girding is preparatory to Serving or Waiting: It alſo denotes Preparation for our Labour or Work. | VIII. Truth and Sincerity prepares and fits the Mind for Chriſt's Work and Service: Let your Loins be girt about, Luk. 12.35 and your Lights burning, and ye your ſelves like unto Men that wait for their Lord. He is always well girt with Truth and Uprightneſs, that is ready to wait upon, or do Work for the Lord Jeſus. Careleſs, ſlothful, and unſound Perſons are ungirt, and ſo unbleſs'd. A Saint in doing of his Work, whether it be Heart-Work, or Hand-Work, ought to be well-girt, viz. perform all in Truth and Uprightneſs. Miniſters muſt preach nothing but Truth; and as they muſt preach nothing but Truth, ſo they muſt preach in Truth, or in Sincerity of Heart. Some preach Chriſt, ſaith the Apoſtle, but not ſincerely. Phil. 1.16. Their Minds were not girt with Truth. All our Prayers ought to be put up in Truth: God is near to all that call upon him in Truth. Pſal. 145.18. All Works of Charity ought to flow from a pure Heart, viz. to be done in Uprightneſs and Simplicity, according to the Direction given by the Lord in his Word, both for matter and manner. |
| IX. A Girdle is a great Ornament, uſed to be put on uppermoſt, to cover the Joints of the Armor, which, if ſeen, would cauſe ſome uncomelineſs; for tho the Armor was cloſely knit and claſped together, yet ſome gaping was ſubject to be betwixt piece and piece; and therefore they uſed to put over theſe parts a broad Belt or Girdle, which did ſerve not only to faſten the other Armor together, but it made the Souldier appear more comely in his Harneſs and Accoutrements. | IX. Sincerity is a glorious Ornament. A Chriſtian hereby appears very comely in the ſight of God, and it greatly tends to hide and cover all the Infirmities of his Life; for the Saints Graces are not ſo cloſe, nor their Lives ſo exact, but in the beſt are found Defects and Weakneſſes, which are as ſo many Gaps or Clifts in his Armor; but Sincerity covers all, ſo that he is not put to ſhame by them. 1. Sincerity covers all outward Blemiſhes, or want of outward Beauty, that great Idol of the World. Sincere Perſons, if they be not ſo fair and comely as ſome others, yet being holy and upright, ſincere and vertuous Ones, how amiable are they rendred hereby in the ſight of all good Men! It covers all things that ſeems to render a Saint diſhonourable or uncomely. 2. Mean Parentage, or a low Deſcent, is much deſpiſed in the World; but how baſe ſoever the Stock, and ignoble the Birth be, when true Grace and Sincerity comes, it makes the Houſe and Perſon illuſtrious, and very glorious: Since thou wert precious in mine eyes, thou haſt been honourable, Iſa. 43.4. Sincerity ſets a Mark of Honour upon a Perſon, or a People. If you ſee this flouriſhing, tho in a mean Cottage, it tells you a great Prince, nay, an Heir of Heaven dwells there. Sincerity brings the Creature into Alliance with the moſt high and glorious King of Heaven and Earth. Who dares ſay, a Child of God, the Spouſe of Chriſt, and Heir of Heaven is of an ignoble Birth and Pedigree? 3. It covers Poverty, which expoſeth to great Contempt. There's none ſo rich as a godly ſincere Perſon; he is daily let into God's Treaſury, Chriſt's Storehouſe is always open unto him: All is yours. 1 Cor. 3.22 4. To want Parts, and to be a Perſon of no Name, and of ſmall Endowments, expoſeth to diſdain; none are more contemptible in the eye of the wiſe and vainglorious World, than ſuch. But alas! an honeſt Heart, one that is ſincere, excells beyond all compariſon the proudeſt, moſt renowned and applauded for human Wiſdom, Parts, and Elegancy in the World. 5. It covers all ſinful Uncomelineſs, and all the Godly Man's Failings, whether they be Sins of Omiſſion or Commiſſion; for Sincerity is that excellent quality to which pardoning Mercy is annexed. 'Tis Chriſt in a proper ſence that covers all Sin, but he will cover the Sins and Failings of none but ſuch as are ſincere:Pſal. 32.2. Bleſſed is the Man whoſe Sins are covered, &c. The upright Man's Righteouſneſs is accepted through Chriſt, tho he be never ſo infirm, or attended with Miſcarriages: Tho God doth not like his Sin for his Sincerity, yet God will not un-ſaint him becauſe of his Sin. |
| AinſworthX. The Prieſt under the Law wore a Girdle, which was made of fine Linnen, and of Blew, Purple, and Scarlet; the Hebrew Doctors ſay, it was about three fingers broad; it was curiouſly woven, as Joſephus obſerves,Joſephus Antiquit. Book 8. cap. 2. with Pictures of Flowers. This Girdle (ſaith Ainſworth) ſignified the girding up the Loins of our Minds with Strength, Juſtice, and Vertue, Eph. 6.15. Alſo we read of Chriſt's being girt with a Golden Girdle, Rev. 1.13. | X. Truth and Sincerity is not only an Ornament, but a moſt glorious Ornament, being that which was figured out by the Prieſt's Girdle, rarely made with curious Flowers. This is as a choice Golden Girdle, curiouſly wrought by the Spirit of God,1 Pet. 2.5. which all the Prieſthood of Chriſt have on. It is made of a Complication of every Grace. Sincerity is not alone; many choice Divine Flowers are interwoven together, in making of the Girdle of Truth. |
| Metaphor. | Diſparity. |
| BEſides other great Diſparities betweeen other Girdles, and the Girdle of Truth, this is one, viz. Other Girdles may be loſt, or be corrupted; they may rot, and paſs away, like that which Jeremiah had, Jer. 13.1, 2, &c. which was marred, and profitable for nothing. | BUt the Girdle of Truth can never be loſt. Sincerity in the Heart of a Believer is ſo faſt tied to him, or twiſted about him, that he can never loſe it. I never yet read of a Man, that was perfect and upright in Heart and Life in the ſight of God, that ever loſt his Sincerity, ſo as to die an Hypocrite; tho he may in ſome things be guilty of Hypocriſy, yet he cannot abſolutely become an Hypocrite. This Girdle cannot rot, or be corrupted. |
| II. Other Girdles are only made for the Body. | II. But Truth and Sincerity is a Girdle for the Soul, by which the Mind is ſtayed and ſtrengthned. |
Inferences.
THis ſhould teach every Profeſſor to labour after (if they have not yet got) the Girdle of Truth.
1. Becauſe the Deſign of Satan is, to corrupt Men in their Judgments, and make them zealous for falſe Ways. Paul's Jealouſy of the Corinthians was,2 Cor. 11.1, 2, 3. leſt the Old Serpent ſhould beguile them through his Subtilty, and corrupt their Minds from the Simplicity of the Truth.
2. Becauſe of the damning Nature of Hereſy and Hypocriſy, which our Saviour,2 Joh. 9 10 2 Theſſ. 2.10. 2 Pet. 1.12 Gal. 4.1. Prov. 1.17. Eph. 4.14. 2 Pet. 3.15 as well as the Apoſtle, often warns us of.
3. Becauſe thoſe who are well girt about with Truth, are eſtabliſhed Ones. Deceivers are ſubtil, and falſe Doctrine is of a bewitching Nature; the wary and eſtabliſhed Soul nevertheleſs is not ſoon overcome. In vain is the Net ſpread in the ſight of any Bird. Be no more toſſed about with every Wind of Doctrine. Children are moſt in danger of the Poyſon.
4. And as falſe Doctrine is of a corrupting nature, ſo likewiſe is Hypocriſy, hence compared to Leaven, Luk. 12.1. As Sincerity leaveneth in a good ſence, ſo Hypocriſy is compared to Leaven in a bad ſence, from that ſowering, infuſive, and corrupting quality which is in it.
Directions about putting on the Girdle of Truth.
1. Take heed of a counterfeit Girdle; ſee that what you own and practiſe for Truth have the Stamp of God upon it.
2. Take up nothing upon Truſt: Do not receive this or that, becauſe ſuch and ſuch Men believe ſo, and practiſe ſo; neither Men nor Miniſters are your Rule, but the Word of God.
3. Put not this Girdle of Truth on in Notion only; what will the knowledg of Truth ſignify in thy Head, if the Loins of thy Mind are not girt with it.
4. Take heed of being prejudiced againſt the Truth, becauſe of the Unworthineſs of them who profeſs it.
5. If thou haſt not yet gotten the Girdle of Truth, buy it now;Prov. 23.23. as Solomon adviſeth, Buy the Truth, and ſell it not. The Price of Truth may quickly riſe high.
6. Let Falſhood go, let thy Sins go, let thy own Righteouſneſs go, in point of reliance or dependence upon it, ſo as to truſt in it for Juſtification and eternal Life.
7. Come up to the Price of Truth; do not cheapen it only, but come up to the Price, tho it coſt thee a right Hand Luſt of Profit; or a right Eye Luſt of Pleaſure: Thou muſt deny thy ſelf.
Labour to know the Excellency of TRƲTH.
1. It is pure, Pſal. 119.140.
2. It will cleanſe and purify thy Heart, John 17.17, 19. and cover all the Infirmities of thy Life, as was hinted before.
3. It will make you free: Ye ſhall know the Truth, and the Truth ſhall make you free. John 8.32.
4. It is ſtrong; Truth is too hard and ſtrong for all its Oppoſers; as the young Man ſaid, Great is the Strength of Truth. There is no breaking of this Girdle.
5. Conſider what God's People have ſuffered before they would part with Truth, what Torments and Tortures they have endured.
7. There is no managing the ſpiritual War without the Girdle of Truth.
Marks of Sincerity.
Firſt; Negatively.
1. He is not a perfect and ſincere Chriſtian, whoſe Heart is not changed, who is not renewed, or who hath not a Principle of Divine Grace or ſpiritual Life in him.
2. He is not a perfect and ſincere Perſon, that wants any eſſential part of a Chriſtian; as he is not a perfect natural Child, that wants an Arm, an Eye, or a Leg. See Mat. 19.20. One thing thou lackeſt, if thou wouldeſt be perfect, (or approve thy ſelf ſincere) go thy way, and ſell what thou haſt, &c.
3. He is not a ſincere Perſon, whoſe Heart is lifted up in him.Hab. 2.4.
4. He is not a ſincere Man, that is not upright in all his Dealings and Converſe with Men; if he want Moral Uprightneſs, his Religion is good for nothing.
Secondly; In the Affirmative.
1. A ſincere and upright Chriſtian is known by the Way he goes in:Prov. 16.17. Job 1:2: The High-way of the Ʋpright is to depart from Evil.
(1.) He eſcheweth all Evil, the ſmalleſt, as well as the greateſt.
(2.) He leaveth it willingly, he hates it; he doth not part with it as a Man parteth with his Friend, but as a Man parteth with his moſt deadly and mortal Enemy.
2. A ſincere Perſon hath a right Faith, and a good and well-enlightned Judgment. Rotten Principles make rotten Chriſtians.2 Tim. 3.8 There are ſome Men who are of corrupt Minds, reprobate, (or of no Judgment) concerning the Faith.
3. He hath an holy and upright End, he deſires to live to God's Glory, and to ſerve him in Sincerity. Paul reſolved, Chriſt ſhould be magnified in his Body, whether it were by Life, or by Death.
4. He walks by a true and an exact Rule: As many as walk according to this Rule, Gal. 6.Peace on them, and Mercy, and upon the Iſrael of God.
5. He labours to keep all God's Commandments. Thus did David, Pſal. 119.9. Luk. 1.6.who was a Man after God's own Heart; and thus did Zachary and Elizabeth, who walked in all the Commandments of the Lord blameleſs, &c.
6. He deſires to be ſanctified, as well as to be ſaved; to be made holy, as well as to be made happy.
7. He is as willing to do for God, as to receive from God; for the Work, as well as the Wages.
8. He ſtrives as much againſt the Evils of his Heart, as he does againſt the Evils of his Life.
9. He is a Man always for God, in bad Times as well as in good Times.
10. He is the ſame in private as in publick; he is at home what he ſeems to be abroad.
11. He loves and prefers God and Chriſt above all. Thus David, Pſal. 73.25. and Paul, Phil. 3.8, 9.
12. He can go on in God's Ways and Services with abundance of content, without reſpect to any outward Profit or Applauſe, or being taken notice of by Men. His Satisfaction conſiſteth not in the approbation of Men, but in the approbation and commendation of God. His own Conſcience gives Teſtimony and Evidence of the Sincerity of his Heatt. Thus Paul, 2 Cor. 11.12. This is our rejoycing, 2 Cor. 11.12.the Teſtimony of our Conſcience, &c.