2 Truth is a thing specially esteemed of the Lord, and it is a service so acceptable unto1 him, that he will not be without it, and therefore a rent or pension due unto the Lord. But why doth the Lord so require truth at our hands? the Prophet saith, The Lord hath magnified his truth and his name above all things, and he hath put on himself, as his name, to be called 2the God of truth. And Christ the second person in Trinity witnesseth his death to this, in3 calling himself, not the God of truth, but truth itself, and he bare witness before Pilate, 4that he especially came into the world to bear witness to the truth, so greatly he loved it. For the holy Ghost we read Joh. 14▪ He is said to be the spirit of truth. So we see how great5 a thing this truth is with God, for he makes himself glorious in this title, and makes it the Crown of his head, his Son, his Spirit, his Ministers are glorified by it. In a second respect6 truth is dear, for that Adam being charged to beware of the forbidden fruit, had his first assault of Satan against the Lords truth, & back-sliding from it, he lost all his possession in Paradise. Because of this dealing of the Devil in Paradise, ever since the Lord hath been very jealous of his truth, and wills men should whatsoever they do remember to pay him truth. The third respect, why the Lord will have truth, is, because it is a thing most concerning us, and comforteth us in the agony of a distressed conscience. For in this7 case mercy cannot so comfort us, for God hath justice as well as mercy, and he is just as well as he is merciful; and for Christ he cannot comfort us, for he is not given to all, and it may be not to thee, and therefore in these two only there is no comfort. But to challenge the Lord his truth is best, and his faithfulness in giving Christ, whom he hath promised, is our chiefest hold, and nothing can put us beside it. This is the surest tenor of our salvation, because by this we hold whatsoever we hold, and howsoever we are defective in other things, yet in respect of truth we must make much of it. Thus in these respects, that ⟨p. 818⟩truth is the diadem of the Lord, in respect that Satan doth so assault it; & it is the tenor of our salvation, it is sure that it is a pension to be paid. But to come nearer, whether this truth be in us or no, we see the earth it self is not only true, but liberal to us.
2 Truth is a thing specially esteemed of the Lord, and it is a seruice so acceptable vnto1 him, that he will not be without it, and therefore a rent or pension due vnto the Lord. But why doth the Lord so require truth at our hands? the Prophet saith, The Lord hath magnified his truth and his name aboue all things, and he hath put on himselfe, as his name, to bee called 2the God of truth. And Christ the second person in Trinitie witnesseth his death to this, in3 calling himselfe, not the God of truth, but truth itselfe, and he bare witnesse before Pilate, 4that he especially came into the world to beare witnesse to the truth, so greatly he loued it. For the holy Ghost we read Ioh. 14▪ He is said to be the spirit of truth. So we see how great5 a thing this truth is with God, for he makes himselfe glorious in this title, and makes it the Crowne of his head, his Sonne, his Spirit, his Ministers are glorified by it. In a second respect6 truth is deare, for that Adam being charged to beware of the forbidden fruite, had his first assault of Sathan against the Lords truth, & back-sliding from it, he lost all his posfession in Paradise. Because of this dealing of the Diuell in Paradise, euer since the Lord hath beene very iealous of his truth, and wils men should whatsoeuer they doe remember to pay him truth. The third respect, why the Lord will haue truth, is, because it is a thing most concerning vs, and comforteth vs in the agonie of a distressed cōscience. For in this7 case mercie cannot so comfort vs, for God hath iustice as well as mercie, and hee is iust as well as he is mercifull; and for Christ he cannot comfort vs, for he is not giuen to all, and it may be not to thee, and therefore in these two onely there is no comfort. But to challenge the Lord his truth is best, and his faithfulnes in giuing Christ, whom he hath promised, is our chiefest hold, and nothing can put vs beside it. This is the surest tenour of our saluation, because by this we hold whatsoeuer we hold, and howsoeuer we are defectiue in other things, yet in respect of truth we must make much of it. Thus in these respects, that
- 1Truth how great special arguments.Truth how great speciall arguments.
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- 31. Father.
- 42. Sonne.
- 53. Holy Ghost
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