Which of you, saith Christ, having a Servant ploughing, or feeding Cattle, 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, 1and 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 unblessed. 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. 2Their 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. 3All 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 Armour, which, if seen, would cause some uncomeliness; for tho the Armour was closely knit and clasped together, yet some gaping was subject to be betwixt piece and piece; and therefore ⟨p. 6⟩they used to put over these parts a broad Belt or Girdle, which did serve not only to fasten the other Armour together, but it made the Soldier 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 Clefts in his Armour; 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.
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, 1and 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. 2Their 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. 3All 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 ⟨p. 6⟩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.
- 1Luk. 12.35
- 2Phil. 1.16.
- 3Psal. 145.18.
