342. Chap.3 t. An Expofircon upon the Bookof J o a. Verf.S, is, by wronging others; no wonder then if we are inclined to wrong others, when we fee a Idle-advantage, yea felfeadvan- tagedoth fo blind or deceive 'our eyes, that we can hardly fee deceit wherewe feeprofit. To arme our felves againfk this fin, let us often remember that truth is very precious to God ; Truth of heart is fo , and fo is .truth ofword carried onne to truth ofadion, both in fpiritualls and in civills. God loves truth fo much, that he takes it up for his Title, and calls himfelfe the true god, both inoppofition to Idolls which are lying vanities and to vaine men who give themfelves up to lying ; Yea the greateft honour which we can doe to God is this, when by believing the put to our kale that He is true (John 3.3 3 ) And when the Apoftle wouldlet forth the honour and beauty ofthe new creature, he calls it that new man whichafter God et created in righteoufneffa and true holineffe (Eph. 4.24.) Thenew man is made, after God, that is, (as it were) ofGods fafhion, or in his likenes, which is holynes, yet theApoftle doth not fay only, inholineffe ( for there may be an appearanceofholineffe which is not after God, or the image of God) But in true helineffe. Which includes both holineffe in truth,and theholineffe oftruth ; truth is a holy thing ; truth re- fpet`ting God, and truth refpeetingman ; Ofwhich theApoftle fpeakes in the next words (v. ay.) whereforeputting away ly. ing fpeake every man truth with his neighbour, &c. For even that truth holds forth the image and likenes of God too. In this imageor likenes of God, yobdefired toappeare when he fayd, Ifmyfoot bath hailed to deceit. Secondly, As in thefe words yob lets forth what himfelfewas by grace, fo what every man is by nature; which we may take in this Obfervation. eJIan naturally makes haft to fin. YeaSolomon feemeth to affirme, that when lever we make haft it is to fin ( Pro. Y 9. 2.) He that bafteth with his feet fin- ned?. But doth every one fin that haftethwith his feete? David made hafte and delayed not to /Crepe the commandements of Ged; finely then a manmay make hafte andnot fin. TheChurch ex- cites Chrift ( Cant. 8. r4.) Make kafte my beloved, and be thou li&e a roe oryounghart talon the mountaines of Tether; Chrift, in whom
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