Book IV. THE G I R D L E OF T R' U T H. THE GIRDLE OF T R U T H. Stand therefore, having your Loins girt about with 'Truth, &c. Ephef vi. .14. A Girdle p•operly is a Bdt, ufed to be worn by Sqldiers, to preferve the Breafr and Belly. . 'Truth harh various Acceptations in the holy Scriptures, fame of which, (according to Wdlon and or hers,) you may rake as follows. 1. The llloil perfed divine E!fence, which is Truth itfdf, and the Author of all Trur h in his Crear urts: 'Thou hajf redeemed me, 0 Lord God of 'Truth, Pfal. xxxi. 5· 2. Jefus Chrill: I am the Way, the ?ruth, and the Life, John xiv. 6. 'l· The Statu res, Precepts and Promifes of the Law of Mofes: 'Thy Commandments 11re 'Truth, Pfal. cxix. 151, 142. 4· 'Jhe whole Word of God, both Law and Gofpel : 'Thy Word is 'Truth, Johll xvi1. 17. Whereof ye heard before, by the Word of the 'Truth of the Gofpel, Col. i. 5· 5· The Light of Nature in Man fince the Fall, to help him to know God fo tar, as to leave him without excufe: Which withhold the 'Truth in Unrighteoufnefs, Rom. ii. r il. 6. True Religion taught and contained in the Gofpel: Who bath bewitchedyou, that )'DU jhould not obey the 'Truth? Gal. iii. 1. 'lit. i. 1. i . Truth of Gract, Sincerity, void of Deceit in the Heart and Life. I have walked before thee in 'Truth, !fa. xxx. 3· 'Thou lovejf 'Irutb in the inward Parts, Pfal. li. 6. 8. F .delity and Faithfulne!s b~tween Man and Man, Jer. v. r, 2. 9· Judgment and true J u!lice, Truth is fallen in the Streets. 10. Muft true, far from all Deceit, 'The Judgments of the Lord are 'Truth, Pfal. xix. 9· , t. Trurh f1gn tfieth S.ncerity from the Heart, with !ilfcnt of the Mind, as one truly purpoleth, f..<?e. without Hyp~crify. ( 1.) But that whic!1 is princinally intended by the Girdle ofTnnh according to Ex– pofiturs, is, fir!l, the true Doftrine of the Gofpel, called the Word of Truth. (2.) Truth of Grace and Sincerity of Heart, called, 'The unleavened Bread of Since– rity and 'Truth, 1 Cor. v. 8. By Loins is meant the Mind, Gird up the L oins of )'OUr Mind, &c. A Chri!lian Jhould be of a found J urlgment, he Jhould be girt about, as with a Girdle, with Truth and Sincerity, Hold tbe Myjfery of Faith in apure Confeience, 1 'Iim. iii. 9· Main– tain the true Religion, and be fincere and upright in the Profeflion of it. Why Truth in both thefc Refpeels is compared to a Girdle, will appear by what follows. MET A P HOR. I. A Girdle was ufed in former Times by Soldiers, it was part of their Habit and Armor. PARALLEL. I. T~E true DoCI:rine of the Gofpel, or the holy Principles of Religion and Sincerity, are of great ufe among Chri!l's·fpiritual Soldiers, in order to the arming them compleatly. I!. A Girdle cleaves clofe to a II. So the Truth of Chrift, fhould be faftened Man wht:n ir is well girt to him, and it is not eafily unbuckled by an Adverfary. in our Hearrs and Judgments, that we may not be wavering in our Minds; Stand fajf in tbe Faith, &c. I Cor. xvi. 1 3· Sincerity ought to cleave to om inward .Parrs, as a Girule cloth to the Loins of a Man. Ill. So the Truth of Chrift, and Sincerity of Heart fhould compafs Chri!lians about, they otJght to keep always in the Bounds of Truth and Uprightnefs; God hath fet Bounds to his People, Ollt of which they mull never go: We mull not fwerve afide to the Right-hand or Left, nor play the Hypocrite, for fuch that do lo, cannot be faid to be girt about with Truth. IV. A Giro le !lrengthens the IV. The true DoEtrine of the Gofpel, or that II[. A Girdle compa!feth a Man about. Loins of a Soldrer, or him that is Religion that is according to Godlinefs, joined well girt therewith: Gird up thy with Sincerity of Heart, is the Strength of every Loins, and arife and Jpeak unto them Chrillian or Soldier of Chrift; if he have not oll that I eomma;td tbee; be not difthis Girdle on, .his Loins are loofe and weak, and 7 K he
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