THE G I R D L E OF T R u T H. Book IV. Strength, Ju!lice, and VirtUe, Eph. vi. 15. Alfo we read of Chrift's being girt with a golden Girdle, Rev. i. •3· METAPHOR. I. BESIDES other great Difparities between orherGirdles 7 and the Girdle of T ruth, this is one, viz. other Girdles may be loli, or be corrupted; they may rot, and pafs away, like that which Jeremiah had, Jer. xiii. 1, 2, &c. which was marred, and profitable for nothing; II. Other Girdles are only made for the Body. D IS PAR IT Y. I. BUT the Girdle of Truth can never be loft. Sincerity in rhe H eart of a Believer is fo fall: tied to him, or twill:ed about him, that he can never lofe it. I never yet read of a Man, that was perfect and ~pright in Heart and L ife in the Sight of God, that ever lo!t his Smcerity, fo as to die an Hypocrite; though he may in fume Things be guilry of Hypocrify, yet he cannot ab– folutely become an H, pocrite. This Girdle cannor rot, or be corrupted. . II. But Truth and Sincerity is a Girdle for the Soul, by which the Mind is !layed and llrengthened. N F E R E N C E ~ THIS fhould teach every Profdfor ro labor after, if they have not yet got the Girdle of Truth, . 1. Becaufe the Defign of Satan is, to corrupt Men in their Judgments, and make them zealous for falfe Ways. Paul's Jealoufy of the Corinthians was, left the Old Scrpmt jhould beguile them through his Subtilty, and corrupt their lvJinds from the Sim– plicity of the Truth, 2 Cor. xi. 1, 2, 3· 2. Becaufe of the damning Nature of Herefy and H ypocrify, which our Savior, as well as the Apoftle, often warns us of, 2 John ix. 10. 2 Ihcf! ii. 10. 3· Becaufe thofe who are well girt about with Truth, are e!bbli01ed ones. De– ceivers are fubtil, and falfe Dot1ine is of a bewitching Nature; the wary and efta– blifhed Soul neverthelefs is nut foon overcome. In vain is the Net fpread in the Sight of any Bird. Be no more to.!fed about with every Wind of Doflrine. Children are mcft in danger of the Poifon, 2 Pet i. 12. and iii. 15. Gal. iv. L Prov. i. •7· Eph. iv. q .. 4· And as falfe DoCtrine is of a corrupting Nature, fo hkewife is Hypocnfy, hence compared to Leaven, Luke xii. I. As Sincerity leaveneth in a g·>od Senfe, !i> Hvpo– crify is compared to Lea·,.en in a bad Senfe, from that fouring, iniufive, and corrupt– ing ~ality which is in it. DireElions about putting on the Girdle of 'huth. I. Take heed of a counterfeit Girdle; lee that what you own and practife for Truth have the Stamp of God upon it. 2. Take up nothing upon Truf1:: Do not receive this or that, becaufe fu ch and fuch Men believe fo, and praftife fo ; neither Men nor Minifters are your Rule, but the Word of God. 3· Put not this Girdle of Truth on in Notion only; what will the Knowledge of Truth fignify in thy Head, if the Loins of thy Mind be not girt wirh it? 4· Take heed of being prejudiced againll: the Truth, becaufe of the Unworthinefs of them who profefs it. 5· If thou haf1: not yet gotten the Girdle of Truth, buy it now; as S&lomon advifeth, Buy theTruth,andfell it not, Prov. xxiii. 23. The Price of Truth mav quickly rile lugh. 6. Let Fallhood go, let thy Sins go, let thy own Righteoufnefs go, in point of Reliance or Dependence upon it, fa as to troll: in it for J u!tificauon and eternal Ltfe. .,, Come up to the Price of Truth; do not cheapen it only, bm come up to rhe Price, though it coft thee a Right-hand Lull: of Profit, or a Right-eye Lull: of Plea– fore: Thou mull: deny thyfelf. Labor to know the Excellency of Truth. r. It is pure, Pfal. cxix. 140. 2. It will cleanfe and purify thy Heart, John xvii. 17, '9· and cover all the Infir– mities of thy Life, as was hinted before. 3· It will make you free: re jha/1 know the 'l'ruth, and the Truth foal! makeyou free, John viii. 32. 4· It
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