Serra. L.XX.XVII. The Truth ofGod. 653 the World, and will judge it. The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoyce, Pfal. 97. r. And he gives the Reafon of it in the next v. Rgghteoufnefs and judgment are the habitation of his Throne. Tho he be omnipotent, we need not fear; for his Power is always und er the conduct of Eternal righteoufnefs. Fourthly, Let us imitate this righteoufnefs, let us endeavour to be righteous as he is righteous ; let us give to God the Love, Reverence, anel Obedience which are due to him ; and in all our dealings, what is jufl and due to Men. This Duty bath an immutable Reafon, founded in the Nature of God. SERMON LXXXVII. The Truthof God. D E u T. XXXII. 4. AGod of Truth. IN fpeaking to this Attribute, I !hall I. Shew you what we are to underftand by the Truth of God. II. Endeavour to prove that this Perfection belongs to God, that he is a Godof Truth. III. Anfwer fame Objeétions that may be made again( it ; and then make fome Ufe of it. I. What we are to underftand by the Truthof God. I ¡hall take it as the Scripture ufeth it in a large Senfe, fo as to include not only the veracityof God, but his Faithfulnefs. Hence it is that in Scripture Truth and Faithfulnefs are fo often put together, and frequently put one for another. /fir. z5, s. Thy coun- fels ofoldare faithfulnefs and truth. Rev. ta. S. Thefe words are true andfaithfuL And the Faithfulnefs ofGod in performing his Promifes, is frequently call'd his Truth. And becaufe the Scripture ufeth them promifcuoufly, we neednot be very fo- licitous to find out diftind Notions of them; but if you will, they may bediftin- gui¡h'd thus ; the truth or veracity of Godhath place in every declaration of his Mind; the Faithfulnefs of God only in his Promifes. For the Firfl, The veracity or truthof God ; this bath place in every declaration of, his Mind ; and liignifies an exact Correfpondence and Conformity between his Word and his Mind, and confequently between his Wordand the truth and reality of Things. The Correfpondence of his Word with his Mind, depends upon the re- tlitude of his Will; the conformity of his Word with the reality ofThings, not on- ly upon the retlitudeof his Will, but the Perfellion of his Knowledge, and the infal- libility of his Underflanding; fo that when we fay God is true, or fpeaks Truth, we mean thus, that his Words are a plain Declaration ofhis Mind, and a true re prefentation of Things, in oppofition to Falfhood, which is fpeaking otherwife than we think. For inftance, when God declares any thing to be fo, or not to be fo, to have been thus, or not to have been thus, the thing really is fo, and he thinks fo; when he expreffeth his delire ofany thing, he does really delire it; when he commands any thing, or forduds us any thing, it is reallyhis Mind&Will that we fhould do what heCommands, and avoidwhat heforbids; when hedeclares and fore- tels anything future, it really flial l come to pats, and he really intended it fhould ; if the Declaration be to be underftood abfolutely, it (hall abfolutely come topais; if the Declaration be to be underftood Conditionally, it (hall come to pats, andhe intends it (hall, if the Conditionbe performed. Secondly; The Faithfulnefs of God. This only hath place in his Promifes, in which there is an Obligation of ,Iuflice fuperadded to his Word; for God by his promife Both not only declare what he intends, and what lha11 be; but confers a right upon them to whom the promife is made, fo aS that the breach ofhis Promife
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