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CHRISTIAN MORALITY,
V.
[SEAM. XX/
a
picture
-is
said to be
true,
when it
is
conformable
tà
the
face and figure
of
the person
:
So
a copy
of any
writing
is
true,
when
it
is
conformable to
the
original.
So
a narrative
or
h
"istoryis
true, when
it
describes matters
fairly
as
they were
transacted, and
tells
the
circum-
stances
just
as
they
are. And
that
is
true doctrine
which
is
conformable
to
the
word
of
God,
which
is
the rule
and
standard of
divine
truth.
But
none
of
these agree to the
design
of
my
text.
For
the apostle
here
is
describing moral characters, and
the
duties of
a christian.
Truth
in this place
is
not
so
much
to
be
considered
as
seated
in
the
understanding,
as
it
is
in the
will:
It
signifies
here
integrity and uprightness,
in opposition to
hypocrisy,
insincerity, or
moral
false-
hood. And there are three
things
that
make up
the
per-
fect character of
truth
or integrity
:.
1.
That
our
words
be conformable- to
our
hearts.
.
That
our
deeds be conformable
to
OUT
words.
3.
That
our
whole
carriage
be
conformable
to itself,
and consistent
with
itself
at
all times;
and
in
all
places.
1.
The
first thing wherein
this
virtue
consists,
is
in
the
conformity
of
our
words to
our hearts. This
is
some-
times
called veracity, sometimes sincerity
;
a
necessary
duty
that`-belongs to
every
christian
;
and
that
in
all the
affairs
of
life.
We
must
be
sincere in
all
relations
of
matters'
of fact;
in all
the
narratives
or accounts
we
give
either
of
persons,
or
things, in all
our
discoveries
of
OUT
esteem for
other
men,
and
in
all
our
professions
of
love
and
good-will-t0 others.
Whatsoever
we
speak,
it
ought
to
be
agreeable
to the
sentiment of our
souls.
Let
us
first consider what
is
that truth that
is
required
in
relating matters
of
fact,
and narratives
concerning
things or persons. This
is
what
Solomon
it
entions
;
Prot.
xii.
i
7.
He
that
speaketh
truth,
sheweti,
forth
righteousness;
but a
false
witness
deceit.
In
the
xv-th
Psalm,
ver.
it
is
the
character of
one
of
those
who
shall
inhabit
the
holy
mountain of God, that he not
only
worketh
righteousness,
but
he
speaketh
the
truth
in
-his
heart.
That
which
he thinks
in his
heart
to
be true,
he
clothes it
in words;
and
-thus
delivers
it
out
to his fellow
-
creatures. The
apostle
in
Eph.
iv.
25,
makes mention
of
the
"same
duty,
and presses
it
upon
those to
whom
he
writes
:
Wherefore
putting
away
lying,
speak
every
man