CHRISTIAN M.MIA.LrrY. ar moral falsehood. And thereare threethings that makeup thë perfect character of truth or integrity, : 1. That our words beconformable to-our hearts.-2. That our deeds be conformable to our words. -3. That our wholecar- riage be conformable to itself, and- consistent with itself at all times, and in all places. 1. The first thing wherein thisvirtue consists, is in the con- formity of our winds to our hearts. This is sometimes called ve- racity, sometimes sincerity; a necessary dutythat belongs to every christian, and that in all the affairs of -life. We must be sincere in all relations of matters offact ; in all the narratives or accounts we give of either personsor things, in all our discoveries of our esteem for other men, and in- all our professionsof love and good-will to others. Whatsoever we speak, it ought to be agree- able to the sentiment of our souls. Let us first consider what is that truth that is required in relating matters of fact, and narratives-concerningthingsor per- sons. This is what Solomonmentions ; Pros,. xii. 17. He that speaketh truth, sheweth forth righteousness; but a false witness deceit. In the-xvth Psalm, ver. 2. it is the character of one of those who shall inhabit the holymountain 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 Fiph. iv; 25. makes mention of the same- duty,. and presses it upon those to whom he writes ; " Wherefore putting away lying, speakevery man truth. with his neighbour; for we all are members, one of another :" Members, one of asìother, as we belong to the same original, as we are born of the samefirst parents, as weare made of one flesh and blood, as we are parts of the same civil societyor nation, and especially as we that pro- fess christianity are related to one another in nearer and diviner bonds, as we are members óf the general church or body of Christ. Now it does not become thosethat are joined in so near a relation to lie and speak falsely, and deceive one another, nò more than the members of the natural body should do injury to each other, whose single welfare lies-much in the welfare of the whole body. I grant it is pdssible for the bestand wisest-of men sometimes to be mistaken in their apprehensions of things, and they may happen to speak something that is false in the course of theircon- versation : for they may be deceived themselves, and notknow the truth. But in matters which they have occasion.to speak of, they ought to be as well informed of the truth of things as present circumstances will admit, and to saynothing totheir neigh- bour but what theyreally believe themselves. When we speak a
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