7. It is a sin shameful and odious in the eyes of men. The more common honesty any man hath, the further he is from it, especially the more he hath of the spirit of grace : Prov. xiii. 5, ' A righteous man hateth lying ; but a wicked man is loatlisome, and cometh to shame.' All men hate a liar, because they suspect him ; this is that they gain by lying, that they are the less credited, and not believed, even when they speak truth. Therefore it concerneth God's children to keep up the full value of their testimony, and to carry it so that all their words may be received with respect and reverence. Christ used such plain- ness in his converse as a man, that his word was enough : John xiv. 12,, ' If it were not so, I would liave told you.' The Persians had such a respect for truth, that he that was three times convicted of a lie was never more to treat or speak in public affairs. Indeed men most guilty of it cannot endure to be char*red with it. Zedekiah smote Micaiah on the cheek when he told him of his lying spirit, 1 Kings xxii. 23, 24. Those that do not abstain from it as sinful count a lie shameful. Though they have no conscience to make a lie before God, yet they count it a disgrace to take the lie from men, because thereby they are judged unfit for human society, or useless, if not dangerous to others.
III. Why this must be added to goodness and righteousness.
1. Because they cannot be preserved without it. Not goodness, for
286 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XL
it will only be a counterfeit show, that endetli in empty words, and promises or pretences of kindness when there is liatred in the heart : ' Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in trnth,'^ 1 John iii. 18 ; and again, E,om. xii. 9, 'Let love be without dissimu- lation ; abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good.' Many pretend in their professions, speeches, and promises, a great deal of goodness, but in their hearts intend it not, but seek to get loose upon all occasions. Men live by interest more than by conscience ; so righteous- ness cannot be preserved except there be truth; they are seeking- some fair pretence for an unjust and wrongful course. When once the heart is hardened in lying, it is fit for all manner of injustice; for a liar will stick at nothing, and most of our injurious practices are covered by a lie : Prov. xii. 17, ' He that speaketh truth showeth forth righteous- ness ; but a false witness, deceit.' They that make no conscience of lying will stick at no manner of unrighteousness ; but when their interest leadeth them, will swallow perjury as well as lying, or purloin and overreach others when they have an opportunity. There is no liold of them ; for when there is such a gap opened in the conscience, what sin will be kept out ? If the laws restrain them from violence, they will do injury to others by deceit, which is so natural to them. And so the security of the world is not sufficiently provided for till truth be- joined to the other graces.
2. The life of goodness and righteousness lieth in truth, and so they cannot be thoroughly exercised unless truth be added. Sincerity runs through all the graces. As to the upper part of religion, truth en- liveneth all our worship. Where God is sincerely loved and worshipped, he is more thoroughly served and obeyed : Isa. xxxviii. 3, ' Eememher now, 0 Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight;' 1 Chron. xxviii. 9, ' And thou, Solomon, my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind.' Sincerity doth its best. So in the lower hemisphere of duty, truth maketh us more exactly righteous and industriously good. It maketh us more exactly righteous. There are many cases arise about what is just and equal, and surely it is very profitable to have a deep, solid, and large understanding, and where we are at a loss ourselves, to consult with others ; but the best lesolver of hard questions, next to- the Holy Ghost, is in our own bosoms. Sincerity will sooner inter{)ret our duty ; it is fleshly wisdom which breedeth all or most of our per- plexities. A sincerely righteous man hath that within him that inclines him to righteous things : Prov. xii. 5, ' The thoughts of the- righteous are right ;' Ps. xxxvil. 31, ' The law of God is in his heart ; none of his steps shall slide.' So it maketh us industriously good. A man truly good is much directed by the inclination of his own heart : Isa. xxxii. 8, ' But the liberal man deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things he shall stand.' They are always seeking out occasions of doing good : Heb. vi. 10. ' Ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.' And he speaketh there of a labour of love. There needeth not much ado with the sincere, for their hearts are inclined to these things.