Use 1. To reprove many, because they make so little conscience of
YeR. 9.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 28T
truth. Lying is a more general and common sin than we imagine. Those expressions intimate it : Rom. iii. 4, ' Let God be true, but every man a liar.' The phrase intimateth, that though there be none in God, yet there is much falseness and unfaithfulness in men ; and it is said, Ps. Iviii. 3, ' The wicked are estianged from the womb ; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.' Falsehood and lies are kindly sins to a natural heart, they break out early ; before they go, they went astray ; the seed of these sins is in them, as if they began to lie as soon as they came out of their mother's womb. And as it is an early sin, so it is universal : Ps. xii. 1, 2, ' The faithful fail from among the children of men, they speak vanity every one with his neighbour, with flattering- lips and with a double heart do they s])eak.' This is the general dis- position of mankind. The most sacred bonds will not bind or hold them to any truth and righteousness ; and a man knoweth scarce who to believe, the simplicity of commerce being almost lost in the world.
Use 2. It showeth how much they give suspicion that they are not children of light who have not this truth wrought in them. Some good men may lie, as the scriptures show, but they are not given to lying. The very act is a foul sin ; but every lie doth not argue a graceless estate. It is a sin more contrary to sincerity than other sins, yet some few acts are not altogether destructive of it. David prayeth, ' Remove from me the way of lying,' Ps. cxix. 29 ; that slioweth he was too prone to it, he had been too faulty in that kind. How many acts show the habit is very hard to determine ; and in so weighty a case as the assurance of salvation, we should not leave the matter suspicious and questionable. He that will sin as often as may stand with saving grace shall never have assurance of his sincerity till he break this course and way of lying by repentance ; and for the present there is a bar against his actual entrance into heaven, or a present unfitness, till his recon- ciliation be made with God.
Use 3. See that ye be found in this grace also, as well as in goodness and righteousness. God is truth, and requireth truth, and delighteth in truth: Ps. li. 6, ' Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts.' It is your strength, as a girdle to your loins : Eph. vi. 14, ' Having your loins girt about with trutii.' It is your comfort, downright honesty breedeth rejoicing : 2 Cor. i. 12, ' For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world.' Therefore we should make great conscience of truth, putting away all lying.
The means are these —
1. Get your hearts healed and renewed by the Spirit. Till we have a right spirit, we may speak truth out of interest, or for other reasons ; but we are always in danger of being crooked and deceitful, for the old heart is inclined to lying and deceit. It is called the ' old man, which is corrupt according to his deceitful lusts,' Eph. iv. 22. There are swarms of lusts will put us upon it, malice, envy, pride, vainglory, worldly affections.
2. Let us hate it as a horrid sin ; do not think it a venial matter: Ps. cxix. 163, ' I hate and abhor lying, but thy law do I love.' A sliffht hatred is not sufficient to guard us against it.
288 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XII.
3. Kemember 3'our spiritual conflict. You never give your enemy so great an advantage as by falseliood and guile of spirit. Satan's weapons against you are wiles and darts : ' wiles/ Eph. vi. 11, and ' fiery darts,' ver. 16. Against bis darts or blaspbemous tbougbts you oppose faitb, and against bis wiles your strengtb lietb in downrigbt bonesty. Righteousness is your breastplate, and trutb your girdle, ver. 14. This will guard you against bis temptations, and give you strengtb and courage in tbe day of sore trial ; it is strengtb against bim both as a tempter and an accuser.
4. Heedfulness, or a constant watch over j^our tongue: Ps, xxxix. 1, ' I said, I will take beed to my ways, tbat I sin not witb my tongue. I will keep my moutb witb a bridle, wbile tbe wicked is before me ; ' Ps. cxli. 3, * Set a watcb, 0 Lord, before my moutb ; keep tbe door of my lips.' And tbis watcb is quickened by tbe fear of God, in whose sight and hearing we always are.
5. Avoid tbe causes of lying. I shall mention some of them —
[1.] Pride and self-esteem. We all affect to seem better than we are, and what we want in real worth we make up by lying and foolish boasting. The ' lying tongue,' and ' tbe tongue that speaketb proud things,' are joined together, Ps. xii. 3.