2. There are three kinds of truth. That is to say, truth is to be sought in three different spheres of life.
(1) First there is civil truth, which exists and prevails in all the civil business of society — the truth which man speaks to man : " Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour." This is the truth that is so highly thought of, and so valued, both in public and in private life, as it is so indispensable to the due discharge of the duties of life ; and so great is con- sidered the insult of affixing upon man the imputation of speaking contrary to truth that life is often risked to repel the charge ; and not only that, but is frequently sacrificed to wipe away the stain. This does not seem to be the truth spoken of in the text, although, perhaps, it is part of it. It extends from it, as the branch from the tree ; it flows from it, as the streamlet from the fountain ; but it is not altogether it.
^ Truth is the very bond of society, without which it must cease to exist, and dissolve into anarchy and chaos. A household cannot be governed by lying ; nor can a nation. Sir Thomas Browne once was asked, " Do the devils lie ? " " No," was his answer ; " for then even hell could not subsist." No considera- tions can justify the sacrifice of truth, which ought to be sovereign in all the relations of life. Of all mean vices, perhaps lying is the meanest. It is in some cases the offspring of perversity and vice, and in many others of sheer moral cowardice. There was no virtue that Dr. Arnold of Rugby laboured more sedulously to instil into young men than the virtue of truthfulness, as being the manliest of virtues, as indeed the very basis of all true manliness. He designated truthfulness as " moral transparency," and he valued it more highly than any other quality. When lying was detected, he treated it as a great moral offence ; but when a pupil made an assertion, he accepted it with confidence. " If you say so, that is quite enough ; of course I believe your word." By thus trusting and believing them, he educated the young in truthfulness ; the boys at length coming to say to one another : " It's a shame to tell Arnold a lie — he always believes one." ^
^ J. Seth, Oraduation Address to Students. * S. Smiles, Character, 206.
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(2) There is a second kind of truth — philosophical truth, or an inquiry into the causes of nature, which is drawn and gathered from observation of the works of God, and which those who rank high in the learned world aim at possessing to such an extent that in quest of it they spare neither trouble, time, toil, nor expense. They sail to foreign climes, traverse distant lands —
Scorn delights, and live laborious days;
but if the discoveries which they make be found, on experiment, to be contrary to truth, then they are constrained to suffer a sort of de- gradation in their character, as men of literature and science, and to come down from the elevated station which they had occupied before. This does not, either, seem to be the truth spoken of in the text.
^ What is there within the circle of human possessions which has had its value so extolled by the most gifted of men as Truth ? There is an admitted nobility in the love of it, a high distinction in the search for it. To admit this is to acknowledge the import- ance of science and philosophy ; and from the exceeding worth of truth philosophy receives its high distinction. However labori- ously and cautiously reached, philosophic doctrines are of no value except in so far as they are capable of being verified. There are no dogmas, whether scientific, philosophic, or theologic, which have a right to live on any other condition than the acknowledgment of their truth. Popular error holds its place only on account of the absence of scientific criticism, which is the expression of intel- lectual activity. The strength, beauty, and value of truth are most clearly recognized when all society is stirred to interest in the whole range of inquiry, and in the critical testing of dogmas of all sorts. The love of truth is the true philosophic spirit; search after it is the philosopher's task.^
(3) There is a third kind of truth, — moral or spiritual truth, — the truth which regards God as a Sovereign, and man as an im- mortal, accountable being ; " the truth as it is in Jesus," which truth is gathered in all its fulness, purity, and excellence, only from the Scriptures, the Word of God.
^ The truth here meant is that which St. Augustine calleth legevi omnium artium, et artem omnipotentis Artificis, " a law to direct all arts, an art taught by Wisdom itself, by the Maker of all things." It teacheth us to love God with all our hearts, to believe in Him, and to lead upright lives. It killeth in us the
* Henry Calderwood.
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