I. What we are to understand by truth —
II. Its use and office in the Christian warfare —
I. What are we to understand by " truth ?"
It is a term of extensive signification. It is some- times put for the Gospel ; in which sense the Apostle speaks of " obeying the truth." But in this place, it rather means sincerity. The two terms are often used together as synonymous expressions ; " Serve the Lord," says Joshua in his farewell discourse, " in sincerity and truthb:" and St. Paul exhorts us to " keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sin- cerity and truth0."
But sincerity, Christian sincerity, is very little understood. For the most part, it is considered as importing nothing more than a good intention, with- out any reference to the manner in which that good intention operates. But the sincerity, of which the text speaks, is a Christian grace ; and consequently it must include something widely different from that which may be exercised by superstitious bigots d, or blood-thirsty persecutors6.
To mark it as distinctly as possible, we shall notice four things that are implied in it :
First, it implies a desire and intention to please God. There is one canon, one universal rule of action, pre- scribed to us in the Scriptures ; namely, that "whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we should do all to the glory of Godf." Whatever therefore springs from other motives and principles, must argue a want of sincerity, in proportion as God's honour is superseded by any selfish considerations. When Jehu, in compliance with God's command, extirpated the family of Ahabg, his obedience was not considered as sincere, because he was actuated rather by vain- glory11, than by a real desire to please God ; and the blood that he shed in executing the divine command,
b Josh. xxiv. 14. c 1 Cor. v. 8. d Rom. x. 2.
e John. xvi. 2. f 1 Cor. x. 31. e 2 Kings ix. 6, 7.
h 2 Kings x. 16.