Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/180

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168
Of Truth and Uprightnesse.

with them that rejoyce. Truth is opposed to lyingEph 4.25. and falshood, and to empty shadows and rites:Joh 4.23,24. and thus it may be applied to this purpose, as noting a plaine simplicity contrary to lying and emptie shews. To stay upon God in truth, Isa. 10. 20. is unfainedly, and not in word to stay upon him. To preach Christ in truth, Phil. 1. 18. is sincerely to preach him: A true heart is single, Act. 2. 46. resolved not in some things, but in all to walk with God, or as the Lord hath appointed. Thus a true Christian hath but one mind, one intention, one delight, one face, one tongue; he is all but one man, all the powers of the soule goe but one way.

4. Purity, or cleare shining innocency in all things, free from the mixture of leaven in manners or doctrine. The Apostle Peter writeth to the dispersed Jewes, to stirre up their pure minds:2 Pet. 3.1. what is that, but minds furnished and seasoned with an holy perspicuity of truth. Paul prayeth for the Philippians, thatPhil. 1.9,10. they might abound in all knowledge and in all judgement, that they might be able to discerne things that differ, that they might be sincere. And the same Apostle testifieth to the Corinthians, he was afraid of them,2 Cor. 11.3. lest their mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. The word used by the Apostle in all three places signifieth properly something tried by the light of the Sunne. And it is a Metaphor (as some suppose) taken from the custome of the Eagle, whose manner is (if we may beleeve those that write the naturall story) to bring her young out of the nest before they be full fledge, and to hold them forth against the full sight of the Sun; the sight whereof those of them that can with open eye endure, she retaineth and bringeth up as her owne; the rest that cannot brooke it, and winke at it, she rejecteth and casteth off as a bastardly brood. Others thinke it rather taken from the usuall practise of Chap-men in the view and choice of their wares. A wise wary Chap-man that hath to doe with a deceitfull Merchant, Draper or other, one that keepeth his wares in obscure places, where the defects of them cannot so easily be discerned, or hath false lights, that may helpe to give a counterfeit glosse to them, he will take no ware of him upon his word, but he will first diligently view it, tosse it and turne it to and fro, over and over, try how it is in the midst, as well as at both ends, bring it forth into the light, hold up his cloth against the Sun, see if he can espieany