The Girdle of Truth

    THE GIRDLE OF TRUTH

    "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with Truth" &c. Eph 6:14.

    A Girdle is properly a Belt, used to be worn by soldiers, to preserve the breast and belly.

    Truth hath various acceptations in the holy scriptures, some of which, (according to Wilson and others,) you may take as follows.

    1. The most perfect divine essence, which is truth itself, and the Author of all Truth, in his creatures: "Thou hast redeemed me, Lord God of Truth," Ps 31:5.

    2. Jesus Christ: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life," Joh 14:6.

    3. The statutes, precepts, and promises of the law of Moses: "Thy commandments are Truth," Ps 119:151,142.

    4. The whole word of God, both law and Gospel: "Thy word is Truth," Joh 17:17. "Whereof ye heard before, by the word of the Truth of the Gospel," Col 1:5.

    5. The light of nature in man since the fall, to help him to know God so far, as to leave him without excuse: "Which hold the Truth in unrighteousness," Ro 1:18.

    6. True religion taught and contained in the Gospel: "Who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the Truth?" Ga 3:1; Tit 1:1.

    7. Truth of grace, sincerity, void of deceit in the heart and life. I have walked before thee in Truth," Isa 38:3. "Thou lovest Truth in the inward parts," Ps 51:6.

    8. Fidelity and faithfulness between man and man, Jer 5:1-2.

    9. Judgment and true justice, "Truth is fallen in the streets."

    10. Most true, far from all deceit. "The judgments of the Lord are Truth," Ps 19:9.

    11. Truth signifieth sincerity from the heart, with assent of the mind, as one truly purposeth, &c., without hypocrisy.

    (1.) But that which is principally intended by the Girdle of Truth according to expositors, is, first, the doctrine of the Gospel, called the word of Truth.

    (2.) Truth of grace and sincerity of heart, called, "The unleavened bread of sincerity and Truth." 1Co 5:8.

    By loins is meant the mind, "Gird up the loins of your mind," &c. A Christian should be of a sound judgment; he should be girt about, as with a Girdle, with truth and sincerity, "Hold the mystery of faith in a pure conscience," 1Ti 3:9. Maintain the true religion, and be sincere and upright in the profession of it. Why Truth in both these respects is compared to a Girdle, will appear by what follows.

    METAPHOR

    I. A Girdle was used in former times by soldiers, it was part of their habit and armour.

    PARALLEL

    I. The true doctrine of the Gospel, or the holy principles of religion and sincerity, are of great use among Christ's spiritual soldiers, in order to the arming them completely.

    METAPHOR

    II. A Girdle cleaves close to a man when it is well girt to him, and it is not easily unbuckled by an adversary.

    PARALLEL

    II. So the Truth of Christ, should be fastened in our hearts and judgments, that we may not be wavering in our minds; "Stand fast in the faith," &c. 1Co 16:13. Sincerity ought to

    cleave to our inward parts, as a Girdle doth to the loins of a man.

    METAPHOR

    III. A Girdle compasseth a man about.

    PARALLEL

    III. So the Truth of Christ, and sincerity of heart, should compass Christians about, they ought to keep always in the bounds of Truth and uprightness; God hath set bounds to his people, out of which they must never go: we must not swerve aside to the right-hand or left, nor play the hypocrite, for such that do so, cannot be said to be girt about with Truth.

    METAPHOR

    IV. A Girdle strengthens the loins of a soldier, or him that is well girt therewith: "Gird up thy loins, and arise and speak unto them all that I command thee; be not dismayed," Jer 1:17. As much as if God should say, be strong for thy work. "Thou hast girded me with strength," &c. "Their loins shall be loosed;" "I will loose the loins of the kings: "He weakeneth the strength of the mighty," Job 12:21, the Girdle of the strong: so the Heb.

    PARALLEL

    IV. The true doctrine of the Gospel, or that religion that is according to godliness, joined with sincerity of heart, is the strength of every Christian or soldier of Christ; if he have not this Girdle on, his loins are loose and weak, and "he is as unstable as water," as Jacob speaks of Reuben, Ge 49:2-3. Let Truth go, let one Truth go, and how doth it weaken our hands? Or profess it with a false and deceitful heart, and how unable to stand against the assaults of the enemy? On the other hand, when a person is well girt with Truth in both these respects, he is thereby made strong and courageous.

    METAPHOR

    V. A Girdle was used to gird on the other parts of the soldier's armour, "Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself, as he that putteth it off," 1Ki 20:11.

    PARALLEL

    V. Truth is that which fasteneth or girdeth every part of the Christian's armour, sincerity completes and perfects all; what will a man's faith, hope, righteousness, signify without the Girdle of Truth, unless he keep within the bounds of Christian doctrine, and is sincere and upright in the profession thereof.

    METAPHOR

    VI. Girding up the loins, notes a preparation for battle and war. Thus David spake of Christ, "Gird thy sword on thy thigh, O most Mighty," Ps 45:3. "Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast," &c

    PARALLEL

    VI. So the apostle would have saints stand, or be ready to engage their spiritual enemies, "Having their loins girt about with Truth," Eph 6:14. Such a person is prepared to encounter with all adversaries of the soul. We should be girt with the Truth, and girt for the Truth; that is, as another apostle speaks, to "Contend for the faith once delivered to the saints," Jude 1:3. We should be ready to dispute, fight, make war, as good soldiers of Christ. Opponents are like combatants; controversial divinity, saith Mr Caryl, on Job 38. page 35, is called polemical divinity. Disputes are word-wars; and there have been as hot wars made by the pen, as ever were by the sword. "Gird up now thy loins," &c. saith God to Job. The Lord seems to send him a challenge to the battle, by a further debate: arm thyself like a mighty man, get ready for the duel, for I am resolved to try what a man thou art in arguing. A saint being girt with Truth and sincerity, is fitted for any conflict.

    METAPHOR

    VII. We read of girding up the loins for travel, or when a man is to take a journey. Thus Elisha said to Gehazi, "Gird up thy loins and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way," 2Ki 4:29. It was the fashion in those Eastern countries, where they wore their garments long, and ordinarily loose, to gird them up, by which they could travel better.

    PARALLEL

    VII. So Christians should have their loins girt about with Truth and uprightness, that they may be fitted and prepared to travel heaven-wards. God's people are strangers and pilgrims whilst in this world, and are travelling to their own country; and to have their minds well girt up with Truth, will be a great help to them in their journey. A storm of persecution may soon blow away the loose garment of profession, if a person be not girt with the Girdle of Truth and sincerity.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. There is mention made of girding up the loins, in order to serving, and attending on business: "Which of you, saith Christ, having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, go and sit down; and will not rather say, gird thyself, and serve me?" &c. From hence we may see, girding is preparatory to serving or waiting: it also denotes preparation for our labour or work.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. Truth and sincerity prepares and fits the mind for Christ's work and service: "Let your loins be girt about, and your lights burning, and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord," Lu 12:35-36. He is always well girt with Truth and uprightness, that is ready to wait upon, or do work for the Lord Jesus. Careless, slothful, and unsound persons are ungirt, and so unblessed. A saint in doing of his work, whether it be heart-work, or hand-work, ought to be well-girt, viz., perform all in Truth and uprightness. Ministers must preach nothing but Truth; and as they must preach nothing but Truth, so they must preach in Truth, or in sincerity of heart. "Some preach Christ," saith the apostle, "but not sincerely," Php 1:16. Their minds were not girt with Truth. All our prayers ought to be put up in Truth: "God is near to all that upon him in Truth," Ps 145:19. All works of charity ought to flow from a pure heart, viz., to be done in uprightness and simplicity, according to the direction given by the Lord in his word, both for matter and manner.

    METAPHOR

    IX. A Girdle is a great ornament, used to be put on uppermost, to cover the joints of the armour, which if seen, would cause some uncomeliness; for though the armour was closely knit and clasped together, yet some gaping was subject to be betwixt piece and piece; and therefore they used to put over these parts a broad belt or Girdle, which did serve not only to fasten the other armour together, but it made the soldier appear more comely in his harness and accoutrements.

    PARALLEL

    IX. Sincerity is a glorious ornament. A Christian hereby appears very comely in the sight of God, and it greatly tends to hide and cover all the infirmities of this life; for the saints' graces are not so close, nor their lives so exact, but in the best are found defects and weaknesses, which are so many gaps in his armour: but sincerity covers all, so that he is not put to shame by them.

    1. Sincerity covers all outward blemishes, or want of outward beauty, that great idol of the world. Sincere persons, if they be not so fair and comely as some others, yet being holy and upright, sincere and virtuous ones, how amiable are they rendered hereby in the sight of all good men; it covers all things that seem to render a saint dishonourable or uncomely.

    2. Mean parentage, or a low descent, is much despised in the world; but how base soever the stock, and ignoble the birth be, when true grace and sincerity comes, it makes the house and person illustrious, and very glorious: "Since thou wert precious in mine eyes, thou hast been honourable," Isa 43:4. Sincerity sets a mark of honour upon a person, or a people. If you see this flourishing, though in a mean cottage, it tells you a great prince, nay, an heir of heaven dwells there. Sincerity brings the creature into alliance with the Most High and glorious King of heaven and earth. Who dares say, a child of God, the spouse of Christ, and heir of heaven is of an ignoble birth and pedigree?

    3. It covers poverty, which exposeth to great contempt. There is none so rich as a godly sincere person; he is daily let into God's treasury, Christ's storehouse is always open unto him: "All is yours," 1Co 3:22.

    4. To want parts, and to be a person of no name, and of small endowments, exposeth to disdain; none are more contemptible in the eye of the wise and vain glorious world, than such. But alas! an honest heart, one that is sincere, excels beyond all comparison the proudest, most renowned, and applauded for human wisdom, parts, and elegancy in the world.

    5. It covers all sinful comeliness, and all the godly man's failings, whether they be sins of omission or commission; for sincerity is that excellent quality to which pardoning mercy is annexed. It is Christ in a proper sense that covers all sin, but he will cover the sins and failings of none but such as are sincere: "Blessed is the man whose sins are covered," &c., Ps 32:1. The upright man's righteousness is accepted through Christ, though he be never so infirm, or attended with miscarriages: though God does not like his sin for his sincerity, yet God will not unsaint him because of his sin.

    METAPHOR

    X. The priest under the law wore a Girdle,[1] which was made of fine linen, and of blue, purple, and scarlet; the Hebrew doctors say, it was about three fingers broad; it was curiously woven, as Josephus observes, with pictures ot flowers.[2] This Girdle (saith Ainsworth) signified the girding up the loins of our minds with strength, justice, and virtue, Eph 6:14. Also we read of Christ's being girt with a golden Girdle, Re 1:13.

    [1] Ainsworth,

    [2] Josephus Antiquit. Book 8. chap. 2.

    PARALLEL

    X. Truth and sincerity is not only an ornament, but a most glorious ornament, being that which was figured out by the priest's Girdle, rarely made with curious flowers. This is as a choice golden Girdle, curiously wrought by the Spirit of God, which all the priesthood of Christ have on, 1Pe 2:5. It is made of a complication of every grace. Sincerity is not alone; many choice divine flowers interwoven together, in making of the Girdle of truth.

    METAPHOR

    I. BESIDES other great disparities between other Girdles, and the Girdle of Truth, this is one, viz., other Girdles may be lost; or be corrupted; they may rot, and pass away, like that which Jeremiah had, Jer 13:7, which was "Marred and profitable for nothing."

    DISPARITY

    I. BUT the Girdle of Truth can never he lost. Sincerity in the heart of a believer is so fast tied to him, or twisted about him, that he can never lose it. I never yet read of a man that was perfect and upright in heart and life in the sight of God, that ever lost his sincerity, so as to die an hypocrite; though he may in some things be guilty of hypocrisy, yet he cannot absolutely become an hypocrite. This Girdle cannot rot, or be corrupted.

    METAPHOR

    II. Other Girdles are only made for the body.

    DISPARITY

    II. But Truth and sincerity is a Girdle for the soul, by which the mind is stayed and strengthened.

    INFERENCES.

    THIS should teach every professor to labour after, if they have not yet got the Girdle of Truth.

    1. Because the design of Satan is, to corrupt men in their judgments, and make them zealous for false ways. Paul's jealousy of the Corinthians was, "Lest the old serpent should beguile them through subtilty, and corrupt their minds from the simplicity of the truth," 2Co 11:1-3.

    2. Because of the damning nature of heresy and hypocrisy, which our Saviour, as well as the apostle, often warns us of, Lu 12:1; 2Th 2:10.

    3. Because those who are well girt about with Truth, are established ones. Deceivers are subtil, and false doctrine is of a bewitching nature; the wary and established soul nevertheless is not soon overcome. "In vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird." "Be no more tossed about with every wind of doctrine." Children are most in danger of the poison, 2Pe 1:12; 3:15; Ga 4:1; Pr 1:17; Eph 4:14.

    4. And as false doctrine is of a corrupting nature, so likewise is hypocrisy, hence compared to leaven, Lu 12:1. As sincerity leaveneth in a good sense, so hypocrisy is compared to leaven in a bad sense, from that souring, infusive, and corrupting quality which is in it.

    Directions about putting on the Girdle of Truth.

    1. Take heed of a counterfeit Girdle; see that what you own and practise for Truth have the stamp of God upon it.

    2. Take up nothing upon trust: do not receive this or that, because such and such men believe so, and practise so; neither men nor ministers are your rule, but the word of God.

    3. Put not this Girdle of Truth on in notion only; what will the knowledge of Truth signify in thy head, if the loins of thy mind be not girt with it?

    4. Take heed of being prejudiced against the Truth, because of the unworthiness of them who posses it.

    5. If thou hast not yet gotten the Girdle of truth, buy it now; as Solomon adviseth "Buy the Truth, and sell it not," Pr 23:23. The price of Truth may quickly rise high.

    6. Let falsehood go, let thy sins go, let thy own righteousness go, in point of reliance or dependance upon it, so as to trust in it for justification and eternal life.

    7. Come up to the price of Truth; do not cheapen it only, but come up to the price, though it cost thee a right-hand lust of profit, or a right-eye lust of pleasure; thou must deny thyself.

    Labour to know the excellency of Truth.

    1. It is pure, Ps 119:140.

    2. It will cleanse and purify the heart, Joh 17:17,19; and cover all the infirmities of thy life, as was hinted before.

    3. It will make you free: "Ye shall know the Truth, and. the Truth shall make free," Joh 8:32.

    4. It is strong; Truth is too hard and strong for all its opposers; as the young man said, "Great is the strength of Truth." There is no breaking of this Girdle.

    5. Consider what God's people have suffered before they would part with Truth, what torments and tortures they have endured.

    6. There is no managing the spiritual war without the Girdle of Trnth.

    Marks of sincerity.

    First, Negatively.

    1. He is not a perfect and sincere Christian, whose heart is not changed, who is not renewed, or who hath not a principle of divine grace or spiritual life in him.

    2. He is not a perfect and sincere person, that wants any essential part of a Christian; as he is not a perfect natural child, that wants an arm, an eye, or a leg. See Mt 19:21. "One thing thou lackest," if thou wouldst be perfect, or approve thyself sincere, "go thy way, and sell what thou hast," &c.

    3. He is not a sincere person, whose heart is lifted up in him, Hab 2:4.

    4. He is not a sincere man, that is not upright in all his dealings and converse with men; if he want moral uprightness, his religion is good for nothing.

    Secondly, In the affirmative.

    1. A sincere and upright Christian is known by the way he goes in: "The highway of the upright is to depart from evil," Pr 16:17.

    (1.) He escheweth all evil, the smallest, as well as the greatest.

    (2.) He leaveth it willingly, he hates it; he doth not part with it as a man parteth with his friend, but as a man parteth with his most deadly and mortal enemy.

    2. A sincere person hath a right faith, and a good and well enlightened judgment. Rotten principles make rotten Christians. There are some men who are of "Corrupt minds, reprobate, or of no judgment, concerning the faith," 2Ti 3:8.

    3. He hath an holy and upright end; he desires to live to God's glory, and to serve him in sincerity. Paul resolved, "Christ should be magnified in his body, whether it were by life or by death."

    4. He walks by a true and exact rule; "As many as walk according to this rule, peace on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God," Ga 6:16.

    5. He labours to keep all God's commandments. Thus did David, who was "a man after God's own heart," Ps 119:9; and thus did Zachary and Elizabeth, who "walked in all the commandments of the Lord blameless," &c. Lu 1:6.

    6. He desires to be sanctified, as well as to be saved; to be made holy, as well as to be made happy.

    7. He is as willing to do for God, as to receive from God; for the work, as well as the wages.

    8. He strives as much against the evils of his heart, as he does against the evils of his life.

    9. He is a man always for God, in bad times as well as in good times.

    10. He is the same in private as in public; he is at home what he seems to be abroad.

    11. He loves and prefers God and Christ above all. Thus David, Ps 73:25, and Paul, Php 3:8-9.

    12. He can go on in God's ways and services with abundance of content, without respect to any outward profit or applause, or being taken notice of by men. His satisfaction consisteth not in the approbation of men, but by the approbation and commendation of God. His own conscience gives testimony and evidence of the sincerity of his heart. Thus Paul, "This is our rejoicing, the testimony of our conscience," &c. 2Co 1:12.