Of GOD’s TRUTH

1. What is the [truth] of God?

It is that essential perfection of his nature, whereby he cannot but fulfil and accomplish whatever he hath spoken; or do as he has said.

2. What is it that this perfection of God has a special relation unto?

To the revelation of his will in his word: hence the whole scripture is infallible truth; “one jot, or one tittle, shall in no wise pass therefrom, till all be fulfilled,” Matthew 5:18 For, “the word of the Lord endureth for ever,” 1 Peter 1:25

3. What is God’s truth, as respecting his word, commonly called?

His faithfulness or veracity, “He is faithful that promised.”

4. To what is the truth and faithfulness of God opposed?

To all change of mind, and to all lying and dissimulation: “He is in one mind, and who can turn him?” Job 23:13 “It is impossible for God to lie.” Hebrews 6:18

5. Can there be any inconsistency in his words?

No: for truth always hangs with itself, and he keepeth truth for ever.

6. Can he possibly forget what he has said?

No surely; for, “he will ever be mindful of his covenant,”

7. Wherein is the truth and faithfulness of God manifested?

In the exact accomplishment of his promises; Joshua 23:14 and certain execution of his threatenings. Zechariah 1:6

8. How do we give God the honour of his truth and faithfulness?

By faith, which sets to the seal that God is true, John 3:33 and judges him faithful who hath promised. Hebrews 11:11

9. By what sin is this attribute of God most dishonoured?

By the sin of unbelief, which makes God a liar, because it believes not the record that God gave of his Son.

10. What record doth God give of his Son?

“This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son,”

11. To whom is this record given?

To all the hearers of the gospel, as a ground of faith: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 “The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:39

12. How doth it appear, that this record is given as a ground of faith, to all the hearers of the gospel?

If it were not so, it were impossible that unbelievers, under the gospel, could make God a liar; for, if they have no concern in this record, and are not bound to believe it with application to themselves, their rejecting of it could not be their sin; because, “where no law is, there is no transgression,”

13. If the record, or promise of a God of truth be made to every one of the hearers of the gospel, is he not, in that case, obliged to fulfil it to every one?

By no means: because the unbeliever wilfully rejects the promise, and will have no benefit by it.

14. By what example, in scripture, may this be illustrated?

By the example of the promise of Canaan, made indefinitely to all Israel who came out of Egypt; Exodus 6:6, 8 yet many of them “could not enter in because of unbelief,” Hebrews 3:19 even so, the promise of eternal life is made to all the hearers of the gospel; yet many of them come short of it, because “the word preached doth not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that hear it,” Hebrews 4:1–2

15. What then is the deplorable case of unbelievers under the gospel?

They are condemned already, and, the wrath of God abideth on them.

16. What improvement ought we to make of the truth and faithfulness of God?

We ought to choose the way of truth; Psalm 119:30 walk in it; 3 John 4 bear witness for it before the world; Hebrews 10:23 to praise God for his truth; Psalm 138:2 and trust him on his word, without staggering at the promise through unbelief. Romans 4:20