Truth is The Most Glorious Thing!

Quoting Thomas Watson . . .

	[The violence meant in Matthew 11:12 is a holy violence]. We must be violent for the truth. Here Pilate's question will be cited, "What is truth?" Truth is either the blessed Word of God which is called the Word of truth, or those doctrines which are deduced from the Word, and agree with it, just as the dial with the Sun or the transcript with the original. These include the doctrine of the trinity, the doctrine of creation, the doctrine of free grace, justification by the blood of Christ, [the resurrection] of the dead, and the life of glory. These truths we must be violent for, which is either by being advocates for them or martyrs. Truth is the most glorious thing! The least filing of this gold is precious. What shall we be violent for, if not for truth? Truth is ancient; it's grey hairs may make it venerable; it comes from Him who is the ancient of days. Truth is unerring; it is the star which leads to Christ. Truth is pure (Ps. 119:140). It is compared to silver refined seven times (Ps. 12:6). There is not the least spot on truth's face; it breaths nothing but sanctity. Truth is triumphant; it is like a great conqueror when all his enemies lie dead; it keeps the field and sets up it's trophies of victory. Truth may be opposed but never quite deposed. In the time of Dioclesian things seemed desperate and truth ran low. Soon after was the golden time of Constantine, and then truth did again lift up it's head. When the water in the Thames river is lowest, a high tide is read to come in. God is on truth's side and so long as there is no fear it will prevail, "The heavens being on fire shall be dissolved" (2 Peter 3:12), but not that truth which came from heaven (1 Pet. 1:25). Truth has noble effects. Truth is the seed of the new birth. God does not regenerate us by miracles or revelations, but by the word of truth (James 1:18). As truth is the breeder of grace, so it is the feeder of it (1 Tim 4:6). Truth sanctifies: "Sanctify them through thy truth" (John 17:17). Truth is the seal that leaves the print of it's own holiness upon us; it is both speculum and lavacrum, a glass to show us our blemishes and a laver to wash them away. Truth makes us free (John 8:32). It bears off the fetters of sin and puts us into a state of sonship (Rom. 8:11), and kingship (Rev. 1:6). Truth is comforting; this wine cheers. When David's harp and viol could yield him no comfort, truth did: "This is my comfort in my affliction: for Thy word has quickened me" (Ps. 119:50). Truth is an antidote against error. Error is the adultery of the mind; it stains the soul, as treason stains blood. Error damns as well as does vice. A man may as well die by poison as by pistol; and what can stave off error but truth? The reason so many have been tricked into error is because they either did not know, or did not love, the truth. I can never say enough in the honor of truth. Truth is basis fidei, the ground of our faith; it gives us an exact model of religion; it shows us what we are to believe. Take away truth and our faith is fancy. Truth is the best flower in the church's crown; we have not a richer jewel to trust God with than our souls, nor He a richer jewel to trust us with than His truths. Truth is insigne honoris, an ensign of honor; it distinguishes us from the false church, as chastity distinguishes a virtuous woman from an harlot. ... What then should we be violent for, if not for truth? We are bid to contend as in an agony 'for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,' Jude verse 3. If truth once be gone, we may write this epitaph on England's tomb-stone, Thy glory is departed. [Read more]
From:	Heaven Taken By Storm, 1669