IV.  The fourth general, which is here observable, is, that he is not only called “Truth,” but “the Truth,” as he is the way and the life; and not only true, but truth in the abstract.  Which saith,

1.  That he is every way Truth, however we consider him, as God, or as Mediator.

2.  That all truth is in him; all truth of salvation for us is to be found in him.

3.  That all that is in him is truth, his natures, offices, performances, words, works, &c, all are true.

4.  That he is pure and unmixed truth; no lie in him, no error or mistake there.

5.  That truth in him is in its perfection and excellency.  In the truest of men it is very imperfect.

O what an excellent one must he be!  How completely fitted and furnished for us!  Oh! if our souls could love him, and close with him, and rest upon him as all-sufficient!

CHAPTER XI.

MORE PARTICULARLY, IN WHAT RESPECT CHRIST IS CALLED THE TRUTH.

But for further explaining of this matter, we would see more particularly, in what respects it is, that he is called the truth; and this will make way to our use-making of him.  So,

First, He is the Truth, in opposition to the shadows and types of him, under the law.  Hence, as “the law,” the whole Levitical and typical dispensation, “came by Moses, so grace and truth came by Jesus Christ,” John i. 17.  They were all shadows of him, and he is the substance and body of them all, Col. ii. 17; and this is true in these respects: 

1.  All these shadows and types pointed at him, and directed, as with a finger, the Israelites, who were under that dispensation, to look to Christ, the promised Messiah, and to rest, and to lay all their weight on him.  So that the law was a shadow of good things to come, Heb. x. 1.  Col. ii. 17.

2.  They all terminate in him, he putting an end, by his coming and performing his work, to all those types which only related to him, and to what he was to do; the body being come, there is no more need of the shadow and the thing typified existing, there is no more need or use of the type.

3.  They are all fulfilled in him; he answereth them all fully, so that whatever was shadowed forth by them is completely to be found in him.  This the apostle, in his Epistle to the Hebrews, abundantly evinceth.  And Paul to the Colossians, tells us, “we are complete in him,” and therefore need no more follow the shadows.

Secondly, He is the Truth in reference to the prophecies of old; all which did principally point at him and his concernments, his person, nature, offices, work, kingdom, &c.; and whatever was foretold in these prophecies is perfectly fulfilled in him, or done by him, or shall in due time be effectuated by him.  He is that great prophet spoken of, Deut xviii. 15, 18, 19.  So said the Jews themselves, John vi.