11.  We should beware of resting on a form of the truth, as those did, of whom we read, Rom. ii. 20; and of holding the truth in unrighteousness, as those, Rom. i. 18; and of disobeying it, as those mentioned in Rom. ii. 8.  See also Gal. iii. 1; v. 7.

12.  But on the contrary, we should so receive truth, as that it might rule and be master in us, captivate judgment, will, and affections, and break out into the practice.  And this recommendeth several duties, such as,

(1.) To have the truth in us; while as, if we practise otherwise, “the truth is not in us,” 1 John i. 8; ii. 4.

(2.) To be of the truth, as belonging to its jurisdiction, power, and command, 1 John iii. 19.  John xviii. 37.

(3.) To do the truth, by having true fellowship with him, 1 John i. 6; and “to walk in the truth,” 2 John iv. 3.  John iv.  Psalm lxxxvi. 11.

(4.) To have the loins girt with truth, Eph. i. 14.

(5.) To receive the love of the truth, 2 Thess. ii. 10.

(6.) To be instructed of him, “as the truth is in Jesus,” Eph. iv. 21.

(7.) To purify the soul in obeying the truth, 1 Pet. ii. 22.

This shall suffice for clearing up, and applying in the general this excellent truth, that Christ is the truth.  We shall now come and make some more particular use of this precious point, by speaking to some particular cases (which we shall instance in, by which the understanding Christian may be helped to understand how to carry and how to make use of Christ in other the like cases), wherein Christ is to be made use of as the truth, and show how believers are to make use of him in these cases as the truth.

CHAPTER XIII.

HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST AS THE TRUTH, FOR GROWTH IN KNOWLEDGE.

It is a commanded duty, that we grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. iii. 18; and the knowledge of him being life eternal, John xvii. 3, and our measure of knowledge of him here being but imperfect, for we know but in part, it cannot but be an useful duty, and a desirable thing, to be growing in this knowledge.  This is to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, to be increasing in the knowledge of God, Col. i. 10.  Knowledge must be added to virtue; and it layeth a ground for other Christian virtues, 2 Pet. i. 5, 6.  In this knowledge we must not be barren, 2 Pet. i. 2.  And this being so necessary, so desirable, so useful, and so advantageous a grace, the believer cannot but desire to have more and more of it, especially seeing it is a part of the image of God, Col. iii. 10.

Now it is the truth that must teach them here, first and last.  “The light of the knowledge of the glory of God must be had in the face of Jesus Christ,” 2 Cor. iv. 6.  The question therefore is, how we should make use of Jesus Christ for this end, that we may attain to more of this excellent knowledge.

First. It is good to live in the constant conviction of a necessity of his teaching us, and this taketh in those particulars: