9. The fear of the Lord isclean. The doctrine of truth is here described by its spiritual effect,
namely, inward piety or the fear of the Lord; this is clean in itself, and
cleanses out the love of sin, sanctifying the heart in which it reigns. Mr.
Godly-fear is never satisfied till every street, lane, and alley, yea, and
every house and every corner of the town of Mansoul is clean rid of the
Diabolonians who lurk there. Enduring forever. Filth brings decay, but
cleanness is the great foe of corruption. The grace of God in the heart being a
pure principle is also an abiding and incorruptible principle, which may be
crushed for a time, but cannot be utterly destroyed. Both in the Word and in
the heart, when the Lord writes, he says with Pilate, “What I have written, I have written.” He will make no erasures himself, much less allow others to do so. The
revealed will of God is never changed; even Jesus came not to destroy but to
fulfill, and even the ceremonial law was only changed as to its shadow; the
substance intended by it is eternal. When the governments of nations are shaken
with revolution, and ancient constitutions are being repealed, it is comforting
to know that the throne of God is unshaken, and his law unaltered. Thejudgments of the Lord are true andrighteous altogether. The words of the Lord are true; that which is good in
detail is excellent in the mass; no exception may be taken to a single clause
separately, or to the book as a whole. God’s judgments need no laborious
excuses to justify them. They commend themselves to every truthful mind; not
only is their power invincible, but their justice is unimpeachable.
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