Speculum et Lavacrum

Truth~
"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; its grey hairs may make it venerable; it comes from Him who is the ancient of days. 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 breathes 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 its trophies of victory. Truth may be opposed but never quite deposed... 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 its 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 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... The reason so many have been tricked into error is because they either did not know, or did not love, the truth..."
~ Heaven Taken by Storm by Thomas Watson (A.D. 1620-1686), pp. 5-6