The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

Direct. 15. Consider well how much all humane converse is maintained by the necessary belief of one another, and what the world would be without it; and how much you expect your selves to be believed: And then think how much more belief is due to God.

Though sin hath made the world so bad, that we may say, that all men are liars, that is, deceitful vanity, and little to be trusted; yet the honesty of those that are more virtuous, doth help so far to keep up the honour of veracity, and the shamefulness of lying, that throughout the world, a lye is in ⟨p. 164⟩disgrace, and truth in speech and dealing is well spoken of. And the remnants of natural honesty in the worst, do so far second the true honesty of the best, that no man is so well spoken of commonly in the world, as a man of truth and trustiness, whose Word is his Law and Master, and never speaketh deceitfully to any: Nor no man is so commonly ill spoken of as a knave, as he that will lye, and is not to be trusted: In so much, that even those debauched Ruffians, who live as if they said in their hearts, There is no God, will yet venture their lives in revenge against him that shall give them the lye. Perhaps you will say, that this is not from any virtue, or natural Law, or honesty, but from common interest, there being nothing more the interest of mankind, than that men be trusty to each other. To which I answer, that you oppose things which are conjunct: It is both: For all Gods natural Laws are for the interest of mankind, and that which is truly most for our good, is made most our duty; and that which is most our duty, is most for our good. And that which is so much for the interest of mankind, must needs be good: If it were not for credibility and trustiness in men, there were no living in families; but Masters and Servants, Parents and Children, Husbands and Wives, would live together as enemies: And neighbours would be as so many thieves to one another: There could be no Society or Common-wealth, when Prince and people could put no trust in one another: Nay, thieves themselves, that are not to be trusted by any others, do yet strengthen themselves by confederacies, and oaths of secrecy, and gather into troops and armies, and there put trust in one another. And can we think that GOD is not much more to be trusted, and is not a greater hater of a lye? and is not the fountain of all fidelity? and hath not a greater care of the interest of his creatures?