London's lamentation, or, A serious discourse concerning the late fiery dispensation that turned our…

Secondly, Consider this, that pernicious Lies and Liars ⟨p. 119⟩§2are very destructive to all humane Societies, Kingdoms, and Common-wealths. Lying destroys all Society, all Commerce, and Converse among the Sons of men. Man (as the Philosopher observeth) is [Greek or Hebrew], a sociable Creature. Speech is the means whereby men have society and commerce one with another. Now lying perverts that order which the God of truth hath appointed to be among the Sons of men. 'Tis the will and pleasure of God, that the Sons of men conversing together, should by their words and speeches and discourses impart and communicate their minds, designs, intentions, and meanings one to another, for the mutual good of one another, and for the profit and benefit of the whole. Now if there be nothing in mens words, but lying, deceit, and fraud instead of truth, what can follow but confusion and desolation? When the language of men was confounded, so that one could not tell what another spake, then presently followed the dissolution of their combination; for the Lord scattered them abroad from thence, upon the face of all the Earth, and they left off to build the City: when ¹one asked brick (saith a Rabbin) another brought clay, and ²then they fell together by the ears, and one dashed out the others brains; and by this means their communion was dissolved, and God brought on them the evil which they sought to prevent, vers. 4. But surely a lying tongue is a far worse enemy to Society then an unknown tongue: and much better it is for a man to have no society at all, then with such as he cannot believe what they say; or if he do, he shall be sure to be deceived by them. Concerning such, we may well take up the words of Jacob: O my soul, come not thou into their secret, unto their assembly; mine honour, be not thou united. And pray with David: Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. Jeremiah did so loath and abominate the society of Liars, that he had rather live in a Wilderness, then live among them, or have any thing to do with them. Liars destroy that Communion and Society that by the Law of God, Nature, and Nations they ought to preserve and maintain. Lying dissolves that mutual trust that we should have with one another;