Nothing more firmly unites and holds together the Common-wealth then fidelity,1 says Cicero. Truth is a girdle. Stand therefore, having your loins girt with truth, Ephes. 6. 14. Truth binds, and Falseness loosen•. The Apostle, Eph. 4. 25. exhorts to put away lying, and every man to speak trueth to his neighbour, upon this ground, because we are members one of another. The Romans esteemed so much of truth for uniting men into societies, that they built a Temple to it, as to a Goddess; in which Temple all Leagues, Covenants, Truces, and important bargains were made, which were so religiously observed, that whosoever broke them, was held for a cursed, damned creature, unfit for humane society. Rom. 1. 29. Full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity. A man were better be true to false principles, then be false to true ones. Those who are false, are also mischievous: they care not what mischief they do to any, so they may but uphold themselves, and repair that credit which formerly they had, but now through their base falseness is cracked; and if they have wronged any by their falseness, they seek to keep such down, if not to ruin them, fearing lest their falseness should hereafter be revenged: and if they cannot get them down by force, they will seek to do it by adding yet more falseness, by flattering them whom their hearts hate, and would gladly ruin. That Scripture, Prov. 26. 28. is very remarkable for this, A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. Psal. 72. 14. He shall deliver their soul from deceit and violence. If men who are false cannot compass their ⟨p. 145⟩ends by deceit, they will seek to do it by violence: God hath his time to deliver his Saints from both. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly.
NOthing more firmly unites and holds together the Common-wealth then fidelity,1 sayes Cicero. Truth is a girdle. Stand therefore, having your loynes girt with truth, Ephes. 6. 14. Truth binds, and Falseness loosen•. The Apostle, Eph. 4. 25. exhorts to put away lying, and every man to speak trueth to his neighbour, upon this ground, because we are members one of another. The Romans esteemed so much of truth for uniting men into societies, that they built a Temple to it, as to a Goddesse; in which Temple all Leagues, Covenants, Truces, and important bargains were made, which were so religiously observed, that whosoever broke them, was held for a cursed, damned creature, unfit for humane society. Rom. 1. 29. Full of envy, murther, debate, deceit, malignity. A man were better be true to false principles, then be false to true ones. Those who are false, are also mischievous: they care not what mischief they do to any, so they may but uphold themselves, and repair that credite which formerly they had, but now through their base falsenesse is crackt; and if they have wronged any by their falsnesse, they seek to keep such downe, if not to ruine them, fearing lest their falsenesse should hereafter be revenged: and if they cannot get them down by force, they will seek to do it by adding yet more falsenesse, by flattering them whom their hearts hate, and would gladly ruine. That Scripture, Prov. 26. 28. is very remarkable for this, A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruine. Psal. 72. 14. He shall deliver their soule from deceit and violence. If men who are false cannot compasse their ⟨p. 145⟩ends by deceit, they will seeke to doe it by violence: God hath his time to deliver his Saints from both. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly.
- 1Nulla res vehementius rempublicam continet, quam fides, Cicero.
