The law unsealed

Fourthly, but words are most properly the seat wherein this sin is subjected, whether they be only or merely words, or also put in writing, because in these our conformity or disconformity to truth doth most appear.

Fourthly, but words are most properly the seat wherein this sin is subjected, whether they be only or meerly words, or also put in writing, because in these our conformity or disconformity to truth doth most appear.

2. Lies are commonly divided into three sorts, according to their ends: 1. There is mendacium perniciosum, a malicious or pernicious lye when it is hurtful to another, and so designed, as were the lies of those that bare witness against Christ and of Ziba against Mep•ibo••eth. 2. There is efficios••• mendaci••, or an officious lye, when it is for a good end, such was the Midwives lye, Exod. 1. 9. thus the denying of a thing to be, even when the granting of it would infer hurt and damage to another, is contrary to truth, and we ought not to do evil that good may come of it, and it overturneth the end for which speaking was appointed, when we declare a thing otherwayes then we know or think it to be; and as no man can lye for himself for his own safety, so can he not for another's; thus to lye even for God is a fault, and accounted to be talking deceitfully and wickedly for him, when •o keep off what we account dishonourable to him, we will assert that he may, or may not do such a thing, when yet the contrary is true, Job 13. 4. 7. 3. There is j•cos•m mendacium, when it is for sport to make others laugh and be merry, which being sinful in it self can be no matter of lawful sport to make others laugh. 4. We may add one more, and that is mendacium temerarium, when men lye and have no end before them, but through inadvertency and customary looseness, speak otherwayes then the thing is, this is called the way o lying,