A69235:100
A treatise against lying Wherein is showed what it is, the nature and causes…A treatise against lying Wherein is shevved vvhat it is, the nature and causes…
A treatise against lying Wherein is showed what it is, the nature and causes of this sin, the divers kinds of it; and that all of them are sinful, and unlawful, with the motives and means to preserve us from it, or to cure us of it. By John Downame, B. of D. and preacher of Gods Word.A treatise against lying Wherein is shevved vvhat it is, the nature and causes of this sinne, the divers kindes of it; and that all of them are sinfull, and unlawfull, with the motives and meanes to preserve us from it, or to cure us of it. By John Dovvname, B. of D. and preacher of Gods Word.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Nicolas Bourne, 1636
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A TREATISE AGAINST THE SIN OF LYING. › Chapter 8A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 8
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But let us more particularly examine these divers 1sorts of lies, and consider how and in what measure and degree they are sinful and unlawful. And first for pernicious lies, there is no question made by any, but that they are in a high degree sinful, as being against Trueth, Justice and Charity, and wholly tend to Gods dishonour, the hurt of our neighbours, and our own destruction and damnation, as I shall more fully show hereafter. And therefore passing them over I will examine the other kinds. And first for merry lies, it is commonly conceived, that if there be no scurrility in them, they may pass as tolerable, because they do no hurt unto our selves or neighbours, but delight and recreate both; and they that tell them intend not to deceive their hearers; or but a while, that they may the more delight them. For either they are apparent in themselves to be but jests and lies by the gross absurdities that are seen at the first view, or are discovered to be so by the gesture and ⟨p. 77⟩pronunciation. So that they are not much unlike unto Hyperboles or Ironies in respect of the outward form and show, saving that they differ in their end and use: seeing they are used to teach and express the Trueth in a Rhetorical manner, but these only to delight the hearer. And of this mind Saint Augustine seemeth to have been, 2who thinketh that they can scarcely be taken for lies. Jests therefore (saith he) are to be excepted which were never thought to be lies, because they have a most evident signification, by the pronunciation, or the disposition of him that thus jesteth; and proceed from a mind not willing to deceive, although it uttereth not truths. And surely there is saith Peter Martyr, but a little of a lye in these merry tales, seeing though they willingly speak that which is not true, yet the falsity is easily discerned and cannot deceive the hearer. But whether these merry tales or lies ought to be used by perfect men or strict Christians, S. Augustine doubteth in 3that place, though he cleareth it in another, where he saith, that he lieth, who hath one thing in his mind, and uttereth another thing by his words or any other signification; the which the merry liar always doth.