A69235:124
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 10A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 10
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.
Finally, it is objected that we have many examples 1of the faithful in the Scriptures, who upon several occasions have used officious lies to free themselves and others out of great and imminent dangers. To which I first generally answer, that these examples are recorded, but not approved, or if in some respects allowed or commended, yet not for their lies, but for their love of justice and mercy, their aim at Gods glory or their own and others good; their pious affections to virtue and goodness, and their readiness to advance religious and honest actions. Neither are their lies propounded as patterns and precedents for our imitation, but as examples of humane frailty, that they may serve as Sea marks to make us shun these rocks, when by like tempests of tentation we are in danger to fall upon them. For howsoever they were Gods great worthies, and had attained to a great measure of grace and goodness, yet they were but in part sanctified, having still infirmities and corruptions in part remaining in them, as it were little spots and blemishes in beautiful bodies. And therefore we must live, not by examples, but by precepts, or at least imitate them only so far as they follow the rule of Gods word, and make them our patterns in their virtuous actions, and not in their frailties and aberrations; according to that of the 2Apostle; be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Finally, it is objected that wee have many examples 1of the faithfull in the Scriptures, who upon severall occasions have used officious lyes to free themselves and others out of great and imminent dangers. To which I first generally answere, that these examples are recorded, but not approoved, or if in some respects allowed or commended, yet not for their lyes, but for their love of justice and mercy, their aime at Gods glory or their owne and others good; their pious affections to vertue and goodnesse, and their readinesse to advance religious and honest actions. Neither are their lyes propounded as patternes and precedents for our imitation, but as examples of humane frailty, that they may serve as Sea markes to make us shunne these rockes, when by like tempests of tentation we are in danger to fall upon them. For howsoever they were Gods great worthies, and had attained to a great measure of grace and goodnes, yet they were but in part sanctified, having still infirmities and corruptiōs in part remaining in them, as it were little spots and blemishes in beautifull bodies. And therefore wee must live, not by examples, but by precepts, or at least imitate them only so far as they follow the rule of Gods word, and make them our patternes in their vertuous actions, and not in their frailties and aberrations; according to that of the