A69235:133
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 11A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 11
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.
To this purpose (though in another case) Saint Augustine excellently speaketh for confuting the Pelagians, and Coelestianians, who affirmed that they were pure and free from sin, and yet for humility sake against their conscience and persuasion confessed their ⟨p. 107⟩sins, of which they thought themselves pure and clear, he thus convinceth them of their error: Dost thou (saith he) lye for humility? Thou art just and without sin; but for humility's sake thou 1callest thy self a sinner; how shall I receive thee as a Christian for a witness against another, whom I find to be a false witness against thy self? Thou art just, thou art without sin, and yet thou sayest that thou hast sin: therefore thou art a false witness against thy self, God will not accept of thy lying humility; examine thy life, and look into thy conscience, &c. How shall I take thee for a witness in another mans cause, who lyest in thine own? Thou makest Saints guilty, whilst thou bearest against thy self a false testimony, what wilt thou do to another who slanderest thy self? I demand; art thou just or a sinner? thou answerest a sinner. Thou lyest, because thou doest not say that with thy mouth, which thou believest of thy self in thy heart. And therefore, though thou wilt not be a sinner before, now thou beginnest to be since thou lyest. For thou sayest for humility's sake that thou callest thy self a sinner, &c. But can there be humility where there is falsity.
To this purpose (though in another case) Saint Augustine excellently speaketh for confuting the Pelagians, and Coelestianians, who affirmed that they were pure and free from sin, and yet for humility sake against their conscience and perswasion confessed their ⟨p. 107⟩sinnes, of which they thought themselves pure and cleare, hee thus convinceth them of their errour: Dost thou (saith he) lye for humility? Thou art just and without sinne; but for humilities sake thou 1callest thy selfe a sinner; how shall I receive thee as a Christian for a witnesse against another, whom I finde to bee a false witnesse against thy selfe? Thou art just, thou art without sinne, and yet thou sayest that thou hast sinne: therefore thou art a false witnesse against thy selfe, God will not accept of thy lying humility; examine thy life, and looke into thy conscience, &c. How shall I take thee for a witnesse in another mans cause, who lyest in thine owne? Thou makest Saints guilty, whilest thou bearest against thy selfe a false testimony, what wilt thou doe to another who slanderest thy selfe? I demand; art thou just or a sinner? thou answerest a sinner. Thou lyest, because thou doest not say that with thy mouth, which thou beleevest of thy selfe in thy heart. And therefore, though thou wilt not be a sinner before, now thou beginnest to bee since thou lyest. For thou sayest for humilities sake that thou callest thy selfe a sinner, &c. But can there be humility where there is falsity.