But let us come more particularly to show the 1heinousness of this vice, which will better be cleared if we prove that it hath in it all relations of sin, as it is committed either against God, our neighbours, or our selves; and is not only a sin in it self, but also the cause and the effect of many other evils, both of sin and punishment, as it will appear if we examine some particulars. For ⟨p. 118⟩first, lying is in this respect a great sin, because it is contrary to God the chief goodness, whether we consider his Nature or his Persons. In his Nature and Essence he is in and of himself, and the fountain of Being; and in this sense it is most true that being, Truth, and Goodness, are convertible and all one: He is not only True but Truth it self, and all other things are true in and for him. And thus he describeth himself; Merciful, Gracious, 2Long-suffering, and abundant in Goodness and Truth. So Moses in his song: He is a God of Truth, and without 3iniquity, just and right is he. So Isaiah: He that sweareth in the Earth, shall swear by the God of Truth; 4yea he is so essentially True, as that there is none true besides him; according to that of the Apostle, Let GOD be True, but every man a liar; and though 5it be at mans choice to speak the truth or to lye, yet truth being of Gods Essence, and the Truth of God, nothing but the True God, hence it followeth that God can no more deny the Truth, than deny Himself. And therefore it is said, that God is not a man that he should lye, yea though he can do 6all things, yet He cannot lye; yea that it is impossible 7for God to lye, which doth not argue any impotency in him, but perfection of Being, seeing if he could lye, he could also deny himself and so not be, seeing Truth in him and Being are all one. And as the former places are affirmed of the whole Divine nature, and so primarily of God the Father, the Fountain of Truth and Being; so other places testify the like of the Son, namely that He is full of aGrace and Trueth, and that all bGrace and Trueth, come by him, yea that he is the cWay, the ⟨p. 119⟩Truth and Life it self: And so also of the Holy Ghost, who is called the dSpirit of Truth, yea, eTruth it self, who proceedeth ffrom the Father and the Sonne.
But let us come more particularly to shew the 1haynousnesse of this vice, which will better bee cleared if we prove that it hath in it all relations of sinne, as it is committed either against God, our neighbours, or our selves; and is not onely a sinne in it selfe, but also the cause and the effect of many other evills, both of sinne and punishment, as it will appeare if wee examine some particulars. For ⟨p. 118⟩first, lying is in this respect a great sinne, because it is contrary to God the chiefe goodnesse, whether we consider his Nature or his Persons. In his Nature and Essence he is in and of himselfe, and the fountaine of Being; and in this sense it is most true that being, Truth, and Goodnesse, are convertible and all one: He is not only True but Truth it selfe, and all other things are true in and for him. And thus he describeth himselfe; Mercifull, Gracious, 2Long-suffering, and aboundant in Goodnesse and Truth. So Moses in his song: He is a God of Truth, and without 3iniquitie, just and right is he. So Esay: Hee that sweareth in the Earth, shall sweare by the God of Truth; 4yea hee is so essentially True, as that there is none true besides him; according to that of the Apostle, Let GOD be True, but every man a lyar; and though 5it be at mans choyce to speake the truth or to lye, yet truth being of Gods Essence, and the Truth of God, nothing but the True God, hence it followeth that God can no more deny the Truth, than deny Himselfe. And therefore it is said, that God is not a man that he should lye, yea though he can doe 6all things, yet He cannot lye; yea that it is impossible 7for God to lye, which doth not argue any impotency in him, but perfection of Being, seeing if hee could lye, hee could also deny himselfe and so not be, seeing Truth in him and Being are all one. And as the former places are affirmed of the whole Divine nature, and so primarily of God the Father, the Fountaine of Truth and Being; so other places testifie the like of the Sonne, namely that Hee is full of a
- 1§. 3. That Lying is opposite to Gods nature.
- 2Exod. 34. 6.
- 3Deut. 32. 4.
- 4Isaiah 65. 16.Esay 65. 16.
- 5Rom. 3. 4.
- 6Numb. 23. 19.
- 7Tit. 1. 2. Heb. 6. 18.
- aJohn 1. 14.
- bvers. 17.
- cJohn 14. 6.
- dJohn 14. 17.
- e1 John 5. 6.
- fJohn 15. 26.
