A69235:145
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 12A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 12
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 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