A69235:146
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.
And those whom by regeneration he maketh his Children, gHe leadeth into all Truth, and worketh in them all sanctifying and saving Graces and Truth amongst the rest, which is therefore by the Apostle numbered among the hfruits of the Spirit. In all which respects as it must needs follow, that Truth is a Virtue most acceptable unto God, as being according to his own Likeness, so also that those best please him, who resemble him in Truth, by loving, embracing and speaking it, approving themselves hereby to be his Children, because they are like him, according to that of the Prophet Isaiah, Surely they are my people, Children 3that will not lye. To which purpose an Heathen Philosopher speaketh excellently, who being asked 4in what thing men were most like unto God, answered [Greek or Hebrew]. i. if they speak the Truth. And in this respect their magi or magicians affirmed that their greatest god whom they called Oromagden, 5was in his body like unto the light; and in his mind or soul like unto truth, as Stobaeus recordeth it. And excellent to this use is the etymology of the Greek word [Greek or Hebrew] (by which they signify Truth) which Jamblichus bringeth, ut [Greek or Hebrew] deducta sit [Greek or Hebrew], because as the Greek word signifying the Truth, so Truth it self is derived from the gods; although others give another Etymology deriving [Greek or Hebrew] from [Greek or Hebrew], and the privative participle, because the Truth cannot lye hid. Whereby it appeareth that as Truth is dear unto God, so ⟨p. 120⟩a lye, which opposeth it, is a great sin and most odious unto him, seeing it opposeth himself and his own nature, who is a God of Truth; for he who lieth, denieth the Truth; and he who denieth it, denieth God himself. Again, Truth which hath its existence in the mind against which the liar speaketh, is of the Spirit of God, who is the Author of all Truth, and therefore what is it to lye, but to make the tongue speak against the Truth engraven in the mind by the Spirit, and consequently to speak against the Holy Spirit himself who is the