A69235:147
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.
Secondly, by lying we sin immediately against 1God, in that we break and violate his Word and holy Commandments, which enjoin us to speak the Truth and not to lye, in any thing, nor at any time. For in the ninth Commandment under the name of bearing false witness against our neighbour, as in the affirmative part he requireth all Truth, so in the negative he forbiddeth all lies and falsehood in thought, word and deed, even as under the name of murder, he forbiddeth all the kinds and degrees of it; as anger, hatred, railing, revenge, and under the name of Adulterer, all manner of filthiness and uncleanness. And therefore raising of a false report by lying, and bearing 2of false witness against our Neighbours, are both joined together and forbidden in the three and twentieth of Exodus. And that we may know that lies in no kinds were ever tolerated; God hath ever inhibited and condemned them, both in the Law, Prophets, and in the Gospel. In the Law, ye shall not lye one to another. So by the Prophet ⟨p. 121⟩3Zechariah: Speak ye every man the Truth to his neighbour; 4and the Apostle Paul; Lye not one to another, seeing ye have put off the old man with his deeds. And 5to the Ephesians, Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour. So that if we have any respect either to Law or Gospel in yielding obedience unto them, we must speak the Truth, and abhor lying. Finally we sin immediately against God by suppressing truth and telling lies; because thereby we hinder and impeach his Glory, whilst we hide our vices and faults from coming to light, and stop the course of Justice when it should deservedly proceed against us, to inflict upon us deserved punishment, in the execution whereof, Gods glory is advanced, as Joshua implieth in his speech to Achan; My son, I pray thee 6give Glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him, and tell me now what thou hast done.