A69235:15
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 1A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 1
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.
CHAP. I.
That the vice of Lying is so common and universal, that it hath corrupted all sorts and conditions of Men.
That the vice of Lying is so common and universall, that it hath corrupted all sorts and conditions of Men.
AS good is most commendable 1when as it is most common and communicable, because it multiplies it self, and increases the happiness of many in whom it is; so vice and sin is so much the more sinful and pernicious; by how much the more it diffuseth and spreadeth it self as a common Plague or Leprosy to the infection and destruction of many, and utter ruin of all humane societies. In which regard this sin of lying, of which I now purpose (God assisting me) to entreat, may challenge unto it self a special preeminence above almost all other vices, there ⟨p. 2⟩being none more common and universal, whether we respect persons, times, or places. It begun with our first Parents as soon almost as they had their beginning, who no sooner left their innocency and integrity, than they left their Truth; and falling into sin, they fell to lying, hiding it in this dark shade, and covering it under this black veil, because they saw it so foul and loathsome, that they were ashamed to bring it unto the light For being asked by God why they hid themselves from his Presence among the trees of the Garden, they allege two false causes, and conceal the Truth. The one, was because they heard Gods Voice, which made them afraid; the other, because they saw their own nakedness; whereas they had often before heard God speaking unto them and were not terrified, and had seen themselves naked and were not ashamed; neither was it their want of clothing, but of the robe of Innocency, and their sin that brought this shame and fear. And from their loins this corruption is naturally propagated to all their Posterity: from their sinful breasts we have all sucked this deadly poison, which hath so generally infected the corrupted nature of all Mankind, that there is scarce any vice or sin unto which we are more inclined, than unto this of lying.