A69235:158
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 13A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 13
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, the Liar maketh himself guilty of 1a great sin, by abusing of his tongue which should be his glory, and which was given unto him by God as an excellent instrument to set forth his praise, to speak the trueth which his mind conceiveth and to discover it to others for their mutual good, a privilege wherein God hath advanced man above all the rest of the creatures, but Liars shamefully abuse this singular gift of God, and whereas it was given unto them as an instrument of righteousness and trueth, and for the setting forth of Gods praise, they make it to become a weapon or instrument of iniquity by their lying, wherewith they dishonour God and hurt their neighbours; whereby they make it appear that they are subjects of Satan. For whereas there are two kingdoms, the one of light, the other of darkness, and God the King of the one, the Devil of the other; they have also two several languages, the one of trueth, which is the language of the spiritual Canaan; the other of lies, which is the idiom or language of hell: So that by our speech we may be known unto what Kingdom we belong, either of God, when we speak the truth from 2our hearts, or of Satan, when we commonly lye and deceive; which language when we usually speak, it may be said unto us as it was unto Saint Peter, thou art a subject of the Kingdom of darkness, for thy speech betrayeth thee. Now if any ⟨p. 132⟩liar shall object, that this is not his ordinary language, 3but that he only useth it when it may seem for his advantage; to this I answer, that a frequent act will bring an habit, and he who often lieth for his profit, will within a while be so inured unto it, that he will be ready to lye, out of mere vanity and love of lying, for his pleasure and delight. Yea, he will be ready to lye when he never thinketh of it; and as the skilful Musician, who hath brought his hand by much practice to an habit, will play his lesson when his mind is on some other matter; so when by custom men are come to an habit of lying, they will lye at unawares, and if they be challenged for it, they are ready to lye again by denying that they lied. In respect of which habit and custom, Saint Chrysostom saith, that a liar will continue to lye even after death.