A69235:159
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.
He that lieth (saith he) being not deceived by the seduction of the Devil, but willingly and of set purpose, will never leave to lye, no not after death, for death separateth the soul from the body, but doth not change the purpose of lying: wilt thou know this? consider those liars even after death. Lord in thy name we have done this and that. Did not they know in themselves, that they never loved Christ, nor did his Will? yes, but they think that as in this world they have deceived men, so also there that they can deceive even God himself: and therefore he doth not say; depart from me ye that have wrought iniquity, but ye that now work it: because wicked men cease not to be wicked, no not after death; seeing though they cannot now sin, yet they retain still their purpose of sinning.
He that lyeth (saith he) being not deceived by the seduction of the Divell, but willingly and of set purpose, will never leave to lye, no not after death, for death separateth the soule from the body, but doth not change the purpose of lying: wilt thou know this? consider those lyars even after death. Lord in thy name we have done this and that. Did not they know in themselves, that they never loved Christ, nor did his Will? yes, but they thinke that as in this world they have deceived men, so also there that they can deceive even God himselfe: and therefore hee doth not say; depart from me ye that have wrought iniquity, but ye that now worke it: because wicked men cease not to be wicked, no not after death; seeing though they cannot now sin, yet they retain still their purpose of sining.
Thirdly, the liar sinneth against his own soul, 1in that by his lying he robbeth himself of a most precious jewel, even of a good name, which is better than a precious ointment, and much to be preferred before great riches; for a poor man being true and honest, is better than a liar though never so rich, 2as the wise man telleth us. Neither is it possible that a man should hold his reputation, when he hath by lying lost all opinion of his truth, but his words are esteemed no better than wind, and if there be no clearer evidence for what he saith, then his bare word, he is no more believed when he speaketh truth, than when he lieth according to that of the son of Sirach: Of an unclean thing what