A69235:163
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.
for even ingenuous men, though merely civill, do abhor liars as they are pernicious ⟨p. 136⟩members of a State, and bring with them much mischief, both to the whole Common-wealth, and also to private families and particular persons: yea oftentimes they that make no conscience of lying for advantage, do yet hate it in others when unpartially they look upon it, and do not behold it through the spectacles of self-love, and even they that like and love it in themselves, yet cannot endure that others should use it. Yea so loathsome it is in its own nature, if it be not sugared and sweetened with some profit or pleasure, that though they use it, yet they are ashamed to own it, and can upon no terms endure to be branded with the name, which they hold most odious and reproachful, though they make no scruple (so it be unknown) to be tainted and poisoned with the vice. Finally, as lying maketh men odious both to the innocent and guilty, so it maketh the innocent odious to the liar, when as he knoweth that he hath abused them with his untruths, according to that Italian, or rather Machiavellian proverb, whom I have wronged, I will never forgive. And this disposition the wise Solomon observeth to be in malicious liars and slanderers; A lying tongue (saith he) 1hateth those that are afflicted by it: Of which this may be the reason, because they who have injured others by their lies, do expect from them just revenge, and upon due examination of their fault, that they will bring the truth to light, and them to suffer deserved shame and punishment.2
for even ingenuous men, though meerely civill, doe abhorre lyars as they are pernicious ⟨p. 136⟩members of a State, and bring with them much mischiefe, both to the whole Common-wealth, and also to private families and particular persons: yea oftentimes they that make no conscience of lying for advantage, do yet hate it in others when unpartially they looke upon it, and doe not behold it through the spectacles of selfe-love, and even they that like and love it in themselves, yet cannot indure that others should use it. Yea so loathsome it is in its owne nature, if it be not sugred and sweetned with some profit or pleasure, that though they use it, yet they are ashamed to owne it, and can upon no tearmes indure to bee branded with the name, which they hold most odious and reproachfull, though they make no scruple (so it be unknowne) to be tainted and poysoned with the vice. Finally, as lying maketh men odious both to the innocent and guilty, so it maketh the innocent odious to the lyar, when as hee knoweth that he hath abused them with his untruthes, according to that Italian, or rather Machivellian proverbe, whom I have wronged, I will never forgive. And this disposition the wise Salomon observeth to be in malicious lyars and slanderers; A lying tongue (saith he)