A69235:164
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.
Fifthly, lies are pernicious unto the liars themselves in divers other respects; for first they weaken their faith in the assurance of their salvation, ⟨p. 137⟩yea deprive them of all hope of Heavenly happiness; seeing it is an infallible mark of one that shall dwell in this holy Hill, that he speaketh the 1Truth in his heart. Now if we count that pernicious to our persons and state, that defaces our evidences of some earthly Patrimony, and cuts off all our assurance ever to enjoy it; how much more is that pernicious, that cuts off all our hopes to our everlasting Inheritance, and deprives us of that comfortable note and sign, that we have just title unto it? Secondly, it despoils us of a chief part of our Christian armour, the girdle of verity, wherewith 2all the rest is buckled unto us, and so layeth us open and naked to all the assaults of Satan's tentations, to be thereby foiled, overcome, and led captive of sin, when as he findeth us so disarmed. Thirdly, because it depriveth us of a good conscience, when as we make no scruple of such a sin as is committed directly against it, yea it wasteth and woundeth a natural conscience, when as we live in such a vice as it condemneth. For if conscience be not seared, it is ready as soon as a man hath lied, to accuse him of sin, and to testify against him, that he hath offended God by denying truth, and done that which would be a shame and dishonour unto him if it should come to light. And this is the cause why having lied they are so loath to acknowledge it, but use all their Art and policy to hide and cover it, that so they may seem not to have lied: yea if they be convinced or but suspected of it, they are ready to discover their inward guilt of conscience by their outward blushing, the which is especially to be observed in children, ⟨p. 138⟩who are not by custom hardened and heartened in their sin; because they even naturally knowing that lying is a foul and dishonourable vice, and that they have done evil in falling into it, as their consciences are pressed with the guilt of their sin, so their faces are filled with the shame that accompanies it.
Fifthly, lyes are pernicious unto the lyars themselves in divers other respects; for first they weaken their faith in the assurance of their salvation,