A69235:171
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 14A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 14
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.
In which regard even the best sort of officious lies are evil and sinful, as namely when as men will tell them to confirm the Truth of Scripture, and to persuade men more strongly and effectually to embrace, profess and practice the true religion, by reporting feigned miracles that have been for merly wrought for the confirmation of this Truth, which, as also others of like nature, are called pious lies. For first they are contrary to Truth, an excellent Virtue, and therefore must needs be vicious; they are opposite to Gods Nature, and dishonourable unto him, as though he ⟨p. 143⟩were not able to maintain his Truth, unless we helped him with our lies; neither do they so much grace and confirm the Truth of religion, when they are kept secret, as disgrace and weaken it, when they are discovered and come to light: nor so much strengthen mens faith in believing it, being thus countenanced with lying wonders; as weaken it when the deceit is known, seeing these pious and officious lies will make men, when they are discerned jealous and suspicious of real truths, and take away from their teachers all power in persuading, making their arguments and motives unto piety of no credit or efficacy; seeing they that are moved and persuaded, are ready to suspect that their speeches are all alike; that seeing they have told them of false miracles, therefore there are none true, but all of one kind, although some more than other, are more cunningly acted; and that all the reasons and motives which they use to persuade men to a godly life, are nothing but officious lies, which their teachers out of a pious affection and intention, use to countenance religion, and to make their exhortations and persuasions unto piety and honesty, more forcible and efficacious. And this was the reason which made Saint Augustine 1oppose Saint Jerome, who maintained the lawfulness of such officious and pious lies; because if this were once permitted as lawful or tolerable it would take away all authority in the teacher, all faith and belief in the hearer; yea make the Scriptures themselves to be suspected: so as no admonitions, reproofs or counsels can be given with any fruit, because the hearers and readers ⟨p. 144⟩will easily surmise, that the things they hear and read are but pious and officious lies, to bring into, and keep men in the right way: