A69235:173
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.
And this is the next motive to make us to abhor and forsake lies, because they are also opposite 1to Justice, the which consisting in an evenness, equality, and just proportion and agreement of one thing with another, that is to be esteemed unjust wherein there is inequality and disagreement. And consequently there is unjustice and iniquity in every lye, wherein there is no equality or agreement ⟨p. 145⟩between the speech and the mind: this conceiving one thing, and the tongue uttering another; that dictating what is the truth, and this speaking what is false. To which purpose Saint Augustine thus speaketh; every one who lieth, 2doth iniquity, and if it seemeth unto any that a lye is sometimes profitable, it may also seem unto him that it is profitable to commit iniquity; for no man that lieth, in that wherein he lieth keepeth his faith: For his will is that he to whom he lieth should have faith to believe him, which notwithstanding in lying to him, himself keepeth not; now every one who violateth his faith is unjust. And therefore either injustice is sometimes profitable, or else a lye is always unprofitable: and hereof it is that the Prophet Zephany joineth these two together: The remnant of Israel shall not do 3iniquity, nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. And so Malachi, affirming that Truth was in Levies mouth, denieth also that there was iniquity found in it. The Law 4of Truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips. And therefore as we love Justice, so also we must love Truth; and if we would not be accounted unjust and wicked, we must be careful to hate and shun lying.
And this is the next motive to make us to abhorre and forsake lyes, because they are also opposite 1to Justice, the which consisting in an evennes, equality, and just proportion and agreement of one thing with another, that is to be esteemed unjust wherein there is inequality and disagreement. And consequently there is unjustice and iniquity in every lye, wherein there is no equality or agreement