A69235:175
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.
Again, (for a conclusion of this point) that we 1may be moved to loath lying, let us consider, that as it is base and dishonourable, so it is but a vain and sleight vice, which hath no solidity or substance in it, and therefore lasteth and endureth not, but only serveth for the present turn, to make a seeming and false show, and then like a snuff, the blaze going out, it endeth in stink. It may seem to bring profit for the time, and to make us rich like a Bristol Diamond or counterfeit Pearl, but being so soft that it will not endure the hard touch of a wise trial, it will soon loose its gloss and glory, and make the owner if he have given oughts for it, a looser by his bargain. It may like glittering tinsel seem for the time rich, and make a fair show, and promise also to cover our nakedness, but even whilst it seemeth outwardly to hide our sin and shame, we are inwardly in our hearts and consciences never the warmer in respect of peace and sound comfort; and within a while this base and sleight stuff will be worn out to rags, so that it will be easy to see through it, and to discern all that nakedness and filthiness of vice and sin, which at the first they promised to hide. To which purpose the wise Solomon speaketh excellently: The lip of Truth shall be established 2for ever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. The ⟨p. 148⟩which even the Heathens have found by their 3own experience. For one of them saith, that no liar can long lie hid. Another speaketh the same more elegantly: no lye proceedeth and liveth unto 4old age. And the Orator telleth us, that all 5feigned things fade and fall like flowers; neither can any thing which is false and dissembled hold out long. Hence it is that the Graecians call Truth by a name which signifieth such a thing as cannot lie hid; but as the same Author speaketh, though by the dishonesty of many it may be depressed, yet it riseth again, and though the defence of innocency may be checked and interrupted, yet in a while it will breath again and get life. So Seneca (like himself) speaketh to this point wittily and fully. No dissembling (saith he) profitteth, it deceiveth but a few, slightly drawing outwardly over it a false semblance. Truth is always the same, and which way soever ye turn it, good on both sides. Those things that deceive, have in them nothing solid.