A69235:187
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 15A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 15
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.
The third means is, That we mortify our carnal 1and worldly Lusts, which are the common Causes of Lying, as first and principally carnal and inordinate fear, whereby we fear men more than God, and so become more careful to please them, that they may favour and reward us, and to avoid their anger and displeasure that they may not hurt or punish us, than to please God or avoid his wrath who hath all power in his hand to reward or punish us both in this life or the life to come. And this moveth men to tell Lies, because they look only to the present and not to eternity; and choose rather thereby to hazard their souls and bodies to everlasting destruction, than to suffer temporary evils, or to endanger themselves to present punishments. And therefore if we would avoid Lying, let us mortify this carnal fear, and consider for this end, how much more fearful it is to fall into the hands of the everliving God, who is a consuming Fire, than into the hands of ⟨p. 156⟩mortal men, who when they have done their worst, can but punish or kill the body, whereas he 2is able to cast body and soul into hell, as our Saviour speaketh. Secondly, we must if we would avoid Lying, mortify our carnal love of the world and earthly things, whereby we are ordinarily tempted to the committing of this sin. For who doth not see that they who set their hearts immoderately on riches, are ready upon all occasions to lye and deceive that they may get and increase their wealth? and that they who dotingly affect honours, make no scruple to supplant others by their Lies and Machiavellian policies and deceits that they may raise themselves by their ruin.
The third meanes is, That we mortifie our carnall 1and worldly Lusts, which are the common Causes of Lying, as first and principally carnall and inordinate feare, whereby we feare men more than God, and so become more carefull to please them, that they may favour and reward us, and to avoid their anger and displeasure that they may not hurt or punish us, than to please God or avoid his wrath who hath all power in his hand to reward or punish us both in this life or the life to come. And this moveth men to tell Lyes, because they looke onely to the present and not to eternity; and chuse rather thereby to hazard their soules and bodies to everlasting destruction, than to suffer temporary evils, or to endanger themselves to present punishments. And therefore if we would avoid Lying, let us mortifie this carnall feare, and consider for this end, how much more fearefull it is to fall into the hands of the everliving God, who is a consuming Fire, than into the hands of