A69235:196
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 16A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 16
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.
Finally, seeing this vice is so hateful and abominable, 1and bringeth with it so many and great evils, both to private Persons, and to all Families and Societies, Church and Common-wealth, and after this life hellish misery, and eternal condemnation: Let this move all men in their several places and callings to use their best endeavours to suppress this vice, and to amend and reform it both in themselves and others. And first, Magistrates should be persuaded to do all they can to discountenance this vice by making good laws against it; and seeing them duly executed, because it is no less dangerous to a State, than any other vices, as being an encourager to all wickedness, and the colour and cover which doth conceal and hide it. And therefore as Plato thought those Commonwealths most miserable, which abounded with Lawyers and Physicians, because in them contentions and suites, sicknesses and diseases abound also; so may it much more truly be spoken, that those States and Kingdoms are most miserable, in which lies are most frequent without control or punishment, because it argueth plainly the abounding of all other vice, seeing their chief use is to cover all other sin, and encourage to all wickedness, whilst they promise to hide it. But especially it must be the care of Governors and Rulers to stop their ears to tale-bearers and liars, because it is the receivers that make thieves; and if they had no ear to listen unto lies, men would ⟨p. 164⟩have no tongues to tell them; if they with their countenance, (as a North wind the rain) would drive them away, they would quickly leave their 2lying, and labour to regain their favour by speaking of Truth, whereas If a Ruler hearken unto lies, 3all his servants are so wicked as to tell them; if the King will be made glad with wickedness, and the Princes 4with lies; those that are about them will to their uttermost skill use all their lying Arts to please and delight them.
Finally, seeing this vice is so hatefull and abominable,