A69235:198
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.A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING.
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.
To conclude all that I have to say in this discourse, 1seeing this vice of lying is so sinful and pernicious, let Parents and Governors of Families use their best care and endeavour in the education of their children, and government of their servants, to suppress and reform it by all good means, that those under their charge be not tainted and poisoned with it. And to this end they must make themselves in all their speeches examples of truth unto their inferiors, and such as hate and shun lies. In which respect I have much misliked and condemned their practise which make no scruple of telling lies to their little children, either by promising unto them that which they mean not to perform, that hereby they may allure them to do what they would have them; or by scaring them with bug-bears and false frights, that they may make them leave their ⟨p. 166⟩crying, or doing other things amiss, whereby they usually loose their credit and authority with them, so that they do not believe them when as they are serious in speaking truth; and withal poison 2their tender natures which in themselves are too apt to receive any sinful impression, and make them apt and ready to follow their evil example, and so by custom habituate them unto it, that they can hardly be brought to leave it when they come to riper age. Another means is to make it one part of their chiefest care in observing their Children and Servants, that they may find them out in their lies, unto which by natural corruption they are so much inclined, and taking them with the manner, to rebuke and discountenance them in their sin, showing them the heinousness of it by Gods Word, and the punishments which are threatened against them that are guilty of it. And if all this will not reclaim them, they must add to their instructions and rebukes seasonable corrections, and show themselves more ready and willing to remit or tenderly to chastise their faults committed against themselves, than their sin of lying, whereby they deny or excuse them which is committed against God.
To conclude all that I have to say in this discourse, 1seeing this vice of lying is so sinnefull and pernicious, let Parents and Governours of Families use their best care and indevour in the education of their children, and governement of their servants, to suppresse and reforme it by all good meanes, that those under their charge be not tainted and poysoned with it. And to this end they must make themselves in all their speeches examples of truth unto their inferiours, and such as hate and shunne lyes. In which respect I have much misliked and condemned their practise which make no scruple of telling lyes to their little children, either by promising unto them that which they meane not to performe, that hereby they may allure them to doe what they would have them; or by skaring them with bug-beares and faise frights, that they may make them leave their