A69235:20
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 1A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 1
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 which will better appear, if we consider 1that there is no Country or Nation, no place, age or condition of Men, privileged and exempted from this contagion; no people so rude and savage, but have attained to the Art and skill of lying and dissembling; none so well civilized and instructed ⟨p. 3⟩in moral virtue, governed and restrained from vice by politic laws, but that they often break their bounds, and take unto themselves a licentious liberty to speak untruths for their advantage; yea no Nation so well nurtured and taught in the knowledge of God and his true Religion, but that the most of them are tainted with the contagion of this vice; and though they make some conscience of other sins, as murder, whoredom, drunkenness, fraud, oppression, and the like, yet they are nothing scrupulous to use their best skill in lying, when as they think that it is for their gain and advantage. And therefore though some people more than others, either by a natural inclination, example or custom, do exceed in this vice, and (like the Cretans in the Apostles time) may by way of eminency be called Liars; yet there are no sorts 2of Men savage or civill, Pagans, Turks or Christians, which are not too much addicted to this base and pernicious vice.
The which will better appeare, if wee consider 1that there is no Country or Nation, no place, age or condition of Men, priviledged and exempted from this contagion; no people so rude and savage, but have attained to the Art and skill of lying and dissembling; none so well civilized and instructed ⟨p. 3⟩in morall vertue, governed and restrained from vice by politique lawes, but that they often breake their bounds, and take unto themselves a licentious liberty to speake untruths for their advantage; yea no Nation so well nurtured and taught in the knowledge of God and his true Religion, but that the most of them are tainted with the contagion of this vice; and though they make some conscience of other sins, as murther, whoredome, drunkennes, fraud, oppression, and the like, yet they are nothing scrupulous to use their best skill in lying, when as they thinke that it is for their gaine and advantage. And therefore though some people more than others, either by a naturall inclination, example or custome, doe exceede in this vice, and (like the Cretians in the Apostles time) may by way of eminency be called Lyers; yet there are no sorts