A69235:27
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.
namely that when their poor workmen (by whose art and skill, labours and endeavours they are enriched) come unto their shops and offer them their work and wares to sell for the relief of themselves and families, they put them off and slight their commodities, telling them that they need them not, because they would beat them down to a low and base price, by working upon their pressing necessity; whereas in truth they want and need to buy them, and to procure them would run to their work-houses, if their urgent wants (as a goad in their sides) did not enforce them to outrun them and prevent their haste. Yet howsoever these men deserve to be pitied as oppressed, yet they cannot be cleared as innocent, seeing they likewise use the same arts and slights of lying which I have before condemned in the other, and having made false and deceitful work and wares, they cover usually their faults and defects in workmanship with untruths, affirming them to be perfect and good, durable, profitable and every way for their turn that buy them, when as themselves know that they are bad, slight and good for nothing. So that in respect both of the one and other, we have just cause to ⟨p. 11⟩complain of our Citizens and towns-men in this land, as Ezekiel did sometime of Jerusalem: She hath wearied her self with lies, and her scum went 1not forth out of her. And therefore all that are plain and simple hearted had now, if ever, need to hearken to Jeremies warning: Take ye heed every 2one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thy habitation 3is in the midst of deceit, &c. And yet let me not be here mistaken, as though I judged all men in these places alike and under the same guilt; for I know that there are many of them that truly fearing God, do make conscience of all their words and ways, dealing as they would be done by, and in their trading and conversation, abhorring to seek their advantage by lies and deceit; but I speak only of the greater part, and of the usual and common practice of the most in these days.