A69235:31
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 2A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 2
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.
CHAP. II.
Wherein is showed what a Lye is.
Wherein is shewed what a Lye is.
Now in speaking of this vice, I will 1show; 1. What a Lye is. 2. The causes of it. 3. The kinds and sorts of Lying. 4. The means to preserve us from it. And lastly, the uses which we ought to make of all this Doctrine. Saint Augustine briefly defineth 2it thus; A Lye is a false signification with a will to deceive: And that (saith he) is not a false signification, when as though one thing is signified by another, yet that is true which is signified, if it be rightly understood. And this he explaineth in another place, where he saith, that he lieth who hath one thing in his mind, and uttereth another thing in his words, or any other way of signification; more plainly (as I take it) we may thus describe it. A lye is a vicious speech in which the tongue disagreeth from the mind, which is voluntarily uttered with a purpose and desire to deceive; or thus, a lye is a false expression or signification of the notions and conceptions of the mind; by speaking, writing, or any other significant actions or gestures, voluntarily uttered with a purpose and desire to deceive; or when the Truth is suppressed and betrayed by silence, when we ought to declare and confess it: whereby it appeareth, that these three things do concur in a lye. First, falsity or untruth uttered by speaking, writing, or ⟨p. 16⟩any other means contrary to that Truth, with which the mind is enlightened. Secondly, that it be voluntary, the will resisting the mind, and commanding expressions which are contrary to its notions and conceptions. Thirdly, that it be done with a purpose and desire to deceive. The two first do contain the matter and form, the third the end at which he aimeth who telleth an untruth.