A69235:57
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 4A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 4
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.
But howsoever it may be lawful for such to disguise themselves and their intentions, and to use all good policies to conceal an unprofitable and unseasonable truth, yet it is in no wise lawful for them to use means that are evil and sinful to effect their desire, as to deny the truth, renounce their religion, to make profession of a false religion, as Judaism, Mahumetisme, Popery, by going to Mass, and joining with them in any superstitious service; or finally by telling lies, or using any other falsehood to deceive and blind their eyes with whom they converse, that they may achieve their designs the better, when as they live among them unsuspected.
But howsoever it may bee lawfull for such to disguise themselves and their intentions, and to use all good policies to conceale an unprofitable and unseasonable truth, yet it is in no wise lawfull for them to use meanes that are evill and sinnefull to effect their desire, as to deny the truth, renounce their religion, to make profession of a false religion, as Judaisme, Mahumetisme, Popery, by going to Masse, and joyning with them in any superstitious service; or finally by telling lyes, or using any other falsehood to deceive and blinde their eyes with whom they converse, that they may atchieve their designes the better, when as they live among them unsuspected.
The second question is concerning simulation 1or feigning, and dissimulation or disguising. Simulation is, when by word, action, or any other sign that is feigned to be which is not. Dissimulation is when as by any of these means any thing is disguised and hid, which in truth is. Now the question is whether either of these can be judged lawful and justly acquitted from being a lye. For the former, we must answer by distinction; for either the thing feigned hath no being at all, either in reality and truth, or in reason and signification; or else though ⟨p. 37⟩it have no existence properly and in the very nature of the thing, yet it hath an improper and figurative being by which it signifieth and representeth something that is. If the thing feigned have no being at all, then is it all one with a lye; but though it have no being in reality, yet if it have a being in the reason of the thing, and be brought to signify, demonstrate and illustrate something that is, then is it no lye, but wholly tendeth to the setting forth of truth: and of this kind are many poetical fictions, fables, apologies and parables. So Saint Augustine, not all that which we