A69235:65
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 5A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 5
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.
Whether it be lawful to dissemble the Truth.
Whether it bee lawfull to dissemble the Truth.
But for the better clearing of this point 1let us further consider whether it be lawful to suppress, hide or dissemble the Truth in whole or in part, and in what cases it is lawful or unlawful. For the understanding whereof, I will set down this conclusion, that it is lawful to conceal the Truth, (if it be not masked with a lye) in whole or in part; when the Glory of God, the good of our neighbour either public or private, and our own good in particular doth require it; and utterly unlawful when it is otherwise: for though it be not lawful at any time to deny it, yet is it both lawful and expedient to conceal it in such cases by our silence, or any other way which is not sinful. And thus ought we to conceal the truth in whole, if we be left to our selves and not necessitated to declare it, or in part if we be examined, making use of that part which we reveal to be as a cover or colour to hide that part which we conceal, which being discovered would impeach and hinder Gods Glory, or our own and neighbours good. An example whereof we have in Jeremiah, who being examined by the Princes, ⟨p. 44⟩2and asked what king Zedekiah, said unto him, he confesseth the Truth in part, namely his supplication to the king, that he would not send him back to Jonathans house to die there; but concealed his counsel in advising him to yield up himself and the City into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, 3because this discovery would not have conduced to the former ends, but only have exasperated the Princes against both the King and Prophet, and caused them to cross this counsel, if he should afterwards resolve to follow it. Now if any except against this, that Jeremiah might do it through infirmity, and that therefore it is no president for us to