A69235:69
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.
But let us examine this question yet more fully 1and distinctly, in what cases the truth is to be spoken or concealed, and when the Glory of God and good of our neighbour, or our own good, doth require the profession of it; and when we should conceal and hide it by silence or otherwise. For the understanding whereof we are to distinguish of truth, namely that it is either religious or civill. Religious truth is the truth of religion, or the doctrine of Faith; the which we are upon all occasions to profess being lawfully called thereunto, when the Glory of God, or good of our neighbour doth require it, according to that of the Apostle Peter; Sanctify the Lord in your hearts, and be 2ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. Neither is it enough to believe the truth and keep it to our selves, but we must also openly profess it: for as with the heart man believeth unto 3righteousness; so with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, as the Apostle Paul telleth us. For if we conceal the truth when we are called to profess it, we do not only deny the truth, but also the Lord of Truth, who is the Author and ⟨p. 48⟩Patron of it, and whosoever shall deny him before 4men, him will he deny before his Father which is in Heaven. But when are we called lawfully to make this confession of truth? surely at all times when by our confession we may glorify God, or benefit our neighbours. As when we are called before a lawful Magistrate and required an account of our faith, then we must in no case suppress the truth, though we confess it with the danger of our lives: for he standeth in Gods stead as his Deputy, and to hide or deny the truth before him is (as it were) to deny or hide it in Gods sight and presence. And then also God is glorified by our Christian apology, when as we will not shrink from the truth whatsoever we suffer for it. So also we are bound to profess the truth of our religion before private men, when as we conceive that thereby we shall glorify God by propagating his Truth, and edify them to whom we confess it.