A69235:70
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.
Otherwise if there be no cause why we should conceive this hope, because we know them to be scorners and enemies of Gods true Religion, who would but deride it and our profession, we may, yea in Christian discretion we ought to conceal it, seeing we shall by our confession dishonour God by exposing his Truth to contempt, and wrong our own persons by laying our selves open to scorn and derision, if not to the danger of their rage and violence. For which we have our Saviour Christs Word for our warrant; Give not that which is Holy unto Dogs, neither cast ye your Pearls 1before Swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you.
Otherwise if there be no cause why we should conceive this hope, because we know them to bee scorners and enemies of Gods true Religion, who would but deride it and our profession, wee may, yea in Christian discretion wee ought to conceale it, seeing we shall by our confession dishonor God by exposing his Truth to contempt, and wrong our owne persons by laying our selves open to scorne and derision, if not to the danger of their rage and violence. For which wee have our Saviour Christs Word for our warrant; Give not that which is Holy unto Dogs, neither cast yee your Pearles 1before Swine, lest they trample them under their feete, and turne againe and rent you.
Secondly, there is a civill truth which is exercised 1about the affairs of this life, the which also is to be spoken and professed, when the glory of God and our own and neighbours good doth require it, or to be hid and concealed when by the profession of it God is dishonoured and our selves and neighbours endamaged. Now if we further enquire when Gods glory and our own and neighbours good doth require it to be spoken, and when it ought to be concealed, we are to distinguish of it, either as it is to be spoken publicly before the lawful Magistrate sitting judicially upon the judgment seat, or privately to ordinary men in our common course of conversation. When we are judicially called before the lawful Magistrate, and required according to law to speak the truth, we ought not to conceal it, whether it be for us or against us. And for this we have the same reason that we have for speaking of religious truth; for the Magistrate sitteth in the place of God as his Deputy to enquire and examine the truth, and therefore to deny or dissemble it unto him in a legal manner inquiring after it, is (as it were) to deny and dissemble it unto God himself; the which in this respect is the more grievous sin, because in course of law men are examined upon oath and are bound thereby to speak not only the truth, but also the whole truth, in which they call God as Witness to what they say, and so grossly abuse his Majesty being the God of truth, if they draw him, as much as in them lieth, to countenance and confirm a lye. Secondly, hereby they transgress in a high degree Gods express Commandment, by which