A69235:73
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 here another question cometh to be resolved; 1whether a man that is guilty of a fault or crime that concerneth his life, being examined in a Legal manner before a lawful Magistrate, be bound in conscience to confess the Truth, and so by accusing himself to endanger his life. To this I answer, that every one who is guilty is bound to testify the Truth, if he be required by the lawful ⟨p. 52⟩Magistrate, though it be with the hazard of his life, and sinneth if he hide his fault with a lye; and better it is to expose the body to the danger of death by confessing the Truth, than by lying and sinning to offend God, and cast both soul and body into Hell. But yet men thus guilty are more or less bound to confess the truth and accuse themselves, and do sin more or less heinously by concealing it in divers cases and considerations. For if the Judge having no evidence of Truth, nor competent witnesses to clear the cause, and direct him in giving a right sentence, doth seriously examine the offender, charging him upon his Conscience to testify the Truth that God may be glorified, when he his Deputy doth Justice; and if thus strictly examining him, he doth in some degree rest upon his testimony for his direction and judgement, in such a case the guilty person sinneth greatly if he conceal the truth or hide his offence with a lye; for Judgement being the Lords, he dishonoureth him, that hindereth the execution of justice with a lye. And therefore Joshua thus strictly examining 2Achan in a weighty cause, willeth him to give Glory unto God by confessing the Truth, implying hereby that he should much dishonour him if he did otherwise. Besides by concealing the truth and telling a lye in such a case, he blindeth 3and misleadeth the Judge, and causeth him to pervert justice, and to pronounce an unrighteous sentence.
But here another question commeth to bee resolved; 1whether a man that is guilty of a fault or crime that concerneth his life, being examined in a Legall manner before a lawfull Magistrate, bee bound in conscience to confesse the Truth, and so by accusing himselfe to indanger his life. To this I answere, that every one who is guilty is bound to testifie the Truth, if he be required by the lawfull