A69235:76
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.
And thus I have showed how it is lawful or expedient 1to confess the truth when as we are examined in a legal manner before a lawful Magistrate: now concerning the confessing or concealing of it in our private conversation, the case is much different, seeing therein we have a liberty to utter or hide it from those that have no authority to examine us, according as our occasions shall require and Christian prudence direct us. It is true that commonly and ordinarily we must speak that truth with our tongues which our minds conceive, because they were given us to this end that they should be as faithful Interpreters of our hearts to ⟨p. 56⟩discover our thoughts one to another, but yet this is no farther required than as in our speech we may be useful and profitable one to another. In which regard it is not only lawful but very expedient that we should conceal the truth in many cases from those that have no authority to examine us of it. And thus we may, yea ought to conceal such secrets as are entrusted to our keeping, when as they are lawful, as also the faults and infirmities of our neighbours, seeing love doth cover a multitude of sins; yea to discover them when we are not necessitated thereunto by some great and necessary cause, doth not only show want of love, but also of honesty and justice, which requireth that we should do unto others, as we would have them to do unto us. And the like also may be said of our own faults and infirmities, which we ought by all lawful means to hide and conceal from all men, unless it be to our spiritual Physicians, that they may the better cure us, or to our weak Patients troubled and afflicted in mind, that we may comfort and cure them, by making our selves examples unto them of the same infirmities wherewith they think none so troubled as themselves. Otherwise, except it be in these and such like cases, it is not only permitted as lawful, but required as expedient and necessary to hide and conceal our own sins and infirmities. For first whereas in the ninth Commandment in the affirmative part, God enjoineth us to use all good means, both by giving a true testimony and also by our silence whereby we may preserve the good name of our neighbour, setting forth their virtues and good ⟨p. 57⟩parts, and concealing their faults and failings;