A69235:80
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 6A TREATISE AGAINST THE SINNE OF LYING. › Chapter 6
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.
CHAP. VI.
Of the causes of Lying.
THE main end of all my former discourse 1hath been to inform the judgement in the true nature of a Lye, and to distinguish it from such Truths, as in outward show and appearance may seem to have some semblance of it, that so rightly discerning it, we may the better avoid it: and yet not through our untaught zeal in shunning it, loose our lawful liberty in speaking such truths as being clear and candid enough in their own nature, yet (like a fair green tree near unto a Smiths forge) are (as it were) dusked and obfuscated with the sulphureous smoke of lies, by reason of their vicinity. For virtue dwelleth between its extremes, and the most unreconcilable enemies do often border one upon another. And now in the next place according to my order propounded, I am to say something of the causes of lying, the which are either outward in others, or inward and in our selves. The chief outward cause is the Devil, who as he is a liar from the beginning and the father of lies, so doth he beget children after his own likeness, and endeavoureth to make them as great liars, as himself. And as by his lies at the first he murdered Mankind, so ever since he maketh them murderers of themselves, by drinking daily deep draughts in this poisoned cup of lying, which he putteth into their hands. Wherein also he showeth ⟨p. 61⟩his desperate malice against God himself, in that not being able to resist his Power, he opposeth him as he is the God of Truth, gainsaying what he saith, as we see in his first tentation to our first Parents: For God having threatened death against them, if they did eat of the forbidden fruit, he expressly contradicteth him, and saith, Ye shall