A69235:83
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.
Another outward cause of lying is the World, 1whether we understand it of the Persons of worldly wicked men, or of Worldly things. For worldly Men are the common teachers of lies, both by their precepts, setting up (as it were) a School of falsehood, and instructing one another in those cunning and politic arts of lying for advantage, and also by their practice; for the whole World lying in 2wickedness (as the Apostle John speaketh) but yet not willing to have it discovered, do tell lies in 3hypocrisy, as (Saint Paul foretelleth of the false teachers of the latter times) and commonly use the Art of lying to hide and disguise their sinful courses, not caring to commit any wickedness, ⟨p. 62⟩which by lies they can keep from coming to light, whereby they become precedents and examples to encourage one another in these wicked practices, which every one not restrained with the fear of God are apt to follow; partly because being become so general and universal, the custom doth take away the conscience of it, and the multitude of offenders, leaveth no place for shame, if they be taken in the sin; and partly because they see one another thrive by these lying Arts; so as they think with Dionysius, that Divine providence favoureth their untruths, seeing they are carried with so fair a gale of wind into the Port of their desires. Yea worldly wicked men allure oftentimes one another with promises and rewards to afford mutually the help of a lye, when as it may advance their ends, and redound to their benefit and advantage; which if they refuse, they become enemies (as the Apostle speaketh) because 4they tell the Truth. And if they cannot entice them to swallow the hook with these alluring baits of favour and friendship, they will not stick to drive them into their nets with terrors and fears, watching all occasions to do them a mischief, if they refuse to satisfy their desires. Finally, the things of the World, as honours, riches, and pleasures, are by way of object the usual means to draw men to lying, there being no kind of lies which the ambitious, covetous and voluptuous, will baulk, when they think them advantageous for the obtaining of their preferments, wealth and carnal delights.