And thus having showed the diverse 1sorts of lies, it now followeth that we examine whether any of them at any time or upon any occasion, be lawful and warrantable? And surely it cannot be denied but that there is great difference in the degree of sinfulness between some sorts of lies and others; and that the guilt of merry and officious lies is much extenuated by many circumstances and considerations, by their nature, the will and desire of the speakers, who love and delight not in the lye for it self, but as they think it fit to further some good end; and because their end is not at all to hurt, nor principally to deceive, but to profit or delight their neighbours: Even as contrariwise the guilt of pernicious lies is much aggravated, because they are most opposite to Truth, and those that tell them do it willingly with love and delight: And finally, because their chief aim and end is to deceive, and by deceit to hurt and wrong their neighbours in their goods or good name, life or liberty. But though some lies are lighter and of less guilt than others, yet all in some degree are sinful and unlawful, as being forbidden in the ninth Commandment. For whereas some object that they are not condemned by this precept, because it only forbiddeth such untruths as are against our neighbour, ⟨p. 75⟩whereas officious and merry lies are not against, but for him, and for his good, even for his profit and delight; and offend not against charity, which is the sum of the Law. To this I answer, that all untruth is forbidden in this Commandment, whether it be for or against our neighbour; neither doth the Hebrew word Beth used here signify only against, but also toward, or concerning, about or touching our neighbour: neither is hurt only forbidden, but also any falsehood and untruth by any means signified of, unto, or concerning our neighbour; for the word which is translated bearing witness, as if it were Legally, and before a Judge, signifieth in the original, thou shalt not answer, which is as much in the Hebrew phrase as thou shalt not say or cause to be said, as appeareth in divers aplaces. And the word witness, signifieth any manner of showing any thing, and so it is taken in other Scriptures. So that the sense of the Commandment, 3extends further than the words outwardly portend:
ANd thus having shewed the diverse 1sorts of lyes, it now followeth that we examine whether any of them at any time or upon any occasion, bee lawfull and warrantable? And surely it cannot be denyed but that there is great difference in the degree of sinfulnesse betweene some sorts of lyes and others; and that the guilt of merry and officious lyes is much extenuated by many circumstances and considerations, by their nature, the will and desire of the speakers, who love and delight not in the lye for it selfe, but as they thinke it fitte to further some good end; and because their end is not at all to hurt, nor principally to deceive, but to profit or delight their neighbours: Even as contrariwise the guilt of pernicious lies is much aggravated, because they are most opposite to Truth, and those that tell them doe it willingly with love and delight: And finally, because their chiefe aime and end is to deceive, and by deceite to hurt and wrong their neighbours in their goods or good name, life or liberty. But though some lyes are lighter and of lesse guilt than others, yet all in some degree are sinnefull and unlawfull, as being forbidden in the ninth Commandement. For whereas some object that they are not condemned by this precept, because it onely forbiddeth such untruths as are against our neighbour, ⟨p. 75⟩whereas officious and merry lyes are not against, but for him, and for his good, even for his profit and delight; and offend not against charity, which is the summe of the Law. To this I answere, that all untruth is forbidden in this Commandement, whether it be for or against our neighbour; neither doth the Hebrew word Beth used here signifie only against, but also toward, or concerning, about or touching our neighbour: neither is hurt onely forbidden, but also any falshood and untruth by any meanes signified of, unto, or concerning our neighbour; for the word which is translated bearing witnesse, as if it were Legally, and before a Judge, signifieth in the originall, thou shalt not answere, which is as much in the Hebrew phrase as thou shalt not say or cause to be said, as appeareth in divers aplaces. And the word witnesse, signifieth any manner of shewing any thing, and so it is taken in other Scriptures. So that the sense of the Commandement, 3extends further than the words outwardly portend:
- 1§. 1. Though some lies are more sinful▪ than others, yet all sorts are unlawful, and against the ninth Commandment§. 1. Though some lyes are more sinnefull▪ than others, yet all sorts are unlawfull, and against the ninth Commandement
- aProv. 15. 1. Matth. 11. 25. b Joh. 1. 7.
- 31 Cor. 15. 15.
