An exposition upon the Epistle to the Colossians Wherein, not only the text is…An exposition vpon the Epistle to the Colossians Wherein, not onely the text is…

¹The Use may be for reproof and humiliation to such as find themselves overtaken with this sin, especially if it reign in them, but more especially they are in a cursed condition that seek lies^u, and teach their tongues to lie^*, neither let men please themselves that they can do it covertly. For liars are for the most part easily found out, there is amongst the rest 3. signs of a liar and in one of the three he usually discovers himself.⁴ 1. To vary incontinently^x. 2. To hearken to a false tongue^y. 3. To love lies^z. But let every one that feareth God obey this counsel of the Apostle, to put lying in the Catalogue of sins he would daily watch against. And because by nature we are all prone unto this sin, we should remember it even in our prayers to God, that he would remove far from us vanity and lies^a. Before I pass from this vice, there are certain questions^a to be answered,^a as first whether all lying be sin or no. That this may be understood men use to divide lies into three sorts. There is an officious, and a pernicious, and a jesting lye. All men condemn the pernicious lie, many excuse the lie in jest, and some commend the officious lie, but the truth is, all are naught. And therefore the Apostle saith, lie not at all, for he speaketh indefinitely. But it will be objected that the midwives and Rahab and Micholl did lie, but it must be answered, that their zeal and piety was to be praised,¹¹