The Substance of Christian Religion, Lecture 43
The forty third Lords day.
On Exod. 20. 18.
Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour.
IN this Commandment, is handled the testimony of one given on the behalf of another, for getting of belief or trust of them. This then is also amongst the things that belong to our neighbours: For it either tends to his good, or to his hurt, as the belief that is given to this testimony, may either do him good or do him harm. God in this Commandment therefore shews us, that we ought not onelyonly, not to hurt our neighbour, in his honour, or life, or chastity▪ or goods; but also that no effectual occasion of harm should be given him, either by words, or by a witnessing, though he should not thereby be immediately hurt, but either by the comming between of his own, or some other bodies credit or endavour. The general sin that is here forbidden, is called a false witnessing; that is, whensoever by our credit, authority, or testimony, we confirm that as truth, which we know to be false, which is the very nature and definition of a lye.
Doct. 1. Every lye with whatsoever pretence it may be excused, as it is a witnessing of falshood, it is a sin.
Reas. 1 Because it contains an in…ury to our neighbour, who from the very law of nature, hath this right, that he may challenge of us, that we say nothing to him, as true as that is not true; no more than we would thrust upon him a piece of false coin, for true or currant gold or silver, which yet is but a counterfeit.
Reas. 2. Because there is a base and dishonest disorder in the false witnesse, that lyes while his tongue and speech disagree quite from his minde; and it is as if the Interpreter of some Princes should speak things quite contrary to those, that he got in commission from his Prince to declare.
Reas. 3. Because the inconveniences that are brought forth and furthered in the world by lyes are very grievous and heavy; because by them all trust, in which lyes the very knot and foundation of humane society, is troubled in every kinde; and there is no evill that in any other sort is done to any, but both may and useth also to be brought about by lies; so as by lies sin is committed against the honour, the life, the chastity, and the outward goods of men, as also against his religion, so that all the foregoing Commandments, by breaking of this Commandment by lies, may also be some way broken.
Reas. 4 Because by a lie the nature of the Devill himself is in a special manner followed, and as it were put on like a garment, Ioh 8. 44. You are of your Father the Devill, and the lusts o… your Father you will do. He was a Murtherer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a ly, he speaketh his own; for he is a lier, and the Father of it.
The Use is of Admonition, that out of conscience towards God, we keep our selves from all lying, whether it be that of a pernicious lye, or an officious lye, or a merry lye: Whether it be spoken of our selves, as in our vaunting and dissimulations, or of others, as in calumnies, slanders, backbitings, flatteries, soothings, &c But these lyes are chiefly to be shunn'd, as use to be committed in publick judgments, and matter of great weight and importance. 1 Because with how much more advisedness a man lyes, by so much his sin is the greater. 2. Because by how much the greater the danger is, that another is brought into by the lye, by so much the sin is the heavier. 3 By how much the greater obligations come together, binding us to speak truth: by so much the sinne is multiplied.
And that we may abstain from lying, we must abstain from such things as make way for lying; as are rash suspicions, and too great easiness to believe and receive false reports; and a talkative and twatling nature, which by many useth so to be exercised, as without that consideration, whereby they should alwayes put a difference between truth and falseshood, and the like.
Doct. 2. We ought to love truth, and according as occasion serves, further and advance it.
This is gathered from the words of the Commandment, because veracity, whereby we both love truth, and according to occasion, witnesse the same, is that virtue here commanded; and is contrary to that sin that is here condemned, in bearing falsewitnesse: So that speculative truth is not properly here treated of, neither that which is true generally; but onelyonly morall truth, that is, such as belongs to mens manners and consciences; and that is such a truth of our words, as that they agree with our minde, and our minde also with the thing it self, as far as we are bound to know, or professe that we know. And this veracity is to be followed and highly to be prised for these reasons.
Reas. 1. Because it is not the least part of that Image of God, that we ought to shew; because in a speciall manner God is, and is called the God of truth, Psal. 31. 6. and his word the word of truth, and truth it self: so that truth hath a peculiar agreement with the nature and perfection of God: Whence also it is, that God, though in other commands hath sometimes used a kinde of exception, and as it were dispensed with it for a time, as in the matter of Theft, with the Israelites (for he made that to be no theft, by a speciall explication of that command, which otherwise had been theft) and of some marriages both before and under the Law, which by extraordinary approving of them he made lawfull; yet in this command about speaking truth, he never granted any explication or dispensation, because from the very nature of the thing it self, it hath more of Gods Image in it, and of divine and immutable justice; yea, which is more, God hath absolutely forbidden us, that we lye not, although for his cause, much lesse for our own, or for any mortal mans.
Reas. 2. Because this veracity is a speciall perfection of man, while it excludes these deviations and crookednesses of mens minds, whereby they are perverted unto a custome of lying, and subjected unto the base affections either of fear, or fraud, or the like: Hence also from the very light of nature, it is a singular honour to any, if they be lovers of truth, and stick fast to it, and are constant both in defending and furthering of the same.
Reas. 3. This is also the foundation of all civill society and conversation; so that it being taken away, men would become rather Wolves and Foxes to one another, than men.
Reas. 4 By the exercise hereof and the love of it, our mindes are the better disposed for embracing that truth, which leads to our salvation.
The Use is of Direction, that in our conversation with men, we follow after this truth, for though it be not required, either that we know all that is true, nor yet that at all times we speak all, that we know to be true; yet against the truth at no time, in no place, for no party whatsoever, no not for God himself (as hath been said) we ever witnesse any thing: Moreover we are always bound to give witnesse unto the truth, and to confirm it, when either religion or conscience towards God, or iustice and charity towards our neighbour shall require this duty from us.