Divine Poems, Commandment 9
Commandment IX.
IX Thou ſhalt not beare false witnes against, &c.
Who can hope for Juſtice where
Magiſtrates falſe witneſs bear?
Or, ſecure in falſhood be,
When great Princes ſcape not free?
She who Naboth's death contriv'd
Was in Wrath of life depriv'd,
And her fleſh by Dogs was torn
Though a Queen and Princely born,
That all others heed may take
How this Precept they do break.
Command. IX.
In any caſe no witneſs bear,
Of things which falſe or doubtful are.
VVEre this Edict omitted, who could ſay,
He ſhould enjoy his life or Goods a day?
If nigh his habitation chance to dwell,
Such Neighbours as the wicked Jeſabel,
(And her curſt Inſtruments:) whoſe downfall, here
Is typifi'd, that ſuch may ſtand in fear.
Where could we be ſecure from perjur'd men,
Unleſs God ſent forth Vengeance now and then,
To find out thoſe who ſecretly contrive
How, others of their portions to deprive,
Since, very often this offence hath none
Who can behold it, but, that God alone?
Or, by what means might they be kept in awe,
Whoſe greatneſs makes them careleſs of this Law?
How ſafe ſeem'd Jeſabel, by being great?
And, yet, how boldly did the Prophet threat
Succeeding Vengeance? and though ſhe were high,
How low upon a ſuddain did ſhe lie?
That high and low, might view her curſed plight
And more in truthful honeſty delight.
Moſt know, that, of this Law they breakers are
Who bear falſe witneſs, at the Judgment Bar,
And very many are not without fear,
In ſuch ungodly actions to appear,
But, few do ſeem, aright to underſtand,
Their other breaches of this Ninth Command,
To lie, accounted is a fault ſo ſmall,
That many feel no ſence thereof at all,
But, make a Play-game of it: yea and ſome
Such Patrons of that Evil are become,
That they allow, and juſtifie the ſame
As Praiſes rather meriting than blame.
But, this will prove though held a petty ſin
The Serpents head, that brings his body in,
And, an officious lying, may in time
Ingage us to commit a greater Crime;
However he that an untruth ſhall ſpeak,
Or Truth (if to deceive) this Law doth break.
To praiſe is commendable; yet thereby
When we of others better teſtify
Than they deſerve; true vertue we deride,
And ſinners in their ſins are juſtifi'd,
Unleſs it be (by ſuch a modeſt praiſe,
As flows from hope, our Friend affects the ways
Which yet he walks not) that our praiſe may be
A Gale to ripen what we blooming ſee:
For this is neither purpos'd to deceive
The Hearer; nor advantages to weave
For him that ſpeaks it: but a wiſe intention
To cheriſh budding Virtue by prevention;
But, he that flatters doth pollute his mouth,
And is a falſifier of the Truth.
The Paraſite, who ſhames not to uphold,
Whatever by his Patron ſhall be told,
Or, ſeeks by Jeering to diſcountenance,
A ſimple Truth; and falſhood to advance,
Againſt this holy Precept ſo offends
That puniſhment his Guiltineſs attends,
Yea, they who get acceſs to great mens Tables,
By coming furniſhed with News and Fables,
Are thereby often guilty of this ſin,
Which by this Law hath countermanded bin.
When we dare venture to reiterate,
Thoſe Rumors which the common people prate,
On meer ſurmiſes; we are acceſſary
To many ſlanders: We make Truth miſcarry,
And bear falſe witneſs to the wrong of many,
When we ſuſpect not that we wronged any,
Nor can we ſatisfie for theſe offences,
Which then may follow, if our Sov'raign Princes,
Or there affairs of ſtate, ſhall wrong ſuſtain
By ſuch falſe tales as we receive or fain.
When out of levity Reports we make
Of others frailties; or occaſions take
To mention Jeſtingly, what may diſgrace
The perſon either abſent or in place,
Without juſt motives (or content ſhall grow)
To hide what Love and Equity ſhould ſhow
We in the main, or in ſome circumſtance
Falſe Teſtimonies; may thereby advance.
But, he that uttereth ſlanders in deſpight,
Or juſtifies the thing that is not right,
Or judgeth raſhly in anothers Cauſe,
Or any needful witneſſes withdraws,
Or (by concealing what for truth he knows)
Betrayeth Innocency to her Foes;
Or, hears another injur'd in his Fame,
With Silence when he may prevent the ſame;
Or unto any one occaſion gives
Whereby, he falſhood, for the truth believes:
Ev'n every ſuch a one falſe witneſs bears,
What Cloak of Honeſty ſo'ere he wears?
Nor are they guiltleſs, who avoid not that,
Whereby occaſions riſe to perpetrate
Againſt this Law. As Bribery, Reſpect
Or diſreſpect of perſons, which infect
The ſoundeſt minds, and bring them by degrees,
Their innocent Integrity to leeſe.
Yea, he who ſo loves Bribes, though he were wiſe,
They will make deaf his ears, hood-wink his eyes;
And ſo corrupt his heart, that he ſhall know
No Truth, except ſome profit thence do flow;
Nor, any falſhood fear to entertain,
Whereby he may aſſured be of gain.
And, leſt by ſome thoſe men be judged free
From this offence (if any ſuch there be)
Who by Falſe Miracles, falſe Revelations,
Falſe Dreams, falſe Viſions, falſe Interpretations
Of Holy Scripture; or by ſuch like patchings
Of Carnal wiſdom, and of Sathan's hatchings
Affirm that thing for truth which is a Lye;
Know that theſe Juglers in degree as high
As he that's worſt; prove guilty of this Sin
Which by this Precept, hath forbidden bin.
For though our Doctrines be not ſo unſound,
But that ſome truths among them ſhall be found,
Though cloath'd in Lamb-skins we do ſeem to go,
Though for a blameleſs life we famous grow;
Though in our formal Zeal ſurpaſs we ſhall
The Phariſees, and ev'ry Prieſt of Baal;
Tho' oft we faſt; tho' loud we pray and long;
Tho' we ſeem'd wrong'd, and patient of the wrong;
Tho' we affect the Crown of Martyrdome,
And dye as if we death had overcome.
Yea, tho' we ſeem as Angels, who from heav'n
Had Power, and Knowledge, and Commiſſions giv'n;
Yet, if our Zeal, our outward Piety,
Our Knowledge, our affected Conſtancy,
Our ſuffirings, and the Truths which we have ſaid
Were that the God of Truth might be betray'd
And falſhood favour'd; We offenders are,
Againſt this precept, we falſe witneſs bear.
And all our Godly ſhews, are fruits of evil
Deluſions and Impoſtures of the Devil.
Lord ſanctify my heart, and keep my tongue,
That, it may neither do my neighbour wrong,
Nor prattle thoſe Untruths, which may oppoſe
The Verities, thy Spirit ſhall diſcloſe;
But, grant that I who ſee how theſe offend
May find out mine own Errors and amend;
Yea, Lord ſo teach me and be ſo my Guide,
That, faithful to this Law I may abide.
Amen.