A Treatise Against Lying, Treatise · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
That the vice of Lying is ſo common and univerſall, that it hath corrupted all ſorts and conditions of Men.
AS good is moſt commendable §. 1. That the vice of Lying is moſt common.when as it is moſt common and communicable, becauſe it multiplies it ſelfe, and increaſes the happineſſe of many in whom it is; ſo vice and ſinne is ſo much the more ſinfull and pernicious; by how much the more it diffuſeth and ſpreadeth it ſelfe as a common Plague or Leproſie to the infection and deſtruction of many, and utter ruine of all humane ſocieties. In which regard this ſinne of lying, of which I now purpoſe (God aſſiſting me) to intreate, may challenge unto it ſelfe a ſpeciall preheminence aboue almoſt all other vices, there being none more common and univerſall, whether wee reſpect perſons, times, or places. It begunne with our firſt Parents as ſoone almoſt as they had their beginning, who no ſooner left their innocency and integrity, than they left their Truth; and falling into ſinne, they fell to lying, hiding it in this darke ſhade, and covering it under this blacke vayle, becauſe they ſaw it ſo foule and loathſome, that they were aſhamed to bring it unto the light▪ For being asked by God why they hid themſelves from his Preſence among the trees of the Garden, they alleadge two falſe cauſes, and conceale the Truth. The one, was becauſe they heard Gods Voyce, which made them affraid; the other, becauſe they ſaw their owne nakedneſſe; whereas they had often before heard God ſpeaking unto them and were not terrified, and had ſeene themſelves naked and were not aſhamed; neither was it their want of cloathing, but of the robe of Innocency, and their ſinne that brought this ſhame and feare. And from their loynes this corruption is naturally propagated to all their Poſterity: from their ſinfull breaſts wee have all ſucked this deadly poyſon, which hath ſo generally infected the corrupted nature of all Mankinde, that there is ſcarce any vice or ſinne unto which we are more inclined, than unto this of lying.
The which will better appeare, if wee conſider §. 2. That all Nations and conditions of Men are ſubject to this vice,that there is no Country or Nation, no place, age or condition of Men, priviledged and exempted from this contagion; no people ſo rude and ſavage, but have attained to the Art and skill of lying and diſſembling; none ſo well civilized and inſtructed in morall vertue, governed and reſtrained from vice by politique lawes, but that they often breake their bounds, and take unto themſelves a licentious liberty to ſpeake untruths for their advantage; yea no Nation ſo well nurtured and taught in the knowledge of God and his true Religion, but that the moſt of them are tainted with the contagion of this vice; and though they make ſome conſcience of other ſins, as murther, whoredome, drunkennes, fraud, oppreſſion, and the like, yet they are nothing ſcrupulous to uſe their beſt skill in lying, when as they thinke that it is for their gaine and advantage. And therefore though ſome people more than others, either by a naturall inclination, example or cuſtome, doe exceede in this vice, and (like the Cretians in the Apoſtles time) may by way of eminency be called Lyers; yet there are no ſorts Tit. 1. 12.of Men ſavadge or civill, Pagans, Turkes or Chriſtians, which are not too much addicted to this baſe and pernitious vice.
But that I may confine my ſpeech within narrower §. 3. That our owne people and nation are much infected with the contagion of this ſin of lying.boundes, and leaving others, come unto our ſelves; who ſeeth not, that after ſo long a time of preaching the Goſpell, the light thereof hath not yet diſpelled theſe foggy myſtes of falſehood and lying? Take a view of all places in our Land, Court, Citty and Countrey, and we ſhall finde no Goſhen that is exempted and free from this Egyptian darkeneſſe; almoſt all Men indeavouring to miſlead others into errours, by lyes and untruths. And that which is worſt of all, Mens conſciences are not convinced of the greatneſſe of this ſinne, whereof it commeth to paſſe that it is not only in dayly practice, but alſo in ſome inward eſteeme and credit; as contrariwiſe plaine and ſimple truth in ſome diſgrace, the moſt m…n being ready to applaud themſelves when they have atchieved their ends by ſubtle untruths, and to cenſure others as dull and fooliſhly ſimple, who loving the Truth, doe looſe the advantage of compaſſing their end; becauſe they make conſcience of their words and wayes, and will not purchaſe their hopes at the price of a lye. So that in theſe dayes we may juſtly take up the complaint of Ieremie: Truth is periſhed, and is cut off from the mouth of Men: and that of the Jer. 7. 28.Prophet Eſay: Iudgement is turned away backeward, Eſai. 59. 14, 15.and Iustice ſtandeth a farre off; for Truth is fallen in the Streete, and Equity cannot enter: yea Truth faileth, and hee that departeth from evill, maketh himſelfe a prey.
For if wee looke amongſt all ſorts of Men, wee §. 4. That entertainment lyes finde among Courtiers.ſhall finde Truth neglected, and lyes applauded and dayly practiſed. Amongſt ſome Courtiers, they are eſteem'd ornaments and elegancies of ſpeech, and commended as witty complements to fill up the empty place of abſent Truth: neither do they uſe their tongues for that end, for which God gave them, namely to bee the true interpreters of their mind's and hearts, but to faine and diſſemble, profeſſing the greateſt love and kindneſſe to thoſe unto whom they intend moſt miſchiefe. And now it is eſteemed an high point of prudence, either cunningly to reſerve themſelves in a grave and ſolemne ſilence, and concealing their owne thoughts and intentions to lye upon the catch, that they may take all advantages for the diſcovering of others ſecrets; or ſo to ſpeake and diſcourſe, as that their words may not lay open their mindes, but rather miſlead their hearers into falſe conceits and errors: Men not caring, ſo that their maine end and aime be good, though they neglect Truth, when it will not ſerve for their purpoſe ſo well as a lye.
Looke into our courts of Juſtice, in which next §. 5. That lyes are frequent in Courts of Juſtice Pſal. 82. 1.unto the Pulpit Truth may challenge a place, as being the beſt guide that leadeth unto right where God ſtandeth and judgeth among the gods, and therefore nothing but truth ſhould be ſpoken before the God of Truth who abhorreth lies, and his Deputies and Vice-gerents, who bearing his Image and ſitting in his place ſhould, that they may judge rightly, bee throughly informed in the Truth. And where ſhall we finde Truth more neglected, diſcountenanced and betrayed, than amongſt thoſe who would ſeeme to pleade for it? where have lyes and untruths more frequent and familiar entertainment? For how few among that profeſſion that make conſcience to bee intertained in a bad cauſe, and having taken upon them the patronage of it, make any ſcruple to uſe their uttermoſt abilities to dazell and blinde the eyes of the Judge; not onelyonly by their Art and skill, but alſo by ſpeaking untruths, when they will advantage their ill cauſe? Neither doe they onelyonly hereby indeavour to hinder the right of the adverſe party, but alſo diſgrace his perſon with falſe aſperſions, and that not in words alone which might be blowne away with the winde, but alſo in their Bils and writings which muſt remaine upon record; for which nothing can bee ſaid that I know of, but that lying is growne into a cuſtome, and become a common forme in the courſe of pleading. Yea I would there were none of this profeſſion that doe intertaine more willingly a bad cauſe than a good, becauſe it promiſeth greater gaine, and chuſe to ſpeake lyes rather than Truth, becauſe if they prevaile in the ſuite, they can ſell them to their client at an higher price. So that here againe we may complaine with the Prophet: Your fingers are defiled with iniquity, Jer. …. …your lippes have ſpoken lyes, your tongues have muttered perverſeneſſe. None calleth for Iustice, nor any pleadeth for Truth: or if they doe both, yet it is rather for their fees ſake, than for the love of either.
Yea even our Divines themſelves, though they §. 6. That many Divines are guilty of this vice.be profeſſours of divine Truth, cannot wholly be excuſed and cleared of this vice; and that not only in reſpect of their private courſes & converſations, but alſo in regard of the worke of their Miniſtery. For to ſpeake nothing of them who for ſiniſter ends broach errours of Doctrine, and in ſtead of Gods Truth, their owne frothy and falſe conceits; that they may make Proſelytes and gather a number of Diſciples, by whom they may be applauded and maintained: how many are there that for trencher courteſies are ready to approve and applaud their benefactors in their ſins of fraud, oppreſſion, uſury? and like thoſe women, of whom Ezechiel ſpeaketh, ſow pillowes under the arme holes and elbowes Ezec. 1… 18. ….of ſinners, that they may the more ſecurely ſleepe in their ſinnes, polluting Gods holy Name among the people for handfulls of barley, and peeces of bread to ſlay the ſoules that ſhould not dye, and to ſave the ſoules alive that ſhould not live, by their lying to Gods People that heare their lyes, making the hearts of the righteous ſad with their lyes, whom GOD hath not made ſad, and ſtrengthening the hands of the wicked, that hee ſhould not returne from his wicked way by promiſing him life? Others ſpeake pleaſing things rather than profitable, heartning and encouraging the people in their vicious courſes, both by their words and examples, and walking (as the Prophet Micah ſpeaketh of ſome ſuch in his dayes) in the ſpirit of falſehood, doe Micah 2. …1.…ye ſaying, I will prophecie unto thee of wine and ſtrong drinke. But as ſuch men diſhonour God and that high calling unto which hee hath called them, by their teaching of lies, making themſelves baſe and contemptible and even the very tayle in the common Eſa. 9 1….wealth, as the Prophet Eſay ſpeaketh: ſo will the Lord diſhonour them in the eyes of all good men, and take them away by his heavie judgements, Jer. 14. 15.as the Prophet Ieremy threatneth.
But though this ſinne greatly raigneth amongſt §. 7. That this vice of Lying chiefly raigneth in Cities and Townes, and especially amongst Shopkeepers and Artificers.all ſorts and conditions of men in our Land, yet amongſt none more than our Citizens, ſhopkeepers and artificers. For doe we not ſee that they in their Trade of buying and ſelling doe alſo make a common Trade of lying? And ſo they may utter their wares, they are content by ſinning to ſet their ſoules to ſale, giving them in as an over-meaſure and (as it were) an advantage to the bargaine; neither doe they more dazle the eyes of the buyer with their falſe lights, than the eyes of their mindes and judgements with their falſe praiſes, laviſhly affirming that there are none ſo good in the towne, when as themſelves know that they have much better in their owne ſhops; that they coſt them ſo much, when as afterwards they are content to ſell them for leſſe; that they would not abate any thing of that price to their owne father or mother, though ſoone after they agree to take leſſe of a ſtranger; and that none but they ſhould have had them ſo good cheape, though perhaps this bee the firſt, and it may bee the laſt time that they ever ſaw or ſhall ſee them. Yea they are not content to uſe only their naturall faculty of lying, but ſtrive alſo to perfect it with art, and bend all their wittes daily to improve their skill; helping themſelves by their obſervation and experience to know and diſcerne what methode and skill of lying they finde moſt advantageable. Nay they are not content to goe on themſelves in theſe wayes of darkeneſſe, but they will compell their ſervants and apprentiſes to goe together with them in the ſame wicked courſes, and now in theſe dayes take great ſummes of money to teach them their art, in which if they profit not, they are in no eſteeme, as being dull and heavie headed fellowes; ill chapmen, and altogether unfit to deale with their cuſtomers. And though they above all others cannot indure lyes in their ſervants in any matters that concerne themſelves, when as they tend to their hurt and damage, nor that they ſhould cover their faults committed in the Family by ſpeaking untruthes, and therefore will endeavour to breake them of this vice if they bee given to it; yet they will not onelyonly ſuffer, but alſo teach them to lye in their ordinary trading; as though lyes to deceive others were commendable, but hatefull when they are uſed to beguile them; lawfull and laudable in the ſhop, but odious and intolerable in any other part of the houſe: wherein they groſly deceive themſelves, for he that maketh no conſcience of lying in one place, will make as little in another: hee that will not ſticke to lye for his maſters pleaſure and profit, will as eaſily adventure on it to hide his owne faults, that hee may eſcape ſhame or puniſhment; and hee that by the dayly practiſe of lying in the ſhop commeth to a cuſtome and habit, can hardly leave it in the hall or chamber. But let ſuch maſters tremble to thinke that hereby they bring Gods wrath upon them, not onelyonly for their owne ſinnes, but alſo for the ſinnes of their ſervants, in which they are not acceſſaries alone but even principals: and what a fearefull account they have to make at the Day of Judgement for poyſoning of youth committed to their charge with this vice of lying and deceit, making them hereby ſubject to Gods wrath and liable to that woe and heavie judgement denounced againſt ſuch ſervants, as Zeph. 1. 9.fearing man more than God, doe enrich their maſters with their lyes and deceit. I have enlarged my ſelfe the more in ſhewing how this ſinne aboundeth in the City, becauſe being ſo generall, yet few lay it to heart as a ſinne againſt God and man, but rather applaude themſelues in it as the excellency of their skill in their trade; whereof belike it was that in former times Trades were called Myſteries and Crafts, becauſe this myſtery of iniquity was practiſed in them, and all craft and deceit uſed in their buying and ſelling: or rather being good words in their prime ſignification, they came into diſcredit by their abuſe in their trades, and craft became a word of ill report and taken in an ill ſenſe, by reaſon of that cūning deceit which was uſed in Crafts and Occupations. And now I ſhould ſpeake no more of this vice amongſt Tradeſ-men, if I did not obſerve another kinde of lying practiſed by ſhopkeepers, which with griefe and bowels of compaſſion I have obſerved to bee moſt pernitious, as being joyned with grievous oppreſſion; namely that when their poore workemen (by whoſe art and skill, labours and endeavours they are enriched) come unto their ſhops and offer them their worke and wares to ſell for the reliefe of themſelves and families, they put them off and ſlight their commodities, telling them that they need them not, becauſe they would beat them downe to a low and baſe price, by working upon their preſſing neceſſity; whereas in truth they want and need to buy them, and to procure them would runne to their worke-houſes, if their urgent wants (as a goade in their ſides) did not enforce them to outrunne them and prevent their haſte. Yet howſoever theſe men deſerve to be pitied as oppreſſed, yet they cannot bee cleared as innocent, ſeeing they likewiſe uſe the ſame arts and ſlights of lying which I hauehave before condemned in the other, and having made falſe and deceitfull worke and wares, they cover uſually their faults and defects in workemanſhip with untruths, affirming them to bee perfect and good, durable, profitable and every way for their turne that buy them, when as themſelves know that they are bad, ſlight and good for nothing. So that in reſpect both of the one and other, wee have juſt cauſe to complaine of our Citizens and towneſ-men in this land, as Ezechiei did ſometime of Jeruſalem: She hath wearied her ſelfe with lyes, and her ſcumme went Ezec. 24. 12.not forth out of her. And therefore all that are plaine and ſimple hearted had now, if ever, need to hearken to Ieremies warning: Take ye heed every Jer. 9. 4, 5.one of his neighbour, and trust yee not in any brother: for every brother will utterly ſupplant, and they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not ſpeake the truth: they have taught their tongue to ſpeake lyes, and weary themſelves to commit iniquity. Thy habitation Quid Romae faciam? mentiri neſcio. Juvenal. Satyr. 3.is in the midst of deceit, &c. And yet let me not bee here miſtaken, as though I judged all men in theſe places alike and under the ſame guilt; for I know that there are many of them that truely fearing God, doe make conſcience of all their words and wayes, dealing as they would bee done by, and in their trading and converſation, abhorring to ſeeke their advantage by lyes and deceit; but I ſpeake onelyonly of the greater part, and of the uſuall and common practice of the moſt in theſe dayes.
Neither let the countrey people bleſſe themſelves §. 8. That Countrey people alſo are tainted with this vice.as though they were innocent, nor ſuppoſe that I acquit them becauſe I have not hitherto diſcovered and reproved them. For I doubt not but thoſe that are converſant with them, and are daily witneſſes of their words and dealings, doe finde them as faulty in their kinde, as crafty and deceitfull, as forward to advance their ends and accompliſh their deſires with untruths and lyes, and as cunning to deceive in their buying and ſelling, their contracts and bargaines, by ſetting trueth to ſale at the cheapeſt rate, as thoſe that live in townes and Cities. Yea rather as they for the moſt part are more rude and untaught, ſo they are more ſubject to this vice, and leſſe aſhamed when they are taken in it, than thoſe that are civilized and better inſtructed. Although perhaps they offend more ſeldome than Citizens, becauſe they are not expoſed to ſo many tentations as thoſe that ſpend their whole time in buying and ſelling, unto which this ſinne of lying ſticketh as cloſe as the ſhirt to the backe, or the skinne to the fleſh. And this Salomon obſerved that the buyer uſually diſprayſeth in words, what he liketh and approveth in his heart. It is naught, it is naught (ſaith the buyer) but when hee is gone his way, then hee boaſteth of his bargaine. And Prov. 20. 14.the ſonne of Syrach telleth us, that as a naile ſtickes Eccl. 27. 2.faſt betweene the joynings of the ſtones, ſo doth ſin ſticke cloſe betweene buying and ſelling.
Finally, as this ſinne of lying raigneth in all places, §. 9. That inferiours, children and ſervants are moſt prone to this vice of Lying.ſo in no perſons more than in inferiours, as children and ſervants, who being not ſo carefull to avoid the committing of faults, as being committed to hide and cover them, leſt they might hereby incurre the juſt diſpleaſure of their Superiours, and ſo bring upon themſelves deſerved puniſhment, doe uſually uſe lying, that under this covert they may keepe them from being diſcovered. Yea having told one lye they are ready to ſecond it with another, and that with a third and fourth, not caring to fall into a greater ſinne to excuſe a leſſe, and to make the wound of conſcience more deepe and deſperate, by doubling and redoubling of their fault; whereas an humble and penitent confeſſion would be accepted of their Governours, as a good part of ſatisfaction; being more pleaſed with their acknowledgement which giveth ſome hope of amendment for the future, then diſpleaſed with the fault it ſelfe. But let ſuch take notice of their vanity and ſolly, whileſt they runne headlong into greater evills out of a bare hope to avoid the leſſe, which often deceiveth them and maketh their faults more haynous and unexcuſable. For what is the diſpleaſure of mortall man which they indeavour to avoide, in compariſon of the wrath of the immortall GOD which they certainely incurre? What are the momentany corrections and puniſhments inflicted by men, in compariſon of thoſe torments eaſeleſſe and endleſſe in that Lake Apoc. 21. 8.which burneth with fire and brimſtone, which are threatned by God, and ſhall moſt certainly be ſuffered, unleſſe they be prevented by unfained repentance?
By all which it appeareth that this ſin of lying, §. 10. That Gods Miniſters ſhould indeavour to ſuppreſſe this vice.hath ſo much prevailed in all places, and alſo over all ſorts of perſons in our Land; that God may as juſtly complaine of England, as he did heretofore of Ephraim and Iſrael; Ephraim compaſſeth me about Hoſ. 11. 12.with lyes, and the houſe of Iſrael with deceit. In which regard Gods Miniſters ſhould bend their whole ſtrength both by preaching and writing againſt this vice which ſo much raigneth in this Land: for God hath appointed us to be watchmen, who muſt give the people warning, and convince them of Ezec. 3.thoſe ſinnes, which doe moſt indanger them to his judgements, and lay them open and naked to their enemies. They muſt lift up their voyce like a Eſay. 58. 1.Trumpet, and ſhew Gods People their tranſgreſsion, and the houſe of Iacob their ſin. Neither is it enough that they ſpeake againſt ſinne in generall, nor yet that they inveigh againſt the ſinnes of other Nations, to which their people are not much ſubject (for this were rather to backebite ſinne, than to reprove it) but they muſt bend their chiefe ſtrength againſt the common and raigning ſinnes of the times and places where they live; and their voyce like the Trumpet muſt not give an uncertaine or impertinent ſound, but ſuch as may bee for the uſe and direction of their owne Troupes. The conſideration whereof, as it moved mee heretofore in the time of my chiefeſt ſtrength to write againſt thoſe common vices of ſwearing, whoredome, drunkenneſſe, bribery, raſh and unjuſt anger which have overflowed our Land like an univerſall Deluge; ſo doth it now in my old Age, and in my greater weakeneſſe both of body and minde, incite mee to write againſt this vice of Lying, both becauſe it is no leſſe, if not more common, than any of the reſt; and herein more pernitious, becauſe Mens conſciences are not convinced of the greatneſſe of this ſinne, and therefore ſecurely live in it without repentance: And alſo becauſe I have not knowne of any other that have written of this Subject, although many might much better have done it, in reſpect of their greater ſtrength and better abilities.