A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 209 (Question 78 cont.)
SERMON CCIX.
II. JESUITICAL Equivocations. Theſe indeed are but a Ly in a painted dreſs, and do not look ſo naked as a down …ght Ly, but are nothing the better for that: Theſe are called Jeſuitical, not becauſe Jeſuits …ly uſe them, for they are too much in practice every where, but becauſe they have appeared … Champions to defend the Lawfulneſs of them, and the Duty of ſometimes uſing them: theſe … being the principal Emiſſaries of the Ro… See; and finding that often they have no other way to ſave their Necks from an Halter, have found it neceſſary for the Catholick Cauſe; all whoſe ſupport in this World, is built upon Lies. In defence of which, many Volumns have been written, the Vanity & Falſity whereof bath been detected by the Orthodox: A few words my here ſuffice.
AN Equivocation, is an Aſſerting of a thing, which in it ſelf, according to the Vulgar accep…tion, is a Falſehood, under the cloak of a Men… Reſervation. There are indeed Equivocal …, many whereof are in uſe, which have … ſignification, and in common diſcourſe, a Perſon may intend them in one ſenſe, and the …rer may take them up in another; theſe my be uſed for Diverſion & Recreation without blame, and cannot be charged as Falſehood. … there are two ways in which a ſinful Equivocation may be uttered.
1. WHEN a thing is Uttered for a Truth, … is in it ſelf Falſe, and cannot be any way …, without a Limitation, which is Reſerved in the Mind, but no way Uttered. As when a Perſon be asked, Whether he be ſuch an One, …, of ſuch an Occupation? And he plumply de… it, meaning, that he is not ſo to tell it to the Enquirer: or, when he is demanded, Whether he was a… ſuch a Place at ſ…ch a Time? and … directly ſaith, No, with the ſame reſerve.
2. WHEN a Perſon Aſſerts a thing, which i… Falſe according to the Univerſal Acceptation …, though in an Unuſual ſenſe it may be True. If I demand of One, Were you n…t at ſ…b a Place, … in ſuch Company? Or, Did you not ſpe… ſuch …, at ſuch a Time? and he Anſwers, If I …ld ſay ſo, I ſhould be guilty of a Ly; only …aning that he had promiſed not to ſpeak of …: The Former of theſ… is the moſt Hei… is, but the Latter cannot be Excuſed; it being to all Men's apprehenſion, to be underſtood for a …nifeſt Denial of the thing. Now, that ſuch …ations are notorious Breaches of this Command will appear,
1 A Teſtimony is for the giving … the Truth …f a Matter; and therefore when it is offered for the confirmation of a … and directly contradict, the deſigned End of it and it is uſed to confirm a thing to others, as a Truth, the contrary to which is both the … and nature of an Equivocation.
2. OTHERS are only concerned with the Words of a Teſtimony & …hat the Man Reſerves in his Mind, is on purpoſe that it may not be known. If therefore the Perſon had ſaid the quite contrary, and that had been a Truth, then this muſt neceſſarily be a Falſehood; and becauſe it is ſpoken contrary to his Knowledge, it muſt be a Ly; and aggravated, in that it is uſed on purpoſe to Deceive.
3. IF this be not to Ly, any Perſon may clear himſelf from the S…ma… of Lying, or being Puniſhed as a Falſe Witneſs: and it makes it of no Service for the Benefit of Mankind, that Teſtimonies be taken, if a thing Falſe may be Juſtifyed as True, with ſuch a mental Reſerve. Thus alſo may juſtice be made Injuſtice, and all humane Society held under a perpetual Chea…;. For a Man to ſay, yea to Swear, that he is …ot ſuch a Perſon, nor did ſuch a Thing; only meaning that he hath no Mind to Tell it to another; is to ſay, that Truth is not in the Thing, but in the Man's Will; than which nothing can be more abſurd, the thing then is a Ly: and the Caſes in which the Patrons of it allow it, are only a Plea that it is Lawful for a Man to Ly in ſome Caſes; which hath been anſwered.
III. PREACHING or Publiſhing of Falſe Doctrines Every Error about Goſpel Truths, is Falſehood, and ſuch as embrace it are ſaid to Believe a…ly, 2 Theſ 2.11. Thoſe then that Vend them, muſt needs be Guilty of putting off Lies to Men, for Truth; which muſt be Repugnant to this Ninth-Command: Nor can there be any more Pernicious ſort of Lying, that offers more Damage to Men, whoſe Corruption … lin… them too readily to embrace Error, and tenaciouſly hold to it; inaſmuch as Men's Souls, and their Salvation are nearly concerned in it, they being Lies, the belief whereof is Damnable, as i… evident from the ſore-cited Text And how many Err…neous and Heretical Doctrines, are there at this day preached, publiſhed, and ſtrenuouſly Maintained in the Chriſtian World? And all that appear for them, or ſtand up in the Defence of them, are truly the Patrons of Falſehoods. Nor is it ſufficient for Men to plead, that they verily …elieve them to be True, and that it is their Duty to Maintain them as ſuch, and ſo to excuſe themſelves from Guilt; for as we … l… obſerved, Truth is not firſtly rooted in the Underſtanding, but in the Thing … ſelf; and is the ſame, whatſoever different Sentiments Men may entertain about it. A thing is not True, becauſe I Believe it to be ſo, but my Faith is right, when I Believe the thing as it …. And beſides this pretence will not excuſe … that we conſcientiouſly Believer, for I … the Conſcience is a Sin, and is … in … nal Sin, and it is … of the … judgements of God i… … W…ld, to be … Believe a Ly, for tho' we know but in part, and …r in many things, yet whilſt we are of a Teachable Spirit, and wait humbly ſenſible or our need, upon God for His Spirit, He knows how to pity our Miſtakes; yet to Maintain Falſe Doctrines, and Teach them Men, will prove Fatal to us, unleſs God gives us Repentance. And our Saviour aſſures us, that many grievous Perſecutors of his Church will do it conſcientiouſly, Joh. 16.2. The time cometh, that whoſoever killeth you, will think that be doth God ſervice. It is alſo againſt this Precept, for Men to Receive & readily Imbibe Falſe Doctrines; and a Note of God's anger againſt a People, when he leaves them to a giddy Spirit, and to r…n after the Teachers of Lies.
IV. RAISING, Receiving, and Spreading of Evil Reports to the Infamy of our Neighbours, or not appearing in their Defence when we are called to it. To Invent Calumnies to take away Mens Reputation, is ſlandering them, and a Slander is a Ly; and Slanderers are the Inventors of Lies: and Backbiters will come under the ſame Cenſure, for this is to Defame Men Unjuſtly, and contrary to the Rule of Charity; contrary to, Tit. 3.2. And here alſo is forbidden a Facility to Take up an Evil Report, to give an eaſy Credit to the Reproaches which are raiſed upon our Neighbour Doubtleſs that was a great Sin in thoſe, of whom he, Jer. 20.10. Report, ſay they, and we will Report. And it muſt needs proceed from a Malicious Spirit, to receive & believe ſuch Reports upon ſlighty grounds, and that we rejoyce in evil & anothers harm; whereas we are told, 1 Cor 1….5. Charity thinketh no evil. When every Whiſperer ſhall prejudice us againſt one, whoſe Life is otherwiſe Regular & becoming, is very ſingular, and a readineſs to believe an Untruth: And this is further aggravated when we Divulge ſuch Reports, and ſpread them abroad on ſuch ſlighty grounds, as the Whiſpers of Tale-bearers, who themſelves mean while are not willing to be known; whereas we ought to Reprove them, and ſhew our real Diſpleaſure at them, according to, Prov. 25.23. The north-wind dr…eth a…ay rain: ſo doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. Yea, and not to appear in the Vindication of our Neighbour, when we Know him to be Injured, and are able to clear up his Innocence, is to ſuppreſs the Truth, when we are called to appear for it; and argues too much, that we are Glad of his Reproach, or Envy his Good Name. Theſe things the very Moral Heathen have declaimed againſt, as being contrary to the very light of Nature.
V. UNDUE Suſpicions Evil Interpretations, and Overſtraining Aggravations of the Faults of Others. Theſe alſo tend to unjuſt Infamy, and tend to Miſchiefs, and not a little hurt the Tranquillity of humane Society. There is in ſome more than in others, a …ealous Spirit, that is apt to ſurmize Evil without good reaſon, in all their Neighbours Words, Looks and Geſtures; and that too readily puts them upon raſh Judgment, and reſolving that there is ſome ill deſign or other in it, & accordingly they conſ…rue all; and becauſe they are Suſpicious, the other muſt needs be …; which is a very Unreaſonable Inference, and it flows from a naughty heart. For howſoever the Natural Conſtitution may encline ſome to it more than others, yet it is nouriſhed by Original Sin: and there is too much reaſon to ſuppoſe, that ſuch Meaſures others by themſelves, which i… a Fallacious Rule, How often do we put a ſenſe upon Words, which they can in no tolerable ſenſe bear? H… often do we miſtake Words to be ſpoken which never were? How often do we put a … Interpretation on Words or Actions, which are as capable of bearing a Good one, and poſſibly more probable? How frequently do we make Beams of Motes, and look thro' a Microſcope of Suſpicion, and blow up an Infirmity …nto a Crime, and an Inadverte…cy into a piece of Malice; and emblazon every Folly and Frai…, as if it were the moſt prodigious Viliany? Hence Anger, Hatred, Quarrelling with out Neighbours for things which are Innocent, and were far from any evil deſign: this would not be, if we valued Truth, according to its worth.
VI. THIS Command may be many ways broken in the Management of Civil …. That this Command hath a ſpecial regard in it, to direct to a right Management of ſuch Affairs, hath been already obſerved; and becauſe the Duties referring to this have been particularly laid forth, I ſhall only touch at the more notorious Breaches which may here be committed.
1. IN reſpect of Judges. It is a Vi…lati… of this Command for ſuch, to receive Br…es to blind their Eyes, and engage them to Favour ones Cauſe, whether right or wrong; to D…nt the perſon on Trial with Threat…ings, and Menacing Words; to Deny him the free Liberty to plead his Cauſe, and clear up his Innocence as far as he may; to have any Reſpect of Perſons in Judgment, and pronounce the Sentence accordingly; to put a wrong ſenſe upon the Law to clear the Guilty, or condemn the Innocent; to condemn a perſon without clear Legal Teſtimony, ſuch as the Word of God approves for ſuch; to put a wrong Name and Title upon a Crime, either to Moderate, or Aggravate the Penalty; to condemn any by an Unjuſt Law: for in all theſe is the Truth injured, and the God of Truth diſhonoured by ſuch as do bear an Image of His Authority upon them.
2. IN reſpect of Jurors; who are either to Enquire after a Cauſe preſented to them, for putting perſons upon Trial, or to Judge of, and give in their Verdict about the Matter of Fact in order to the determination of the Cauſe, or finding the perſon Guilty, or otherwiſe. The former of theſe do break this Precept, if they Expoſe perſons to be eſ…ged upon Trivial accuſation and without a fair probability of their being found legally Guilty: they do not make a due Enquiry into the …uality of the Crime alledged, and candidly …pare it with the Law; it they do not uſe …uper endeavours to know, not only the Number, but alſo the Qualities of the Witneſſes, and … Agreement of their Evidence: And the … are alike Guilty, if they agree to a Ver…ct, when in their Conſciences they are per…aded that it is not right, or are born down …ith private Prejudices, or are not ſatisfyed in … Validity of the Thing Teſtifyed, to prove the …ter of Fact, but are Determined by meer …ſ…mptive Probabilities.
3. IN reſpect of Advocates. They may ſe…al ways be Guilty of offering Injury to the …, more eſpecially, when they undertake … Defence of a Cauſe which is apparently Un…, and tends to the wrong of the Innocent, and …ing of the No…ent; when they uſe endeavours to Blind a good Cauſe, or put a Fair Face … one that is b…d, by tricks & q…illets; when … uſe endeavours to ſtop the Courſe of Juſtice, … Delay the bringing of Matters to an Iſſue, … the hurt & vexation of thoſe who are Righ… in their Cauſe; when they for filthy Lu… … prompt Men to Litigious Sures, and … the Honeſt & Religious Courſes of …ting troubleſome and chargable Contro…es; when they deal Deceitfully, in draw…g …p Writs for their Clients, purpoſely leaving … in them, to leave room for Non-ſu…es, or … the true ſtate of the Cauſe. In a word, … they do not carefully Study and Purſue … Glory of God, and the good of Men con…ed in the Cauſe they ingage in.
4. IN reſpect of Witneſſes, which are made … of, to clear up Matters of Fact, which are …der a Civil Trial. Theſe alſo may be ſin…y Guilty of the Breach of this Precept, when … give Teſtimony to a thing which they … not by their own knowledge, but upon … from Others, or their own meer ſurmi…s; when they Teſtify but to P…rt of the …, ſuppreſſing that which is neceſſary to the … for which it is given, and will give a Miſ…preſentation of it; when they hold their …, and withdraw their Teſtimony, when …er the Glory of God, or the concern of their …ghbour requires it of them; by which …, either Sin is not detected for a d…e puniſhment, or a Righteous Man in his Cauſe is …preſſed, for want of his declaring what he …. Theſe, and other things of like Nature … Sins of no ſmall Guilt, and tend not only … private wrong, but publick Miſchief, in the … where ſuch Men live.
VII. THIS Command is broken by Mens …tering of themſelves or Other, in their ſin… Ways or Courſes. A Flatterer is always a …, becauſe he Commends that which ought … be Reproved and Juſtifies that which deſerves to be Condemned, and it is certain that …eceit is in the bottom of all theſe things, and … is quite contrary to Truth in the inward …, which all Men ought to maintain, Pſal. ….6. And a Man may Flatter Himſelf, and …at either in reſpect of his State or Actions; … a Man judgeth himſelf to be in a State of Grace, when he is in a State of Nature, that is a Falſe Judgment, and there is a Ly… in his Rago… Hand; he judgeth not of himſelf according to Truth, but Falſehood, and perverts the Rule according to which he ought to judge himſelf: and if we judge that our Actions are pleaſing to God, when they are Falſe & Hypocritical, and done with a diſſembling heart; we are falſe to Our ſelves, when we Pretend one thing, and Intend another: We compaſt God with Lies, much more then, when we juſtify our ſinful Actions, and bear our ſelves up with vain and trivial Excuſes, promiſing our ſelves that God will accept them, and not lay Sin to our charge. Again, when we flatter Others in their Sin, Encourage them with falſe Hope…. Commend them for ſuch things as we ſhould Rebuke them for, ſew Pillows under their Arms, call their Vices, Vertues, and ſooth them up in an high opinion of themſelves, and thereby encourage them to live in their Natural State, and purſure thoſe Courſes which tend to deſtruction: We cannot offer them a greater Injury, becauſe hereby we expoſe them, as far as we can, to ſuffer Eternal Vengeance.
VIII. BY Revealing and Publiſhing of thoſe things which ought to be kept Secret. There are ſome things which we Promiſe Secreſy in, and the Revealing of theſe belongs to promiſe-breaking; and there are other things which Duty and the Command of God, bind us not to divulge to anothers Reproach; and tho' this doth not directly contradict V…r…city, yet it doth Fidelity, which belongs to this Command. It alſo is a Violation of the Duty which is generally reduced hither, viz. a regard to our Own and our Neighbours Good Name, which by this is diſregarded. It is true, we ought together with our Charitable Allowances for each others Infirmities, to Rebuke one another for more … Tranſgreſſions; and of what weight this is, appears from, Lev. 19.17. Thou ſhalt not hate thy brother in thine b…rt: thou ſhalt in any wiſe rebuke thy neighbour, and not ſuffer ſin upon him. But in all this we are bound to ſeek our Neighbours Good, and not Hurt, his Recovery, and not his Reproach; and for that reaſon to keep ſuch things Private, till the Rule requires us to make them Publick. Hence our Saviour's direction is, Mat. 18.15. Moreover, if thy brother ſhall treſpaſs againſt thee, go and tell him …is fault between thee & him alone: if he ſhall …ear thee, thou haſt gained thy brother. And we are acquainted that it belongs to the Nature of true Charity, 1 Pet. 4.8. Charity ſhall cover the multitude of ſins. This Rule therefore is broken, when in ſtead of ſeeking to ſalve a Man's Reputation, by his Recovery, we proclaim his Diſgrace by telling all we know of him abroad; inſtead of telling him, to his Face, of his Faults, with meekneſs, we vilify him Behind his Back. which is a d…ſcovery of his hatred: how much more then, when in Diſtreſs of Mind, and under a burdened Conſcience, he Unboſoms himſelf to us, for our pity, and counſel, and prayers, we Bl…b that to others, which we ought to have kept in perpetual ſilence: and what Tragedies ſuch Teachery hath occaſioned in the World, is hard to tell.
IX. BY Diſſembling our Religion in Times of Perſecution, or for fear of Suffering. It is true, a Man is not always called to come in Publick, and declare his Religion, to expoſe himſelf to the Cruelties of Men; and thoſe zealous Chriſtians who are recorded to have done ſo in the Primitive Perſecutions, either did it by an extraordinary Spirit, or elſe were acted by a miſguided Zeal: And we are aſſured, that it is ſometimes Lawful and a Duty for the People of God, to ſave themſelves by Flight or A…ſcending, as thoſe did, Heb. 11.37.3…. But when Men are called in Queſtion for their Religion, and appear before Judges for their Profeſſion, for them now to Diſſemble, and ſuppreſs their Faith; and Deny; or not plumply to Confeſs it, whatſoever they are m…ed withal, in caſe they ſtand by it, it is Falſehood; it is Falſehood to God, and to the Covenant which they have plighted with Him; and Falſehood to their own Conſciences, which gave …hem the Ly in the very Fact: And we know what out Saviour Chriſt hath denounced againſt ſuch, Mark 8.38. Whoſoever therefore ſhall be aſhamed of me, and of any words, in this a l…rerous and ſinful generation, of him alſo ſhall the Son of m…n be aſhamed when be cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels. And therefore we have that Exhortation given, when Chriſtianity was Perſecuted with the greateſt Vir…ence, 1 Pet. 3.15. Be ready always to give an anſwer to every man that asketh you a reaſon of the hope that is in you, with meekneſs and fear. For tho' the Church may ſome times be Latent, and the open Profeſſion of the Truth be ſuppreſt yet every true Chriſtian ought to maintain Heart Integrity, and not forego it whatſoever befalls him, but commit himſelf to the all-governing Providence of God, and count it his glory to ſuffer for Him, when called to it: Hence that, 1 Cor. 15.58. Therefore my beloved brethren, …e ye ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, foraſmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain the Lord.
X. THIS Command is alſo violated, By Men's Breaking their Promiſes. God indeed reſerves a Power in His hands, and Rules over all our Concerns by His Providence; and if He pleaſeth can evacuate our Promiſes without our Blame; and His Sovereignty is here to be adored. But there are ways, wherein we may make our ſelves Guilty in this regard, by our offering Indignity to the Truth in regard of them: And tho' there are ſome Promiſes that are better broken, than kept; and as it is a Sin to make them, ſo it would be a greater Sin to perform them; yet, if we make them Lawfully, and it would be no Moral Evil to accompliſh them, tho' it may be to our ontward Loſs, all Fallaciouſneſs and Falſeneſs in theſe, is an Evil, and will bring us under the Guilt of Lying; but this is ſufficiently laid down under the former Queſtion: Here only, there in a CASE which our Adverſaries have made it needful for us a little to deliberate, viz.
Queſt. WHETHER Chriſtians are obliged to keep their Promiſes with Hereticks?
Anſw. THIS ſome Pap…ſts do … Deny, and ſtrongly Plead, that it is Lawful to break ſuch Covenants and Obligations, and that God is not provoked, but pleaſed my ou… ſo doing. Some indeed expreſs their Tho' is more cloſely, and ſeek to cov…r it under a Diſtinction, and limit it to ſuch things as they ought not to Promiſe to them; but if we conſider withal, that they allow no Civil Converſe Lawful with ſuch, it will amount to the ſame; and therefore, it ſometimes they are conſtrained to do it in Fear, the Promiſe binds not, it amounts to the ſame thing. I ſhall not here diſpute, that they whom they call Hereticks, are the faithful Servants of Chriſt, and are falſely thus … ded by them; but if we will obſerve, that tho' we acknowledge that unlawful Promiſes, to do things Wicked ought to be broken; yet we alſo aſſert, that they are not to be made, and if made, repented of, and avoided for the future; and ſo to make Promiſes to Men, and give Oath to Perform, meerly to enſnare them, and with a purpoſe to …rape… them, and to boaſt of ſuch Practices and defend them, is directly contrary to both the Veracity and Fidelity required in this Precept.
DOUBTLESS This Command was given in the Moral Law, in which Mankind are concerned; and it is neceſſary for the upholding of Humane Society as ſuch. If therefore Men are not made out-Laws from Mankind, and thereby ſecluded from all Contracts or Covenants being made with them, (which if they be, there are no Promiſes to be made to them,) they ought to be treated according to the common Rules laid down for Men; which cannot be, unleſs Promiſes be ſincerely made, and inviolably preſerved. Nor are Men allowed to do Evil, that Good may come of it, as all Lying and Promiſe-breaking is. And tho' Chriſtians ought to uſe laudable Endeavours to win Pagans and Hereticks to the acknowledgment of the Truth, yet Treachery and Falſehood is no lawful not probable Medium for the Advancement of this Deſign; but is indeed an horrible Reproach and Scandal to thoſe that make this to be an Article in their Faith. In a word, to allow and applaud the making Covenants with a ſort of Men with whom they declare it Unlawful to keep them, meerly to be a ſnare to entangle them in Miſchief, is an unparalel'd piece of horrible Villany, and renders the Defenders juſtly hateful to Mankind.
USE. LET the Conſideration of what hath been ſaid to this Precept, call us all, Young and Old, to make it our great Endeavour to Maintain & Promove the Truth, in our … Converſation. Let us turn the Rules laid down, into ſo many Directions for our conſtant Practice.
AND to inſtigate us to this, Conſider,
1. THIS is the way to be like God, and to …ſe Him. It is God's Glory which He aſ…mes to Himſelf, that He is a God of Truth, …d that He cannot Ly: Hence we are told, …t. 1.2. In hope of eternal life, which God that …not lie, promiſed before the world began. …eb. 6.18. It was impoſſible for God to lie. …nd God hath declared His Approbation of …is in Men: We are told, Pſal. 51.6. B…old, … deſireſt truth in the inward parts. Theſe …all dwell in his Tabernacle, Pſal. 15.2. This makes Men fit for Publick Service, Exod. 18.21. …nd we are told, Prov. 12.19. The lips of …ath ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever: but a lying … is but for a moment.
2. OUR ſinful Natures prompt us to Falſehood. Lying is rooted in the Corrupt Nature of Man, as he derives form ſinful Adam, and … is Univerſal, Rom. 3.…. And there are the …ins of this in the Beſt, whilſt they carry … with them this Body of Death; and therefore David Prays to have it Cured in him, Pſal. 119.29. Remove from me the way of lying; … grant me thy law graciouſly. And how of… do we find the Beſt of Men on Scripture Re… to have been overtaken with this, in an H… of Temptation? And this tells us, that we have the more need to uſe great Caution and Circumſpection about it.
3. THE want of this, is the miſery and b…ne of humane Society. Truth is the Cement and …nd of Converſe between Men; and without it Men cannot Live together in any Safety, but muſt always ſtand upon their Guard. Men muſt always live in Suſpicions and Je…oſies, …d not know how to put a Difference between Friends and Enemies; and to truſt one another would be an Argument of Diſtraction, as being always in hazard of being betrayed; which would be to turn the World into a Wilderneſs; and a falſe Friend, is worſe than an upon Enemy.
4. OUR Credis among Men princip…l…y depends on this Truth, If once a Man forfeit his Eſteem for Truth, he is a Loſt Man to the World; if he gains the Reputation of a Liar, he is the ſ…o…m of all Men, and every one ſtands off from him as a common Peſt: And let him make never ſuch pretence of Piety, it gives him the more Diſgrace, and leaves a ſtain upon his higheſt Profeſſion: And if he is Falſe to his Word, his Oath and moſt ſolemn Proteſtations are not regarded.
5. THE moſt fearful Judgments of God are denounced againſt Liars. All Miſeries wait upon them in this World, Pſal. 120, 3.4. What ſhall be given unto thee? or what ſhall be done unto thee, thou falſe tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of …uniper, And, 52.3, 5. Thou loveſt evil more than good, and lying rather than to ſpeak righteouſneſs. Sel…. God ſhall likewiſe deſtroy thee for ever, he ſhall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling-place, and root thee out of the l…d of the living. Sel…h. And Everlaſting Plagues are reſerved for them in the World to come. Rev. 21.8. All liars, ſhall have their part in the lake which bu…neth with …ire and brimſtone: which is the ſecond death. Pſal. 5.6. Thou ſhalt destroy them that ſpeak leaſing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
LET us then be very Watchful over our ſelves; labour we to Mortify this Lu…t in us, and ſet a Guard upon our hearts and our Lips. Let us get and maintain a Love for the Truth, and preſerve it as the moſt choice Jewel. Thus may we preſerve the Favour of God, have great inward Tranquillity in our Conſciences, uphold our Credit among Good Men, and appear with Comfort before the great Judge, who loveth Truth and abhorreth Lying, and will Reward Men accordingly.
[APRIL 2. 1706.]