672 Chap. 24. An expofition upon the Rook of J.0 a. Verf.25. The Prophet (as I conceive) intends not fo much faifhood in difcourfe, which we call telling a lye, as falfhood of doctrine, which we call teaching oflye,. They bend their tongue' (as bows) for lies, that i ;, they let thentfelves to the maintaining of fa fe dotÌrire to the utmofl llretch of their wit and words. Againe, faith the Lord ( Per. 14. 14. ) The Prophets that prophecy lyrs is y name, I fens then: not, neither have I commanded therm, neither flake unto them, they prophecy unto you afalfe divination, and a thing ofnought, anad the deceit of their heart. The whole dolt ring of the manoffin is called a lye. Became they receivednot the love of the truth, dear they might be /awed, therefore Clod gave them sep eotrongdelufi..n that they ¡ oreld believe a lye (2The, z. t t. ) All the faith devouring and confcience wafting errors that ever the manof fin vented ro the world,áre wraps up in thisone /yll..a ble, or word,a lye.He th3c receiveth a lye that is cold,wrongeeh o- thers by it,buthe that received a lye that is taught wronz .th him- kite mofe by it. To tell a lye is very frnfull, but to teach a lye. is much more finful. The evil) ofthat fist is greacefl which fpreadeth furtheft, & continueth lungeft. A lye that is told and received flicketh not long in the memory, but pafíeth away f ,r the rnofc part like a tale that is cold, and it is ens ugh to many a man that telleth a lye, if he be beleeved but a little while ; But a lye that is taught and received Ricked] long in the underuianding, and ab'e deth there like a nayle fafyened by the Maf4ers of the aflembltes, and it is not enough co him chat teacheth a lye, unlcffe it be lac- keyed for ever. Thirdly, When 7o6 faith, who )rill make true a liar ? Note. The worfl thin that can be proved agaist any man, ta, that he is 4 har. To be a lvar is to be as bad as may be; For it is to be as bad as she Devils; He dace ved the woman both by telling anal teaching a I e ( Gen. 3. ) H. abde not in the trrth, becaufe there s ro truth in him, when he.t eakethh a lye heJpe.okethofhie own, for he io a liar and thefather of ,t ( Job. l3. 44. ) Every fin is ofthe Devill,both by temptation and approbation, but only force fins are of the Devil) bywayof p actice, and the fin which is chiefly of him by Qradice is lying. Now,every fin the more congenial!it is to the Devil!
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