They see it daily practised, and find some instances of good men failing in this way; and therefore think they may safely venture upon it. It must indeed be allowed, though it is a sad truth, that multitudes who even call themselves by the honourable name of christians, are guilty herein; but by the same plea treason against the king would become allowable, if the number of rebels was great; and the more contempt is cast upon GOD and his government, so much the greater sanction men would have for rebellion against him; and every addition to the number of iniquities, would lessen our obligations to obedience. Who is there that sees not the fallacy of such a plea? Can you think that the number of guilty worms of the earth, will be any screen from the resentments of GOD's infinite power and justice? or that he will forbear to vindicate the honour of his laws, because transgressors are multiplied; when this is the very reason that makes vengeance necessary to be inflicted? Try whether it will reconcile you to the anguish, and minister consolation amidst the flames of hell, that multitudes of the "wicked, and the nations of those that forget GOD, Psal. ix. 17. shall be turned into it," before you plead numbers as a : prescription for iniquity. As to the failings of good men this way, they should be subjects of caution to us, and not of imita tion; they shew us the frailty of human nature, and the necessity of constant watchfulness over ourselves; and let it be observed, that in the several scripture examples of falsehood, it was usually produced by fear, and never contrived for gain, as in the cases of Abraham, David, Peter, &c. And yet no doubt, even for these their souls were deeply humbled. But what are these unusual cases to you, who make a common practice of this vice? Do you think the omniscient Gop knows not how to discern the disallowed, unrepeated weakness of an upright heart, from the perverse and wilful disobedience of a vicious mind? When you are thus encou raging yourselves herein by scripture examples, omit not the cases of Ananias and Saphira, who both ended their lives with a lie, Acts v. Another excuse is, the smallness of the sin. Lying, say they, is not swearing, nor killing nor stealing: there can be no great harm in it, for we do no great hurt by it; to which it may be replied, that the sin cannot be little, which renders men most unlike to the GOD of truth, and most like every lit the devil, the father of lies; that affronts the authority of heaven, and disturbs the peace of society, and which the good GoD sees fit to punish with such bitter destruction. But if lying were indeed so small a crime as men would persuade themselves it is, how many little rents can you con tentedly bear in your garments? or how many little motes in your eye? or little incisions in your flesh? And is tle injury worthy your watchfulness and care; but those which concern the honour of God, and the rectitude and happiness of your own souls? the only things that merit any great concern. But the small ness of the sin you plead as an excuse, is really an aggravation of repeated crimes; if you think it too much to part with little sins in obedience to the blessed God; how can it be supposed you are willing to part with greater? Surely, he that will not de ny a lust to please his GoD and Saviour, will never lay down his life or part with his possessions for him, when that becomes his duty. The habitual indulgence of little sins, are more aggravated than the commission of greater, through the hurries and surprise of temptation; because they evidence less love to GOD, and less concern to please him. Others would excuse themselves, by saying, necessity compels them to it, there is no trading without lying, customers are so humorsome, that they make deceit and falsehood necessary. A sad case indeed if true! That the lawful callings of life, cannot be exercised with truth, and a good conscience; and that the righteous Governor of the universe has placed men in such situations of life, as make affronts to his Majesty, and violations of their own consciences, necessary to their subsistence! We may then with great propriety write upon every Tradesman's door, as in times of pestilence; The Lord have mercy upon them; and confine honour and integrity, religion and salvation, to the nobility and gentry. But who can look on such a representation of things, without discerning the fallacy of it, and being confounded at the base reflections that are thereby cast on the GOD of truth and goodness! Canst thou indeed lift up thy face to heaven, and say, Lord GoD of heaven and earth, thou knowest, that from a sincere concern to please Thee, and with a steady trust in thy good providence, I have long confined myself to a strict regard to truth in all my words and dealings; and I appeal to Thee, that I did not forsake the rules of truth, until I found poverty and ruin coming upon me, which I could not in any other way prevent. Canst thou who pleadest necessity for lying, in thy conscience say, that this has been thy practice, and is now thy experience? If not, be ashamed ever to make such a plea more, until thou hast a better foundation for it. But this excuse appears still more vain, from the strict regard that is paid to truth and veracity by persons in your own callings, or at least in callings equally exposed to temptations of this kind; of which hundreds may be found, who yet gain sufficiently by them. I have been the larger upon this, because the same answers will serve to confute most of those vain pleas which men make to silence the conviction of their own minds, and encourage themselves in vice and immorality. We proceed to consider wherein truth is to be exercised. It is not to be strained so far as to oblige the Tradesman always to declare the whole of what he knows: neither the price that his goods cost him; nor where or how he is furnished with them; nor where his customers may be served cheaper; or any of the lawful secrets of his business, which might tend to his prejudice? For though we may not lie upon the watch to deceive and overL |