1. A lying to God is the worst sort of lying, because it argueth not only falsity and evil hypocrisy, but misbelief or ill thoughts of God, as if he did not know the heart and try the reins, and is contented to be mocked with a false appearance. We lie to God when we put him off with a false appearance and show of what is not in the heart, as if he could be deceived with outsides and vain pretences : Hosea xi. 12, 'Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit ; ' meaning their false and deceitful pretences of repentance, because they relented a little, and did some outward acts that might be a sign and show of repentance, especially in a time of trouble : Ps. Ixxviii. 3G, ' Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.' Their hearts were not sincerely set against sin, whatever pangs of devotion they had for the present: Ezek. xxiv. 12, ' She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her.' When the pot was over the fire, the scum came a-top, and seemed ready to be cast out, but it was swallowed up again ; for all their pretences of repentance, they were not cleansed from their open and notorious sins. To this purpose also is another similitude: Hosea vii. 16, 'They return, but not to the Most High ; they are like a deceitful bow.' They did not sincerely intend what they })romised ; as a man that shooteth, but doth not level right, or take care to direct the arrow to the mark. So they cast out promises to get rid of trouble, but do not seriously set their hearts to accomplish them ; their repentance was but as a show, they aimed at nothing in it but to deceive God.
2. As to men ; and so there are several sorts of lies. We may dis- tinguish them thus — either from the matter, or the end, or the formality used in lying,
(1.) From the matter, and so a lie is twofold — assertory or promissory.
280 SKRMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XI.
[1.] An assertory lie is when a man, in a matter that is past or present, reporteth that as false which he knoweth to be true, and that as true which he knoweth to be false. This is called in scripture speaking with a double heart: Ps. xii. 2, ' They speak vanity every ono with his neighbour, with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak ; ' or with a heart and a heart, as if he had one heart to con- ceive of the matter as it is, and another heart to furnish the tongue. Instances of this falsehood in our assertions, or untrue relating of things done, are frequent ; as Ananias, who brought part of the money for which he sold his possession, instead of the whole: Acts v. 3, 'Why bath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land ? ' It was a lie, and a lie to the Holy Ghost, as being pretended to be done by his motion and inspiration, or because of his presidency in church affairs, where the Holy Ghost doth all.
[2.] A promissory lie is when we promise for the time to come what "we never intend to perform ; and this is the worse, because it doth not only pervert the end of speech, which is truth, but we also defeat another of that right which we seemed to give him in the thing promised, which is a further degree of injustice, as being not only against veracity, but righteousness. Vain and empty promises ai-e a great evil, when we make show of kindness to others without any intent to do them good : Prov. xix. 22, ' The desire of a man is his kindness ; and a poor man is better than a liar.' The meaning is, that which is desired of a man is his favour in such or such a business, wherein he hath power to help you. Now many great men, that covet the praise and reputation of doing a good ofiice or kind turn, are very forward in promises, but fail in performance ; and therefore Solomon, who had observed the course of the world, telleth you that a poor man that loveth you, and will do his best, is a surer friend tiian such great men as only give you good words, or sprinkle you with a little court holy- water, but will do nothing for you.
[2.] From the end ; and so there are three sorts of lies — mendacium Jocosum, the sporting lie, tending to our recreation and delight; men- dacium ojiciosum, the officious lie, tending to others' profit; and mendacium perniciosum, the pernicious and hurtful lie, tending to our neighbour's prejudice.
(1.) The sporting lie, when an untruth is devised for merriment. I do not remember any instance of this in scripture, unless it may be intended in that place, Hosea vii. 4, ' They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.' They stick not at any sin, so they may make the princes merry. But this I am suie of, that it is a sin to speak an untruth, and we must not make a jest of sin : Prov. xxvi. 19, ' So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saitli, Am not I in sport? ' No ; if a christian will be merry, he hath other diversions : James v. 13, ' If any be merry, let him sing psalms ; ' Eph. V. 4, 'Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks.' Let him not speak things against the sense of his own mind, especially by false represen- tations traduce the godly, and make religion ridiculous, and say, I am in sport. Idle words are to be accounted for : Mat. xii. 36, ' I say unto