PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

Lies.
IS5
Nice distinctions are OUt qf the question, upon occa-.
~ion~, which, like those of sp~h, return every hour.
The habit, therefore, of lying, wh~ once formt:d,
is ~asily extended to sene the dt~j~lls (it mJ.lice or
interest; like all habits, it spreads indeed of itseif.
/Pious frauds, as they are improperly enough cal1-
etI~ pt et~ded inspiratiom, forged book.F, counterleit
miracles, are impo~itioDs of Cl more S{!ri,.lUS ndture. .I
It is p:>5sible that they may :-~lrr1t~rimi.$, thourih·
seldom, have ~n set tiD and encvur2g~d~ with a
J
u
design to do good; but the good tller aim 2t, requires
lilat the btlief of th~m should be p~rpetuaJ,
which is hardly possible; and th? detection of the
fraud is sure to disparage the crt:dit cf all preten~OllS
of the $ame nature.
ChriHianity has 5uif~red more I
injury from this cau~ than from all other causes putJ
together.
As there may be falsehoods which are n~t . lies .. ~
there-may beu€S wi~uf1ifel-31 or direct. fa!~ebood.
An operiing is alWays lelt Ter this species of prc:varication,
when the litflral and gnmmatical si b 1Jlification
of a sentence is diJferent fl~m
customary meaning.
the popular and
It is the wilfuJ _ deceit Wi!!
~kes the ~_e~ and we-wHful1y deceive, when-­
our expressions are not true in the sense in which \\~e
believe the hearer to apprehend them. Besides, it is
aiJsurd to contend for any sense of \\~ords, in O~F'Osition
to usage, fos- all senses of all words are fouuded
upon usage, and upon nothing else.
Or_ a man lnay act a lie .;_ as by pl;:nting his fin ..
ger in a wrong direction, when a traveller inquires of
him his road; or \\~hen 3 tradPStllaIl shut~ up I'lls
windows, to ir.duce his creditor~ to bejjeve that
be is ~!'road: for to -111 Illo~l purposes, and therefore
3.~ to verci~ity, spt·ech and action are the 5Clme j
!ipeech being only a nii)de of action.
Or, l~ tlv 2 there _ m~ be ij~s of omis!lP-n... A writer
of EngHsn history, who,mn1sa~~J1JCt 01 the reign