himself be the greatest loser, and deepest sufferer. 'Tis true
which the wise man saith, "The getting of treasures by a lying
tongue, is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death."
And, "Woe unto them," saith the prophet, "that draw iniquity with
cords of vanity;" that is, who by falsehood endeavour to compass
unjust designs.

But it is not, perhaps he will pretend, to assuage a private
passion, or to promote his particular concernment, that he makes so
bold with his neighbour, or deals so harshly with him; but for the
sake of orthodox doctrine, for advantage of the true Church, for the
advancement of public good, he judgeth it expedient to asperse him.
This indeed is the covert of innumerable slanders: zeal for some
opinion, or some party, beareth out men of sectarian and factious
spirits in such practices; they may do, they may say anything for
those fine ends. What is a little truth, what is any man's
reputation in comparison to the carrying on such brave designs? But
(to omit that men do usually prevaricate in these cases; that it is
not commonly for love of truth, but of themselves; not so much for
the benefit of their sect, but for their own interest, that they
calumniate) this plea will nowise justify such practice. For truth
and sincerity, equity and candour, meekness and charity are
inviolably to be observed, not only towards dissenters in opinion,
but even towards declared enemies of truth itself; we are to bless
them (that is, to speak well of them, and to wish well to them), not
to curse them (that is, not to reproach them, or to wish them ill,
much less to belie them). Truth also, as it cannot ever need, so
doth it always loathe and scorn the patronage and the succour of
lies; it is able to support and protect itself by fair means; it
will not be killed upon a pretence of saving it, or thrive by its