A sermon preached at Hartford assises, March 14. 1616 by John Squire ...

A SERMON PREACHED AT HARTFORD Assises , March . 14. 1616.

I Being vnknowne in this place , and vnexpected of this people , ye may speake that phrase to mee , which the King did to his Guest , Matth. 22. 12. Friend how commest thou hither ? I answere : I come not from the South , as the Queene of Saba did , 1 Reg. 10. to behold the maiesty of your Country , and admire the magnificence of your companie : Nor come I from the East , as the wise men did , Mat. 2. 11. to present you with gold , and to bring you golden presents : Neither come I from the West , as the violent winde did , Exod. 10. 19. to blow away the contentious grasse-hoppers of this corrupt generation : ( It must be Virga reformantis , not Verbum informantis , the sword of the potent Magistrate , not the word of the poore Minister , which must bring that noble act to passe . ) But I come from whence promotion commeth , Psalm . 75. 6. Neither from the East , nor from the West , nor from the South ; but from the Lord . From the Lord I come to you , as one of the children of the Prophets did to the Sessions of Israell , 2 Reg. 9. 5. I come to bring you a message ; Therefore , harken to me you men of Israell , that God may hearken vnto you . I bring you a message from the Lord : the Lord make it honourable vnto him , and profitable vnto you .

My message which I bring to you , is part of Moses his message which he brought from Sinai to the people of Israell , as it is written in the 20. chapter of Exodus .

Exod. 20. vers. 16. Thou shalt not beare false witnesse Text. against thy Neighbor .

Would wee be perfect Christians ? Then must we performe two workes of Christianity : our duty to God , and our duty towards Man . Our breaches of the last may be called Legion , for they are many : of many , there are two maine ones . Wee wrong our neighbour eyther by the Violence of the hand , or by the Virulence of the tongue : The first is inhibited in the precepts praemised , the other is forbidden in the Text : the Text therefore doth teach vs , as Saint Iames speaketh . 3 8. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , to bridle an vnbridled euill , to take heede that wee offend not with our tongue : and wee are bound to obey this precept , by foure necessary bonds : Diuine , Morall , Naturall , Ciuill . Diuinitie doth teach that God is 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , that God himselfe , is the truth it selfe ; and therefore to speake and doe the truth , is to burnish the blemished image , and to ingraue the character of the diuinitie in a Christian soule : Our Manners wee senceably apprenend inclining to false-hood , euery man is a lyar , saith the Apostle , Rom. 3. 4. Therefore must this inclination be restrained , by imbracing the truth . Nature looketh vpon an vntruth , as vpon some vnnaturall monster : for Oratio , is oris ratio ; the Soule is the Mother , and the Tongue should be the Midwife of Truth : Now for the soule to conceiue a truth , and the tongue to bring forth a lye , this is vnreasonably vnnaturall . And for Policie wee cannot but know , that it is the disroynting of the body of the common-wealth , if that contracts be not auouched by testimonies , and if euery truth be not established by the mouth of two or three witnesses . Behold then the necessity obliging vs to the Truth , and Vae mihi si non euangelizauero : Woe be to me , if I speake it not : Woe be to you if you heare it not ; and woe be to vs all , if we practise it not : A necessity is laid vpon vs . Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour , saith my Text.

I diuide my Text as Iacob did his company , Gen. 33. 2. into three parts : The person offending , Thou : The person offended , thy Neighbour : and the offence it selfe , Bearing false-witnesse . I will inuert the order , and put the persons offending hindermost , as Iacob did Rachell and her children , lest some rough Esau ( before he be appeased ) should be angry and smite them , or me for them . I begin with the Offence , Bearing false witnesse : Men doe beare false witnesse two waies : Priuately , and Publikely ▪ Priuately , by our selues . Publikely , before the Magistrate .

Priuate bearing false witnesse , is a body of sinne , which I diuide into fiue members :

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Slandering . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Railing . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Tale-bearing . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Flattery . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Lying .

I may terme these fiue sinnes , the fiue fingers of Sathan ; for whosoeuer is tainted with them , vndoubtedly the Diuell hath a great hand ouer him .

1 Slandering is both actiue and passiue : Actiue , when men are reprouers of their neighbours by slaunders . Passiue , when they are approuers of the slanderers , by hearing them . Both are forbidden in this Text ; for the originall 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , gnanah , signifieth both to speake , as it is translated in the Text , and to heare , Psalme 143. 1. and both are comprised in the 15. Psalm. Vers : 3. that man shal dwell with the Lord , who slaundereth not with his tongue , nor receiueth a false report against his neighbour . Whence Bernard shaped his sentence , Non essent qui detraherent , si non adessent qui audirent : that is , where there are no Receiuers , there no Theeues will be : and stop thou the eare of thine owne affection , do not heare slanders , and thou shalt muzle the mouth of detraction ; few will dare to speake slanders . And reason haue we to performe it : because the Diuell is the grand-slanderer , the father of slanderers , the grand-father of slanderers : he is named 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , an accuser , a slanderer : whence it is well said , if two men be ( in communication ) one speaking , and the other hearing slanders , they are both possessed ; the diuell is in the eare of the one , and in the tongue of the other . And indeed it is my hearty vnfeigned wish , that both the Speakers and Hearers of slanders , might be Zimri and Cosbi , that both might be smote through with one sword of the Magistrate at one season .

2 The second sinne is Railing : Railers are open as Slaunderers are secret aduersaries of mens reputation : the one vnderminers , the other assailers of thy good name : He a ziba , this a Shemei . Railing , or ( as the Scripture phrase is ) Blasphemy , Leuit. 24. 11. is called 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Killel , of Kalel , perforare , to stabbe or smite through , answerable to the phrase of the psalmist , who stileth words , swords ; implying that Railers stab at the very life of our credit . Happy were we , had we an Abishai , a Magistrate , who would and could take away the heads of these dead dogges ; that Railers might no more barke against the honest name of their honest neighbours .

3 Tale-bearing is the next : Tale-bearers tell ( though ) the truth ( yet ) vntruly or vntimely : and therefore are in truth , false-witnesses . Leuit. 19. 16. Thou shalt not walke about with tales amongst my people : This was a Law in Israell , would God it were so in England also . S. Paul doth point at these men , 2 Tim. 5. 33. they are saith hee , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , neuer busie at home , euer busie , ouer-busie abroad . Such are like Sampsons Foxes , they carry fire with their tailes , to set the whole world in a combustion . Oh that wee English , could deale with these Foxes , as the Welsh men did with their Wolues ! that wee could plucke off their skinnes , till they were extinct , and not one left in a whole nation .

4 Flattery is the fourth : Slanderers , Railers , and Tale-bearers , Beare false-witnesse to thee against others : Flatterers , beare false-witnesse to thee against thy selfe . Therefore doe thou as God doth , hate them . Psal. 12. 3. God threateneth to cut off flattering lippes : These are mercenary wretches . Flatterers prostrate themselues , thereby to sucke out priuate aduantage . As Iehonadab , 2 Sam. 13. did prostitute his seruice , to be the shamelesse instrument of Ammons shamefull lust , that so hee might insinuate himselfe into the fauour of the yong Prince .

These are like false Looking-glasses , they make men to appeare to themselues to be younger , fairer , and comelier , then indeed they are : and they haue one true property of false Looking-glasses , Flatterers hurt our Eyes , that wee cannot see our selues . If my sentence might stand , I would censure such vnto the doome of Adonibezecke , Iudges 1. 7. Their toes should bee cut off , that they might goe to none : their hands should be cut off , that they might lay hould of none : and they should gather their crummes vnder mens tables : they fawne like dogges , let them feede like dogges : Flattery is a worke meriting such a wages .

5 Lying is the last limme of the Diuell : This diuellish vice hath beene abhorred by all good men at all times . Cyprian in his Treatise against Gamesters , doth build his inuection against Dicers , vpon De Aleatoribus pag. 532. this ground : because gaming did occasion mandram medaciorum , a world of lyes . Lactantius pronounceth Epit. c. 6. all lyes impious , because ( saith hee ) euery lye , aut nocet , aut fallit , doth eyther hurt vs , or deceiue vs . Augustine doth retract , euen Ironies , Retract . l. 1. 6. 1. Rhetoricall figures , onely because they had the appearance of lying : it repented him of the petty Confes . l. 1. c. 19. excuses which hee made to his Parents being a childe , and to his Schoole master being a boy : and in his Epistle to Vincentius hee calleth Truth , Epis. 48. Vincen. the Character of a Christian , and saith , that a holy man dare not tell a lye . And doubtlesse all these holy men cursed this sinne out of the mouth of the holy one of Israell , lying lips are an abomination to the Lord , saith Salomon , Prou. 12. 22. And most iustlie , for this is the Ieroboam that made Israell to sinne ; all priuate and publicke breaches of this precept , issue from this fountaine , Lying . Wherefore blessed were that Common-wealth , which would make this common vice like Ahab , leauing not one lyer to pisse against the wall : and his yoke-fellow Aequiuocation , like Iezabell , breaking the necke of that sinne , though the face thereof be painted , and an impious vice , cloaked with many godly pretences .

These are Priuate false witnesses , but the Publicke is the principall offendour against this precept : Of him more fully in the end of this exercise : Heere onely take notice that the false-witnesse , will not goe to hell alone , but hath manie attendants . There are sixe accessories ●nto this Principall : three before the act , and after the act there are three guiltie of Bearing false witnesse . Before false witnesse is giuen , men may be accessaries thereunto praecipiendo persuadendo , & consulendo , that is , by commanding , perswading , and by councelling any to beare false witnesse . First , by commanding , eyther directly , as 2 Sam. 12. 9. Nathan told Dauid that he had killed Vriah , when as hee onely commanded Ioab to kill him : otherwise indirectly , when the superiour doth authorize inferiours , who are corrupt , Prou , 26. 8. As a man that putteth a stone in a sling , so is hee that giueth authority to a foole . If I put a stone into the sling of one , intending to braine his neighbour , I am guilty of that murder : so the Magistrate authorizing a corrupt man , hee is author of that corruption . Next , to perswade any vnto false-hood , is a communicating of that crime , especially by that reall perswasion , Bribery ; so Mat. 28. 12. did the Iewes giue large Money to the souldiers to testifie falsely against the resurrection of our Sauiour . And by Councelling men contract the same guilt , as did the same Iewes in the same place , Mat. 28. 15. who taught the souldiers how to answere the Magistrates interrogatories . Thus by commanding , directly or indirectly , by perswading , or by councelling , many men be accessary vnto false-witnesse , before the testimony may be tendred . Afterwards they may be accessary , as many waies : Conniuendo , consentiendo , defendendo , that is , by Conniuence , or winking at it ; by consenting & approuing it ; by defending and excusing it . Those that winke at faults are faultie themselues ; This was Elies case in another cause , 1 Sam. 3. 13. because his sons ran into a slander , and hee staid them not , therefore the hand of the Lord was heauy vpon him . So the Magistrate , who doth but suspect false-witnesse , or any false-hood , let him looke forward to preuent it , otherwise conniuence may make him fall backward ; Eli is a dreadfull example . Consent also contracteth the guilt , be it either expressed by plaine partaking with impietie , as Psalm . 50. 18. or be it suppressed , as Prouerb . 24. 11. 12. Deliuer them that are drawne to death : if thou sayest , wee know not of it , shall not hee that pondereth the heart vnderstand it ? Not onely tendring , but also not hindring of false-witnesse is a breach of this commandement . Finally , excuse the act , and thou thy selfe doest act the sinne which thou excusest , for woe be vnto them which speake good of euill , and euill of good , Isay 5. 20. Conclude we then that Conniuence , consent or defence , make men accessary to false-witnes , though performed . By this I haue opened many maladies , one word containeth one medicine for al of them : that one word in the Ephes. 4. 15. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , To speake and doe the truth . This word , is like the word made flesh , Mat. 4. 23. it healeth euery sicknesse , and euery disease among the people . To Plaintise and Defendant , to Iudge and Iury , to Councellour and Aduocate , to Witnesse and to All , magna est veritas & praeualet ; Great is the Truth — and God grant it may preuaile with all of them for euermore .

The person offended is our Neighbour : our Neighbour hath a double signification ; eyther it is taken particularly for an adioyning acquaintance , as Luk. 1. 58. Neighbours are called 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , men who haue their houses neere together : Or it is taken generally for euery man , as Luk. 10. 37. the Samaritane is termed the wounded mans neighbour , each being an vndoubted stranger vnto the other . In this Text it is vsed in the second sence , a Neighbour , signifying any man , as Math. 5. 43. our Sauiour doth argue the glosse of the Pharises , as corrupt , for restraining the word Neighbour , to signifie a Friend onely .

The Doctrine of which point doth spread it selfe into two branches . First Christians must haue a care and conscience that they beare false-witnesse against no man : not following the phrase of Lucilian in Lactantius , Homini amico & familiari mentiri non est meum ; It is not ( saith hee ) my guise to lye vnto my friend , nor beare false-witnesse against my acquaintance . But , Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour ; that is , against no man , saith my Text. Againe , wee must yeeld true witnesse vnto all men . Vnlike the Athenians , who were wont to pray onely for themselues , and for their neighbours of Chios : so for a Christian to giue true witnesse onely to whom hee is enforced by Law , or ingaged by nature , this is Athenian , vncircumcised , and heathenish . Both these Christian duties are confirmed by Christ himselfe , Math. 5. 45. Be ye children of your Father that is in heauen , for hee maketh the Sunne to rise both on the good and on the euill ; and be a true witnesse vnto thy neighbour ; that is , to euery one vnder the Sun , saith my Text.

Would God that this instruction were as vsuall as it is beneficiall . Behold heere a Cynosura , a loade-starre , to guide our conscience , in the proposing and composing of all controuersies ; especially laying the foundation on that ground of religion , Math. 22. 39. Loue thy neighbour as thy selfe . If the Lord would please to infuse it into the hearts of all men , that Iudge , Iurie , Sollicitour , Counsellour , Aduocate , Witnesse , Accuser , that euery one would esteeme the Accused as himselfe : this wou'd make all men to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , to be Peace keepers , and peace makers ; to vse a Conscience in accusing his Neighbour ; Thou shalt loue thy Neighbour as thy selfe : this is a principle in Nature , God giue vs Grace to follow it .

Many persons offending are comprised in the first word , Thou : Thou shalt not beare false witnes against thy neighbour . Here the hearer may preach to the Preacher , and say to mee , Physitian cure thy selfe ; and doe not Thou beare false-witnesse . For false-witnesse Augustin . Retr. 224. wee doe beare , when wee make our Sermons like the Manna ( in the Iewish fable ) to giue a seuerall taste , answerable to each seuerall appetite : Such humorous humouring Sermons , the Lord doth execrate out of the mouth of Ieremy , 6. 14. They haue healed the hurt of my people with sweet words : And how they healed that hurt , Cyprian doth expresse , Cypr de Lapsis sect. 12. by an excellent comparison : Soothing Preachers are like vnskilfull Chirurgians , who softly touch the wound on the out-side , thereby making it to fester the more dangerously in the inside . A fit resemblance : Who obscrueth not that the smooth tongue of the Preacher , maketh an impostumed hart of the hearer ? Sensible of which sinne was holy Augustine , when he cried to God to Aug. Conf. 6. 6. pardon the sinnes of his youth , but especially this ; that being young hee did Preach , non vt doceret , sed vt placeret : to delight the eare , rather then to smite the heart of the congregation . Let me therefore begin this point with the words of that holy man , being an auncient and penitent Preacher : August . de Vir. Relig. cap. 55. Hortor itaque vos omnes charissimi , meque ipsum hortor vobiscum : I exhort you , first framing the same exhortation to my selfe ! O my soule , doe not Thou beare false-witnesse : Be thou like S. Paul , Ephes. 6. 20. speake thy message boldly , yet speake as thou oughtest to speake .

First therefore , the honorable Iudges are humbly to be intreated for Gods cause , that they will beare true witnesse in Mans cause . I acknowledge my selfe an vnworthy instructer of them , and their calling : to them therefore I Preach not , but propound a Preacher answerable to their place ; a Prince , Preaching vnto Iudges , 2 Chron. 19. 6. & 7. Take heed what ye doe ; for ye execute not the iudgement of man , but of the Lord . Take heed , for with the Lord there is neyther respect of persons , nor receiuing of rewards . Verbum sapienti , an excellent Sermon in two words : There must be neyther respect of persons , nor receiuing of rewards . This is Iehoshaphats Sermon : I doe onely ( this day ) rehearse it to your eares , the Lord repeate it euery day vnto your hearts .

Neuerthelesse , although Elisha be good , yet may Gehazi be bad : Naaman sueth to be cured of his leprosie ( to haue some controuersie ended ) which hath stucke to him , and his , for a long season ; Noble Elisha biddeth him to wash in Iordan , informeth him in the honest easie meanes to heale him : onely Mr. Gehazi must haue a tallent of siluer ; some siluer , Memorandum , for admission , or for expedition , A certaine fellow had one squinte eye , and the other smote out : here-hence , one said vnto him , thou hast two eyes , but Vnum ncquam , alterum nequaquam , with one eye thou doest see ill , with the other thou doest not see at all . Historians say that some Magistrates haue beene attended by some such seruants . The Client commeth to one seruant , hee is nequaquam , he cannot see to helpe him : hee craueth fauour from another , and he is nequam , hee will not see to admit him — vnlesse it be through a paire of siluer spectacles . These are Gehazies ! O that it were in my power to bequeath them the blessing of Elishai ! That Seruant to a Iudge , that Clerke to a Iustice , or that Deputie to a Sheriffe , who shall ( be a false witnesse ) sell his neighbours cause , and his Maisters credit , for a reward , let the Leprosie of Gehazi cleaue to him for euer : Would God the worme of conscience might neuer cease gnawing their guilty soules , till they haue made speedy restitution , and open confession .

The great wheele in this Clocke of wickednes , is the Plaintife , or Accuser : Who ( though his cause be good , yet ) if hee prosecute it for hatred , like Doeg , or for couetousnesse , like Iezabell , then dare I bouldly say to such a man , Thou dost beare false-witnesse against thy neighbour . But the Salamander , who loueth to liue in the fire of contention , hee is a false-witnesse in an high degree . As Ferdinando Lopez aduiseth ambitious Princes to warre eight or ten yeares with one neighbour ; then to picke a quarrell with another , lest vse instruct the former to be as cunning as himselfe : Such a politician is many a Plaintife , who doth force his quiet neighbour into a forced vnquietnesse , by turnes , to arme himselfe for the wicked warre of continuall contention . In this cause my prayer in generall , is , that the Magistrates might be like the Aramites , 1 Reg. 22. 34. that they would bend the whole force of iustice against ( this Ahab ) this man , who troubleth all Israell : And in particular my vnfeigned prayer is , that heauen would inable my vnworthy selfe to be that Archer , 1 Reg. 22. 34. that ignorantly I might smite some such quarrelling wretch , though hee haue his harnesse on , and commeth with a seared conscience to this congregation .

These haue two maine assistants : the Supporters , and the Reporters of their cause : Councellours who speake to them in priuate , and Aduocates who plead for them in publike . I honour the Law , and will instruct them concerning their soules , as from my soule I desire they should instruct mee concerning my estate : where I suspect an ill case , I will tell it plainely . Let that imputation laid vpon the Romish Lawyers , bee as farre from ours , as Rome is from England . Thus wrote Hildebert Bishop of Mentz , of the Romane court : imploy them in your causes , and they delay them : imploy them not , and they hinder them . If you solicite them , they scorne you : if you enrich them they forget you . Neuer may this language of Canaan be vnderstood in our land of Israell . Rather what Possidonius reporteth of Augustine , let that be reported of all good Lawyers : hee would rather loose his friend ; and in the name of God , let these rather loose their fee , than conceale the truth . And let euery conscionable Lawyer know , that if he aduise in a bad cause , at Gods barre that same Client shall appeach him to be Eue , that he gaue the apple , that his councel opened the way to the forbidden fruit : and as a praeamble to Gods hate , hee shall first incurre mans hate , he that saith to the wicked , thou art righteous , him shall that people curse , Prou. 24. 24. Wherefore let me once councell the Councellor , of all other : Doe not thou beare false witnesse against thy neighbour .

Neyther can the conscience of the Aduocate plead for himselfe that he is good , if his tongue doth plead for a cause which his conscience knoweth to bee bad . If 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 were not impossibilities : Oh that the noble soule of Papinianus liued in the bosome of our English Aduocates . When Antoninus had made away his brother Geta , after the first yeare of their ioynt Empire , he intreated Papinianus ( a famous Lawyer ) to plead his excuse : Whose answer was like himselfe , Noble ; It is easier said he , parricidium facere , quam excusare : to doe wickedly , then to excuse the wickednes : Thou mayest ( said hee ) command my necke to the Blocke , but not my tongue to the Barre : I prize not my life to the pleading of an ill cause . Behold a Pagan man , but a patterne to Christians : and christianity will compell worthy Aduocates to imitation : for hee that iustifieth the wicked , and he that condemneth the iust , are both an abhomination to the Lord , Prou. 17. 15. Therefore as the boy euery day cried vnto King Philip of Macedonia , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Remember that thou art a man : So is it my hearty wish , that whensoeuer the Aduocate is beginning to plead , that then the spirit of God would whisper vnto his soule , the words of my Text. Take heed , now : Doe not thou beare false witnesse against thy neighbour .

Other accessaries vnto false witnesse , may be Bailiffes and vnder-Sheriffs . Some haue beene suspected , ( I would it were a suspition onely , ) that Writs being sent into the country , haue beene entertained by these officers , as the Ephramites were by the Gileadites , Iudg. 12. 6. If they cannot pronounce Shibboleth , but Sibboleth : if there be but a syllable wanting in the word , but a quadrine in the gratification ; they cannot passe , they dye for it , they must goe no further . Now these men doe hinder true witnesse , and thereby come within the compasse of false witnesse . And indeed , such as do hinder the Law from execution , happy were it , if the Law would put them to execution . To euery one of them therefore , let me cry againe , and againe , as loud as thunder ( for they dwell neere Catadupa : these men are very deafe of that eare : ) let me I say cry againe , and againe , to euery one of them , as loud as thunder : Doe not thou beare false witnesse against thy neighbour .

The Iurie also may be the instruments of false witnesse . The Iurie should be like the Disciples , Luk. 10. 5. wheresoeuer they come , they should say , peace be to this house : but sometimes they are like the Apostles , Ioh. 6. 70. they are twelue in number , but one of them is often ( too often ) a Diuell , a diuellish Iudas , who will betray the cause , betray the country , and betray the company , for filthy lucre . Would you know him by his badge ? hee vsually beareth the bagge , and Bribery is his master . I heard of a wretch who sued that authority might flicke him on a Iurie , that so hee might sticke to his friend : if the Magistrate would sticke such a Pagan , as Ehud did sticke Eglon , Iudg 3. 21. he had a right recompence of reward . To preuent this vnchristian insolency , iniury , periury , to each of the Iurie I must propound a new Text , the third Commandement . Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine , for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine : Let the Iurie note onely that one phrase , if they sweare and forsweare , God will not hold them guiltlesse . Let the punishment of the third precept be their admonishment for the ninth precept : You are to sweare by God , and before God ; therefore as you tender an oath , and tremble at Gods wrath , I charge you vpon the perill of your soules , let you Verdit shun this rocke : Doe not beare false witnesse against thy Neighbour .

Hitherto haue I muster'd out an army of rebels against this precept , yet remaineth the King behinde : hee is like Saul , 1 Sam. 10. 22. hee will hide himselfe as ashamed of his dignity : Notwithstanding plucke him out , and you shall finde him ( indeed like Saul ) higher than all the premised offendors by the shoulders vpward . This vassall of sinne , and vessell of Sathan , is named in the expresse phrase of my Text ; A false-witnesse is this man , this monster of men , a Knight of the Post , who doth post to perdition : a mischieuous miscreant , execrable to all men and narions . A false witnesse is dragged to damnation by a threefold gable of wickednesse ; he is guilty of breach of Iustice , of iustifying a Lye , and of ( the sinne of sinnes ) Periury , saith Aquinas ; and therefore most worthily execrated . The Israelites punished such by a Tali● , limme for limme , and life for life : what he intended to offer by his falsehood , the same was hee iudged to suffer for his falsehood . The Romans censured a conuicted false-witnesse to be plunged head long Zanchi . tom. 4. lib. 1. pag. 193. from the steep mountain Tarpeia . Excellent lawes ; no fault but this , they are not in force with vs in England . The holie ghost doth display this infidell in ( yet ) more liuely colours . Pro. 25. 18 A false witnesse is compared to an Hammer , a sword and a sharpe arrow . First for himselfe , because he hauing once cracked his credit ( and being known for false and for sworne by him that hired him ) like to those iron instruments , he becommeth hard , and putteth on a harlots face : shameles of Periurie .

Moreouer , there are three seuerall persons are smote by his false tongue , three seuerall waies , answerably to those three instruments : first a false witnesse is an Hammer to the Iudge , hee doth astonish him ( as if one man should smite another in the head with an hammer , ) so that hee knoweth not what to determine . Next he is a sword to him that hired him , hee incourageth him with hope to vanquish his aduersary the second time by his purse , and putteth a sword into his hand to kill the innocent . Finally hee is a sharpe arrow to him against whom he doth witnesse , ( though that man be least in damaged , haue he but grace to be patient ) yet to him he is a sharpe arrow , to sticke in his life , estate , reputation . To conclude : I say of a false-witnesse , hee is an Ahab , a villaine , who hath sould himselfe to worke wickednesse in the fight of the Lord : And I say to a false-witnesse , as Simon Peter , did to Simon Magus , Acts 8. 23. and 22. Thou art in the gall of bitternesse , and in the bond of iniquity , pray vnto God , — if so be — that the wickednesse of bearing false witnesse may be forgiuen thee .

And thus haue I ripped vp this excellent Text , and it may be some impious conscience also . Wee see the disease , what medicine remaineth to cure it ? The ordinary meanes is this : to make the Sermon , like the Preacher . The Preacher : you see me to day , I goe away , and most of you shall neuer see me any more : So for the Sermon , you haue heard it to day ; it goeth away , and many ( I am affraid too many ) of you will neuer thinke on it againe . This is the vsuall medicine : not so much as to thinke on the Sermons which goad our guilty conscience . But beware , it is desperate Physick , it is Opium , it will cast you into a dead sleepe , that you shall drop into Hell , before you so much as dreame of damnation .

Giue me leaue therefore to prescribe another : Indeed it is a Corasiue , but soueraigne notwithstanding . Let this time transport our soules to meditate one another time : Now you see one Iudge , the time will come when we must come before another : one whom we belieue will come to Iudge both the quicke and the dead . As now the trembling malefactor is ledde out with a dismai●d soule , to behold the dreadful aspect of the seuere death-sentencing Magistrate : so then the guilty conscience shall be haled forth by thousands of ministring flames of fire , to appeare before that Iudge whose face is Maiesty , and frowne confusion : Doe but thinke vpon this ; the very thought of it wil compell the Preacher to instruct bouldly , the Iudge to determine iustly , the Seruant to informe honestly , the Plaintife to accuse vprightly , the Counsellor to aduise wisely , the Aduocate to pleade warily , the vnder-Officers to execute law impartially , the Iurie to giue their Verdit sincerely , the witnesse to sweare fearefully , and giue euidence truely : and all of vs to liue conscionably . We are before one Iudge , we shall be before another : The Lord grant that we may so discharge our duties this day , that we be not afraid to appeare before that Great Iudge at the last day . Amen .

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . FINIS .