Saint Augustine his enchiridion to Laurence, or, The chiefe and principall heads of all Christian religion a most profitable booke to all those which desire to haue a most compendious briefe of Augustines doctrine, out of Augustine himselfe, when he was old, being repurged, by the old manuscript, of many faults and vnusuall wordes, wherewith it formerly flowed.

CHAP. 22.

That euery lie is a sinne, yea euen that which is called an officious lie; that is to say, a lie made for, the safetie of another, albeit it is not so hainous as that lie which is made with an intent to doe hurt.

MOreouer, euery lie is there∣fore said to be a sinne, be∣cause euery man, not onely when himselfe knoweth what is true; but also, if at any time hee erre, and is deceiued as a man, ought to speake as he thinketh

in his heart, whether it bee the truth indeed, or a reputed veri∣tie, and yet not the same. For, e∣uery one that lieth in any thing which his conscience telleth him to bee otherwise, that man speaketh with (a will to deceiue. Words therefore were deuised, not as meanes for men to be∣guile one another, but whereby they might open their thoughts each to other. To make there∣fore wordes the instruments of deceipt, beeing not ordained to that ende, is a sinne. Neither is any kinde of lie not to bee dee∣med a sinne, for that wee may thereby perhaps pleasure one another. For we may happily do good to some, by stealing from others: as in case the poore man, to whom that is openly giuen, which we haue stolne, ••eele be∣nefit thereby; and the rich man whom we haue priuily robbed, feeleth not the losse hee hath su∣stained. Let therefore no man hold, that such a theft is not a

sinne. Wee may in like manner; by committing adulterie, make shewe of a good turne done vn∣to her, who beeing in case to die for loue, if a man doe not cōsent to her desire, howsoeuer shee may be purged by repentance, if shee happen afterwards to re∣couer and liue. Neither by that reason, shall any such sinne bee denied to bee adulterie. For, if chastitie doeth please vs in the strict obseruation thereof, what doeth then that word truth, I pray you imply, that chastitie should not be broken by forni∣cation beeing done for the good of another; and that truth on the contrary, should bee violated by lying, in respect of any like se∣quel of profit to others? A lie therefore, cannot at any time deserue praise or allowance, al∣though wee lie sometimes for other mens safetie. It is there∣fore a sinne, although a veniall sinne, beeing on the one side ex∣cusable by reason of our affecti∣on

to doe good, & condemned on the other side, because it is fraudulent. For, it cannot be de∣nied, but that men doe greatly further other mens profit and good who do not lie but for the preseruation of some other bo∣dy. Howbeit, in that their actiō, their kindnes and affection, and not the fraude or deceipt vsed therein, is vnworthily commen∣ded in respect of the fact, or else is recompenced in this world: which, to bee remitted and par∣doned, is sufficient and enough, although also it bee not made common, especially to the heirs of the new Testament; to whom it is said, Let yea, yea, & no, no, bee in your mouthes. For, whatsoeuer is beyond the limitation therof, proceedeth from the motion of euil. In respect of which euil, ne∣uer ceasing to vndermine vs while wee liue in the flesh, the co-heires of Christ doe there∣fore vse this saying, Forgiue vs our trespasses.