A systeme or body of divinity consisting of ten books : wherein the fundamentals and main grounds of religion are opened, the contrary errours refuted, most of the controversies between us, the papists, Arminians, and Socinians discussed and handled, several Scriptures explained and vindicated from corrupt glosses : a work seasonable for these times, wherein so many articles of our faith are questioned, and so many gross errours daily published / by Edward Leigh.

DECEIT.

DEceit is when we make shew of one thing and do another.* 1.1

It is that vice by which men are apt to make shew of good they intend not, and again to hide the shew of that evil they do intend, or by which men cover over bad purposes with fair pretences, that they may the more* 1.2 easily accomplish them, as in Saul to David, whom he desired to thrust upon his own ruine in fighting with the Philistims, and his pretence was to honour his va∣lour by making him his sonne in law. Iacobs sons used it against the Sichemites, Iudas against Christ, he came with a kisse when he meant nothing but mis∣chief.

It is a great sinne, David blameth this fault in Doeg, Psal. 52. See Psal. 5. 6. it is a sinne condemned by nature, for no man can choose but complain if he meet with it in others; and by Scripture more, Mark 7. 17. Rom. 3. With their tongues they have used deceit, Rom. 1. 29. 1 Pet. 2. 1. Deceitful men shall not live out half their days,

David. The bread of deceit shall be gravel in the belly, Salomon, The deceitful man shall not rost what he took in hunting. Of all vices it takes up most of the lodgings about us, 1. Our spirits, Psal. 2. 2. 2. Our thoughts, Psal. 38. 12. 3. Our hearts, Prov. 12. 20. 4. Our mouths, 1 Pet. 2. 22. 5. Our lips, Psal. 34. 12. ••6. Our tongues, Psal. 15. 3. 7. Our bellies, Iob 15. 35. 8. Our feet, Iob 31. 5. All our members, Acts 13. 10.

There is fraud in bargaining and conversing; Davids whole carriage to Achish was nothing but a pack of fraud, Abraham helped himself by deceit, saying of his wife, She is my sister. Isaac practised the same deceit with lesse probability or shew of truth. Plain Iacob was drawn by his mother to use deceit to get the bles∣sing.

Reasons.

• 1. The causes of it are want of the fear of God, and of charity to men: a Christians faith and love must be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 without dissimulation, S. Paul saith it twice of both.
• 2. It is an abuse of a good gift, yea one of the best natural gifts, wit, reason and understanding, Corruptio optimi pessima.
• 3. It overthrows the welfare of humane societies, and is contrary to charity, equi∣ty, and all well-ordered laws.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Est propriè per dolum in verbis, per fraudem in factis.
• * 1.2

  All the Latine Lewis the ele∣venth would have his Son Charls the 8^th to learn, was this, Qui nescit dissimula∣re nescit regnare. Fraus oritur ex similitudine. Alchimy is like gold. The Italians have a Proverb, He that deceives me once, its his fault; but if twice, its my fault.