Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 1.

COusen German to this, is their position lately taken up by those Jesuites, is their Equivoca∣tion, and mentall reservations, by which they think it lawfull to dissemble with the Magi∣strate, and to delude him with their ambigu∣ous and equivocating answers; as if they be asked, Whether in such a place, as beyond the Seas (in France or Spaine) at such a time, when, and where, it is certaine they were, they will answer, that they were not, (under∣standing to themselves, secretly) to such an end, & purpose. The fals∣hood of those their deceitfull equivocations, doth directly appeare.

1. In thinking that if they hold the truth inwardly, in their heart, it were no matter if it were not alwayes in their mouthes; but a right Christian is known by this, He speaketh the truth in his boart, Psal. 15. 3. he having it both in his heart, and mouth.

2. By this device of theirs, they invert the order and nature

of things, making falshood truth, and truth falshood, they turne affirmatives into negatives; and contrariwise, as if it were all one to say, I was not in such a place, (with a mentall reser∣vation) as to say I was, by which meanes they make truth the patron of a lye.

3. If every man should take this licentious liberty, there should be no truth amongst men, nor certainty of any thing, all testimonies given in Evidence, all promises and contracts might justly be suspected, lest some secret condition or reservation might be understood; for who can trust him at any time, that thinketh it is lawfull to lye and dissemble sometimes; for whilst he applyeth himself when he lyeth, aptly to the time, he is to be held uncertain, when he speaketh the truth.

4. Whereof came this doubting and dissembling, but of feare, and a bad conscience; what needed the Martyrs by a plaine con∣fession of the truth, to have adventured and lost their lives, if they had held such a dissimulation, and equivocating lawfull; if it were lawfull to dissemble, why did not they?