This

for any thing he has said or done, he aggravates the offence rather than lessens it; for the person to whom the lie is told has a right to know the truth, or there would have been no occasion to have framed a falsehood. person, of course, will think himself ill treated for being a second time affronted; for what can be a greater affront than an attempt to impose upon any man's understrading? Be sides, lying, in excuse for a fault, betrays fear, than which, nothing is more dastardly and unbecoming the character of a gentleman.

"There is nothing more manly, or more noble, if we have done wrong, than frankly to own it. It is the only way of meeting forgiveness. Indeed, confessing a fault and asking pardon, with great minds, is considered as a sufficient atonement. I have been betrayed into an error,' or ' I have injured you, Sir, and am heartily ashamed of it, and sorry for it,' has frequently disarmed the per

son

son injured, and, where he would have been our enemy, has made him our friend. [

"There are persons also, whose vanity leads them to tell a thousand lies. They persuade themselves, that, if it be no way injurious to others, it is harmless and innocent, and they shelter their falsehoods under the softer name of untruths. These persons are foolish enough to imagine, that if they can recite any thing wonderful they draw the attention of the company; and if they themselves are the object of that wonder, they are looked up to as persons extraordinary. This has made many a man see things that never were in being, hear things that never were said, and achieve feats that never were attempted, dealing always in the marvellous. Such may be assured, however unwilling the persons they are conversing with may be to laugh in their faces, that they hold them secretly in the highest contempt; for he who will tell a lie thus idly, will not scruple to tell a greater,

where

where his interest is concerned.

Rather than

any person should doubt of my veracity for one minute, I would deprive myself of telling abroad either what I had really seen or heard, if such things did not carry with them the face of probability.

"Others again will boast of the great respect they meet with in certain companies; of the honours that are continually heaped on them there; of the great price they give for every thing they purchase; and this to be thought of consequence; but, unless such people have the best and most accurate memory, they will, perhaps, very soon after, contradict their former assertions, and subject themselves to contempt and derision.

"Remember then, as long as you live, that nothing but strict truth can carry you thro' life with honour and credit. Liars are not only disagreeable, but dangerous companions, and, when known, will ever be shunned by

men

of understanding. Besides, as the greatest liars are generally the greatest fools, a man who addicts himself to this detestable vice, will not only be looked upon as vulgar, but will never be considered as a man of sense!"

But though it be thus dishonorable to publish lies, yet on the other hand, unless it becomes a legal duty, or to answer the purpose of public or private good, we are not required to reveal the truth itself to the injury of another; and even a diversion from the exact letter of it, when directed to some benevolent purpose, the most rigid moralist would not censure.

Whatever is intended to deceive, whether expressed by looks, words, or actions, comes within the meaning and designs of falsehood; mental reserves and equivocation, or a partial suppression of the truth, where duty and wood honor

honor demand a fair statement of the whole, are justly considered as a species of lies.

For the asseverations of lovers, the poets tell us, that Jupiter made a bottomless bag: words indeed, on such turbulent occasions, are usually regarded to be as good as oaths, and both of them to be as trifles! But the sacred interests of truth will not allow of such impious frivolousness!*

"Let thy oaths," says a writer, "be sacred, and promises be made upon the altar of thy heart. Call not Jove to witness, with a stone in one hand, and a straw in another; and so make chaff and stubble of thy vows. Wordly spirits, whose interest is their belief, make cobwebs of obligations; and, if they can find ways to elude the urn of the Prætor, will trust the thunderbolt of Jupiter: and, therefore, if they should as deeply swear as Osman to Bethlem

R 2

Vide Puffendorff on the Nature of Promises and Oaths.