2. Perceivest thou not how
much this reasoning aideth the very persons whom as great game we
make ado to catch by our lies? For, as thyself hast shown, this is
the sentiment of the Priscillianists to prove which, they apply
testimonies from the Scriptures exhorting their followers to lie,
as though by the examples of Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles,
Angels; not hesitating to add even the Lord Christ Himself; and
deeming that they cannot otherwise prove their falsehood truthful,
unless they pronounce Truth to be a liar. It must be refuted, this;
not imitated: nor ought we to be partners with the Priscillianists
in that evil in which they are convicted to be worse than other
heretics. For they alone, or at least they in the greatest degree,
are found to make a dogma of lying for the purpose of hiding their
truth, as they call it: and this so great evil therefore to esteem
just, because they say that in the heart must be held that which is
true, but with the mouth to utter unto aliens a false thing, is no
sin; and that this is written, “Who speaketh the truth in his
heart:”2386
as though
this were enough for
righteousness, even though a person do with
his mouth speak a
lie, when not his
neighbor but a
stranger is he
that heareth it. On this account they think the
Apostle Paul, when
he had said, “Putting away
lying, speak ye
truth,” to have
immediately added, “Every man with his neighbor, for we are
members one of another.”
2387
Meaning, that with them who are
not our neighbors in society of the truth, nor, so to say, our
co-members,
2388
it is
lawful and right to speak a lie.
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