23. But in all our doings,
even good men are very greatly embarrassed in the matter
of
compensative sins; so that these are not esteemed to be sins, if
they have such causes for the which they be done, and in the which
it may seem to be rather sin, if they be left undone. And chiefly
as concerning lies hath it come to this pass in the opinion of men
that those lies are not accounted sins, nay rather are believed to
be rightly done, when one tells a lie for the benefit of him for
whom it is expedient to be deceived, or lest a person should hurt
others, who seems likely to hurt unless he be got rid of by lies.
In defense of these kinds of lies, very many examples from holy
Scripture are accounted to lend their support. It is not, however,
the same thing to hide the truth as it is to utter a lie. For
although every one who lies wishes to hide what is true, yet not
every one who wishes to hide what is true, tells a lie. For in
general we hide truths not by telling a lie, but by holding our
peace. For the Lord lied not when He said, “I have many things to
say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.”2414
He held His
peace from true
things, not spoke false things; for the hearing of which truths He
judged them to be less fit. But if He had not indicated this same
to them, that is, that they were not able to bear the things which
He was
unwilling to speak, He would indeed
hide nevertheless
somewhat of
truth but that this may be rightly done we should
peradventure not know, or not have so great an example to confirm
us. Whence, they who assert that it is sometimes meet to
lie, do
not conveniently mention that
Abraham did this concerning
Sarah,
whom he said to be his sister. For he did not say, She is not my
wife, but he said, “She is my sister;”
2415
because she was in
truth so near
akin, that she might without a
lie be called a sister. Which also
afterwards he confirmed, after she had been given back by him who
had taken her, answering him and saying, “And indeed she is my
sister, by
father, not by mother;” that is, by the
father’s
kindred, not the mother’s. Somewhat therefore of
truth he left
untold, not told aught of
falsehood, when he left
wife untold, and
told of sister. This also did his son
Isaac: for him too we know to
have gotten a
wife near of kin.
2416
It is not then a lie, when by
silence a true thing is kept back, but when by speech a false thing
is put forward.
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