33. It remains then that we
understand as concerning those women, whether in Egypt or in
Jericho, that for their humanity and mercy they received a reward,
in any wise temporal, which indeed itself, while they wist not of
it, should by prophetical signification prefigure somewhat eternal.
But whether it be ever right, even for the saving of a man’s
life, to tell a lie, as it is a question in resolving which even
the most learned do weary themselves, it did vastly surpass the
capacity of those poor women, set in the midst of those nations,
and accustomed to those manners. Therefore their ignorance in this
as well as in those other things of which they were alike
unknowing, but which are to be known by the children not of this
world but of that which is to come, the patience of God did bear
withal: Who yet, for their human kindness which they had shown to
His servants, rendered unto them rewards of an earthly sort, albeit
signifying somewhat of an heavenly. And Rahab, indeed, delivered
out of Jericho, made transition into the people of God, where,
being proficient, she might attain to eternal and immortal prizes
which are not to be sought by any lie. Yet at that time when she
did for the Israelite spies that good, and, for her condition of
life, laudable work, she was not as yet such that it should be
required of her, “In your mouth let Yea be yea, Nay nay.”2448
But as for
those midwives, albeit Hebrewesses, if they savored only after the
flesh, what or how great is the good they got of their temporal
reward in that they made them
houses, unless by making proficiency
they attained unto that
house of which is
sung unto
God, “
Blessed
are they that dwell in thine
house; for ever and ever they will
praise thee?”
2449
It must be
confessed, however, that it approacheth much unto
righteousness,
and though not yet in reality, even now in respect of hopefulness
and disposition that
mind is to be
praised, which never
lies except
with intention and will to do good to some man, but to hurt no man.
But as for us, when we ask whether it be the part of a good man
sometimes to
lie, we ask not concerning a person pertaining to
Egypt, or to
Jericho, or to
Babylon, or still to
Jerusalem itself,
the earthly, which is in
bondage with her
children;
2450
but
concerning a
citizen of that city which is above and free, our
mother,
eternal in the heavens. And to our asking it is answered,
“No
lie is of the
truth.”
2451
The sons of that city, are sons of
the
Truth. That city’s sons are they of whom it is written,“In
their mouth was found no
lie:”
2452
son of that city is he of whom is
also written, “A son receiving the word shall be
far from
destruction: but receiving, he hath received that for himself, and
nothing false proceedeth out of his mouth.”
2453
These sons of
Jerusalem on high,
and of the holy city
eternal, if ever, as they be men, a
lie of
what kind soever doth worm itself into them, they ask humbly for
pardon, not therefrom seek moreover glory.
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
