The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-28
Living in the Service of God.

Lying in the Service of Cod.
The Roy. Mr. BrcRLEY of Stamford. Conn
evidently regards the telling Of lies a. quite
compatible with morality. Being ariaigncd
before a criminal court on charge Of pro-
curing, 10y ways that are dark and tricks
that are vain. the conviction Of certain vio-
lators Of the excise laws. he cited the Scrip
lures in his defence and declared that he
could produce twenty-five cases from the
Old Testament and five cases from the New
Testament In which deception was used 10
further the ends Of Cop. The Inference he
sought To draw from this fact was that the
end justiics the means, and that lying for a
good purpose Is not sin, but laudable
virtue.
The question raised 10y Mr.. BucKLEY's
argument il an old one, and has been
iierccly debated 10y many eminent casuists
II both ancient and modern times. Oddly
enough the warme-t defenders of the liberty
~ lying have been Christians, while
heather nations. Ike the old Romans. have
furnished some Of the most earnest sticklerS
for the duty of telling the truth. Mr.. Buck
LEY says. truly, that the Bible contains
numerous instances in which falSchoOd has
apparently met with divine approval, and
persons SO disposed may easily fancy that
these instances are related to guide our
conduct ON like occasions. But others dis
sent entirely from this conclusion, and re-
gard the lies mentioned in the sacred record
as they do the adultcrcs and murders Of
which it speaks. Ii JAcoB's deceit Of his
father was followed with useful results, so
too. they shy were DAvIDs adultery with
A. 4 = -t,f. L.,
both cases the sin of the individual was
overrulcd to furthcrance of n divine pur-
pose. but it was none the less n sin. RAHAB.
the harlot, lied to protect the spies who
took refuge in her house at Jericho. and was
rewarded 10y JOSHUA for her conduct; but
she was no less harot and liar than
DELlLAH was when, 10y similar practices,
she betrayed SAMSON to the PhilstincS.
JACOB. again, cheated his fathcr-in-law out
II his property, and abetted the stealing Of
his jewels; but, though he became the pa
triarch ofthc Hebrew nation, his conduct was
in itself no whit more praiseworthy than
that of GEHAzI, who was smittcn with lcp-
rosy for a much smaller offence Of the same
character. We confess to sympathy with
this Interpretation Of the matter as the more
robust and wholesome, and 10 a feeling that
Mr.. BUCKLEY doctrine is unsound in itself
and dangerous to the public welfare.
The eXigencics Of life require us contn-
ually rely upon one anothcr's truthfulncss.
Not only business but ordinary social in
tcrcourse would be impossible, If We could
not safely assume that what people tell us
represents the actual fact. A simple Yes or
No is the foundation upon which contracts
.l.., md
arrangements are entered into involving
the dcstinlos of lifetime. If we had to
stop at every moment and verify the asser-
tions made to us, no opportunity would be
left Us for doing anything else; and even
then. if We had no confidence in human
testimony. we should never arrive at n
settled conclusion upon any subject.
Fortunately, the unpcrvertcd instincts Of
mankind mpcl them to tell the truth rather
than to lie, and the general obedience To
these instincts has begottcn habit II con-
iidencc in mems words. Ii is only when
some selfish interest intcrVe mes that dcvi-
alton from the truth is liable to occur; and
10 check the influence Of such interests,
religion dcnounccs lying as II sin, and
human opinion brands il rs a social offence,
which, when sufficiently aggravated be-
comes a crime. Men like MI BUCKLEY,
therefore, in practising and apologizing for
lying run counter both to divine and hui
man laws, and strike blow at the bond
which holds society together. They are
like the Arab who captured valuable
horse by pretending to be sick and dying
by the roadside The owner of the horse
came riding along, and dismountcd to
relieve the apparent sufferer, who prolited
by the opportunity to spring into the empty
saddle and make oil. AZ he went, however
the victim of the deception called out
"Tell no man by what trick thou didst get
my horse, else hereafter no one will dis
mount to succor the really sick and dying"
Mr.. BUCKLEY has succeeded in his imme-
date purpose, and he may convince a few
people that he has done no wrong, but
since he Justlnes lying ON religious princi-
pies, ne ought not to be surprised If hence
forth ne Is not believed oven when he speaks
4 L..