[292]: Firstly: I shall consider the nature of this vice and wherein it consists.
Secondly: I shall consider the due extent of this prohibition.
Thirdly: I shall show the evil of this practice both in the causes and effects of it.
Fourthly: I shall add some farther considerations to dissuade men of it.
Fifthly: I shall give some rules and directions for the prevention and cure of it.
I proceed to:
Third Place: To consider the evil of this practice, both in the causes and consequences of it.
Firstly We will consider the causes of it; and it commonly springs from one or more of these evil roots.
First: One of the deepest and most common causes of evil speaking is ill nature and cruelty of disposition.
[293]: Truth and reality have all the advantages of appearance, and many more. If the show of anything be good for anything, I am sure sincerity is better: for why does any man dissemble, or seem to be that which he is not, but because he thinks it good to have such a quality as he pretends to? for to counterfeit and dissemble, is to put on the appearance of some real excellency. Now, the best way in the world for a man to seem to be anything, is really to be what he would seem to be. Besides that it is many times as troublesome to make good the pretence of a good quality, as to have it; and if a man have it not, it is ten to one but he is discovered to want it, and then all his pains and labour to seem to have it are lost. There is something unnatural in painting, which a skilful eye will easily discern from native beauty and complexion.