This Fable concerns those that think to Deceive God with Fallacies of
Words, Equivocations, Mental Reservations, and Double Meanings; but
though Frauds and Perjuries may pass upon Men for a Season, they are as
Open as the Light yet to Him that Searches the Heart. A Man had better
be a Downright _Atheist_, then in such a Case as This, an Equivocating
_Hypocrite_: For He that Denies a Providence, or Doubts whether there be
any God at all, is much more Pardonable, then Another that Acknowledges,
and Confesses an All-Seeing and an Almighty Power; and yet at the Same
Time, most Blasphemously Affronts it. ’Tis a Great Unhappiness that
Children should be so much Addicted (as we see they are) to This Way and
Humour of Shuffling: But it is a Greater Shame and Mischief, for Parents,
Governours, and Tutors, to Encourage, and Allow them in’t, and so
(Effectually) to Train them up to One of the most Dangerous Corruptions
they are Capable of, in Countenancing the very Ground Work of a False
and Treacherous Life. There must be no Paradoxing or Playing Tricks with
Things Sacred. Truth is the Great Lesson of Reasonable Nature, both in
Philosophy, and in Religion. Now there is a Truth of Opinion; a Truth of
Fact, and a Truth in Simplicity and Sincerity of Thought, Word, and Deed.
The Last of the Three is the Truth that is here in question. The Knack of
_Fast and Loose_ passes with a world of Foolish People for a Turn of Wit;
but they are not aware all this while, of the Desperate Consequences of
an Ill Habit, and that the Practice of Falsifying with Men, will lead us
on Insensibly to a Double Dealing even with God Himself.