and whether the regulation, which has been ſo earneſtly expected, was not juſtly and honeſtly expected.
Terræ-Filius. No. II.
Obſequium amicos, Veritas odium parit. Ter.
Wednesday, January 18.
THERE is not in nature a more ſenſeleſs piece of impoſture, than that common, eſtabilſh'd maxim, Truth ought not to be ſpoken at all times. How this hopeful proverb became ſo current amongſt us, or by whom, ſeems very plain to me; but I will not preſume to determine it, leſt I ſhould be thought partial in my opinion: but thus much, I ſuppoſe, without affronting any body, I may ſay, that it was firſt introduced to covet ſome deſign, which could not be carried on without concealing the Truth; and I will add, that every deſign, which cannot otherwiſe be carried on, is a wicked deſign; for that Truth tends in its nature either to the diſſervice of man, or the diſhonour of God, or to both (as it certainly does if it ought not to be ſpoken at all times) is a poſition big with miſchief and falſhood; as it diſſolves all obligations, civil and ſpiritual, and reduces all religion, both natural and revealed, to mere
