uch the safer and more
secure way of dealing in the world; it has less of trouble and
difficulty, of entanglement and perplexity, of danger and hazard in it:
it is the shortest and nearest way to our end, carrying us thither in a
straight line, and will hold out and last longest.

21. The arts of deceit and cunning do continually grow weaker and less
effectual and serviceable to them that use them; whereas integrity gains
strength by use, and the more and longer any man practiseth it, the
greater service it does him, by confirming his reputation, and
encouraging those with whom he hath to do, to repose the greatest trust
and confidence in him, which is an unspeakable advantage in the business
and affairs of life.

22. Truth is always consistent with itself, and needs nothing to help it
out; it is always near at hand, and sits upon our lips, and is ready to
drop out before we are aware; whereas a lie is troublesome, and sets a
man's invention upon the rack, and one trick needs a great many more to
make it good.

23. It is like building upon a false foundation, which continually
stands in need of props to shoar it up, and proves at last more
chargeable, than to have raised a substantial building at first upon a
true and solid foundation; for sincerity is firm and substantial, and
there is nothing hollow and unsound in it, and because it is plain and
open, fears no discovery:

24. Of which the crafty man is always in danger, and when he thinks he
walks in the dark, all his pretences are so transparent, that he who
runs may read them; he is the last man that finds himself to be found
out, and whilst he takes it for granted that he makes fools of others,
he renders himself ridiculous.

25. Add to all this, that sincerity is the most compendious wisdom, and
an excellent instrument for the speedy dispatch of business; it creates
confidence in those we have to deal with, saves the labor of many
inquiries, and brings things to an issue in a few words.

26. It is like travelling; in a plain beaten road, which commonly brings
a man sooner to his journey's end than by-ways, in which men often lose
themselves. In a word, whatsoever convenience may be thought to be in
falsehood and dissimulation, it is soon over, but the inconvenience of
it is perpetual, because it brings a man under an everlasting jealousy
and suspicion, so that he is not believed when he speaks truth, nor
trusted when perhaps he means honestly; when a man ha