A20760:100
Four treatises tending to dissuade all Christians from four no less heinous then common…Foure treatises tending to disswade all Christians from foure no lesse hainous then common…
Four treatises tending to dissuade all Christians from four no less heinous then common sins; namely, the abuses of swearing, drunkenness, whoredom, and bribery. Wherein the greatness and odiousness of these vices is discovered; and the means and remedies, which may either preserve, or wean men from them, are propounded. Whereunto is annexed a treatise of anger. By John Downame Bachelor in Divinity, and preacher of Gods word.Foure treatises tending to disswade all Christians from foure no lesse hainous then common sinnes; namely, the abuses of swearing, drunkennesse, whoredome, and briberie. Wherein the greatnes and odiousnesse of these vices is discouered; and the meanes and remedies, which may either preserue, or weane men from them, are propounded. Whereunto is annexed a treatise of anger. By Iohn Dovvname Batcheler in Diuinitie, and preacher of Gods word.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for William Welby, 1609
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Others there are who are not come to that audacious impudency, to defend their vain swearing as lawful,1 and yet nevertheless if they be taxed and reproved for it, will not stick to pretend many excuses, why either they cannot or will not leave it. Some allege for their excuse, that they have been inured to such a naughty custom of swearing, that howsoever they disallow it in themselves, yet they fall into it at unawares, and can by no means give it over. But did they ever indeed condemn it as a sin, and themselves for falling into it? Were they ever seriously and soundly grieved at their hearts, because thereby they have displeased and dishonoured God? Do they loth and hate this wicked custom, and earnestly labour to wean themselves from it? Alas their consciences tell them that they do nothing less; but either that they carelessly neglect to set a watch before their lips that they may not thus offend, or that what show soever they ⟨p. 37⟩make to the contrary, they like and love their sin, and take a pride in using of it. Whereof it must needs follow, that howsoever these men please themselves, as though all were well, and have put their secure consciences to silence by this vain excuse, yet in truth their estate is most wretched, seeing they are content to live in a known sin without repentance, which, if it be final, will enter them into the certain possession of eternal death. Yea but many of them will say, that they repent of their sin, for after they have vainly sworn they smite themselves on the breast, and ask God forgiveness. O blindness to be pitied if it were not wilfully affected! Is this the mends which thou makest, in hypocritical manner to smite thy breast, for piercing of thy Saviour? Is this a prayer acceptable unto God, or like to return with fruit into thy bosom, when thou askest forgiveness with a purpose still to offend, and desirest his pardon, as a privilege, by virtue whereof thou mayest securely go forward in thy sin? Is this the repentance which God requireth to smite the breast, and to ask forgiveness with feigned lips? when as in the mean time the heart is not smitten at all with bitter grief, nor earnestly resolved in a true hatred to leave this sin so vain, and so unprofitable?
Others there are who are not come to that audacious impudencie, to defend their vaine swearing as lawfull,1