A20760:112
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.
The third cause of vain swearing, is greedy covetousness;1 for when as men have resolved with themselves, that they will be rich, they dare not depend upon God in the use of lawful means, but take all indirect courses for the increasing of their wealth, as lying and dissembling, bribing and oppression, all manner of fraud and deceit: and among the rest, swearing, and forswearing, in their ordinary trading, buying and selling, that thereby gaining credit unto themselves, they may either buy, or put off their wares at a better rate. Those therefore who would avoid vain swearing, they must first remove this special cause thereof, greedy avarice, and learn to rest and depend upon the providence of God, whose blessing alone maketh rich; and giveth unto men being enriched the comfortable fruition of that which they do possess.
The third cause of vaine swearing, is greedie couetousnes;1 for when as men haue resolued with themselues, that they will be rich, they dare not depend vpon God in the vse of lawfull meanes, but take all indirect courses for the increasing of their wealth, as lying and dissembling, bribing and oppression, all manner of fraud and deceit: and among the rest, swearing, and forswearing, in their ordinarie trading, buying and selling, that thereby gaining credit vnto themselues, they may either buy, or put off their wares at a better rate. Those therfore who would auoide vaine swearing, they must first remooue this speciall cause therof, greedie auarice, and learne to rest and depend vpon the prouidence of God, whose blessing alone maketh rich; and giueth vnto men being enriched the comfortable fruition of that which they doe possesse.
- 1§. Sect. 3. The third cause, greedy covetousness.§. Sect. 3. The third cause, greedie couetousnesse.
The fourth cause of vain swearing is external, namely,