A20760:114
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 second means to avoid vain swearing,1 is with David to set a narrow watch before our lips, that we may not thus offend with our tongues; and to bridle and curb in this unruly evil with the bit of Gods fear, that it burst not out into vain oaths; which otherwise will run at random and fall into this vice even before we be aware. And if long custom hath so confirmed it in us that we have no hope to break it off at once,2 let us labour at least to bring it into a consumption, and by an antidote of a contrary custom, to disinure our tongues from the use thereof. Let us resolve whatsoever occasion be offered, to keep such a straight watch over our tongue, that we will not swear for the space of a whole day; and when we have thus far prevailed over our selves, let us take a longer time; and so taking as it were a truce with Gods glorious name from time to time, binding our selves in the mean while that we will not offer against it any abuse or violence, it will in a small space grow unto a firm and inviolable peace; and vain oaths which were as familiar as our ordinary speech, will stick in our teeth like an unknown language, and become of near acquaintance, which would usually rush in without bidding, mere strangers which will not come within the door of our lips, unless upon extraordinary occasion they be invited.
The second meanes to auoid vaine swearing,1 is with Dauid to set a narrow watch before our lips, yt we may not thus offend with our tongues; and to bridle and curbe in this vnruly euill with the bit of Gods feare, that it burst not out into vaine oathes; which otherwise will runne at randome and fall into this vice euen before wee be aware. And if long custome hath so confirmed it in vs that wee haue no hope to breake it off at once,2 let vs labour at least to bring it into a consumption, and by an antidote of a contrarie custome, to disinure our tongues from the vse thereof. Let vs resolue whatsoeuer occasion bee offered, to keepe such a straight watch ouer our tongue, that we will not sweare for the space of a whole day; and when we haue thus farre preuailed ouer our selues, let vs take a longer time; and so taking as it were a truce with Gods glorious name from time to time, binding our selues in the meane while that wee will not offer against it any abuse or violence, it will in a small space grow vnto a firme and inuiolable peace; and vaine oathes which were as familiar as our ordinarie speech, will sticke in our teeth like an vnknowne language, and become of neere acquaintance, which would vsually rush in without bidding, meere strangers which will not come within the doore of our lips, vnlesse vpon extraordinarie occasion they be inuited.