A20760:132
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.
Now an oath is unlawful and wicked in this regard,1 either in present appearance when it is made, or in the proof and event. Of the former we have an example in Jezebel, swearing the death of innocent Elijah; and in the Jews, who bound themselves by oath to slay Paul. And such is the oath of our Popish fugitives,2 who thereby bind themselves to be the vassals of Antichrist, denying their due allegiance and obedience to their lawful Sovereign; which is expressly contrary to the word of God,3 as appeareth Rom. 13.1.2.3. All which kind of oaths are heinously wicked when they are first made. For if knowing them at the time of their taking of them to be wicked and unlawful, they do not at all intend to observe ⟨p. 55⟩them, they sin grievously against God by swearing falsely; their speech not agreeing with their mind, and by profaning his holy name in calling him as a witness to confirm their untruth, and as a patron of their falsehood. They sin against their neighbour in abusing him with a deceit of highest nature, namely, under the religious show of an oath. And finally, they sin most fearfully against their own souls, by their desperate tempting of God, provoking Gods justice, truth, power, and terrible vengeance against themselves, for their known wickedness, and perfidious treachery and perjury. On the other side, if knowing their oath to be wicked, they have a purpose to perform it, then also they sin against God, in making him not only a Judge and witness, but also a surety that they will perform wicked actions, which he abhorreth; and against their own souls likewise, in that they bind themselves unto evil with an oath, and as though they were not prone enough of their own accord to fall into wickedness, they bring upon them a necessity of sinning, and confirm themselves in evil with the strong obligation of an oath.
Now an oath is vnlawful and wicked in this regard,1 either in present appearance when it is made, or in the proofe and euent. Of the former we haue an example in Iesabel, swearing the death of innocent Elias; and in the Iewes, who bound themselues by oath to slay Paul. And such is the oath of our Popish fugitiues,