A20760:133
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.
Secondly, an oath is unlawful and wicked in the proof and event, when as there lieth lurking in it some concealed wickedness, which he that sweareth doth not discern. And this is of two kinds: first, when as the evil of the oath is really contained in the thing promised, which is not discovered at the taking of the oath, but afterwards appeareth in the event. Secondly, when as the thing which we by oath promise, is in it own nature good or indifferent, but afterwards degenerateth and becometh evil by accident. Of the former we have an example in Herod, 1who by his rash oath swore, though unwittingly, the death of John the Baptist; and in those who in our own time swear themselves unto Monkish cloisters in their superstitious devotion and blind zeal: of the other, in those who by oath vow virginity and single life, the which course of life might be lawful or indifferent at the time when they took their oath, they having present continency; but afterwards becometh wicked and unlawful, when as burning in lust they bind ⟨p. 56⟩themselves to lead a single life still, and disavow marriage which is the ordinance of God, and the means ordained by him to keep and preserve their vessels in purity and holiness.
Secondly, an oath is vnlawfull and wicked in the proofe and euent, when as there lieth lurking in it some concealed wickednesse, which he that sweareth doth not discerne. And this is of two kindes: first, when as the euill of the oath is really contained in the thing promised, which is not discouered at the taking of the oath, but afterwards appeareth in the euent. Secondly, when as the thing which wee by oath promise, is in it owne nature good or indifferent, but afterwards degenerateth and becommeth euill by accident. Of the former wee haue an example in Herod, 1who by his rash oath swore, though vnwittingly, the death of Iohn the Baptist; and in those who in our owne time sweare themselues vnto Monkish cloisters in their superstitious deuotion and blind zeale: of the other, in those who by oath vow virginitie and single life, the which course of life might be lawfull or indifferent at the time when they tooke their oath, they hauing present continencie; but afterwards becommeth wicked and vnlawfull, when as burning in lust they binde ⟨p. 56⟩