A20760:137
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 this oath whereby we swear unto impossibilities,1 is taken two ways; first, when as at the making of the oath the impossibility of performance appeared unto us, we having no show of any possible means to make good our promise; which who so do, commit a fearful sin against God, by forswearing themselves, wittingly, and willingly; by making his glorious name become a cloak for their falsehood; by tempting his truth and power, and daring his justice to execute his vengeance; so likewise, they sin against their neighbour, by abusing and deceiving him, in that they promise that which they have no possible means to perform, and against themselves by provoking Gods wrath, drawing down upon their guilty heads his fearful vengeance, and by desperate leaping into the fire of hell.
Now this oath whereby we sweare vnto impossibilities,1 is taken two waies; first, when as at the making of the oath the impossibilitie of performance appeared vnto vs, wee hauing no shew of any possible meanes to make good our promise; which who so doe, commit a fearefull sinne against God, by forswearing themselues, wittingly, and willingly; by making his glorious name become a cloke for their falshood; by tempting his truth and power, and daring his iustice to execute his vengeance; so likewise, they sinne against their neighbour, by abusing and deceiuing him, in that they promise that which they haue no possible meanes to performe, and against themselues by prouoking Gods wrath, drawing downe vpon their guiltie heads his fearful vengeance, and by desperate leaping into the fire of hell.
- 1§ Sect. 7. Of that oath whereby we swear to perform known impossibilities.§ Sect. 7. Of that oath whereby we sweare to performe knowne impossibilities.
Secondly,1