A20760:144
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 sixth question is,1 whether an oath made by the creatures, or by Idols and false gods bindeth the conscience. To this I answer, that such oaths bind the swearer to performance. Concerning oaths, by the creatures it is apparent, seeing it is the question which was between Christ and the Pharisees; for they held that such oaths did not bind to performance, but our Saviour affirmeth the contrary, and yieldeth this reason; because they who swear by the creatures, swear indirectly by God himself,2 there remaining in them some resemblances of his power and Majesty. Heaven is his throne, the earth his footstool, Jerusalem his city, the Temple his house. To the same purpose Austine saith, that he who sweareth falsely by a stone is perjured; and that howsoever that is not holy by which he sweareth, yet the Lord is holy before whom he sweareth; and therefore though the stone heareth him not speak, yet God will punish him if he do deceive. To conclude, our simple promise would bind us to performance, and therefore much more being confirmed by an oath
The sixth question is,1 whether an oath made by the creatures, or by Idols and false gods bindeth the conscience. To this I answere, that such oathes bind the swearer to performance. Concerning oathes, by the creatures it is apparant, seeing it is the question which was betweene Christ and the Pharises; for they held that such oathes did not binde to performance, but our Sauiour affirmeth the contrarie, and yeeldeth this reason; because they who sweare by the creatures, sweare indirectly by God himselfe,2 there remaining in them some resemblances of his power and Maiestie. Heauen is his throne, the earth his footstoole, Ierusalem his citie, the Temple his house. To the same purpose Austine saith, that he who sweareth falsly by a stone is periured; and that howsoeuer that is not holy by which hee sweareth, yet the Lord is holy before whom he sweareth; and therfore though the stone heareth him not speake, yet God will punish him if he doe deceiue. To conclude, our simple promise would bind vs to performance, and therefore much more being confirmed by an oath