A20760:155
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 heinousness will appear both in it own nature,1 and also in the evil effects and fruits thereof. That in it own nature it is a grievous sin, may hereby be made manifest; first, because it is odious and abominable, both in the sight of God and men. That the Lord abhorreth this sin of perjury, it plainly appeareth, Zach. 8.17.2 Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour, and love no false oath: for all these are the things that I hate, saith the Lord. And hence it is that the Lord in his law hath so straitly forbidden this sin. Levit. 19.12. Ye shall not swear by my name falsely; 3neither shalt thou defile the name of thy God. For the transgression of which ⟨p. 68⟩law,4 the Jews are sharply reproved and condemned. Jer. 7.9. Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal? &c. Where we may observe, that howsoever the sons of Belial so lightly esteem of this sin, that they will not stick to sell a false oath at the least price, yet the Lord counteth it an heinous sin, and therefore he rangeth it in this place amongst those capital crimes, of theft, murder, adultery, and idolatry.
The hainousnes will appeare both in it owne nature,1 and also in the euill effects and fruits thereof. That in it owne nature it is a grieuous sinne, may hereby be made manifest; first, because it is odious and abominable, both in the sight of God and men. That the Lord abhorreth this sinne of periurie, it plainly appeareth,