A20760:160
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.
Fourthly, it is a shameful abuse of Gods Majesty,1 when as he who is truth it self is produced as a witness to confirm a known lie, and as a surety for the doing of that which they intend never to perform. It is a shameful tempting and scornful contempt of Gods all-seeing knowledge, justice, power, anger, threatenings, and fearful vengeance denounced against this sin, when as knowing a thing to be false, they dare avouch it, calling upon God as a just Judge and avenger of falsehood, to inflict upon them the deserved punishment of their sin, if they do not speak the truth. For ⟨p. 70⟩what is this but desperately to make trial whether God can or will according to his word punish their sin? What is it but like fierce bandogs to fly in Gods face, and to dare him to do his worst in the execution of his vengeance?
Fourthly, it is a shamefull abuse of Gods Maiestie,1 when as he who is truth it selfe is produced as a witnesse to confirme a knowne lie, and as a suretie for the doing of that which they intend neuer to performe. It is a shamefull tempting and scornefull contempt of Gods all-seeing knowledge, iustice, power, anger, threatnings, and fearefull vengeance denounced against this sinne, when as knowing a thing to bee false, they dare auouch it, calling vpon God as a iust Iudge and auenger of falshood, to inflict vpon them the deserued punishment of their sinne, if they doe not speake the truth. For ⟨p. 70⟩what is this but desperately to make triall whether God can or will according to his word punish their sinne? What is it but like fierce bandogs to flie in Gods face, and to dare him to doe his worst in the execution of his vengeance?
- 1§. Sect. 6. 4 Gods Majesty is abused.§. Sect. 6. 4 Gods Maiestie is abused.