A20760:161
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.
And these are the evils which are contained in this sin of perjury.1 Now the fruits and effects thereof are as bad, both in respect of God, our neighbour, and our selves. For first, the perjured person exceedingly dishonoureth Gods glorious Majesty, by drawing him, as much as in him lieth, into the communication of his sin, and offereth against him a kind of violence in forcing him to that which is quite contrary to his own nature: for where as he is most true, yea truth it self, they bring him as a patron of their untruth and falsehood, and make him to the uttermost of their power, like unto Satan who is the father of lies. And where as he is most just, both in his word and works, they bring him as their surety to countenance their fraud and deceit. Whereby as in their impious maliciousness they do, as much as in them lieth, destroy and overturn Gods nature and essence, and make him like unto Satan; so do they in deed, and in truth, make themselves in this respect worse then the devil; for howsoever he is not only a liar, but also the father of lies, even from the beginning; yet we never read nor heard that ever he came to that desperate audaciousness, that he durst presume to confirm his lies by an oath, or to abuse Gods glorious name for the patronizing and countenancing his untruths.
And these are the euils which are contained in this sinne of periurie.1 Now the fruits and effects thereof are as bad, both in respect of God, our neighbour, and our selues. For first, the periured person exceedingly dishonoureth Gods glorious Maiestie, by drawing him, as much as in him lieth, into the communication of his sinne, and offereth against him a kind of violence in forcing him to that which is quite contrary to his owne nature: for where as hee is most true, yea truth it selfe, they bring him as a patron of their vntruth and falsehood, and make him to the vttermost of their power, like vnto Satan who is the father of lies. And where as he is most iust, both in his word and workes, they bring him as their suretie to countenance their fraud and deceit. Whereby as in their impious maliciousnesse they doe, as much as in them lieth, destroy and ouerturne Gods nature and essence, and make him like vnto Satan; so doe they in deed, and in truth, make themselues in this respect worse then the diuell; for howsoeuer he is not onely a liar, but also the father of lies, euen from the beginning; yet wee neuer read nor heard that euer hee came to that desperate audaciousnesse, that he durst presume to confirme his lies by an oath, or to abuse Gods glorious name for the patronizing and countenancing his vntruthes.