A20760:177
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.
CHAP. I. The occasion of this Treatise.
Among many other the excellent gifts,1 which are required in Gods Ministers, to make them complete and fit for the work of their Ministry, I have always thought that spiritual judgement and discretion deserveth to be placed in the foremost rank, as being an ornament of rare excellency to beautify all the rest; and as it were Lord high Marshall in the field of virtue, which marshalleth and rangeth all other virtues and graces in their fit places; so as they may be most serviceable unto the great Commander the Lord of hosts; and most profitable for the Church. Hereby the man of God being enabled by other gifts and graces, as learning, zeal, piety and the rest, for the work of the Ministry, is fitted to use these his abilities to his best advantage, which otherwise would be unprofitable, and often times rather hinder then further the end of his labours. For the Minister of God is the Lords spiritual watchman, and therefore it is not enough for him to sit in the watch-tower, and to descry all comers, but he must have spiritual discretion, to discern friends from enemies, and of enemies, which are to be contemned as weak and impotent, and ⟨p. 78⟩which to be encountered, as being dangerous and pernicious. He is the spiritual Physician of the Church, and therefore he must not only have skill to make good medicines, but also spiritual wisdom to fit these medicines according to the nature and quality of his patients diseases. He is the Steward of the family, and therefore he must not only have a liberal hand, to give food to all his fellow servants, but he must also discreetly distribute unto every one their portion in fit time and season. He is the Lords Gardener; and therefore he must not only have knowledge to discern between flowers and weeds, but also discretion to distinguish of times and seasons, when it is fit to pull up the weeds or to let them grow; otherwise he shall either pull up the flowers with the weeds, or leaving the root behind spend his labour in vain. In a word, he is Gods Orator and Ambassador unto his people, and therefore he must not only be furnished with wise instructions, but also he must have spiritual wisdom and discretion, to deliver his message in season, and to have respect unto circumstances, of time, occasion, persons and place. And this is that speech which the Wise man so much commendeth, Prou.