A20760:181
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.
In which argument I hope I shall not spend my time unprofitably,1 seeing in our days this vice more reigneth then ever it did in former ages; as may appear in that our wise Statesmen thought it necessary in Parliament, to enact a law for the suppressing of this sinne; for, Ex malis moribus bonae nascuntur leges; evil manners occasion good laws. And indeed not without good cause, is the sword of the Magistrate joined with the sword of the spirit, seeing now this vice is grown to such strength, that it is to be feared it will not in haste, by both be repressed. For who seeth not that many of our people of late, are so unmeasurably addicted to this vice, that they seem to contend with the Germans themselves, spending the greatest part of their time in carousing, as though they did not drink to live, but lived to drink: or as if from men ⟨p. 80⟩they were transformed into flies which live wholly by sucking. Neither is it possible that ever the appetite of these leaches should be satisfied, seeing they have an hundred devices to make it still insatiable; they drink not only for thirst and delight, but also for company and good fellowship, one drawing on another when his appetite faileth; they drink in bravery, thinking it no small credit to him, who can get the victory in this drunken conflict. In this hellish contention, they use, as I have heard, for I thank God he hath kept my eyes from beholding this wickedness; they use, I say, glasses without feet, that so they may go about in a continual motion; they carouse by the bell, by the dye, the dozen, the yard, and so by measure, drink out of measure. They draw one another to excessive quaffing, by making challenges, who can express most love to their absent friends by largest drinking, not caring to bring themselves, through their intemperance into grievous diseases, by drinking healths to other men. And because nature is content with a little, and soon cloyed and oppressed with excess, they use all their art and skill to strengthen it for these wicked exploits, as though their natural corruptions would not press them deep enough into hell, unless they also loaded themselves with artificial wickedness. To this purpose they use all sorts of salt meats to whet their appetite, many whereof were found out by wantonness, and not necessity;
In which argument I hope I shall not spend my time vnprofitably,