A20760:200
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 as they thus offend against the whole State,1 so against particular and private persons; and that both strangers, and ordinary acquaintance, and those also of their own family. Against strangers: for the drunkard in his cups is proud, insolent, disdainful, furious, apt to offer all manner of injuries and outrages; he is ready to quarrel with every one he meeteth, to deflower maids and defile wives, as afterwards shall appear. He is a corrupter of all that keep him company, by his example alluring them to the like excess and riot; for this privilege he hath above many other sinners, that he seldom goeth to hell alone, for even when he is unable to stand, he pulleth down others with him into the pit of destruction.
And as they thus offend against the whole State,1 so against particular and priuate persons; and that both strangers, and ordinarie acquaintance, and those also of their owne familie. Against strangers: for the drunkard in his cups is proud, insolent, disdainfull, furious, apt to offer all manner of iniuries and outrages; he is readie to quarrel with euery one he meeteth, to defloure maides and defile wiues, as afterwards shall appeare. He is a corrupter of all that keepe him companie, by his example alluring them to the like excesse and riot; for this priuiledge he hath aboue many other sinners, that he seldome goeth to hell alone, for euen when hee is vnable to stand, he pulleth downe others with him into the pit of destruction.
- 1§. Sect. 2. How the drunkard sinneth against strangers.§. Sect. 2. How the drunkard sinneth against strāgers.
But as the drunkard is many ways injurious to his neighbours,1 so especially by backbiting, slandering, and revealing of all secrets. For as drinking looseneth the sinews, so also it setteth the tongue at liberty, so that it blurteth out all the hidden secrets of the heart. If he have long smothered deep conceived malice against any man, then he discovereth it in his drunkenness, by his disgraceful and opprobrious speeches; if he have any secret committed unto him, though it importeth the State, yea the life of his neighbour, he is then ready to publish it. According to that of the Poet: Arcanum demens detegit ebrietas.