A20760:209
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,1 where as man by creation is the most excellent of all the creatures, being created according to Gods own image, by this vice he maketh himself equal with the beasts, for he is deprived thereby, not only of piety, but of humanity, even of his understanding and reason, wherein he differeth from a beast far more then in his outward shape; yea in truth in divers respects he maketh himself inferior to the brutish creatures, for he much more degenerateth from the excellency of his creation; he depriveth himself, not only of the use of his reason, but also of his senses, not of his understanding alone, but of his standing and motion also; for when he standeth, he is ready to fall, and when he moveth, he reeleth and staggereth. Lastly, he is far more intemperate then almost any beast; for when they have eaten sufficient, they will eat no more, and when they have drunk to quench their thirst, and to satisfy nature, they cannot be forced by any violence to drink again; whereas these tipplers drink double and treble more then they need, and not only satisfy nature, but also glut and oppress it with superfluity.
Fourthly,1 where as man by creation is the most excellent of all the creatures, being created according to Gods owne image, by this vice hee maketh himselfe equall with the beasts, for he is depriued thereby, not onely of pietie, but of humanitie, euen of his vnderstanding and reason, wherein hee differeth from a beast farre more then in his outward shape; yea in truth in diuers respects he maketh himselfe inferiour to the brutish creatures, for he much more degenerateth from the excellencie of his creation; hee depriueth himselfe, not onely of the vse of his reason, but also of his senses, not of his vnderstanding alone, but of his standing and motion also; for when he standeth, he is readie to fall, and when he mooueth, he reeleth and staggereth. Lastly, he is farre more intemperate then almost any beast; for when they haue eaten sufficient, they will eate no more, and when they haue drunke to quench their thirst, and to satisfie nature, they cannot bee forced by any violence to drinke againe; whereas these tiplers drinke double and treble more then they neede, and not onely satisfie nature, but also glut and oppresse it with superfluitie.
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