A20760:217
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 temporal evils which the drunkard bringeth upon himself,1 which though they be manifold and grievous, yet are they not to be compared with those spiritual evils, into which through a wilful necessity he is plunged, even whilst he continueth in this life. For first by this sin he excludeth himself out of the number of those children who are borne unto God by regeneration and new birth, and is separated from Jesus Christ, so as he hath no communion with him nor part in his benefits; for those who are regenerate are begotten unto God by his spirit dwelling in them, and where the spirit of God dwelleth, there it showeth it self, both by mortifying the old man, and subduing the lusts of the flesh, and by quickening the new man, and bringing forth the fruits of the spirit. Now gluttony and drunkenness are the works of the old man, and special fruits of the flesh,2 as appeareth, Gal. 5.21. from the which Gods spirit doth purge and cleanse us, as soon as he maketh ⟨p. 99⟩choice of our bodies to be his temples, and contrariwise doth adorn us with sobriety and temperance, as it is vers. 23. so that they who live in drunkenness, are dead in their sins, they live not to God as being his children, seeing they are destitute of his spirit; but they live to Satan,3 the world, and the lusts of their own flesh, and remain their vassals unto whom they do faithful service.4
And these are the temporall euils which the drunkard bringeth vpon himselfe,1 which though they be manifold and grieuous, yet are they not to be compared with those spirituall euils, into which through a wilfull necessitie hee is plunged, euen whilest hee continueth in this life. For first by this sinne he excludeth himselfe out of the number of those children who are borne vnto God by regeneration and new birth, and is separated from Iesus Christ, so as he hath no communion with him nor part in his benefits; for those who are regenerate are begotten vnto God by his spirit dwelling in them, and where the spirit of God dwelleth, there it sheweth it selfe, both by mortifying the old man, and subduing the lusts of the flesh, and by quickening the new man, and bringing forth the fruites of the spirit. Now gluttonie and drunkennesse are the workes of the old man, and speciall fruites of the flesh,