A20760:226
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.
But as drunkenness is the cause of much idle and vain talking,1 so also of much lewd and wicked talking: for as the drunkards heart is inflamed with wine, so is his tongue set on fire by hell, flaming out as it were the stinking sulphur of wicked and ungracious speeches. If he be wantonly disposed, then he uttereth nothing but ribaldry and obscene filthiness, which will make chaste ears to glow as much with heat, as his face with wine: for when by much drinking the heart is inflamed with lust, it can no more be hid then fire in the bosom, but smoketh out in ribald speeches and filthy communication. But if choler have the predominance in this drunken subject, then doth it show it self in raging, railing, and reviling speeches, so as there is no mans credit which they are not ready to impeach; no sex, state or condition whom they do not load with their opprobries; no sanctuary so safe which can privilege a mans name from the violent fury of their slanderous tongues. Yea, and as though it were not impiety enough to be at defiance with the whole earth, they do make war also against heaven, and belch out blasphemies against their Creator, swearing and forswearing themselves upon every vain occasion, and renting piecemeal the sacred person of our Saviour, as though this were the fittest means to show their furious choler against men, by despiting God himself.
But as drunkennesse is the cause of much idle and vaine talking,1 so also of much leaud and wicked talking: for as the drunkards heart is inflamed with wine, so is his tongue set on fire by hell, flaming out as it were the stinking sulphure of wicked and vngratious speeches. If he be wantonly disposed, then he vttereth nothing but ribauldrie and obscene filthinesse, which will make chast eares to glow as much with heate, as his face with wine: for when by much drinking the heart is inflamed with lust, it can no more be hid then fire in the bosome, but smoketh out in ribauld speeches and filthie communication. But if choller haue the predominance in this drunken subiect, then doth it shew it selfe in raging, railing, and reuiling speeches, so as there is no mans credit which they are not readie to impeach; no sex, state or condition whom they doe not loade with their opprobries; no sanctuarie so safe which can priuiledge a mans name from the violent furie of their slanderous tongues. Yea, and as though it were not impietie enough to be at defiance with the whole earth, they doe make warre also against heauen, and belch out blasphemies against their Creator, swearing and forswearing themselues vpon euery vaine occasion, and renting peecemeale the sacred person of our Sauiour, as though this were the fittest meanes to shew their furious choller against men, by despiting God himselfe.