A20760:233
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 to come to the purpose, the punishments which are ⟨p. 108⟩inflicted for the sin of drunkenness,1 are many, and grievous, and that both in this life, and also the life to come; in this life it subjecteth a man to bear the intolerable weight of Gods wrath and fearful vengeance, and maketh him liable to Gods curse,2 and heavy woe denounced, Esa. 5.11. Woe unto them that rise up early to follow drunkenness, &c. More especially the Lord punisheth the drunkard,3 both in his nature, state, and person. His name is branded with infamy and reproach, and his glory is turned into shame, for the Lord layeth open his filthiness, and discovereth his ugly nakedness, to be scorned and derided, not only of enemies and strangers, but also of his familiar acquaintance, of his own servants, yea sometimes of the children of his own body, and of his wife who lieth in his bosom. So when Noah fell into this sin he discovered his nakedness, and was derided by his own son: the which as it was a fearful sin in Ham against his father, and in Noah against himself, so was it a just judgement of God upon his drunkenness. Thus Abigail, 4though at other times a good and dutiful wife, yet because in the time of his drunkenness her husband gave a foolish and churlish answer unto Davids messengers, she falleth to descant upon his name, Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; as though she should have said, his name and nature are well fitted in an evil suitableness; for a fool he is called, and a fool he showeth himself in all actions. And yet this was spoken by a good wife, when her purpose was to make for him the best apology she could to mitigate his offence; what therefore would a bad wife have spoken in the like case, desiring to unburden her spleen, and to aggravate his fault? If folly were the best ornament to cover his faults; what could be expected to be under this cover but beastly filthiness and ugly wickedness? This heavy judgement the Lord denounced against the drunkards of Judah,