A20760:242
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.
So that a man might well wonder not only that any Christian,1 but that a mere worldling should be allured to continue in this vice, there being no respect of worldly good to entice him. But the cause hereof is, that either men against reason and nature are drawn into this vice, through the unresistable violence of bad company, or through their own wanton voluptuousness, which maketh them slaves to their filthy lusts; and then howsoever there was no reason why they should wilfully subject themselves to this bondage, when they were at liberty, yet when they are once enthralled, there are causes enow to keep them in subjection: neither is it a hard matter to keep him in safe custody, who is already bound in strong chains.
So that a man might well wonder not only that any Christian,1 but that a meere worldling should be allured to continue in this vice, there being no respect of worldly good to intice him. But the cause hereof is, that either men against reason and nature are drawne into this vice, through the vnresistable violence of bad companie, or through their owne wanton voluptuousnes, which maketh them slaues to their filthie lusts; and then howsoeuer there was no reason why they should wilfully subiect themselues to this bondage, when they were at libertie, yet when they are once inthralled, there are causes enow to keepe them in subiection: neither is it a hard matter to keepe him in safe custodie, who is alreadie bound in strong chaines.
- 1§. Sect. 2. The causes why men continue in this beastly vice.
Now these causes are principally three:1 first, because those who are addicted to this vice are so infatuated and besotted, that they never enter into any consideration of their estate; but as they are senseless in feeling present miseries, so they are securely careless in foreseeing or avoiding future evils;