A20760:243
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.
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; ⟨p. 113⟩like filthy swine feeding greedily on such things as please the appetite, never considering that they do but fat themselves for the shambles and slaughter.
Now these causes are principally three:1 first, because those who are addicted to this vice are so infatuated and besotted, that they neuer enter into any consideration of their estate; but as they are senselesse in feeling present miseries, so they are securely carelesse in foreseeing or auoiding future euils; ⟨p. 113⟩like filthie swine feeding greedily on such things as please the appetite, neuer considering that they doe but fat themselues for the shambles and slaughter.
- 1§. Sect. 3. 1. Sottishness the cause of drunkenness.§. Sect. 3. 1. Sottishnes the cause of drunkennes.
Secondly, because such is their infidelity,1 that though they hear these things, yet they believe them not, and being convicted, they are not persuaded: otherwise it is impossible that reasonable creatures should be subject to such brutish folly, as to nourish a needless and fruitless vice, which is accompanied with so innumerable mischiefs. If but a common friend do warn us not to drink in such a cup, because it is mixed with deadly poison; though the cup were of gold, and the drink most delicious, yet who would taste it? If a faithful Physician should forbid us to feed on such or such a dish, assuring us upon his approved knowledge and certain experience, that if we eat of it we shall either lose our wits, or fall into grievous diseases, or endanger life it self; what man is so sensual in his appetite, that would be persuaded for company sake, or to please his pallet, to feed upon it? But the Lord who is a friend of friends, and a Physician of skill and faithfulness without compare, hath forewarned us to avoid excessive drinking, because it will bring upon us innumerable evils, both in our bodies and souls, temporal and spiritual, in this life and the life to come; and hath plainly told us, that howsoever these are sweet potions in the going down, yet we shall find them to be deadly poisons in operation; and notwithstanding all this, few are reclaimed from this vice, and that because howsoever they give him the hearing, yet in truth they believe him not.