A20760:245
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.
Lastly,1 they continue in this vice because they have some fig-leaves of vain excuses, whereby they endeavour to hide the ugly filthiness of their sin; partly defending it as being tolerable, and partly extenuating and excusing it, as being light and venial.2 First they think themselves sufficiently cleared from the sin of drunkenness, and acquitted of the punishment, because howsoever they drink abundantly, yet such is the strength of their brain, that they are able to bear it without any great distemperature, and retain still the use of their reason, memory, and all their other ⟨p. 114⟩faculties as at other times. But such are to know, that not only drinking unto drunkenness, is condemned by Gods word; but also excessive and immoderate drinking, when as men sit much at the wine, and take their chief delight in tippling, yea it is a sin more heinous before God, then moderate drunkenness, when as men drinking sparingly, are yet overtaken at unawares, through the weakness and infirmity of their brain; for they sin sometimes unadvisedly, and in some sort against their will, but the other continue in their vice upon a deliberate purpose, voluntarily and wilfully; they through weakness of nature, these for want of grace. And therefore the Lord rangeth them with common drunkards,3 and denounceth against them the like fearful woe. Esa. 5.22. Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and to them that are strange to pour in strong drink. So the Apostle Peter reckoning up the lusts of the Gentiles, numbereth amongst them, not only drunkenness, but also excessive drinkings, 41 Pet. 4.3. And those Princes are condemned, who drink not for thirst,5 or for strength & nourishment, but for drinks sake; that is, because they take pleasure and delight in immoderate drinking.