A20760:253
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.
CHAP. IX. The greatness of their sin who purposely make others drunk.
CHAP. IX. The greatnes of their sinne who purposely make others drunke.
And thus have I not only showed the heinousness of this sin of drunkenness,1 but also have pulled away from it such coverings of excuses, under which men labour to hide it, and so have laid open the filthy nakedness of this vice to the public view, that those who are not addicted thereunto ⟨p. 120⟩may the more detest it, and that those who have been overtaken with it, may be moved seriously to repent for that which is past, and for the time to come constantly resolve to leave and forsake it, as being to God odious, hurtful and injurious to their neighbours, and to their own bodies and souls most pernicious. Now for conclusion of this treatise we are briefly to show, that as it is a great sin to live in this vice ones self, so it is no less grievous in the sight of God to be guilty of another's drunkenness. In which respect many in our days fearfully offend,2 and that in a divers manner; for some take delight to see others drunken, and make a sport and may-game of their neighbours sin; as though it were fit matter to move laughter, to see God dishonoured, his name blasphemed, his creatures abused; and to behold our neighbours nakedness, and as it were from a man transformed into a beast; yea in truth in a far worse condition, both in respect of his present state, and future danger, in that he taketh a ready course to run headlong into hell. It would be accounted barbarous inhumanity, for a man to laugh and delight himself when he beholdeth another running upon his swords point, or casting himself down from a high rock, or fallen into the fire; what therefore is it but horrible impiety to solace a mans self in another's sin, whereby he is laid open to Gods fearful judgements, and endangered to suffer eternal torments in the fire of hell?