A20760:261
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.
Let us also consider, that our bodies are the temples of the holy Ghost, the which we shall exceedingly dishonour, if by drinking and swilling we make them to become like unto wine-vessels. But if Gods manifold blessings, and great privileges which he hath vouchsafed unto us, will not move us, yet there are other arguments which may constrain us. As first, if we do consider that the Lord beholdeth us, when as in a brutish manner we lie wallowing in this sin; that he is a just Judge, who will not let such gross vices go unpunished, that his fierce wrath is kindled with this sin, and that it will blaze out in his fearful judgements, unless we prevent it by speedy repentance. Lastly, let us always have in mind the last and terrible day of judgement, when we shall be called to a reckoning, not only for the shameful abuse of Gods creatures, but also for all those vain and lewd words and those wicked and profane actions, which we have committed in the time of drunkenness.
Let vs also consider, that our bodies are the temples of the holie Ghost, the which we shall exceedingly dishonour, if by drinking and swilling we make them to become like vnto wine-vessels. But if Gods manifold blessings, and great priuiledges which he hath vouchsafed vnto vs, will not mooue vs, yet there are other arguments which may constraine vs. As first, if we doe consider that the Lord beholdeth vs, when as in a brutish manner wee lie wallowing in this sinne; that hee is a iust Iudge, who will not let such grosse vices goe vnpunished, that his fierce wrath is kindled with this sinne, and that it will blaze out in his fearefull iudgements, vnlesse wee preuent it by speedie repentance. Lastly, let vs alwaies haue in minde the last and terrible day of iudgement, when we shall be called to a reckoning, not onely for the shamefull abuse of Gods creatures, but also for al those vaine and leaud words and those wicked and prophane actions, which we haue committed in the time of drunkennesse.
More especially that we may be brought into a true hatred and detestation of this sin,1 let us set before us in a general view the heinousness thereof, and the manifold evils and mischiefs which do accompany it, of which I have already spoken; as that it is a vice condemned by God and men, Christians and Infidels; that thereby we grievously offend God, by making our bellies our god, by unfitting and disabling our selves for his service, by abusing his good creatures, which with a plentiful hand he hath bestowed upon us, the necessary use whereof, many better then we want; that thereby we sin in a high degree against our neighbours, generally, and particularly, against the whole Church and common-wealth, strangers, and familiar acquaintance, and most of all against their own family; that we hereby most