A20760:272
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.
And this cometh to pass,1 not only because we being in our own natures too too corrupt, have this corruption much increased by the example of foreign countries, into which our youth travelling, learn their vices sooner then their language, and leaving the fragrant flowers of their virtues untouched, do beetle-like suck in the dung of their corruptions; but also because the minds of our people continue still somewhat soured with the leaven of the popish doctrine and practise, which pass over these sins of uncleanness as being slips of youth, and but venial faults of slight regard, which may be cleansed and done away by auricular confession, and the undergoing of some small penance at the priests appointment, who is oftentimes more faulty and filthy then themselves. And to these we may add the too great mildness of our laws, which impose over light punishments upon these heinous sins; as the standing in a white sheet, or at most a few stripes with a whip, which notwithstanding is oftentimes not inflicted, partly through ⟨p. 131⟩the carelessness or connivency of Magistrates, and partly through the negligence or corruption of under officers; or else at least is turned from a personal punishment, which should be for the example of others, into a penal or purse mulct, which for the most part is converted to their own use who do impose it.
And this commeth to passe,1 not onely because wee being in our owne natures too too corrupt, haue this corruption much increased by the example of forraine countries, into which our youth trauelling, learne their vices sooner then their language, and leauing the fragrant flowers of their vertues vntouched, doe beetle-like sucke in the dung of their corruptions; but also because the minds of our people continue still somewhat sowred with the leauen of the popish doctrine and practise, which passe ouer these sinnes of vncleannes as being slips of youth, and but veniall faults of slight regard, which may be clensed and done away by auricular confession, and the vndergoing of some small penance at the priests appointment, who is oftentimes more faulty and filthie then themselues. And to these we may adde the too great mildnes of our lawes, which impose ouer light punishments vpon these hainous sinnes; as the standing in a white sheete, or at most a few stripes with a whip, which notwithstanding is oftentimes not inflicted, partly through