A20760:278
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 howsoever this sin of uncleanness is a monster which hath many heads, and an evil tree which spreadeth forth it self into many particular branches of wickedness, yet my purpose is but to speak of two of the chief, which are the universal poisons of the laud, and most common corruptions of the times, the sin of fornication, which is committed between single persons, and the sin of adultery, between married folks, at least on the one party.
Now howsoeuer this sinne of vncleannesse is a monster which hath many heads, and an euill tree which spreadeth foorth it selfe into many particular branches of wickednesse, yet my purpose is but to speake of two of the chiefe, which are the vniuersall poisons of the laud, and most common corruptions of the times, the sinne of fornication, which is committed betweene single persons, and the sinne of adulterie, betweene maried folkes, at least on the one partie.
Concerning the former:1 Fornication is that act of uncleanness which is committed between a single man with a single woman. Where I do not take fornication in his strict and proper signification, in which it signifieth only whoredom, or that uncleanness which is committed with a strumpet or common harlot; but in this discourse I understand it largely and generally for all kind of filthiness which is committed between single or unmarried persons; whether it be the deflowering of virgins which is called stuprum, or the ordinary abuse of the same concubine, which is termed concubinatus, or the defiling of the body with a harlot, either maid ⟨p. 133⟩or widow, which being once or seldom acted, is called fornication; or being commonly practised, is called scortation, or whore-hunting.
Concerning the former:1 Fornication is that act of vncleannes which is committed betweene a single man with a single woman. Where I doe not take fornication in his strict and proper signification, in which it signifieth only whoredome, or that vncleannes which is committed with a strumpet or common harlot; but in this discourse I vnderstand it largely and generally for all kind of filthinesse which is committed betweene single or vnmaried persons; whether it bee the deflouring of virgins which is called stuprum, or the ordinarie abuse of the same concubine, which is termed concubinatus, or the defiling of the bodie with a harlot, either maid