A20760:281
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.
Neither do the Papists in our own times come far behind them; for as they are chief patrons and maintainers of the grossest kinds of spiritual whoredom and idolatry, so are they special favourers and upholders of corporal fornication, excusing it as venial in their doctrine, and approving it as lawful in their practise, in that they maintain the common stews amongst them, and do not punish those at all who do frequent them. Yea and not only their grossest Divines, but their refined schoolmen; yea even their holy Thomas herein showeth himself profane and unsound:1 for howsoever in some places he condemneth fornication as a mortal sin, yet elsewhere he saith, that, Fornicatio non est multum aggerenda, propter maius malum vitandum: Fornication must not be much aggravated, for the avoiding of a greater evil. And their caution which in latter times is given ⟨p. 134⟩to their holy shavelings: Si non casté, tamen cautè: If ye cannot live chastely, yet commit your whoredom warily, is so stale and common, that it stinketh and annoyeth all Christendom.
Neither doe the Papists in our owne times come farre behinde them; for as they are chiefe patrons and maintainers of the grossest kinds of spirituall whoredome and idolatrie, so are they speciall fauourers and vpholders of corporall fornication, excusing it as veniall in their doctrine, and approuing it as lawfull in their practise, in that they maintaine the common stewes amongst them, and doe not punish those at all who doe frequent them. Yea and not only their grossest Diuines, but their refined schoolemen; yea euen their holie Thomas herein sheweth himselfe prophane and vnsound:1 for howsoeuer in some places hee condemneth fornication as a mortall sinne, yet elsewhere hee saith, that, Fornicatio non est multum aggerenda, propter maius malum vitandum: Fornication must not bee much aggrauated, for the auoiding of a greater euill. And their caution which in latter times is giuen ⟨p. 134⟩to their holy shauelings: Si non casté, tamen cautè: If ye cannot liue chastly, yet commit your whoredome warily, is so stale and common, that it stinketh and annoieth all Christendome.