A20760:282
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 is that cup of carnal fornications,1 wherewith the great whore of Babylon allureth the Kings and inhabitants of the earth to drink also of the cup of her spiritual whoredom, and as it were the great drag-net, whereby she catcheth and captiveth more in her idolatries and superstitions, then by almost any other means whatsoever. For every carnal man is ready and willing to embrace that religion which favoureth his sin, and tolerateth his wickedness, suffering him quietly to rest in it without trouble of mind or perplexity of conscience. And therefore when graceless men being given over to their unclean lusts, do resolve to live in their filthy whoredoms; and whilst they profess our religion cannot so do, with any peace of conscience or quiet of mind, because we teach according to Gods truth, that this sin of whoredom is heinous in Gods sight, that he who liveth in sin is the servant of sin and child of death; that only he who leaveth and forsaketh his sin findeth mercy; and that there can be no true repentance, and consequently no pardon but where there is an unfeigned hatred of sin, a subduing and mortifying of the corruption, and a rising again to newness of life: hence it is that they give over the profession of our religion, as giving unto them no comfort whilst they continue in their wickedness; and being resolved to run on in their course of uncleanness, they adjoin themselves to the Church of Rome, where this sin of whoredom findeth favour and countenance both by their doctrine and practise; and themselves some security and comfort even whilst they live in their wickedness. For there no more is required of them in their repentance, but that they confess their filthiness to a more filthy priest, and show for the present some contrition whilst they are in the habit of penitents, and make some slight satisfaction at their ghostly fathers appointment, whom self-guiltiness will not suffer to be over severe towards others; as either to fast from flesh certain ⟨p. 135⟩days, or to go on pilgrimage to the shrine of some Saint, or to whip their bodies so much as their devotion moveth them: or if they will take a more compendious course, they may buy some indulgence or pardon from their holy father the Pope, whereby they may have plenary remission of all their sins;
And this is that cup of carnall fornications,1