A20760:287
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.
CHAP. IIII. That the fornicator sinneth many ways: and first in respect of God.
CHAP. IIII. That the fornicatour sinneth many waies: and first in respect of God.
The fourth reason to restrain all men from the sins of fornication and uncleanness,1 is because they are heinously evil, there being no respect or relation of evil to be named, which is not coincident and inseparably joined with these vices. For whereas all kind of evil may be reduced to two heads, as being either the evil of sin, or the evil of punishment; this sin of fornication compriseth them both, like an evil, yet fruitful tree, bearing both the summer fruit of sin, and the autumn and after fruit of punishment. First, that it is out of measure sinful, it may hereby appear, in that ⟨p. 139⟩it is not only in it self a grievous sin, but also like a wicked mother only fruitful in wicked and monstrous births, it bringeth forth many other kinds of wickedness, which resemble the parent in their malignant nature and quality, so as they may be easily known to be of her offspring and progeny. The grievousness of this sin being simply considered in it self is hereby manifest, in that whereas there is but a threefold relation of sin, either as it is committed against God, our neighbour or our selves, this sin alone comprehendeth them all, and that in many and almost innumerable respects.
THe fourth reason to restraine all men from the sinnes of fornication and vncleannes,1 is because they are hainously euill, there being no respect or relation of euill to bee named, which is not coincident and inseparably ioyned with these vices. For whereas all kinde of euill may be reduced to two heads, as being either the euill of sinne, or the euill of punishment; this sinne of fornication compriseth them both, like an euill, yet fruitfull tree, bearing both the sommer fruite of sinne, and the autumne and after fruite of punishment. First, that it is out of measure sinfull, it may hereby appeare, in that