A20760:313
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 thus the fornicator sinneth against his own body diversly: first, by dishonouring of it, for he maketh it being the member of Christ, to become the member of an harlot, and turneth the honourable Temple of the holy Ghost,1 into a filthy brothel and unclean stews. Secondly, by defiling of it;2 for as all other sins do pollute a man, so especially the sin of whoredom, for it defileth not only the person who committeth it, but he being defiled like a filthy leper, infecteth the air with his breath, and polluteth the whole land where he dwelleth, as appeareth, Levit. 18.25.27. And hence it is, that howsoever all other sins defile and pollute us, yet these sins of fornication and whoredom are by a certain kind of eminency called the sins of uncleanness and filthiness, because they defile in a peculiar ⟨p. 151⟩and extraordinary manner; and are also particularly opposed to sanctification and holiness, as being the sins whereby they are most stained and destroyed. So 1. Thes. 4.3.3 This is the will of God, even your sanctification, and that ye should abstain from fornication. 4. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in holiness and honour, 5. and not in the lust of concupiscence. Where the Apostle showeth, that sanctification and fornication; holiness and honour, and the lusts of concupiscence, cannot possibly dwell together, as being contraries without mean, and enemies which are utterly unreconciliable. Thirdly it disableth and weakeneth the body, turning health into sickness, and many loathsome and pernicious diseases, and strength into impotency and languishing faintness; for the flame of lust devoureth and spendeth the vital moisture, and the unnatural fire of burning concupiscence, consumeth and extinguisheth the natural heat, which is the nurse of strength, and fountain of life. So the wise man who was most besotted with this folly, saith, that he who is addicted to this sin of uncleanness giveth his strength unto women,