A20760:338
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 slavery unto their own lusts yieldeth them over as vassals and bondslaves unto another as base a bondage,1 even the miserable thraldom of their filthy harlots, who whilst unclean affections and passions bear any sway in their devoted vassals, hold them after a tyrannical manner under the most slavish and base subjection. Her face is to her filthy lover his chief heaven; her smiles the sun-shine of all his comfort; her frowns like black clouds threatening a storm, and the storm shipwreck; her fair speeches like the ⟨p. 165⟩Sirens songs ravish him with bewitching delight; her threats like dreadful thunderclaps, or piercing darts which wound even to the very heart. Her command is his chief law, her displeasure his most intolerable punishment. If she calleth he must come; if she sendeth, her very command addeth wings to his haste; if she biddeth depart, he dare not abide in her company, though a short absence seemeth unto him a tedious banishment; if she biddeth stay, he remaineth under her arrest, and hath no liberty to depart. If she want, his purse must be at her commandment; if she malign, his person must be exposed to all dangers in revenge of her quarrel. That I may say nothing of his continual hopes, fears, despair, grief, jealousies, quarrels, truces, wherewith he is no otherwise tormented, then if he were daily upon a torturing rack, saving that himself chooseth his tormentor, and voluntarily endureth this hellish punishment. In which respect this sin of uncleanness is by one compared to an infernal fire, 2whose matter or nourishment is gluttony and drunkenness, the flame burning lust, the sparkles corrupt speeches and filthy communication, the smoke infamy and disgrace, the ashes unclean filthiness, and the end hell torments.
And this slauerie vnto their owne lusts yeeldeth them ouer as vassals and bondslaues vnto another as base a bondage,1 euen the miserable thraldome of their filthie harlots, who whilest vncleane affections and passions beare any sway in their deuoted vassals, hold them after a tyrannicall manner vnder the most slauish and base subiection. Her face is to her filthie louer his chiefe heauen; her smiles the sun-shine of all his comfort; her frownes like blacke clouds threatning a storme, and the storme shipwrack; her faire speeches like the