A20760:34
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.
Lastly,1 the use of a lawful oath is not only warranted, but also commended unto us by manifold examples in the Scriptures. As first, the Saints and holy men of God, for the confirmation of necessary and undemonstrable truths, and to put an end to controversies and dissensions, have used to swear one to another: As Abraham and Isaac to Abimilech, Jacob to Laban, Joseph to Jacob, David to Jonathan, Elijah to Obadiah, and many other. And lest it should be objected, that howsoever they were holy Saints of God, yet they were men, and might therefore err; we are further to know, that the holy men of God as they were the penmen of holy Scripture, immediately inspired by the holy Ghost, and consequently exempted from all error and sin, did in the penning of the Scriptures confirm the truth of God by a lawful and pious oath. Examples hereof are manifold: Rom. 1.9. God is my witness, 2whom I serve in my spirit. And 9.1. I say the truth in Christ, I lie not my conscience bearing me witness in the holy Ghost. The like paces we have, 1. Cor. 15.31.2. Cor. 1.23. and 11.31. and 12.19. Gal. 1.10. Phil. 1.8.1. Thes. 2.5.10.2. Thes. 2.1.
Lastly,1 the vse of a lawfull oath is not only warranted, but also commended vnto vs by manifold examples in the Scriptures. As first, the Saints and holie men of God, for the confirmation of necessarie and vndemonstrable truths, and to put an end to controuersies and dissensions, haue vsed to sweare one to another: As Abraham and Isaac to Abimilech, Iacob to Laban, Ioseph to Iacob, Dauid to Ionathan, Elias to Obadiah, and many other. And lest it should bee obiected, that howsoeuer they were holy Saints of God, yet they were men, and might therefore erre; we are further to know, that the holie men of God as they were the penmen of holie Scripture, immediatly inspired by the holie Ghost, and consequently exempted from all error and sinne, did in the penning of the Scriptures confirme the truth of God by a lawfull and pious oath. Examples hereof are manifold: