A20760:345
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.
for either the hideous noise of his tumultuous lusts do make him deaf to all admonition, or these poisonous cups of filthy pleasure do intoxicate his mind that he understandeth not what he heareth, or finally the force of lust so violently transporteth his affections, and the harlots chains of alluring enticements do so surely enthral him, that if he heareth and understandeth profitable admonitions and instructions, yet he regardeth them not, but cannot, or will not, or therefore cannot because he will not, leave his sin, to which as a voluntary slave he is subjected.
for either the hidious noyse of his tumultuous lusts do make him deafe to all admonition, or these poysonous cups of filthie pleasure doe intoxicate his minde that hee vnderstandeth not what hee heareth, or finally the force of lust so violently transporteth his affections, and the harlots chaines of alluring inticements do so surely inthrall him, that if he heareth and vnderstandeth profitable admonitions and instructions, yet he regardeth them not, but cannot, or will not, or therfore cannot because he will not, leaue his sinne, to which as a voluntarie slaue he is subiected.
A second cause of their impenitency is,1 because their sin is committed in secret, having no other witness of their fact but God, their own conscience, and Satan who hath drawn them to this sin. For as Job saith; The eye of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, and saith, none eye shall see me, and disguiseth his face: Job. 24.15: and having committed wickedness, he wipeth his mouth and saith, I have not committed iniquity: as it is, Prou. 30.20. Whereof it cometh to pass,2 that they securely go forward in their sin, because they want the ordinary means which should bring them to amendment; for when as men know not their wickedness, they cannot admonish or reprove them for it, nor cure the wounds