A20760:355
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. XIIII. The objection of fornicators answered, who excuse their sin under the pretence of marriage.
CHAP. XIIII. The obiection of fornicatours answered, who excuse their sinne vnder the pretence of marriage.
And thus have I showed the manifold and grievous punishments, which the Lord inflicteth upon whoremongers and unclean persons, both in this life and the life to come. Now in the last place it remaineth that I answer briefly an objection or excuse, which is commonly made by fornicators of the better sort, whereby they think themselves acquitted from the guilt of sin, and privileged from all danger of punishment; namely, that they are purposed before they commit this folly, to marry the party whom they have defiled, and so to make amends for the fault committed. To which I answer, that howsoever this is the best course which they can take after they have fallen into this sin, if it be joined with serious and sound repentance; yet it is no argument to encourage any to commit this wickedness under this colour and pretence. For howsoever they be resolved to marry the party, yet in the mean while they grievously sin against God, themselves, the party defiled, and the fruit of their own body. They sin against God not only by committing fornication, but also by making whoredom their passage and entrance into his holy ordinance of marriage, and so having offered their first fruits and the prime of their strength unto Satan, and their own filthy lusts, they reserve for God the remainder, and as it were their leavings. ⟨p. 178⟩They abuse themselves by imagining that they can by marriage satisfy for their sin, and so securely pass it over without repentance; whereas in truth there is no other means to wash their defiled bodies and souls from the pollution of their sin, but the precious blood of the immaculate Lamb Jesus Christ. They deprive themselves of all assurance and comfort of Gods blessing upon their marriage into which they make such a wicked entrance; for how can they hope for a good proceeding, where the beginning is so wicked and unlawful? how can they expect that God will build that house whose very foundation is laid in sin? that he will make them a happy couple who were first joined in fornication? or cause her to become a virtuous wife unto him, who hath already abused her as his strumpet? Again, what greater injury can he offer unto her whom he pretendeth chiefly to love, seeing he exposeth her to the danger of perpetual infamy and reproach?