A20760:386
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.
Now these means which may be used for this purpose are manifold;1 first, we must labour to purge and purify our hearts from unclean lusts, as being the very fountains of all filthiness and pollution; and to withstand to the uttermost of our power the first motions and inclinations which draw us unto this sin. For as Christians ought to be so far off from committing these works of darkness, that they should ⟨p. 193⟩not so much as take their names into their mouths, as the Apostle telleth us; so also they should not give them the least entertainment into their hearts; but as soon as the tentation or motion unto uncleanness is cast into their mind, they are at the first to reject it as abominable, and not to revolve it in their thoughts, nor to fight with these unclean lusts, as it were at handy-blows, but rather by skilful shunning and avoiding of them. For if we suffer them to rest any while in our hearts, they will be able to make a strong party of our own corruptions, and the longer they are retained, the more hardly they will be repelled. To this purpose Ambrose speaketh: Quum alijs vitijs potest exspectari conflictus, 2hanc fugite, quia non potest aliter melius vinci: Whereas (saith he) in some other vices we may abide a conflict, we are to fly from these sins of uncleanness, as being the best means to get the victory over them. In this conflict therefore the Christian must imitate the Parthians fight, who never fought better then when they did make the speediest flight, neither must he endure the approach of these enemies, and much less entertain any disputation with them, for they who enter into a parley, are not far from yielding, if they like the conditions of the truce.
Now these meanes which may bee vsed for this purpose are manifold;1 first, wee must labour to purge and purifie our hearts from vncleane lusts, as being the verie fountaines of all filthinesse and pollution; and to withstand to the vttermost of our power the first motions and inclinations which draw vs vnto this sinne. For as Christians ought to bee so farre off from committing these works of darkenes, that they should ⟨p. 193⟩