A20760:387
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.
Secondly, let us consider,1 that when we have hid our selves in the most secret corners from the eyes of men, even then the Lord beholdeth us; for he is present every where, and beholdeth not only our most secret actions, but also our most concealed thoughts and cogitations; and therefore let us be ashamed not only of this impiety, but also folly, to commit these works of darkness in the presence of God, which we would shame to do if a child beheld us. For what would it avail us to hide our wickedness from the eyes of mortal men, who are malefactors like unto our selves, when as God who is to be our Judge, our own consciences which must be produced as witnesses against us, and Satan our accuser, are privy to it? What will it benefit us, if by our secrecy we escape worldly shame and disgrace, when as hereafter our filthiness shall be discovered to our eternal reproach, and the utter confusion of our faces in the presence of God, his ⟨p. 194⟩Saints, and blessed Angels? what will it profit us to be acquitted at the bar of the earthly Judge, and to be delivered from temporary punishments which might bring us to repentance; if for our secret wickedness, we must one day be arraigned before the supreme Judge of heaven and earth, and be condemned and adjudged to suffer the eternal torments of hell fire?
Secondly, let vs consider,1 that when we haue hid our selues in the most secret corners from the eies of men, euen then the Lord beholdeth vs; for he is present euerie where, and beholdeth not onely our most secret actions, but also our most concealed thoughts and cogitations; and therefore let vs be ashamed not onely of this impietie, but also follie, to commit these workes of darkenesse in the presence of God, which we would shame to doe if a child beheld vs. For what would it auaile vs to hide our wickednesse from the eies of mortall men, who are malefactors like vnto our selues, when as God who is to be our Iudge, our owne consciences which must be produced as witnesses against vs, and Satan our accuser, are priuie to it? What will it benefit vs, if by our secrecie wee escape worldly shame and disgrace, when as hereafter our filthinesse shall be discouered to our eternall reproch, and the vtter confussion of our faces in the presence of God, his ⟨p. 194⟩