A20760:389
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.
The fourth means to preserve chastity,1 and to keep us from the pollution of unclean lusts, is temperance and sobriety in our meats and drinks: unto which is required, first, in respect of the quantity, that we eat and drink sparingly, to satisfy, and not to glut nature; yea, and if this be not sufficient, that we sometimes use total abstinence for the keeping under and subduing of these fleshly lusts: and secondly in respect of the quality, that we do not use pampering meats, and inflaming drinks (like the Papists in the time of their fast) which are the bellows wherewith the fire of lust is kindled and inflamed.2 For as temperance is the most faithful keeper of chastity; so intemperance in eating and drinking is the usual harbinger of lust, the nurse of uncleanness, and the oil and wood wherewith these flames of filthiness are kindled in the heart. And hence it is that the Prophet Jeremiah compareth whoremongers to pampered horses, who when they were well fed and filled, neighed after their neighbours wives: Jer. 5.8.3 And therefore as his madness were to be derided, who when he were burnt with overmuch heat of the fire, should still cast on more wood and oil, because he should rather slack it by withdrawing the matter wherewith it is nourished; so it is no less ridiculous if a man burning in lust, and desiring to have this scorching heat allayed, should pamper himself with meat and drink, which are the ordinary means more to inflame him; whereas he should rather use fasting and abstinence, which is the water wherewith the fire of lust is slaked and quenched.4
The fourth meanes to preserue chastitie,1 and to keepe vs from the pollution of vncleane lusts, is temperance and sobrietie in our meates and drinkes: vnto which is required, first, in respect of the quantitie, that we eate and drinke sparingly, to fatisfie, and not to glut nature; yea, and if this bee not sufficient, that we sometimes vse totall abstinence for the keeping vnder and subduing of these fleshly lusts: and secondly in respect of the qualitie, that we doe not vse pampering meates, and inflaming drinkes (like the Papists in the time of their fast) which are the bellowes wherewith the fire of lust is kindled and inflamed.