A20760:391
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.
But as those who desire to preserve their chastity ought not to be curious beholders of the beauty of women,1 so also they must restrain their eyes from looking upon other wanton spectacles; as for example, they may not behold lascivious pictures, which are dumb orators that persuade unto lust, and lively presidents, out of which a wanton mind will easily take out a pattern of uncleanness for his own imitation.2 They may not read lascivious books and wanton Poets, which effeminate the mind, and make it tender to receive the impression of lust. Or if the laudable love of wit, ⟨p. 197⟩eloquence and learning make them to scrape for these pearls and rich treasures in these filthy dunghills, they must watchfully take heed that be not defiled with any pollution of uncleanness; and whilst like good Merchants they sail in these dangerous seas, to enrich themselves with learning and knowledge, they are with all care and diligence to avoid these rocks of ribaldry, whereupon they may at unawares make shipwreck of their chastity, and to stop their ears against these sirens songs, which will cause them to drown themselves in the gulf of uncleanness. For otherwise we shall find it to be a bad change, when to enrich our minds with knowledge, we impoverish our hearts of sanctification, and for the gaining of learning to make a wilful forfeiture of grace and virtue. But especially it behooveth those who have any care of preserving their chastity, that they turn away their eyes from beholding stage plays,3 which are usually fraughted with scurrilous jests, and ribald filthiness, and in this respect no less pernicious for the inflaming of filthy lust, then bawds and panders: in that these professedly infuse their poison, but they stealingly and at unawares; they corrupt but one at once, but these whole multitudes at the same instant; they oftentimes deal by blunt persuasion, having nothing to assist them, but the inward lust of the party whom they allure, but these have all the help of art, wit, eloquence, masking shows, sweet music, and wanton dalliance, to poison the mind with effeminate lust, & to prepare the heart for unclean desires;