A20760:398
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.
Thirdly,1 this modesty is also to be showed in our gestures and behaviour, which ought to be grave and sober, and not any way savouring of vain lightness, and lascivious wantonness. The which as they are the fruits of a polluted heart, and the flames which issue from the hidden fire of lust, so also do they nourish the root from which they spring, and redouble the heat of carnal concupiscence kindled in the heart. Among these we may especially number wanton dancing, and lascivious kissing and embracing. All which I distinguish by their epithets,2 because I cannot see how any of them may simply be condemned: for seeing we read of holy and honest dancing used by holy men and women, when they rejoiced before God in the fruition of his benefits; as David before the Ark,3 Miriam and her companions, after the Egyptians were destroyed in the red sea; the daughters of Shiloh at their yearly feast,4 which they kept unto the Lord; the women of Israel after the overthrow of the army of the Philistines;5 and seeing the holy Ghost himself telleth us, that as there is a time to mourn, so also there is a time to dance: I see no reason but that now upon the like occasion, and with the same holy affection, it may lawfully be used to express our rejoicing, cheer the mind, and exercise the body, as well as music, or any other such like pastime and recreation. But as for that light, wanton, and lascivious dancing between men and women, which is too too common in these times, wherein they use one towards another, all manner of enticing gestures, and sometimes wanton and obscene behaviour, serving as the bellows to inflame lust, the which in a wicked proportion they sit to as light & lascivious music; it is no better than Venus revels, which effeminate and corrupt the mind, making it fit for unclean desires, and for all manner of unlawful lusts, and therefore carefully to be avoided of all those who have any desire to preserve their chastity.
Thirdly,1