A20760:404
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.
And thus have I set down the means to preserve our chastity,1 and to keep our bodies and souls undefiled from all uncleanness and unlawful lusts; the which means if we carefully use, earnestly desiring to have them sanctified unto us by fervent and effectual prayer, and yet nevertheless find in us still burning lusts inflaming our hearts, and provoking us to satisfy them in the actions of uncleanness, then are we, setting aside all worldly impediments and inconveniences, to use that lawful remedy which God hath sanctified for the preserving of our bodies and souls in purity and chastity, even holy marriage; which estate is honourable, and the bed undefiled, according to the Apostles counsel, 1. Cor. 7.2.2 For the avoiding of fornication, let every man have his wife, and let every woman have her own husband. For as it is vers. 9. Better it is to marry then to burn: better it is to lead a poor life in the fear of God, according to his own ordinance which he hath sanctified, then to defile our bodies and souls with strange and promiscuous lusts, though in the mean time we should have for our own use plenty and abundance.
And thus haue I set downe the meanes to preserue our chastitie,1 and to keepe our bodies and soules vndefiled from all vncleannesse and vnlawfull lusts; the which meanes if we carefully vse, earnestly desiring to haue them sanctified vnto vs by feruent and effectuall prayer, and yet neuerthelesse finde in vs still burning lusts inflaming our hearts, and prouoking vs to satisfie them in the actions of vncleannes, then are we, setting aside all worldlie impediments and inconueniences, to vse that lawfull remedie which God hath sanctified for the preseruing of our bodies and soules in puritie and chastitie, euen holie mariage; which estate is honorable, and the bed vndefiled, according to the Apostles counsaile, 1. Cor. 7.2.2 For the auoiding of fornication, let euerie man haue his wife, and let euerie woman haue her owne husband. For as it is vers. 9. Better it is to marrie then to burne: better it is to leade a poore life in the feare of God, according to his owne ordinance which he hath sanctified, then to defile our bodies and soules with strange and promiscuous lusts, though in the meane time we should haue for our owne vse plentie and abundance.