A20760:412
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.
Of this we have an example in our Saviour Christ himself;1 for whereas when he sounded the sad tunes of the law against sin in general, and sought to affect the people with this mournful music, he only complaineth that they did not weep;2 it is said when he went about to persuade them not to set their hearts upon the earthly Mammon, the covetous Pharisees laughed him to scorn.3 So when Ezekiel preached the word of God unto those whose hearts went after covetousness,4 they gave him the hearing, but when he had said what be could against their sin, they mowed at him with their mouths, and derided him for his labour. And so when Paul spake against the Idol Diana, Demetrius and the craftsmen, not so much in heat of their devotion, as for the loss of their gains which they formerly enjoyed by making filuer shrines unto their goddess,5 were, at the hearing of this doctrine, filled, not only with anger, but also with outrageous fury, whereby they brought the whole City into an uproar, and filled it with confusion, laying violent hands upon Pauls companions, when as the Apostle himself was out of the way. Neither can Gods Ministers, entreating of the like argument, expect better success in these worser times, and corrupter age of the world, wherein mens goodness is measured according to their wealth, and not their virtue; and every one esteemed according to the quantity of his riches, without any respect of the means whereby he hath compassed them.
Of this we haue an example in our Sauiour Christ himselfe;1 for whereas when he sounded the sad tunes of the law against sin in generall, and sought to affect the people with this mournfull musicke, he onely complaineth that they did not weepe;2 it is said when hee went about to perswade them not to set their hearts vpon the earthly Mammon, the couetous Pharises laughed him to scorne.