A20760:415
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.
For who may not plainly perceive,1 that doth not wilfully shut his eyes, that where this sin of bribing reigneth, Rulers are corrupted, Justice perverted, impunity admitted, and together with it all sin and wickedness, the whole state of government disjointed and disordered? Neither hath this contagion tainted one place alone, but hath infected and poisoned the most part, if not the whole state of Christendom: and as it was truly said in the waning ⟨p. 210⟩and declining estate of the Roman Church and monarchie; Omnia venalia Romae; all things at Rome are set to sale: so is it but too truly verified in these our days both of that place, which is now the common market, not only of temporal, but also of spiritual things, as dispensations and pardons for sins, yea even of the joys of heaven, and likewise of the most parts of Christendom, which are exceedingly overspread and corrupted with this vice. For is not that found true in the common experience of these times, which the Wise man observed in his days,2 that money answereth unto all, ruleth all, disposeth all? and do not almost all men make a clear passage unto themselves by gifts and rewards, for the achieving of their desires, and with these golden rays ripen all their hopes? Do but look into the particulars, and we shall find this no false imputation laid upon the Christian State, but a lamentable truth to be bewailed with deep groans, and mournful tears. For howsoever kingdoms themselves and free monarchies be unvaluable, and above the pitch of any price, yet what is there in kingdoms which are not daily compassed by rewards? By this ladder some mount up into the seat of eminency, purchasing by gifts titles, which never came to them by, inheritance, or by desert; neither do they now as in former times, ennoble and dignify themselves, by venturing their life, & spending their blood in the defence of their country; but have found a speedier and more easy course for the satisfying their ambitious desires, namely, by friends bought with gifts. So that now if ever the saying of the Poet is verified: In pretio pretium est, dat census honours, census amicitias; pauper ubique jacet: Rewards are only rewarded, gifts buy honours, and procure friends; whereas those who are poor in purse, are contemptible in their persons.