A20760:423
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 the Scripture goeth further,1 and condemneth bribing, not only as a sin, but also as a mighty sin. Amos 5.12. For I know your manifold transgressions, and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take rewards, and they oppress the poor in the gate. The which as it is true of all bribers, so especially of those who being in the place of Magistracy and authority are corrupted with rewards and moved thereby to pervert judgement; and also of all others who are allured by bribes, to attempt any thing which is unlawful and wicked. For all such grievously sin against God,2 their neighbour, and themselves; against the Lord, not only by direct breaking of his commandment, but also in dishonouring his name after an extraordinary manner, namely, by drawing him as much as in them lieth, into the fellowship of their sin, or at least into the slander of it. For Magistrates are Gods deputies and vicegerents here on earth, and the judgements which they administer are not their own, but the judgements of the great king of heaven and earth; as Jehoshaphat telleth his Judges,3 2. Chron. 19.6. Take heed what you do; for you execute not the judgements of man, but of the Lord, and he will be with you in the cause, and judgement. When as therefore they being corrupted do pervert judgement, what do they else but make the Lord to the uttermost of their power to pronounce a false or unjust sentence? What do they but offer unto him a kind of violence, in forcing him by his substitutes to do that which is contrary to his own nature? For the Lord respecteth not persons, nor receiveth rewards, as it is, 2. Chron. 19.7.4 He regardeth not the rich more then the poor. Job 34.19. Neither can a multitude of gifts move him to acquit the sinner, chap. 36.18. Where as they contrariwise usurping Gods name and place, by rewards are seduced to pervert judgement, acquitting the guilty, and condemning the innocent; and so bring an imputation of injustice upon God himself, and pollute his holy name with the filthiness