A20760:434
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 much more do they offend,1 who receiving their fees, sometimes double and treble, will not vouchsafe when the cause of their clients is to be heard, to come unto the bar, or to open their lips in defence of their right. Whereby they greatly injure their clients, in betraying their cause under colour of patronage, withholding their promised counsel and help, when the necessity of the cause most requireth it: whereof it must needs follow, that the adverse party will obtain an easy victory, when being armed at all points for the encounter, he findeth no adversary in the lists to make resistance. And also hereby they make themselves guilty of shameful theft, in that they take those fees, which of right do not belong unto them: for the reward is not absolutely given unto them, but upon the condition of their best assistance, the which condition being not performed, they have no just title unto the gift; no more then the servant hath right to his wages, who doth no work, or spendeth his whole time in following his own business.2 Now the cause hereof principally is their griping covetousness, which maketh them think all the water lost which runneth besides their mill; and therefore they greedily undertake as many businesses as are commended unto them by assured hope of large gain, though it be impossible that they should carefully prosecute one of three as the causes require. And so they not only empty their clients purses of their money, but also their hearts of all comfort, when they find their cause betrayed by those who should have defended it; and perceive to their grief that these broken staves have failed them, when they most relied on them.3 And secondarily, this cometh to pass through the importunity of the client, who looking more into the skill of his counsellors, then into the goodness of his cause, is in policy contented to give a large fee to one, of whom he hath conceived a great opinion, rather to hinder his adversary, then to help himself. For having no hope of entertaining him to speak in his own cause, he putteth ⟨p. 221⟩into his mouth this golden gag, to restrain him from speaking against him, in the behalf of the adverse party.