A20760:445
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 if the cause of the poor man have in it any difficulty, then though it be never so just, yet he were better to give it over, and spare his cost and save his further labour, then to prosecute his right before a bribing Judge; for he shall (as the proverb is) but cast the helve after the hatchet, and enter into an endless labyrinth, in which when he hath long travailed, he shall find himself as far from his hoped issue, as in the first hour of his entrance, wanting the golden thread which should guide him in his way. And if in the prosecution of his cause, for want of counsel he giveth the least advantage to his adversary, though it do not concern the equity of the matter, but only the error of the form, ⟨p. 227⟩and faultiness of his plea, he is sure to be crushed, and to have the cause, though never so just, to go against him. And of this corruption, the Lord accuseth the corrupt Judges of Israel, Amos 5.12. They afflict the just, they take rewards, 1and they oppress the poor in the gate. that is, sitting upon the seats of judgement, which in those times were placed in the gates of their cities.
But if the cause of the poore man haue in it any difficultie, then though it be neuer so iust, yet hee were better to giue it ouer, and spare his cost and saue his further labour, then to prosecute his right before a bribing Iudge; for hee shall (as the prouerbe is) but cast the helue after the hatchet, and enter into an endlesse labyrinth, in which when hee hath long trauailed, he shall find himselfe as farre from his hoped issue, as in the first houre of his entrance, wanting the golden thread which should guide him in his way. And if in the prosecution of his cause, for want of counsell hee giueth the least aduantage to his aduerfarie, though it do not concerne the equitie of the matter, but onely the error of the forme, ⟨p. 227⟩and faultinesse of his plea, he is sure to bee crushed, and to haue the cause, though neuer so iust, to goe against him. And of this corruption, the Lord accuseth the corrupt Iudges of Israel, Amos 5.12. They afflict the iust, they take rewards,