A20760:447
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.
And thus have I showed how many mischiefs the bribery of the Magistrates and Judges, brings upon a State,1 through the perverting of justice; of all which, some will think themselves acquitted, who can truly say in their own defence, that howsoever they receive many gifts, yet it is not for perverting of righteous judgement, but only they take rewards, and gratuities, for the doing of justice, and for the righting of mens wrongs. For as amongst Sorcerers there are some called good, and some bad witches; the one curing those diseases which the other hath caused, and helping what the other hath hurt; and yet howsoever they differ in name, yet in truth they are of one nature; and are both direct witches, who equally labour to enrich Satan's kingdom, both with their own souls, and with the souls of others who are seduced by them: So among bribers, there are some, who may be called good in comparison of others, who take rewards, to right the others wrongs, and relieve those whom others by their unjust sentences have oppressed; notwithstanding these are bribers too, corrupt, unrighteous, and naught, although not altogether of so malignant a disposition ⟨p. 228⟩as the other. For it is as great injustice to enforce a man to buy that which is his own already, as to give unto him that which of right belongeth to another; and he that goeth thus far to make justice, which is in her nature free, to become venal, and of a slavish nature, within a while will be so blinded with gifts, that he will not stick to set injustice also to sale; and as one saith: Qui non erubescat dicere, 2quid mihi dabis ut tibi justitiam faciam? nonne simile est ac sidicatur, quid mihi vultis dare, ut abnegem, officium perdam, & deum vendam? That is, He that blusheth not to say, what will you give me, and I will do you justice? is as ready to say; what will you give me, and I will deny to execute justice, neglect my duty, and sell God himself? Howsoever it is, it cannot be but great prejudice to the uprightness of a Judge, and a shrewd presumption of his corruption, when as he receiveth gifts of those who have suites depending before him; for as a wife or maid would incur the danger of just suspicion, of having an unclean heart, who being solicited by a fornicator to commit whoredom, should receive his gifts, although she should deny his suite: