A20760:454
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.
CHAP. VI. That the sin of bribing is most pernicious to the briber himself.
CHAP. VI. That the sinne of bribing is most pernicious to the briber himselfe.
And thus it appeareth that the sin of bribing is pernicious both unto Church and Commonwealth.1 Now in the last place it followeth that I show and prove that as bribers are bad unto all others, so they are worst of all to themselves, in respect of the manifold evils which they bring upon their own heads: for first, as they deprive themselves of a notable sign of the child of God, who shall dwell in his holy mountain, and be an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven, which is, not to receive rewards against the innocent; 2so they take upon them the mark of destruction and condemnation; and carry as it were upon their sleeve, the badge of a wicked man. So it is said Prou. 17.23.3 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to wrest the ways of judgement. 4And these are the properties whereby David describeth a bloody or heinous sinner: Psal. 26.11. In whose hands is wickedness, and their right hand is full of bribes.
ANd thus it appeareth that the sinne of bribing is pernicious both vnto Church and Commonwealth.1 Now in the last place it followeth that I shew and prooue that as bribers are bad vnto all others, so they are worst of all to themselues, in respect of the manifold euils which they bring vpon their owne heads: for first, as they depriue themselues of a notable signe of the child of God, who shall dwell in his holy mountaine, and be an inheritour of the kingdome of heauen, which is, not to receiue rewards against the innocent;