A20760:457
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.
Secondly,1 whereas men chiefly excel the brutish creatures in the light of reason, and in the use of the understanding, and of a sound judgement; gifts and rewards blind the eye of the mind, and the affections being therewith corrupted, do so corrupt the judgement also, that they cannot discern between right and wrong, truth and falsehood; but like beasts follow their sense, lusts, and passions, rather then the direction of their reason and understanding. And this argument the Lord himself useth to enforce his prohibition, concerning taking of bribes, Exod. 23.8. Thou shalt take no gift, for the gift blindeth the wise, 2and perverteth the words of the righteous. So Deut. 16.19.
Secondly,1 wheras men chiefly excell the brutish creatures in the light of reason, and in the vse of the vnderstanding, and of a sound iudgement; gifts and rewards blind the eie of the mind, and the affections being therewith corrupted, doe so corrupt the iudgement also, that they cannot discerne betweene right and wrong, truth and falsehood; but like beasts follow their sense, lusts, and passions, rather then the direction of their reason and vnderstanding. And this argument the Lord himselfe vseth to inforce his prohibition, concerning taking of bribes, Exod. 23.8. Thou shalt take no gift, for the gift blindeth the wise, 2and peruerteth the words of the righteous. So Deut. 16.19.
- 1§. Sect. 2. Bribes blind the eye of the mind, & corrupt the judgement.§. Sect. 2. Bribes blind the eie of the minde, & corrupt the iudgement.