A20760:458
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.
Thirdly, if a man suffer himself to be corrupted and overswayed with gifts and rewards; though in his own nature he be of never so generous and free a spirit, yet in short time it ⟨p. 233⟩will make him so base and sordidous, that there is no pray of such small value, which will not make him stoop to seize upon it, no course or carriage so inhumane, dishonourable and dishonest, which he will not be content to take & use, for the enhancing of his gain. This the wise man observed in his own experience: Prou. 28.21.1 To have respect of persons is not good; for that man will transgress for a piece of bread. And the Lord accuseth the rulers of Jerusalem, not only for perverting judgement, but also that they were base and sordidous in their bribing, polluting Gods name by their injustice for handfuls of barley and pieces of bread, Ezech. 13.19.2 In which respect such corrupt Judges are fitly compared to a pair of schools, which when they seem most equal, will incline to either side by the addition of the least weight, and turn again to the contrary side, when that weight is overpoised with a greater.
Thirdlie, if a man suffer himselfe to be corrupted and ouerswaied with gifts and rewards; though in his owne nature he be of neuer so generous and free a spirit, yet in short time it ⟨p. 233⟩will make him so base and sordidous, that there is no pray of such smal value, which will not make him stoope to seaze vpon it, no course or carriage so inhumane, dishonourable and dishonest, which he will not be content to take & vse, for the inhaunsing of his gaine. This the wise man obserued in his owne experience: Prou. 28.21.1 To haue respect of persons is not good; for that man will transgresse for a peece of bread. And the Lord accuseth the rulers of Ierusalem, not onely for peruerting iudgement, but also that they were base and sordidous in their bribing, polluting Gods name by their iniustice for handfuls of barlie and peeces of bread,