A20760:459
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.
Fourthly,1 this sin of bribing doth make a man liable and obnoxious to Gods fearful judgements, both in respect of his person and state. Of the former we have an example in Gehezi, who taking an unlawful bribe from Naaman, had that heavy punishment of loathsome leprosy inflicted, both upon himself and all his posterity: and for the other it is said, that fire shall devour the houses of bribes, Job 15.34. And howsoever men think (by receiving rewards to pervert justice and truth) to advance themselves and theirs to great wealth and plenty of all things, yet in the end this riches will melt and vanish away, and those who lately flourished in their unjust courses shall be brought into poverty and calamity, according to the saying of the Wise man, Prou. 21.6.2 The gathering of treasure by a deceitful tongue, is vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. 7. The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them, for they have refused to execute judgement.3
Fourthlie,1 this sinne of bribing doth make a man liable and obnoxious to Gods fearefull iudgements, both in respect of his person and state. Of the former we haue an example in Gehezi, who taking an vnlawfull bribe from Naaman, had that heauie punishment of lothsome leprosie inflicted, both vpon himselfe and all his posteritie: and for the other it is said, that fire shall deuoure the houses of bribes, Iob 15.34. And howsoeuer men thinke (by receiuing rewards to peruert iustice and truth) to aduance themselues and theirs to great wealth and plentie of all things, yet in the end this riches wil melt and vanish away, and those who lately flourished in their vniust courses shall be brought into pouertie and calamitie, according to the saying of the Wise man, Prou. 21.6.2