A20760:47
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.
For whereas it is objected that Joseph swore by the life of Pharaoh, 1and that therefore it is lawful to swear by the ⟨p. 12⟩creatures; unto this we may answer: First that Joseph, to the end he might continue unknown unto his brethren, took upon him the custom of the Egyptians, and therein sinned through infirmity, and therefore his example is no president for us. Secondly, Joseph may be excused by the manner of his speech; for he doth not say by the life of Pharaoh, but, Pharaoh liveth, or, so let Pharaoh live, as you shall not go hence; which is not properly an oath, but a prayer added to an oath, wherein he desireth God to grant that Pharaoh might as certainly live, as they should not depart.
For whereas it is obiected that Ioseph swore by the life of Pharaoh, 1and that therefore it is lawfull to sweare by the ⟨p. 12⟩creatures; vnto this we may answere: First that Ioseph, to the end he might continue vnknowne vnto his brethren, tooke vpon him the custome of the Egyptians, and therein sinned through infirmitie, and therefore his example is no president for vs. Secondly, Ioseph may be excused by the manner of his speech; for he doth not say by the life of Pharaoh, but, Pharaoh liueth, or, so let Pharaoh liue, as you shall not goe hence; which is not properly an oath, but a prayer added to an oath, wherein he desireth God to grant that Pharaoh might as certainely liue, as they should not depart.
- 1§. Sect. 2. Of Josephs oath.
Fourthly, whatsoever we swear by, that we deify, in communicating unto it Gods incommunicable attributes, as his omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, whereby he can powerfully protect his truth, and punish all falsehood; all which are so peculiar to God as that they cannot be communicated with any creature.