A20760:470
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.
To the Christian Reader.
Considering the universal infection of this contagious disease of the Soul, UNJUST ANGER, and the manifold pernicious evils which it worketh, both private and public, I thought good to prescribe out of Gods word, some remedies for those Patients which are committed to my cure, whereby they might either be preserved from these feverlike fits, which cause men outwardly to shake and tremble, when as inwardly they are most inflamed, or else have their heat somewhat allayed and abated, when they are already fallen into them. The which my prescript I thought at the first should have been communicated to no more then mine own Patients, till I was persuaded by more skilful Physicians then my self, that the publishing thereof might redound to others profit And therefore desiring nothing more then to exercise my poor talent to the glory of my master who bestowed it, and the benefit of my fellow servants, for whose good also I have received it, I willingly condescended to their motion. And for as much, as I had only shadowed a rude draught without colour or countenance, I was fain to take a review of my work, altering some things, and adding others as it were new lineaments, ⟨image 127⟩which I thought more fit for the Press then for the Pulpit. If any think me too quick in practise, they will (I hope) excuse me, if they consider that I make experience of my slender skill, not in the vital parts, but in the feet of the soul, namely the affections, and yet the curing of them, or but this one of them, may greatly redound to the benefit of the whole, for as the diseases of the feet do grieve the heart, and offend the head, and the curing and healing of them doth ease and comfort both, so when the affections are distempered being infected with the contagion of our original corruption, even the chief parts of the soul, the Understanding and Will, are not a little disturbed and disordered, by receiving from them their contagious pollution. And therefore he who can skilfully purge these nether parts shall ease the higher, by drawing down those corrupt humours which do offend and annoy them. Seeing then, there may come by my practise great good with little danger, I have the rather adventured the cure: