A20760:481
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.
If then the heathen Philosophers walking in the dark night of ignorance and error, and enlightened only with a small glimmering spark of natural reason, could thereby both discern their corrupt affections, and also did study to reform and bring them under the rule of reason, how much more earnestly should we endeavour not so much to marshal them under the conduct of natural reason, which is it self but a blind leader, as to reform and purge them by the word of God, which like a glorious shining Sun, hath dispelled the foggy mists of ignorance and error, and so discovered all the spots and deformities of them, far more clearly then our blind reason.
If then the heathen Philosophers walking in the darke night of ignorance and errour, and illightened onely with a small glimmering sparke of naturall reason, could thereby both discerne their corrupt affections, and also did studie to reforme and bring them vnder the rule of reason, how much more earnestly should we endeauour not so much to marshall them vnder the conduct of naturall reason, which is it selfe but a blind leader, as to reforme and purge them by the word of God, which like a glorious shining Sunne, hath dispelled the foggie mists of ignorance and errour, and so discouered all the spots and deformities of them, farre more clearely then our blinde reason.
And as we are earnestly to labour for the reforming of all the affections, so most earnestly of all this of anger, which of all other is most turbulent and violent if it be not bridled and restrained. And for our better furtherance in so good an endeavour, I have made choice of this text, to the end I might show how far forth anger is to be approved and embraced, & in what respect it is to be avoided & shunned. In handling whereof I will first show the meaning of the words, and afterwards entreat of their several parts.
And as we are earnestly to labour for the reforming of all the affections, so most earnestly of al this of anger, which of all other is most turbulent and violent if it be not bridled and restrayned. And for our better furtherance in so good an endeauour, I haue made choice of this text, to the end I might shew how farre forth anger is to be approoued and imbraced, & in what respect it is to be auoided & shunned. In handling whereof I wil first shew the meaning of the words, and afterwards intreate of their seuerall parts.