A20760:492
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.
1But it may be objected that anger is in many places of the Scriptures condemned and forbidden: 2as Mat. 5.22. He that is angry with his brother unadvisedly, is culpable of judgement, 3I answer, that not anger simply but unadvised anger is there condemned: and in a word all other places where this affection is forbidden, are to be understood, not of the affection it self, as it was created or is renewed by Gods spirit, but as it is corrupted and depraved with original sin: for anger being sanctified, is not only just and lawful, but also commendable, profitable, and very necessary, as being the whetstone of true fortitude, whereby we are stirred up and encouraged to maintain the glory of God, and our own persons and states, against the impiety and injustice of men. Though anger therefore be but a bad Mistress to command, yet it is a good servant to obey: though it be but an ill Captain to lead our forces into the field against our spiritual and temporal enemies, yet it is a good soldier so long as it subjecteth it self to the government and discipline of sanctified reason.
1But it may be obiected that anger is in many places of the Scriptures condemned and forbidden: 2as Mat. 5.22. He that is angry with his brother vnaduisedly, is culpable of iudgement, 3I answere, that not anger simply but vnaduised anger is there condemned: and in a word all other places where this affection is forbidden, are to be vnderstood, not of the affection it selfe, as it was created or is renewed by Gods spirit, but as it is corrupted and depraued with originall sinne: for anger being sanctified, is not onely iust and lawfull, but also commendable, profitable, and very necessary, as being the whetstone of true fortitude, whereby wee are stirred vp and encouraged to maintaine the glory of God, and our owne persons and states, against the impietie and iniustice of men. Though anger therefore be but a bad Mistresse to commaund, yet it is a good seruant to obey: though it be but an ill Captaine to lead our forces into the field against our spirituall and temporall enimies, yet it is a good souldier so long as it subiecteth it selfe to the gouernment and discipline of sanctified reason.