A20760:50
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.
In respect then of the object we swear lawfully,1 when we swear by the true Jehovah only, and consequently our oaths are unlawful, when as we swear directly by any other thing. In which regard there are two kinds of unlawful oaths: first, when as we swear by any thing besides the true God; secondly, when as in our oaths we join any other with him. They who use the former kind of swearing commit the most impious kind of theft, robbing God of his glory, to bestow it upon an Idol: the other show their graceless folly in making base Idols, and silly creatures, corrivals in honour and compeers in the throne of justice, unto the Lord, who is the Creator of heaven and earth, and ⟨p. 13⟩the supreme Judge and sole Monarch of all the world. Of the former the Lord accuseth the people of Judah,2 Jer. 5.7. Thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no Gods. Whereby is plainly implied that they who swear by any thing besides the Lord, do renounce him and his true worship;3 and for the latter he threateneth destruction, Zeph. 1.4.5. I will cut off them that worship and swear by the Lord. and swear by Malcham. For the Lord being the peerless sovereign of heaven and earth, cannot endure that any other should have,4 or share with him in, his glory, as himself also professeth, Esa. 48.11.
In respect then of the obiect we sweare lawfully,1 when we sweare by the true Iehouah onely, and consequently our oathes are vnlawful, when as we sweare directly by any other thing. In which regard there are two kindes of vnlawfull oathes: first, when as we sweare by any thing besides the true God; secondly, when as in our oathes wee ioyne any other with him. They who vse the former kinde of swearing commit the most impious kinde of theft, robbing God of his glorie, to bestow it vpon an Idoll: the other shew their gracelesse follie in making base Idols, and sillie creatures, corriuals in honour and compeeres in the throne of iustice, vnto the Lord, who is the Creator of heauen and earth, and