A20760:503
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.
And as we are bound by the law of charity to love our neighbours as our selves, so also to be angry with them as with our selves, namely, with this holy kind of anger for sin. Whensoever therefore we see them by their sins dishonour God we are to be displeased therewith, and so far forth as the limits of our callings extend to show our ⟨p. 12⟩selves offended, according to the example of the Prophet Jeremiah, who because the people would not hear the word of the Lord was even filled with divine wrath,1 Jeremiah 6.10.11. But how cold mens zeal of Gods glory is in this age frozen in the dregs of sin, too lamentable experience showeth: for first who almost is angry with himself for his sins in this respect, because he hath by them dishonoured God? every one showeth spleen enough if his sins receive condigne punishment, but having to do with themselves, in respect of the sin it self, they are like mild doves, without gall. The adulterer is much displeased if for his sin he be enjoined to mask in a white sheet, though thereby he have deserved death, but the poison of his sin is most sweet to his envenomed appetite. The covetous extortioner is much offended if he be justly deprived of that riches which he hath unjustly gotten, but he is not angry with his sin into which he is fallen by unjust coming by them. The blasphemer is enraged if he be but reproved for his blasphemy, though by the law of God, he deserveth to die for it, but he is nothing displeased with himself for dishonouring the Majesty of God: In a word every one is angry with the smallest punishment, yet not moved with the greatest sin: but if we would be angry and sin not, we must not be so much displeased for incurring that punishment which we have justly deserved, as that by our sins we have dishonoured God.
And as we are bound by the law of charitie to loue our neighbours as our selues, so also to bee angry with them as with our selues, namely, with this holy kinde of anger for sinne. Whensoeuer therefore wee see them by their sinnes dishonour God we are to bee displeased therewith, and so farre forth as the limits of our callings extend to shew our ⟨p. 12⟩selues offended, according to the example of the Prophet Ieremie, who because the people would not heare the word of the Lord was euen filled with diuine wrath,