A20760:507
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.
The third cause of just anger is when injury is offered to our brethren:1 for as by the law of charity we are bound to love them as our selves, so the same law bindeth us to be angry for those injuries which are offered unto them, as if they were offered unto our selves. And thus was Moses angry with the Egyptian who wronged the Israelite, Act. 7.24. Thus was David angry with Ammon for deflowering his sister. 2 Sam. 13.21. and with Absalom for his cruel murdering of Ammon. And thus was good Nehemie provoked to anger when he saw the people oppressed.2 Neh. 5.6. And this anger is not only lawful but also necessary, and the neglect thereof a grievous sin in Gods sight, as we may see in the example of Ely: for when his sons abused the Lords people and he would not for their sin show his anger in correcting them, otherwise then by mild and loving admonitions, his indulgency moved the Lord to inflict upon him a most heavie punishment,3 Et quia ira Eli tepuit in filios, ira Dei exarsit in ipsum. Because Elie his anger was luke-warm towards his sons, the anger of God waxed fire hot against him, and that justly:4 for as one saith, Non irasci cum oportet, est nolle peccatum emendare. Not to be angry when just cause is offered, is to nill the amendment of sin, and not to hinder sin when a man hath good opportunity and a lawful calling thereunto is to be come accessory.
The third cause of iust anger is when iniurie is offered to our brethren:1 for as by the law of charitie we are bound to loue them as our selues, so the same law bindeth vs to be angry for those iniuries which are offered vnto them, as if they were offered vnto our selues. And thus was Moses angry with the Egiptian who wronged the Israelite,