A20760:509
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 so much for the just causes of anger:1 but there is further required to holy and lawful anger, not only that the cause be just, but also weighty and of some importance; for if every small trifle be sufficient to provoke us to anger, well may we manifest great justice, but without question we shall show little love: for love suffereth long, it is not easily provoked to anger, it suffereth all things.2 1 Cor. 13.4.5.7. it covereth a multitude of sins, 1 Pet. 4.8. how little love therefore have they who are angry upon every small and trifling occasion, how just so ever it be? Let us then before we let the reins loose to anger, consider not only of the justness of the cause, but also whether it be light or weighty; and if we find that it is but a trifle, we are either wisely to dissemble it, or mildly to pass it over, knowing that in many things we offend all:3 if weighty then we may not only justly, but also necessarily we are bound to show our anger; for it is no less a sin to show mildness where the Lord requireth anger, then anger where he requireth mildness.
And so much for the iust causes of anger:1 but there is further required to holy and lawfull anger, not onely that the cause be iust, but also waightie and of some importance; for if euery small trifle be sufficient to prouoke vs to anger, well may wee manifest great iustice, but without question wee shall shew little loue: for loue suffereth long, it is not easily prouoked to anger, it suffereth all things.2 1 Cor. 13.4.5.7. it couereth a multitude of sinnes, 1 Pet. 4.8. how little loue therefore haue they who are angry vpon euery small and trifling occasion, how iust so euer it bee? Let vs then before wee let the raynes loose to anger, consider not onely of the iustnesse of the cause, but also whether it bee light or waightie; and if we finde that it is but a trifle, we are either wisely to dissemble it, or mildely to passe it ouer, knowing that in many things we offend all: