A20760:511
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 neglect whereof causeth many to fall into sin: for some if they can mask their deformed anger under the fair visard of a just pretence, they think they may lawfully ⟨p. 16⟩show all violence and fury in their affections: but let such men know that though the cause of their anger be never so just, yet in the manner they grievously sin against the rule of Charity; in respect whereof they may fitly be compared to cruel hangmen, who having a just cause to execute their office (namely the Judges lawful commandment) do in the execution thereof use all barbarous cruelty: so they being commanded by God to be angry with the sins of their brethren, seem glad they have gotten such an occasion to show their rage and fury: But howsoever such men pretend the goodly title of justice, yet if they be unmasked there will appear nothing but rancour and malice, disguised under this fair pretext: for let their friend to whom they are and must be much beholden commit offences far more notorious, and they who seemed almost choked with a small gnat, can find room in their consciences to swallow a pill of sin as big as a Camel, if it be sugared over with the sweet title of friendship.
The neglect whereof causeth many to fall into sinne: for some if they can maske their deformed anger vnder the faire visard of a iust pretence, they thinke they may lawfully ⟨p. 16⟩shew all violence and fury in their affections: but let such men know that though the cause of their anger be neuer so iust, yet in the manner they grieuously sinne against the rule of Charitie; in respect whereof they may fitly be compared to cruell hangmen, who hauing a iust cause to execute their office (namely the Iudges lawfull commaundement) doe in the execution thereof vse all barbarous crueltie: so they being commaunded by God to bee angry with the sinnes of their brethren, seeme glad they haue gotten such an occasion to shew their rage and fury: But howsoeuer such men pretend the goodly title of iustice, yet if they bee vnmasked there will appeare nothing but rancour and malice, disguised vnder this faire pretext: for let their friend to whom they are and must bee much beholden commit offences farre more notorious, and they who seemed almost choaked with a small gnatte, can finde roome in their consciences to swallow a pill of sinne as bigge as a Camell, if it bee sugered ouer with the sweet title of friendship.