A20760:52
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.
Secondly,1 here is condemned swearing by the creatures; as, by the Sun, light, fire, bread, and such like: which kind of oaths were in use among the Pharisees, as our Saviour showeth, Matth. 5. and 23. and are commonly used amongst ignorant worldlings in these days; wherein as they rob God of his glory, and as it were spoil the Creator to enrich the creature, so do they hereby exceedingly dishonour themselves, in that being their superiors by creation, they make themselves inferior unto them in swearing by them: for as the Apostle speaketh, men swear by him that is greater then themselves, 2and make them their Judges, whom God hath made their servants.
Secondly,1 here is condemned swearing by the creatures; as, by the Sunne, light, fire, bread, and such like: which kind of oathes were in vse among the Pharisies, as our Sauiour sheweth, Matth. 5. and 23. and are commonly vsed amongst ignorant worldlings in these dayes; wherein as they rob God of his glorie, and as it were spoile the Creator to enrich the creature, so doe they hereby exceedingly dishonour themselues, in that being their superiours by creation, they make themselues inferiour vnto them in swearing by them: for as the Apostle speaketh, men sweare by him that is greater then themselues, 2and make them their Iudges, whom God hath made their seruants.