A20760:530
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.
Fear also is an affection of no small force and violence: for oftentimes it compelleth men to thrust themselves into imminent dangers that they may avoid dangers, and to kill themselves for fear of greater torments: and yet anger vanquisheth fear, many times causing them who would tremble to see another's wound, contemn their own death, and so turneth the most cowardly fear into most desperate rage and furious resolution.
Feare also is an affection of no small force and violence: for oftentimes it compelleth men to thrust themselues into imminent dangers that they may auoyde dangers, and to kill themselues for feare of greater torments: and yet anger vanquisheth feare, many times causing them who would tremble to see anothers vvound, contemne their owne death, and so turneth the most cowardly feare into most desperate rage and furious resolution.
So that other affections lead a man, but this draws him, others entice him, but this compels him, other dazzle the sight of reason, but this makes it stark blind, other make us prone unto evil, but this casts us headlong even into the gulf of wickedness.
So that other affections lead a man, but this drawes him, others intice him, but this compels him, other dazle the sight of reason, but this makes it starke blinde, other make vs prone vnto euill, but this casts vs headlong euen into the gulfe of wickednesse.
Considering therefore that this turbulent vice of unjust anger is in the eyes of God so heinous,1 in regard of us so general, and in respect of it own nature so strong & violent, I purpose to entreat of it at large, to the end we may learn the better to prevent it, or the more easily to subdue it. And to this purpose I will first show what it is, and what are the causes and properties thereof; secondly, the kinds of it; and lastly, I will prescribe the preservatives and medicines, whereby we may cure this vice in our selves, or in others.