A20760:546
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 the cause of our anger is unjust, when it is only imaginary, having no other ground but our own suspicion. And thus was Eliab angry with his brother David, because he suspected him to be proud, whereas in truth his own pride was the cause of his suspicion.2 1 Sam. 17.28. and this is the most common cause of Anger in these days; ⟨p. 33⟩for want of love causeth men to interpret the actions of others in the worst sense, and upon their false surmises they ground their anger. One is angry because saluting his neighbour, he did not resalute him, whereas perhaps he did not see him, or at the least having his mind otherwise occupied did not observe him: another is offended if any in his company is merry, thinking that he maketh himself sport with his infirmities; another because he is too sad, imagining that it is because his company displeaseth him. In a word as mens surmises are innumerable, so also are the causes of unjust anger. Yea so prone men are to invent causes where none is, that oftentimes they are sore displeased because they have received small benefits not answerable to their expectation, or not equal to those which they see bestowed upon others; and so they are provoked to anger with small gifts, as though they had received great injuries, but let us be ashamed of such folly and learn to leave it. Hath thy friend given more to another then thee? why it may be he hath deserved more, and though he hath not, yet that which thou hast received might content thee if thou wouldst make no comparisons. Nunquam erit felix quem torquebit foelicior, 3he will never be happy who is vexed when he seeth one more happy. Hath he given thee less then thou didst hope for? why perhaps thou didst hope for more then thou didst deserve, or then thy friend could conveniently give, but if thou wouldest not be ungrateful, consider rather what thou hast received, then what thou hast not received, before how many thou art preferred, rather then how many are preferred before thee.
Secondly,