A20760:547
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.
Thirdly, the cause of our anger is unjust,1 when we are provoked thereunto by every small and trifling occasion; because hereby love and charity is notably violated, when every slight cause incenseth us to anger: for love suffereth all things. 1 Cor. 13.7. and therefore their love is small who will suffer nothing. Love covereth a multitude of ⟨p. 34⟩sins. Pro. 10.12. they therefore who rather find causes where they are not, then cover them where they are, do plainly show their want of love, and their too great proneness to anger, it is the nature of love to make great faults seem little, and little faults none at all: but anger maketh every small slip a capital offence. and every word of disgrace worthy a stab. And as when we behold the Sun rising through thick and foggy vapours, we imagine it to be of a far greater quantity then when the air is pure and clear: so when the soggy mists of anger do overshadow reason, we suppose every fault to be greater then it would appear if this turbulent affection were dispelled with the lively heat of ardent love.
Thirdly, the cause of our anger is vniust,1 when wee are prouoked therevnto by euery small and trifling occasion; because hereby loue and charitie is notably violated, when euery slight cause incenseth vs to anger: for loue suffereth all things. 1 Cor. 13.7. and therefore their loue is small who will suffer nothing. Loue couereth a multitude of ⟨p. 34⟩sinnes. Pro. 10.12. they therefore who rather finde causes where they are not, then couer them where they are, doe plainly shew their want of loue, and their too great pronenesse to anger, it is the nature of loue to make great faultes seeme little, and little faultes none at all: but anger maketh euery small slip a capitall offence. and euery word of disgrace worthie a stabbe. And as when wee behould the Sunne rising through thicke and foggie vapours, we imagine it to bee of a farre greater quantitie then when the ayre is pure and cleare: so when the soggie mists of anger doe ouershadow reason, we suppose euery fault to be greater then it would appeare if this turbulent affection were dispelled with the liuely heate of ardent loue.