A20760:563
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.
Professed anger is to be seen when either men of set purpose do neglect the signs and duties of love,1 or else in showing ⟨p. 40⟩and bringing forth the fruits of anger.2 For the first, some in their anger are sullenly silent from day to day, and month to month, not vouchsafing to speak a word to those with whom they are displeased, though they daily converse with them; as though with their love and charity they had lost their tongues also. But such men forget the end why God gave them a tongue, that is, that it might be not only an holy organ to sing our Creators praise, but also that we might be enabled thereby to converse more familiarly and lovingly one with another; as also that thereby we might preserve this love begun by taking away all offence; for as the Lord hath given a tongue to enquire out an injury, as also to reprove and reprehend the offender, so he hath given the same tongue to make a just excuse for the working of reconciliation. It may be if thou wouldest come to expostulate the matter with thy neighbour, he would either justly excuse his fault, or humbly confess it, and desire pardon, whereas now thou makest him thine enemy by denying him all means and hope of reconciliation: for what hope can he conceive of peace, seeing thou wilt not so much as come to a treaty?
Professed anger is to be seene when either men of set purpose do neglect the signes and duties of loue,1 or else in shewing ⟨p. 40⟩and bringing foorth the fruits of anger.2 For the first, some in their anger are sullenlie silent from day to day, and moneth to moneth, not vouchsafing to speake a word to those with whom they are displeased, though they daily conuerse with them; as though with their loue and charitie they had lost their tongues also. But such men forget the end why God gaue them a tongue, that is, that it might be not onelie an holy organe to sing our Creators praise, but also that we might be enabled thereby to conuerse more familiarly and louinglie one with another; as also that thereby we might preserue this loue begun by taking away all offence; for as the Lord hath giuen a tongue to enquire out an iniurie, as also to reprooue and reprehend the offender, so he hath giuen the same tongue to make a iust excuse for the working of reconciliation. It may be if thou wouldest come to expostulate the matter with thy neighbour, he would either iustly excuse his fault, or humblie confesse it, and desire pardon, whereas now thou makest him thine enemie by denying him all meanes and hope of reconciliation: for what hope can he conceiue of peace, seeing thou wilt not so much as come to a treatie?