A20760:576
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.
But that we may never allege this vain excuse, let us consider further, that it is no better then Lazar's rags to cover the deep festered sores of our corruption; or then Adams fig leaves to hide the nakedness of sin, which may be as fit a visor to disguise even the most ugly vices, as this of anger: for nature corrupted provoketh not only to rash anger, but also to all outrages. And therefore the murderer by as great show of reason might excuse his murder, because he is by nature cruel; or the adulterer his adultery, because he is by nature lecherous; or the thief his theft, because he is by nature covetous, as the hasty man his anger because he is by nature choleric. As therefore if a murderer or thief should come before a Judge, and excuse his fact by saying it was his nature, and therefore he could not choose but commit it; the Judge would answer, that it was his destiny also that he should be hanged: So when we shall be arraigned before the Lord chief Justice of heaven and earth, the alleging of our corrupted nature will be so far from excusing us, that it alone will be sufficient to condemn us. And so much for the first sort of anger which is to be seen in angry and choleric men.
But that we may neuer alleage this vaine excuse, let vs consider further, that it is no better then Lazers ragges to couer the deepe festred sores of our corruption; or then Adams fig leaues to hide the nakednesse of sinne, which may be as fit a vizour to disguise euen the most vglie vices, as this of anger: for nature corrupted prouoketh not onely to rash anger, but also to all outrages. And therefore the murtherer by as great shew of reason might excuse his murther, because he is by nature cruell; or the adulterer his adulterie, because he is by nature lecherous; or the theefe his theft, because he is by nature couetous, as the hastie man his anger because he is by nature cholericke. As therefore if a murtherer or theefe should come before a Iudge, and excuse his fact by saying it was his nature, and therefore he could not chuse but commit it; the Iudge would answere, that it was his destinie also that he should be hanged: So when wee shall bee arraigned before the Lord chiefe Iustice of heauen and earth, the alleadging of our corrupted nature wil be so farre from excusing vs, that it alone will bee sufficient to condemne vs. And so much for the first sort of anger which is to be seen in angry and cholericke men.