A20760:596
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.
Again, as many stripes do harden the skin to endure them; so do they harden the heart to contemn them; and they which use much chiding, do move their inferiors to imagine that it is their natural communication and not any reprehension. If lightening and thunder were as common as the sun shine, though they be terrible in their own nature, yet who would regard them being so usual? and how much less then the impotent brawling of an angry man? ⟨p. 53⟩They therefore who would have their anger feared and respected, must let it like the thunder happen seldom, or else it will not be regarded like the thunder. When the Fox first saw the Lion, he trembled and quaked for fear, not daring to come near him; when he saw him the second time he approached somewhat nearer, but when he saw him daily, he feared not almost to come within the reach of his paw: So if thou but seldom show thy self like a Lion, thou wilt be feared and respected; whereas if continually thou appear in this shape, even thy most base underlings will not regard thee. Yea, if peradventure they spy the Asses ears under the Lions skin, that is, folly in thy fury, (which are seldom severed) they will not stick to ride, and deride thee.1
Againe, as many stripes doe harden the skinne to indure them; so doe they harden the heart to contemne them; and they which vse much chiding, doe moue their inferiors to imagine that it is their naturall communication and not any reprehension. If lightening and thunder were as common as the sunne shine, though they bee terrible in their owne nature, yet who would regard them being so vsuall? and how much lesse then the impotent brawling of an angrie man? ⟨p. 53⟩They therefore who would haue their anger feared and respected, must let it like the thunder happen seldome, or else it will not be regarded like the thunder. When the Fox first saw the Lion, he trembled and quaked for feare, not daring to come neere him; when he saw him the second time he approched somewhat neerer, but when he saw him daylie, hee feared not almost to come within the reach of his paw: So if thou but seldome shew thy selfe like a Lion, thou wilt bee feared and respected; whereas if continually thou appeare in this shape, euen thy most base vnderlings will not regard thee. Yea, if peraduenture they spie the Asses eares vnder the Lions skinne, that is, folly in thy furie, (which are seldome seuered) they will not sticke to ride, and deride thee.