A20760:599
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 what should I speak of receiving hurt by outward enemies, seeing the angry man when he hath no other foes to hurt him, doth with his own hands offer violence unto himself? as is evident in their example who in their rage will not stick to pull off the hair of their own heads & beards, and to offer many other furious outrages against their own persons. So that the wise Solomon might well say, That a man of much anger shall suffer punishment: 1for if no man else will, he will punish himself. And so much for the body.
But what should I speake of receiuing hurt by outward enemies, seeing the angry man when he hath no other foes to hurt him, doth with his owne hands offer violence vnto himfelse? as is euident in their example who in their rage will not sticke to pull off the haire of their owne heads & beards, and to offer many other furious outrages against their owne persons. So that the wise Salomon might well say, That a man of much anger shall suffer punishment: 1for if no man else will, he will punish himselfe. And so much for the body.
But anger bringeth no less evils to the soul.1 First like a dark cloud it overshadoweth and blindeth the light of reason, and for the time maketh men as though they were distraught of their wits. Whereof it is that anger is called Brevis furor, a short madness; because it differs not from madness, but in time. Saving that herein it is far worse, in that he who is possessed with madness, is necessarily, will he, nill he, subject to that fury: but this passion is entered into wittingly and willingly. Madness is the evil of punishment, but anger the evil of sin also: madness as it were thrusts reason from it imperial throne; but anger abuseth reason by forcing it with all violence to be a slave to passion.