A20760:600
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 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.
But anger bringeth no lesse euils to the soule.1 First like a darke cloud it ouershadoweth and blindeth the light of reason, and for the time maketh men as though they were distraught of their wits. Wherof it is that anger is called Breuis furor, a short madnesse; because it differs not from madnesse, but in time. Sauing that herein it is farre worse, in that he who is possessed with madnesse, is necessarilie, will he, nill he, subiect to that furie: but this passion is entred into wittingly and willingly. Madnesse is the euill of punishment, but anger the euill of sinne also: madnesse as it were thrusts reason from it imperiall throne; but anger abuseth reason by forcing it with all violence to bee a slaue to passion.
- 1§. Sect. 7. The evils which anger bringeth to the soul. 1. It blindeth reason.§. Sect. 7. The euils which anger bringeth to the soule. 1. It blindeth reason.
And in this respect it may fitly be compared unto a cruel tyrant, who having invaded the government of the common-wealth, doth overthrow counsel, law, and order, and overruleth all by force and fury: so anger having obtained sovereignty over the mind, taketh away all judgement, counsel, and reason, and overswayeth all by foolish affection and raging passion.