A20760:603
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.
You see then that anger perverteth judgement, overthroweth counsel, and putteth out the eyes of reason, making it the slave of passion, fit to execute those works of darkness, in which rage employeth it. Like unto the Philistines,1 who having put out the eyes of Sampson, made him to grind in their mill, and to do their drudgery: So this raging passion, having put out the eyes of reason, makes it a fit instrument for his own business, that is, in plotting and devising that revenge which is pleasing and acceptable unto it. Whereby it evidently appeareth, that furious anger is a notable means which Satan useth to work our destruction. For when once by rage he hath blinded the eye of reason, he can easily lead us into a gulf of all wickedness. In respect whereof, Satan is compared to a cation Crow, which intending to make the carcass of some silly Lamb his greedy pray, doth first pick out the eyes, that it may ⟨p. 56⟩not be able by flight to prevent a further mischief: so he endeavouring to make a pray of our bodies and souls, doth first seek to blind reason, which is the eye of the soul, with the fury of passion, that so not having judgement to discern his sleights, nor wisdom to avoid them, he may the more easily lead us into the pit of perdition. Or he may be likened to a cunning fisher-man, who troubleth the water that the fish may not descry his net: so Satan blindeth our reason with this turbulent affection, that we should not discern the sins which like nets he hath laid to entangle us, before we be fallen into them. For anger casting a mist of perturbation before the sight of reason, maketh men unable to judge of good or evil, right or wrong; and whereas reason in it own nature judgeth that which is right, anger maketh that seem right which it judgeth.
You see then that anger peruerteth iudgement, ouerthroweth counsell, and putteth out the eyes of reason, making it the slaue of passion, fit to execute those workes of darkenesse, in which rage imployeth it. Like vnto the Philistines,1 who hauing put out the eyes of Sampson, made him to grinde in their mill, and to doe their drudgerie: So this raging passion, hauing put out the eyes of reason, makes it a fit instrument for his owne businesse, that is, in plotting and deuising that reuenge which is pleasing and acceptable vnto it. Wherby it euidently appeareth, that furious anger is a notable meanes which Satan vseth to worke our destruction. For when once by rage hee hath blinded the eye of reason, hee can easilie leade vs into a gulfe of all wickednesse. In respect whereof, Satan is compared to a cation Crowe, which intending to make the carcase of some sillie Lambe his greedie pray, doth first picke out the eies, that it may