A20760:604
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.
If therefore we avoid those things most carefully which hurt the eyes; or if they be hurt, use such medicines as are fit to cure them, because the eye is the light and guide of the whole body: with how much more attentive care ought we avoid anger that blindeth reason, seeing it is the light and guide of the soul? which only eye of humane direction being put out, like Polyphemus we wander in the deserts of sin and wickedness. If men abhor drunkenness (and that worthily) because it maketh them differ from brute beasts only in shape of the body; why should they not for the same cause hate this vice of anger, which like a burning ague doth so distemper & disturb the mind, that while the fit lasteth, it uttereth nothing but raving?
If therefore wee auoide those things most carefully which hurt the eyes; or if they bee hurt, vse such medicines as are fit to cure them, because the eye is the light and guide of the whole bodie: with how much more attentiue care ought wee auoide anger that blindeth reason, seeing it is the light and guide of the soule? which onelie eye of humane direction being put out, like Polyphemus wee wander in the desarts of sinne and wickednesse. If men abhorre drunkennesse (and that worthilie) because it maketh them differ from brute beasts onely in shape of the bodie; why should they not for the same cause hate this vice of anger, which like a burning ague doth so distemper & disturbe the mind, that while ye fit lasteth, it vttereth nothing but rauing?
Secondly,1 as anger hurteth the soul by blinding reason, so also it doth macerate and vex it by inflaming it with fury; for what greater torment can be imagined, then to have the mind distracted upon the rack of rage? As therefore we would account him a mad man, who with his own hands should set his house on fire and consume it: so alike mad is he to be thought, who will set his soul on fire with the raging flames of anger, wherein it is not only tormented in this life, but also (without repentance) ⟨p. 57⟩in the life to come it shall be tormented everlastingly; because unjust anger is murder in Gods sight, as appeareth,