A20760:606
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.
Seeing therefore anger inflicteth on the soul the wound of sin, and sin unless it be cured with the sovereign salve of Christs merit, causeth death: let us carefully arm our selves against the violence of this passion, and manfully repel this fiery dart, with the shield of faith. Yea let us so strongly curb it in with the reins of reason, that no outward injury prick it forward to seek unjust revenge. For as we would condemn him of folly, who when a wrong were offered him by another, should in revenge wound his own body: so more foolish is he to be esteemed, who when another offereth him injury doth in seeking cruel and unjust revenge wound his soul with sin.
Seeing therefore anger inflicteth on the soule the wound of sinne, and sinne vnlesse it be cured with the soueraigne salue of Christs merit, causeth death: let vs carefully arme our selues against the violence of this passion, and manfully repell this fierie dart, with the shield of faith. Yea let vs so strongly curbe it in with the raines of reason, that no outward iniurie pricke it forward to seeke vniust reuenge. For as we would condemne him of follie, who when a wrong were offred him by another, should in reuenge wound his owne bodie: so more foolish is hee to bee esteemed, who when another offereth him iniurie doth in seeking cruell and vniust reuenge wound his soule with sin.
And so much for the evils which anger bringeth to a mans self.1 Now we are to entreat of the evils which it bringeth to our neighbour. First it overthroweth that excellent and comfortable virtue to mankind, true friendship; for there was never any friendship so inviolable, which anger (if it were admitted) hath not violated. And hence it is that wise Solomon counselleth us, not to make friendship with an angry man, because he will be sure to break it: Pro. 22.24.2 Well therefore may that speech of Inno to Alecto be applied to anger: