A20760:619
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.
The first cause of anger, is self love: if therefore we would not fall into anger, we must labour to banish self love, and to follow the rule of charity; Love our neighbours as our selves, and do nothing unto them, which we would not have them do unto us. Before therefore we let the reins loose unto our anger, let us set our selves in the place of him with whom we are angry, and consider how we would desire to be used if we had so offended, and in like manner are we to behave our selves towards him. So shall we not aggravate those injuries which are offered us, and extenuate those which we offer others, so shall we not have our judgement over-balanced with an unequal affection, so shall we not be incensed for suffering that, which we have often offered.
The first cause of anger, is selfe loue: if therefore wee would not fall into anger, we must labour to bannish selfe loue, and to follow the rule of charitie; Loue our neighbours as our selues, and doe nothing vnto them, which wee would not haue them do vnto vs. Before therefore we let the reines loofe vnto our anger, let vs set our selues in the place of him with whom we are angry, and consider how we would desire to be vsed if we had so offended, and in like manner are we to behaue our selues towards him. So shall we not aggrauate those iniuries which are offered vs, and extenuate those which we offer others, so shall we not haue our iudgement ouer-ballanced with an vnequall affection, so shall wee not bee incensed for suffering that, which wee haue often offered.
The second cause of anger is pride and haughtiness of spirit: if therefore we would not fall into anger,1 we are to subdue pride, and labour for the contrary grace of humility. For they who would be meek with our Saviour Christ, must also learn of him the lesson of true humility, Math. 11.29. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of hart. 2If we would lay aside that arrogant conceit which we have of our selves, and the overweening opinion of our own excellencies, if we would consider with Abraham that we are but dust and ashes, and with David,