A20760:631
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.
Secondly,1 we are to consider that the injuries which we have received are much less then by our sins we have deserved; for they are but light, or if not light yet momentary, but our sins have deserved infinite and eternal punishments. If therefore the Lord use these earthly rods to correct our sins, we are rather to admire his mercy then to be angry at so gentle chastisement; let us therefore look upon our sins and not upon our punishment, and so shall we patiently bear the injury offered, as sent from God, because in respect of him it is no injury; and not as it is inflicted by man, and be ready to follow the example of David, who when he was injuriously abused by Shimei, was not provoked by anger to take revenge, because he looked not upon Shimei, 2as being but the instrument, but upon God who was the author. 2 Sam. 16.10.11.
Secondly,1 we are to consider that the iniuries which we haue receiued are much lesse then by our sinnes wee haue deserued; for they are but light, or if not light yet momentary, but our sinnes haue deserued infinite and eternall punishments. If therefore the Lord vse these earthly rods to correct our sinnes, wee are rather to admire his mercy then to be angry at so gentle chastizement; let vs therefore looke vpon our sinnes and not vpon our punishment, and so shall we patiently beare the iniury offered, as sent from God, because in respect of him it is no iniury; and not as it is inflicted by man, and bee ready to follow the example of Dauid, who when hee was iniuriously abused by Shemei, was not prouoked by anger to take reuenge, because he looked not vpon Shemei, 2as being but the instrument, but vpon God who was the author. 2 Sam. 16.10.11.
- 1Sect. 2. Our injuries received less then our sins have deserved.