A20760:632
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 third means to subdue anger by arming us with patience, is to call continually to remembrance the bitter passion and sufferings of Christ for our sins. For if we consider how patiently he endured scoffs and reproaches, railing and reviling, buffeting and scourging, yea death it self, and the anger of God more grievous then death, not for any demerit of his, but for our sakes; we may easily suffer such small injuries as are offered unto us by men,1 at our saviour Christs request, seeing we have deserved far greater. As therefore those which were slung with the fiery serpents, were healed if they did look up to the brazen serpent, which was erected to this end: so if this fiery serpent of unjust anger have stung us, and the burning poison ⟨p. 67⟩thereof hath inflamed us, let us cast the eyes of our souls upon the true brazen serpent our saviour Christ, hanging upon the cross, and suffering the wrath of God due to our sins, and so the heat of our wrath and anger vvill soon be cured and cooled.
The third meanes to subdue anger by arming vs with patience, is to call continually to remembrance the bitter passion and sufferings of Christ for our sinnes. For if wee consider how patiently he indured scoffes and reproaches, rayling and reuiling, buffeting and scourging, yea death it selfe, and the anger of God more grieuous then death, not for any demerit of his, but for our sakes; we may easily suffer such small iniuries as are offered vnto vs by men,1 at our sauiour Christs request, seeing vve haue deserued far greater. As therefore those vvhich vvere slung vvith the fiery serpents, vvere healed if they did looke vp to the brasen serpent, vvhich vvas erected to this end: so if this fiery serpent of vniust anger haue stung vs, and the burning poyson ⟨p. 67⟩thereof hath inflamed vs, let vs cast the eyes of our soules vpon the true brasen serpent our sauiour Christ, hanging vpon the crosse, and suffering the vvrath of God due to our sinnes, and so the heate of our vvrath and anger vvill soone be cured and cooled.
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