A20760:635
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, it is most necessary to subdue anger, because while we remain therein we can have no assurance that our prayers are acceptably heard of God; not only because we pray so to be forgiven as we forgive, and therefore if we retain our anger towards our brethren, we pray that God will retain his towards us; but also because our Saviour expressly telleth us, That if we do not remit men their trespasses, our heavenly Father will not forgive us our sins. 1Mat. 6.15 And that with what measure we mete unto others, it shall be measured unto us again. Mat. 7.2.2 Let us remember the parable of the servant, who being forgiven ten thousand talents, and after exacting with all cruelty of his fellow servant an hundred pence, was cast into the prison of utter darkness.3 ⟨p. 68⟩Mat. 18.23.4 Whereby thus much is understood, that if we vvill not forgive injuries to our brethren, seeing the Lord hath forgiven our infinite heinous sins, we shall be used like that merciless and cruel servant. And therefore let us follow the counsel of the Apostle Ephes. 4.32.5 Be courteous one to another and tender hearted, freely forgiving one another, even as God for Christs sake freely forgave you. And so much for the necessity of this duty.
Secondly, it is most necessary to subdue anger, because vvhile vve remaine therein vve can haue no assurance that our prayers are acceptably heard of God; not onely because vve pray so to be forgiuen as we forgiue, and therefore if we retaine our anger towards our brethren, vve pray that God will retaine his towards vs; but also because our Sauiour expresly telleth vs, That if we doe not remit men their trespasses, our heauenly Father will not forgiue vs our sinnes.