A20760:663
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 last means,1 is after his anger is overpast to give him wholesome counsel and good admonitions, whereby he may be taught the great evils which follow anger. For as it is not fit to minister Physic to a sick patient, while he is in a fit of an ague, and therefore discreet Physicians rather make choice of their patients good day: so it is in vain for a man to seek the curing of anger by good counsel, unless he stay till the fit be passed over, and the heat of anger somewhat assuaged. For a man cannot; nor will not hearken to another mans reasons, while he is subject to his own passions. And as a man heareth nothing almost which is said when his house is on fire, for the noise of the multitude, the crackling of the flame, and the perturbation of his own mind: so the violence of this affection, and fury of this passion, doth make a man while he is in a fit of rage, deaf to ⟨p. 80⟩all reason. And therefore they are to be admonished when the fury hath somewhat spent it self, and the great evils of anger both in respect of their souls and bodies, their neighbours and friends, the Church and common wealth, are as it were in one view, to be presented to their more sober meditations.
The last meanes,1 is after his anger is ouerpast to giue him wholesome counsayle and good admonitions, whereby he may be taught the great euils which follow anger. For as it is not fit to minister Phisicke to a sicke patient, while hee is in a fit of an ague, and therefore discreet Phisitions rather make choise of their patients good day: so it is in vaine for a man to seeke the curing of anger by good counsayle, vnles he stay till the fit be passed ouer, and the heat of anger somewhat asswaged. For a man cannot; nor will not hearken to another mans reasons, while he is subiect to his owne passions. And as a man heareth nothing almost which is said when his house is on fire, for the noyse of the multitude, the crackling of the flame, and the perturbation of his owne minde: so the violence of this affection, and furie of this passion, doth make a man while he is in a fit of rage, deafe to ⟨p. 80⟩all reason. And therefore they are to be admonished when the fury hath somewhat spent it selfe, and the great euils of anger both in respect of their soules and bodies, their neighbours and friends, the Church and common wealth, are as it were in one view, to bee presented to their more sober meditations.