A20760:67
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.
We therefore swear unlawfully when as we do not swear in judgement, that is, when we swear unreverently, rashly, and unnecessarily; in which respect men principally offend when as no necessity urging them, upon every slight occasion, idly, rashly, and vainly they profane the holy name of God in their ordinary communication. The which manner of swearing justified by the Pharisees, Christ condemneth, Mat. 5.34.1 And the Apostle James dissuadeth from it, Jam. 5.12. Yea even the Heathens themselves who had only the light of nature to be their guide, did dislike this vain and rash swearing by their Idols and false gods. And therefore, as Plutarch recordeth, the Romans would not suffer their children to swear by the Idol Hercules within doors,2 but enjoined them first to go abroad, that hereby they might restrain them from rash swearing, and give unto them time to deliberate of their oath.
Wee therefore sweare vnlawfully when as wee doe not sweare in iudgement, that is, when we sweare vnreuerently, rashly, and vnnecessarily; in which respect men principallie offend when as no necessitie vrging them, vpon euery slight occasion, idely, rashly, and vainely they prophane the holie name of God in their ordinarie communication. The which manner of swearing iustified by the Pharisies, Christ condemneth, Mat. 5.34.1 And the Apostle Iames disswadeth frō it, Iam. 5.12. Yea euen the Heathens themselues who had only the light of nature to bee their guide, did dislike this vaine and rash swearing by their Idols and false gods. And therefore, as Plutarch recordeth, the Romanes would not suffer their children to sweare by the Idoll Hercules within dores,2 but inioined them first to go abroad, that hereby they might restraine them from rash swearing, and giue vnto them time to deliberate of their oath.