A20760:72
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 like may be said of their Seruingmen,1 and attendants: for like master, like man; neither are they more ready to follow and wait upon their persons, then to imitate their corrupt manners; yea and as they are more base in condition, so are they usually more barbarous and brutish in their impiety. In all which their graceless carriage, they are much graced by their irreligious masters, and exceedingly animated in their wickedness by their liking and approbation. For are not those in our times most respected and countenanced by profane gentlemen, as being the fittest men to grace them by their service, that can desperately swear, swagger like ruffians, bear most drink, and put up least injury, without taking sharp revenge? are not those thought to advance most their masters credit, who in every sentence rap out an oath, and who in their talk wanting either words or matter, supply the defect of both, and bombast (as it were) the empty places of their sentences with impious blasphemies? whereas contrariwise, if any that feareth God be entertained into these services, who walketh in the sincerity of his heart before God, maketh conscience of an oath, and setteth a watch before the door of his lips that he offend not with his tongue, he is accounted by his master to be but a shallow and simple fellow, altogether unfit for any employment, and wondered at amongst his fellows, like an owl amongst little birds.
The like may be said of their Seruingmen,1 and attendants: for like master, like man; neither are they more readie to follow and waite vpon their persons, then to imitate their corrupt manners; yea and as they are more base in condition, so are they vsually more barbarous and brutish in their impietie. In all which their graceles cariage, they are much graced by their irreligious masters, and exceedingly animated in their wickednesse by their liking and approbation. For are not those in our times most respected and countenanced by prophane gentlemen, as being the fittest men to grace them by their seruice, that can desperately sweare, swagger like ruffians, beare most drinke, and put vp least iniurie, without taking sharpe reuenge? are not those thought to aduance most their masters credit, who in euerie sentence rap out an oath, and who in their talke wanting either words or matter, supply the defect of both, and bumbast (as it were) the emptie places of their sentences with impious blasphemies? whereas contrariewise, if any that feareth God be entertained into these seruices, who walketh in the sinceritie of his heart before God, maketh conscience of an oath, and setteth a watch before the dore of his lips that he offend not with his tongue, he is accounted by his master to bee but a shallow and simple fellow, altogether vnfit for any imployment, and wondred at amongst his fellowes, like an owle amongst little birds.