A20760:75
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.
And hence it is,1 that their Apprentices, who heretofore were brought up by a severer discipline, in modesty and sobriety, are now ready to swagger and swear like graceless ruffians: yea even their young children following their example, learn their oaths with their language, and as soon as they are come to the use of speech, abuse their tongues to blasphemous swearing, which were given them to be the instruments of Gods praise. No marvel therefore seeing they begin so young, if they grow to be exquisite swearers when they come to elder age; neither is it any wonder if they ripen in wickedness faster then they ripen in years, seeing such a foundation of impiety is laid in their tender youth. But let such parents and masters know, that Gods heavy curse lieth upon them for the wicked education of their youth, that their blood shall be required at their hands, at the dreadful day of judgement, seeing they have perverted and destroyed them, by their bad example and loose government; in which respect, much better were it for them, that a millstone were tied about their necks and they cast into the sea, then that they should thus offend ⟨p. 23⟩these little ones, and by their ill presidents, lead them into their sins, and so plunge them headlong into eternal perdition.
And hence it is,1 that their Apprentises, who heretofore were brought vp by a seuerer discipline, in modestie and sobrietie, are now ready to swagger and sweare like gracelesse ruffins: yea euen their young children following their example, learne their oathes with their language, and as soone as they are come to the vse of speech, abuse their tongues to blasphemous swearing, which were giuen them to bee the instruments of Gods praise. No meruaile therefore seeing they begin so young, if they grow to bee exquisite swearers when they come to elder age; neither is it any wonder if they ripen in wickednesse faster then they ripen in yeeres, seeing such a foundation of impietie is laied in their tender youth. But let such parents and masters know, that Gods heauie curse lieth vpon them for the wicked education of their youth, that their blood shall be required at their hands, at the dreadfull day of iudgement, seeing they haue peruerted and destroyed them, by their bad example and loose gouernment; in which respect, much better were it for them, that a milstone were tied about their neckes and they cast into the sea, then that they should thus offend