A20760:8
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.
so even the better sort who have given their names unto Christ, have been so intoxicated with the sweet cups of prosperity, and through long rest, peace, and plenty have so rusted in their corruptions, that it is to be feared, they will not recover their ancient purity and brightness, until the file of affliction with an heavy hand hath come often over ⟨image 3⟩them. But neither the crying sins of those who are notoriously wicked, nor yet the gross corruptions of such as make profession of religion, do cause the state of our land to be so dangerous and almost desperate, as the nice wantonness of sin, which maketh it impatient of the least touch; for howsoever it is in it self of the most slavish nature, yet is it so backed in these times with the numerous multitude of offenders, and so countenanced and befriended by men of best quality, and greatest power, that it is grown to be a matter far more dangerous to reprove sin then to commit it, especially when it is cunningly acted, and plainly reprehended. Gods spiritual Chirurgeons may indeed in these times make as many corrosives as they will, but if they love their peace and life, they must take heed that they do not apply them; for patients wounded with the sores of sin, when they admit them to the cure, hold the dagger of revenge in their hands, ready to stab them, if they but touch them to the quick. And therefore needs must these impatient patients fester in their corruptions to the very death of body and soul, seeing they will by no means endure to have their wounds searched. Nevertheless all this must not daunt and discourage those whom the Lord hath called to the function of the Ministry, from the performing of their duty, but the more dangerous and desperate their state is who are committed to their charge, the more earnest and diligent should they show themselves in seeking their preservation. For they ought to prefer the spiritual health of those who are by God committed to their cure, before their own temporary life; and being appointed the Lords watchmen, the ⟨image 4⟩more securely the people sleep in sin, the louder must they cry till they have awakened them, when they see Gods judgements approaching and ready to seize upon them:1 otherwise the people shall die in their sins, but their blood shall be required at the watchmen's hands.