A20760:80
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.
Which judgements and punishments if we would escape,1 let us hate and flee from this odious sin of profane swearing; and that we may the rather be moved hereunto, let these reasons persuade us: First,2 because the Lord in his law hath forbidden and condemned it, yea and that after a special manner; for whereas he hath given us ten Commandments, he hath added a commination or threatening but unto two of them, the first forbidding idolatry and false worship, the other taking his name in vain; to note unto us that idolatry and profanation of his holy name, are such odious sins in his sight, that of all other he will not let them go unpunished. And in the new Testament our Saviour Christ likewise hath revived and ratified this law by his repetition and explanation: Matth. 5.34. Swear not at all, 3neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God: 35. Nor yet by the earth, for it is his footstool; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36. Neither shalt thou swear by thine head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be yea yea, nay nay: for whatsoever is more then these cometh of evil. In which words (as Austine observeth) our Saviour enjoineth us not to swear at all, to wit, in our ordinary communication, lest swearing beget facility of swearing, facility custom, and custom perjury. And, as another saith, for this cause our Lord forbiddeth, not only to forswear, but also to swear, lest we should then only seem to speak the truth when we confirm it by an oath; or lest those who ought to utter nothing but truth in all their speeches, should imagine ⟨p. 26⟩lying without an oath lawful. And that we may the rather be moved to yield obedience to this commandment, he adjoineth a strong reason; namely, that whatsoever is more in our ordinary communication, then yea yea, or nay nay, cometh of evil. For either it is evil in him that sweareth, as when he sweareth voluntarily, vainly, and without cause; or when having made shipwreck of his credit by his customable lying, he cannot gain belief to his speeches without an oath. Or else it is evil in him who compelleth another to an oath, when as causelessly he suspecteth his truth, and will not give credit to his assertions or promises, though his word be of approved credit, and his whole course of life upright and just.