A20760:87
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.
Fourthly, this vain swearing is to be avoided,1 because it is a vice which ill beseemeth those who make profession of Christianity; for a Christians speech should be powdered with salt, and not with oaths; it should not be unsavoury, and much less stinking and noisome: it should minister grace to the hearers, and not like a contagious leprosy infect the weak, nor like thorns and swords, vex and grieve the strong. For howsoever evil men can easily pass it over, when they hear Gods name dishonoured, as being a thing which doth not at all concern them; yet if those who truly fear the Lord and be zealous of his glory, hear these blasphemies, their heart quaketh, their joints tremble, and their hair standeth up an end, as it is, Eccl. 27.14.
Fourthly, this vaine swearing is to be auoided,1 because it is a vice which ill beseemeth those who make profession of Christianitie; for a Christians speech should bee poudred with salt, and not with oathes; it should not bee vnsauorie, and much lesse stincking and noysom: it should minister grace to the hearers, and not like a contagious leprosie infect the weake, nor like thornes and swords, vexe and grieue the strong. For howsoeuer euill men can easilie passe it ouer, when they heare Gods name dishonoured, as being a thing which doth not at all concerne them; yet if those who truely feare the Lord and bee zealous of his glorie, heare these blasphemies, their heart quaketh, their ioynts tremble, and their haire standeth vp an end, as it is, Eccl. 27.14.
- 1§. Sect. 5. 4. Because this vice ill beseemeth a Christian. 2. Col. 4.6. Ephes. 4.29.
Moreover it is an undoubted badge, and infallible note of a profane person who maketh conscience of no sin,