A20760:90
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.
Sixthly, we are to avoid vain swearing,1 as being a notable cause and necessary forerunner of that damnable sin of periurie; nam qui deierat, peierat, he that often sweareth, often forsweareth. To which purpose one saith: Cave facilitatem turandi; cum de facilitate nascatur consuetudo ex consuetudine periurium, ex periurio blasphemia; beware of inclinableness to swear in ordinary communication; for of inclinableness ariseth custom, of custom, perjury, and of perjury, horrible blasphemy. And this cometh to pass, both because custom of swearing taketh away all reverent regard of an oath, upon which followeth forgetfulness of that which is sworn, and so utter neglect of performance; and also, because mens tongues being inured thereunto, do as familiarly use it, as a simple affirmation and negation, and consequently they do no oftener affirm an untruth, then they are ready to confirm it with the deepest oaths. An example whereof we have in Saul, who being the greatest swearer that we read of in the Scriptures, and making no conscience of an oath, made as little account of damnable perjury,2 as appeareth, 1. Sam. 19.6.15.
Sixtly, we are to auoid vaine swearing,1 as being a notable cause and necessarie forerunner of that damnable sinne of periurie; nam qui deierat, peierat, he that often sweareth, often forsweareth. To which purpose one saith: Caue facilitatem turandi; cum de facilitate nascatur consuetudo ex consuetudine periurium, ex periurio blasphemia; beware of inclinablenes to sweare in ordinarie communication; for of inclinablenes ariseth custome, of custome, periurie, and of periurie, horrible blasphemie. And this commeth to passe, both because custome of swearing taketh away all reuerent regard of an oath, vpon which followeth forgetfulnesse of that which is sworne, and so vtter neglect of performance; and also, because mens tongues being inured thereunto, doe as familiarly vse it, as a simple affirmation and negation, and consequently they doe no oftener affirme an vntruth, then they are readie to confirme it with the deepest oathes. An example whereof we haue in Saul, who being the greatest swearer that wee read of in the Scriptures, and making no conscience of an oath, made as little account of damnable periurie,