that both body and soule may be saued And these are the things required in iust and holy anger which if we obserue our anger will be not onely lawfull but also necessary both for the setting forth of the glory of God and also for the good of our selues and of our neighbours CHAP. II. Of vniust Anger ANd so much for the first part of my text Sect. 1. wherein iust anger is commaunded now I am to speake of vniust anger forbidden in the words following but sinne not that is by falling into corrupt and vniust anger Vniust anger condemned as a great sinne Which vicious affection is not onely here condemned but also in other places of the Scripture as in the 31. verse of this Chapter Let all bitternesse Colos 3.8 and anger and wrath and euill speaking bee put away from you with all maliciousnesse So Col. 3.8 Put ye away all these things Gal. 5.20.21 wrath anger maliciousnesse c. and in the 5. Chapter of the Galathians verse 20.21 it is reckoned among the workes of the flesh which who so follow shall not inherit the kingdome of God It is forbidden also in the sixt commaundement vnder the name of murther both be cause it is the chiefe meanes and cause which moueth men therevnto as also because it is the murther of the hart and therfore murther in truth in Gods sight who more respecteth the hart then the hands for a man may be innocent before him though his hands haue slaine his neighbour if his hart haue not consented therevnto as appeareth in the old law where Cities of refuge were appointed for such by the Lords owne commandement but if the hart haue consented and desired any way to violate the person of our neighbor which vniust anger alwaies affecteth though our hands are free from the act we are guiltie of murther in the sight of God And this our Sauiour Christ teacheth vs in the exposition of the sixt commandement Mat. 5.22 Mat. 5.22 Whosoeuer is angry with his brother vnaduisedly is culpable of iudgement By these places it is euident that anger is forbidden condemned as a great sinne and therefore it is to be auoyded of vs as a most dangerous enimie to our soules health The generality of this vice of vniust anger Which that we may performe with so much the more vigilant care Let vs further consider that this vice is generally incident to all by reason of our naturall corruption so that there is none so yong nor any so old none so wise nor any so foolish neither male nor female which do not carry this fire in their bosome therefore vnles they quench daily this fiery dart of Sathan with the water of Gods Spirit and the shield of faith they will be in danger of burning Prou. 6.27 for who can carry fire in his bosome and not be burnt Prou. 6.27 But the dangerousnes of this affection wil more euidently appeare if we consider the violence therof Sect. 2 The violence of this turbulent affection for there is scarce any other affection so strong which it doth not easily subdue Loue is said to be stronger then death Can. 8.6 and yet anger if it be once admitted easily ouercommeth it Can. 8.6 for there was neuer any loue so hartie and entire but anger hath subdued it The Father in his anger forgetteth his loue to his child and the child to his father the husband to his wife the wife to her husband and causeth them in stead of duties of loue to bring forth the fruits of hatred yea it maketh a man to forget the loue of himself as appeareth by those men who to satisfie their anger violently thrust themselues into imminent dangers of death Nay it maketh a man offer raging violence against such a friend as is more deare to him then his own life as it is euident in the example of Alexander who in his anger slew his friend Clitus whō he loued so entirely that he needs would haue reuenged his murther by putting himselfe to a wilfull death As therefore we cannot discerne the heat of the Sunne when we are neare vnto a scorching fire so the heauenly heate of diuine loue is not felt if the furious flame of anger be kindled in our harts Couetousnes also is a most violent and strong vice which nothing almost can vanquish but death and they who are possessed therewith do loue their riches better then their owne liues as we may fee in their example who being depriued of them murther themselues yea they are more deare vnto them then the saluation of their owne soules as may appeare by those who fall into outragious sinnes whereby they plunge their soules headlong into hell that they may get momentarie riches by them also who despise the meanes of their saluation in comparison of a small worldly trifle and yet anger being once admitted doth ouercome couetousnes as it is euident in the example of them who to satisfie their furious anger by the death of their enimie are content to forfeit their goods though they be neuer so couetous besides the double hazard of their liues which they incur both in their priuate quarrell and in satisfying by deserued punishment publike iustice The like also may be said of them who by anger being incited to reuenge are content to spend all their substance by prosecuting wrangling suites in Law of little or no importance to the end they may impouerish him also with whom they are offended and so are content to pull the house vpon their owne heads that they may ouerwhelm another vnder the vvaight of the same ruine Feare also is an affection of no small force and violence for oftentimes it compelleth men to thrust themselues into imminent dangers that they may auoyde dangers and to kill themselues for feare of greater torments and yet anger vanquisheth feare many times causing them who would tremble to see anothers vvound contemne their owne death and so turneth the most cowardly feare into most desperate rage and furious resolution So that other affections lead a man but this drawes him others intice him but this compels him other dazle the sight of reason but this makes it starke blinde other make vs prone vnto euill but this casts vs headlong euen into the gulfe of wickednesse Considering therefore that this turbulent vice of vniust anger is in the eyes of God so hainous Sect. 3. in regard of vs so generall and in respect of it owne nature so strong violent I purpose to intreat of it at large to the end we may learne the better to preuent it or the more easily to subdue it And to this purpose I will first shew what it is and what are the causes and properties thereof secondly the kindes of it and lastly I will prescribe the preseruatiues and medicines whereby we may cure this vice in our selues or in others For the first The definition of
legib Periurij poena diuina exitium humana dedecus Diuine punishment inflicted vpon periured persons for their false swearing is destruction humane is shame and discredit And this is that punishment which both the Ciuill and Canon law imposed vpon such namely that if they were taken with this fault they should for euer bee so disabled in their credit and reputation that they might not be admitted to be witnesses and to giue testimonie either in their owne or other mens causes in any iudicial proceedings The which punishment was in Gods righteous iudgement inflicted in some proportion according to the qualitie of their sinne for whereas they to grace themselues in their vntruths care not as much as in them lieth to dishonour God by deriuing the imputation of fraud and deceit vpon him whom they inuocate as a witnesse of their lies God iustly meeteth with them and returneth the infamie and reproch vpon their owne heads Besides which punishment of infamie § Sect. 2. Other punishments of periurie the same lawes impose others vpon him that commits this sin as that he shall be depriued of all Ecclesiasticall preferments and dignities if he possesse them and not be admitted either into the Ministerie or gouernment of the Church That likewise he shall be dispoiled of all ciuill aduancement so as he shall not bee admitted vnto any such preferment nor reentred after he is displaced Besides which punishments in name and state they determine that he should be punished as a common cosener and be either beaten with cudgels and staues or exiled and banished or if it were in capitall matters and concerned the life of his neighbour he should be punished with death it selfe according to the law of God in that case prouided Deut. 19.19 The which punishment of death was inflicted vpon all among the Egyptians Patric lib. 5. tit 5. who were conuicted of wilful periurie vpon any cause whatsoeuer as Patricius recordeth But because these humane punishments are not alwaies inflicted vpon the offenders §. Sect. 3. How the Lord himselfe punisheth periurie either because their sinne being cunningly or closely acted is not discouered or through their negligence and want of zeale for Gods glorie who haue the sole authoritie to see the lawes executed therefore the Lord himselfe oftentimes taketh his owne cause into his owne hand and howsoeuer men wincke at and acquit them yet he holdeth them not guiltlesse who thus by their periurie prophane pollute his holy name And because his glory which is by this sin impeached is most deare vnto him therfore the Lord doth seuerely punish those who thus offend both with temporarie and eternall punishments in themselues and also in their posteritie as the Poet well obserued In prolemdilata ruunt periuria patris Et poenam merito filius ore luit Claudianus in Curctium And as this sin of periurie is in an extraordinarie sort abominable in Gods sight so doth he punish it with extraordinarie plagues and besides those vsuall punishments which are common to all offenders he hath inflicted vpon periured persons such fearefull iudgements from time to time which haue been so fitte and proportionable to the sinne that one might reade their offence written in their punishment as it were in great text letters set ouer their heads And thus did the Lord punish the breach of the couenant made with the Gibeonites and confirmed by oath with three yeeres famine and with the death of seuen of Sauls posteritie who had violated this oath 2. Sam. 21. and that not in a secret manner but openly declaring what was the sinne for which hee inflicted these punishments So because Zedechia broke the oath of the Lord which hee had made vnto Nebucadnezer hee had his sonnes slaine before his face and that hee might neuer behold cause of comfort after this sad spectacle his eyes were presently put out and he being bound with chaines was led captiue vnto Babylon where he slauishly liued and died wretchedly all which punishments were inflicted vpon him principally for his periurie Ezech. 17.15 as appeareth Ezech. 17.15.16.18.19 Besides which temporall punishments the Lord inflicteth vpon such as thus offend §. Sect. 4. God punisheth periurie with spirituall punishments and eternall death those which are spirituall and eternall for he hath denounced against them his fearfull curse which shall light so heauie vpon the periured person that it shall not onely destroy him and his posteritie but shall euen consume his house with the timber and stones thereof as appeareth Zach. 5.4 Zach. 5.4 And after this life if the flame of Gods wrath in the meane while be not quenched with the teares of vnfained repentance it shall burne hot against him kindling and preparing for him the fire of hell in which he shall bee eternally tormented for if the liar hath his portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Apoc. 21.8 as it is Apoc. 21.8 then much more the periured person who confirmeth his lies by an oath calling God himselfe to be not onely a witnesse and suretie but also a Iudge to auenge his falshood shall with the intollerable waight of this outragious sinne be suncke into the deepest bottome of this hellish condemnation And thus haue I shewed the lawfull vse of an oath §. Sect. 5. The conclusion of this treatise and also how it is abused both by vaine swearing and impious forswearing and withall haue propounded many reasons and arguments which may serue as wholsome preseruatiues to keepe those who haue any feare of God from falling into these sinnes or as profitable medicines to cure them of these dangerous diseases of the soule if alreadie they haue seazed on them Now as I heartily pray vnto God that all who shall reade this treatise and all other who professe the name of Christ may by these and such like reasons made effectuall by his grace and powerfull working of his holie Spirit bee brought both to a forsaking and also to an vtter hatred and detestation of these sinnes so with all humble earnestnesse I intreate our Magistrates and Gouernours who are as Gods deputies and Lieutenants set amongst vs to execute his righteous iudgements that they will in feruent zeale to Gods glorie whose person they doe sustaine as being pettie gods vpon earth not onely carefully reforme themselues of these vices whereby Gods holie name is polluted both in their owne particular and as they are examples vnto others but also that they would wisely enact and diligently execute such wholsome lawes as may restraine or seuerely punish these grosse abuses of vaine swearing and impious forswearing which in these times so commonly raigne amongst vs. That hereby they may shew and approne themselues truly religious in that they are carefull not only to suppresse such abuses and sins as tend to the hurt of their countrie and Common-wealth or to the damage and hindrance of particular subiects for
better fruites then those that want them and hauing long inioyed the bright sunshine of the Gospell which hath cleerelie discouered the workes of darkenesse wee should walke like children of light and not still remaine in the shadow of death with those vnto whom this light neuer shined vnlesse we will make our condemnation more fearefull then theirs when as our knowledge doth serue for no other vse but to aggrauate our sinne And therefore let vs striue to goe as farre before others in a godlie life as we are aduanced aboue them in Gods spirituall priuiledges labour to keepe our bodies much more pure and vndefiled as from all other sins so especially from these polluting sinnes of whoredome and vncleannesse that we may present them holy and vnblameable at the great day of our Lord Iesus Christ when hee shall come in glorie and power to iudge both quick and dead CHAP. II. What fornication is and of the small account which worldlings make of it THe which that we may the rather do §. Sect. 1. The maine scope of this treatise I thought good to intreate of these sinnes of vncleannes and to shew both the hainousnes of them together with the manifold euils which they bring vpon those who are defiled with them to the end that hereby I may moue all men in a iust detestation of this wickednesse either to abstaine from or to leaue and forsake it and the meanes also whereby those who haue so good a purpose may be furthered and helped in this their holy and Christian resolution Now howsoeuer this sinne of vncleannesse is a monster which hath many heads and an euill tree which spreadeth foorth it selfe into many particular branches of wickednesse yet my purpose is but to speake of two of the chiefe which are the vniuersall poisons of the laud and most common corruptions of the times the sinne of fornication which is committed betweene single persons and the sinne of adulterie betweene maried folkes at least on the one partie Concerning the former §. Sect. 2. What we vnderstand by whoredome in this treatise Fornication is that act of vncleannes which is committed betweene a single man with a single woman Where I doe not take fornication in his strict and proper signification in which it signifieth only whoredome or that vncleannes which is committed with a strumpet or common harlot but in this discourse I vnderstand it largely and generally for all kind of filthinesse which is committed betweene single or vnmaried persons whether it bee the deflouring of virgins which is called stuprum or the ordinarie abuse of the same concubine which is termed concubinatus or the defiling of the bodie with a harlot either maid or widow which being once or seldome acted is called fornication or being commonly practised is called scortation or whore-hunting All which sins of vncleannes haue been from time to time amongst many either defended as lawfull §. Sect. 3. Fornication excused as light and veniall Mitio a pud Terentium in Adelph or excused as light and veniall The Heathens held it as a thing indifferent or if at all yet but a slight fault Non est flagitium mihi crede adolescentulum scortaeri neque potare It is not beleeue me saith one any great fault in a young man to whore and drink c. And hence it is that the Apostles writing to the Heathen conuerts forbid them fornication amongst things indifferent Act. 15.20 not because it was so in it selfe but in their account and estimation And the Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians who had formerly been exceedingly addicted to this vice thought it necessarie to vse many waightie arguments 1. Cor. 6. to proue the hainousnes of this sinne not onely to disswade them from their former filthie practise but also to confute and conuince them of their old error which euen after their conuersion was not vtterly rooted out of their mindes namely that fornication was a thing lawfull and indifferent And in this grosse error were also the whole sect of the Nicolaitans whom Christ himselfe confuteth in his epistle to the Angell of the Church of Pergamus Apoc. 2.14.15 Apoc. 2.14.15 §. Sect. 4. Papists the greatest fauourers of fornication Neither doe the Papists in our owne times come farre behinde them for as they are chiefe patrons and maintainers of the grossest kinds of spirituall whoredome and idolatrie so are they speciall fauourers and vpholders of corporall fornication excusing it as veniall in their doctrine and approuing it as lawfull in their practise in that they maintaine the common stewes amongst them and doe not punish those at all who doe frequent them Yea and not only their grossest Diuines but their refined schoolemen yea euen their holie Thomas herein sheweth himselfe prophane and vnsound Thom. Aquin. Sum. 2.2 quaest 164. art 2.4 Sentent distinct 32. quaest 2. Ancillam for howsoeuer in some places hee condemneth fornication as a mortall sinne yet elsewhere hee saith that Fornicatio non est multum aggerenda propter maius malum vitandum Fornication must not bee much aggrauated for the auoiding of a greater euill And their caution which in latter times is giuen to their holy shauelings Si non casté tamen cautè If ye cannot liue chastly yet commit your whoredome warily is so stale and common that it stinketh and annoieth all Christendome And this is that cup of carnall fornications §. Sect. 5. The extenuating and tollerating of fornication amongst the Papists much increaseth the Popes kingdome wherewith the great whore of Babylon allureth the Kings and inhabitants of the earth to drinke also of the cup of her spirituall whoredome and as it were the great drag-net whereby she catcheth and captiueth more in her idolatries and superstitions then by almost any other meanes whatsoeuer For euery carnall man is ready and willing to imbrace that religion which fauoureth his sinne and tolerateth his wickednesse suffering him quietly to rest in it without trouble of minde or perplexitie of conscience And therefore when gracelesse men being giuen ouer to their vncleane lusts doe resolue to liue in their filthie whoredomes and whilest they professe our religion cannot so doe with any peace of conscience or quiet of mind because we teach according to Gods truth that this sinne of whoredome is hainous in Gods sight that hee who liueth in sinne is the seruant of sinne and child of death that only he who leaueth and forsaketh his sinne findeth mercie and that there can bee no true repentance and consequently no pardon but where there is an vnfained hatred of sinne a subduing and mortifying of the corruption and a rising againe to newnes of life hence it is that they giue ouer the profession of our religion as giuing vnto them no comfort whilest they continue in their wickednesse and being resolued to runne on in their course of vncleannes they adioyne themselues to the Church of Rome where this sin of
not goe single but by couples into hell §. Sect. 2. Fornicaion in some respects more hainous then either thest or murther Whereby it appeareth that howsoeuer this sinne is but lightly esteemed and turned into a iest amongst wicked men yet in this and some other respects it is worse and more pernicious to our neighbour then either theft or murther and oftentimes more vncomfortable to our owne consciences it exceedeth these euen in theft for the thiefe onely strippeth the bodie but the fornicator spoileth the soule of his chiefe ornaments puritie and chastitie the thiefe taketh away momentanie riches which oftentimes doe the owner little good and sometimes much hurt when as they through abuse become the mammon of iniquitie and furtherances in sinne but the fornicator robbeth his neighbour of Gods graces a good conscience cleannes of heart puritie of body and soule and finally of the assurance of his saluation And so also he exceedeth the murtherer euen in the act of murthering for the murtherer inflicteth deepe wounds in the bodie the which sometimes may be cured and healed by earthly meanes but the fornicator grieuouslie woundeth both his owne soule and the soule of his neighbour which no worldly thing can cure but onely the soueraigne balme of Christ Iesus his precious blood the murtherer whē he hath done his worst doth only kil the body in the meane time he who is killed being a faithfull Christian is neuer the worse because this temporarie death is but a passage into life eternall but the fornicator destroyeth the bodie and soule of his neighbour eternally by drawing him into sinne the wages whereof is euerlasting death vnlesse it bee preuented by hartie and vnfained repentance Rom. 6.23 yea and which is more horrible and vnnaturall he with the same blow also murthereth himselfe The murtherer inflicteth onely the euill of punishment the which poyson the Lord so tempereth with his gifts and graces that it becommeth a wholesome medicine to cure his seruants of their spirituall diseases but the fornicator inflicteth the euill of sinne which without repentance is accompanied with eternall condemnation And in this respect also this sinne of whoredome is most vncomfortable §. Sect. 3. The sinne of vvhoredome most vncomfortable and destitute of all peace of conscience for whereas they who commit other sinnes sinning alone may also repent alone and vpon the assurance of their true conuersion may recouer their former peace of conscience being by Gods gratious promises ascertained of his fauour the fornicator euen after himselfe hath repented of his sinne can not but be exceedingly troubled and turmoiled in his mind when as his conscience shall tell him that by his lust and vncleannes he hath brought others through his wicked fellowship into the same sinne and condemnation in which state they still remaine without repentance or at least hee their companion in wickednesse is not assured that they also accompanie him in his true conuersion But as the fornicatour sinneth against his copartner in vncleannes § Sect. 4. The fornicator sinneth against the parents and friends of the partie defiled so also against others as namely against his owne and his companions parents and neere friends first because this filthinesse causeth a tainter in the blood and with the staine thereof bringeth some blemish vpon their name though they be innocent of the fault The which so much incensed Iacobs sonnes for the deflouring of their sister because the shame thereof redounded not only to her selfe but to her father and friends for so it is said that they were grieued and very angrie because this villanie was committed in Israel Gen. 34.7 and because Sichem had lien with Iacobs daughter And this was the cause why the high Priests daughter playing the harlot was by the law of God to be burnt with fire because by her whoredome she had polluted her father as it is Leuit. 21.9 Leuit. 21.9 And secondly in that hereby robbing their children or friends of grace vertue and that chiefe ornament of chastitie they also depriue their hearts of all true ioy and sound comfort which they otherwise might haue had of them when as being priuie to their sinne they cannot looke vpon them without shame and blushing nor acknowledge them for their owne vnto others lest they may seeme to haue some interest in their faults So also they sinne grieuously against their owne children begotten in fornication and that before they are borne § Sect. 5. The fornicator sinneth against his owne children begotten in fornication and afterwards for they ingraine them in the deepe die of their sinne which wil neuer be washed out although it may be couered with their vertues and brand them with the infamous marke of bastardie before they breathe the aire They make the poore infant beare the punishment of their sinne euen whilest it selfe is borne in the mothers bellie and before it hath any name giuen it they intitle it to the infamous surname of a base bastard They also rob it of their owne loue not for any faultines in the childe but for the guilt of their owne sinne in which respect whilest it is in the wombe the mother wisheth that it may bee a false conception and abortiue and the father that it may neuer liue to see the Sunne When it is borne they are readie to thinke that when it crieth it proclaimeth their sinne and when it beginneth to speake they blush for shame when they heare themselues called vpon by the sweete names of father and mother because thereby their sinne is called to remembrance And as they do communicate to their poore children the shame and punishment of their faults so also their sinnes and corruptions themselues for they poison them in the bud and the fountaine of generation being defiled with filthie lust and vncleannes polluteth also the streames which issue from it so that it is no rare thing to see such children resemble their parents in their vnchast manners more then in their face and countenance All which iniuries they recompense by shewing themselues more iniurious for as they hated them in the birth so they neglect them commonly in their growth and make amends for their sinfull generation with giuing vnto them loose and prophane education whereby they grow in their corruptions faster then in the stature of their bodie And yet this is not halfe the mischiefe which they do vnto them for besides all this as much as in them lieth they exclude them out of the couenant of grace and blot them out of the number of Gods people and family the which the Lord will haue procreated and increased with a holie seede Matth. 2.15 whereas they remaine polluted being the children of fornication and vncleane seede of vncleane parents 1. Cor. 7.14 And if at all they bee admitted into the outward couenant and receiue the seales thereof it is not for their parents sake if they continue in their sinne
soule and bodie If wee are loth to displease mortall men from whom wee receiue worldly benefits then how much more the euerliuing God in whom wee liue mooue and haue our being Act. 17.28 and from whom we expect all our good both here in this life and the life to come and if wee feare to offend them who haue onely power to kill the bodie and can go no further Matth. 10.28 then how should we tremble and quake to commit these sinnes of vncleannesse whereby he is wrathfully incensed who is able to destroy both bodie and soule in the fire of hell Secondly §. Sect. 2. God punisheth fornication with impenitency and hardnesse of heart the Lord vsually punisheth these sinnes of vncleannes with blindnes of minde hardnes of heart carnall securitie and final impenitencie wherby it commeth to passe that fornicators are hardly reclaimed from this vice but being giuen vp to their owne vile lusts and affections and vnto a reprobate minde they continue in these sinnes not onely in their youth Rom. 1.26.28 but also in old age and euen when their bodies are impotent and disabled their minds are still vncleane and their tongues are exercised in ribald and filthie speeches so hard a thing it is to get out of the bondage of these fleshly lusts when once we are inchained with them To this purpose the wise man saith that the harlots house tendeth to death and her paths vnto the dead All they that goe vnto her returne not againe neither take they hold of the waies of life Prou. 2.18.19 And of this there may bee rendred diuers causes as first because these sins of vncleannes do bring vpon him who is defiled with them such a blockish stupiditie and senselesse sottishnes Pro. 2.18.19 The causes why fornication is accompanied with impenitencie 1. Because whoredome maketh men sottish that hee neuer thinketh of the foulnes of his sinne nor of the manifold mischiefes which doe accompanie it neither yet is capable of any admonition or instruction from others whereby he might be reclaimed for when he is once bewitched with the Syren tunes of these inticing harlots and hath receiued these poysonous potions of beastly pleasures he presently loseth the vse of his reason and vnderstanding and though hee retaineth still his outward shape yet in his heart affections and inward faculties hee is transformed into a brutish or rather blockish creature so that a man may as well with perswasion mooue a senslesse stocke or with reason disswade a dog from following his salt bitches as hee can by any waight of argument withdraw this walking blocke and this talking beast from accompanying his wicked strumpets for either the hidious noyse of his tumultuous lusts do make him deafe to all admonition or these poysonous cups of filthie pleasure doe intoxicate his minde that hee vnderstandeth not what hee heareth or finally the force of lust so violently transporteth his affections and the harlots chaines of alluring inticements do so surely inthrall him that if he heareth and vnderstandeth profitable admonitions and instructions yet he regardeth them not but cannot or will not or therfore cannot because he will not leaue his sinne to which as a voluntarie slaue he is subiected A second cause of their impenitencie is §. Sect. 3. The second cause of the fornicators impenitencie because his fin is committed in secret because their sinne is committed in secret hauing no other witnesse of their fact but God their owne conscience and Satan who hath drawne them to this sinne For as Iob saith The eye of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight and saith none eye shall see me and disguiseth his face Iob. 24.15 and hauing committed wickednesse he wipeth his mouth and saith I haue not committed iniquitie as it is Prou. 30.20 Wherof it commeth to passe Pro. 30.20 that they securely goe forward in their sinne because they want the ordinarie meanes which should bring them to amendment for when as men know not their wickednesse they cannot admonish or reproue them for it nor cure the wounds which were neuer discouered till they fester and rot in their corruptions they are exempted from shame the vsuall companion of sinne and cause of sorrow which oftentimes bringeth that repentance which is neuer to bee repented of They are also hereby priuiledged from punishments inflicted by humane lawes which are the cords of men that draw sinners vnto God and such admonishers as will make the senses conceiue them when the vnderstanding is besotted But let such men know that their secret acting of these workes of darkenesse will little auaile them for what will it profit these offenders that other men are ignorant of their faults when as they are knowne vnto their own consciences who will beare witnesse against them vnto God their Iudge who will condemne them Psal 1 39.11.12 Pro. 5.20 and vnto Satan their accuser and executioner who will torment them What will it aduantage them to shun the shame of men when as at the great day of the Lord their filthinesse being discouered they shall be disgraced before God and the blessed Saints and Angels What will it benefit them to haue escaped humane punishments which might haue reformed them and brought them to repentance when as they shall eternally be tormented in hell fire without hope of deliuerance The last cause of this impenitēcie is the sweetnes of the sin vnto a carnall appetite §. Sect. 4. The third cause of the fornicators impenitencie is the sweetnesse of this sinne to his carnall appetites and the great delight which worldly men take in perpetrating this wickednesse which will hardly suffer them to be weaned from it either with the bitternes of present euils or with the apprehension of future punishments For such neere correspondence and intimate friendship there is betweene the flesh and these fleshly lusts that the carnall man is ready to venture through fire and water and to hazard health and wealth life and lim for the satisfying of his filthie pleasure neither will hee easilie lose that which he hath so deerely bought but will rather endure all extremities then he will part with his sinne which is more deere and sweete vnto him then life it selfe By all which it may plainely appeare that these sinnes of vncleannesse are most pernicious vnto our bodies and soules in that they continue vs in impenitencie which is the certaine forerunner of eternall damnation for howsoeuer the mercies of God are most large and infinite yet are they neuer inlarged to those who continue in their sinnes though the blood of Christ be of an inestimable value yet it neuer procureth pardon for those who are still in loue with their wickednesse and howsoeuer the promises of the Gospell are most generall and indefinite yet are they alwaies limited and restrained with the condition of true repentance Lastly §. Sect. 5. The fornicator is continually tormented with vexation and cause of griefe howsoeuer
of their sinne but the precious blood of the immaculate Lambe Iesus Christ They depriue themselues of all assurance and comfort of Gods blessing vpon their mariage into which they make such a wicked entrance for how can they hope for a good proceeding where the beginning is so wicked and vnlawfull how can they expect that God will build that house whose very foundation is laid in sinne that hee will make them a happie couple who were first ioyned in fornication or cause her to become a vertuous wife vnto him who hath alreadie abused her as his strumpet Againe what greater iniurie can hee offer vnto her whom hee pretendeth chiefly to loue seeing hee exposeth her to the danger of perpetuall infamie and reproch For who hath assured him that he shall liue to solemnize the promised mariage especially seeing the Lord might in his iustice presently inflict death of bodie and soule for his sinne and if hee doe not what doth he but die a fornicatour and leaue her to liue a reputed harlot by her owne desert and others estimation But though it should be granted that he had procured from heauen a lease of his life yet what wrong in the meane time doth hee offer her to whom he pretendeth mariage seeing he maketh her his harlot before he maketh her his wife and spoiling her of her honestie and virginitie maketh her fit to enter into the stewes before he admitteth her into the honourable bed of mariage What iniurie is this to blemish her good name which he should most honour For howsoeuer hee hath by mariage cured the wound which hee hath made in her reputation so as it is not mortall to her credit yet there euer remaineth as it were a running issue of rumour and infamie or at least a foule scarre if euer it come to light in others estimation or if it remaine secret in their owne consciences which will euer after make them more iealous the one of the other Finally he sinneth against the fruite of his owne bodie in that he begetteth it of the seede of fornication imbasing it in his conception and marking it with the stampe of his sinne before it enioyeth the light of the Sunne CHAP. XIIII Of the sinne of Adulterie and the hamousnesse thereof ANd thus haue I intreated of the sinne of fornication §. Sect. 1. Of Adulterie and the kinds thereof which is that sinne of vncleannes that is committed betweene single or vnmarried persons and haue shewed the hainousnesse of it and the grieuousnesse of the punishment which doth accompanie it In the next place I am to speake of the sinne of adulterie which is that vncleannesse that is committed by those that are either married or betrothed for the law of God as deepelie condemneth and as seuerely punisheth the latter as the former as appeareth Deut. 22.22.24 Deut. 22.22.24 In which argument I will obserue the same order which I did in the former shewing first what it is and the kinds thereof the hainousnesse of the sinne and the grieuousnesse of the punishment Adulterie is the defiling of anothers bed with the act of vncleannesse as the name it selfe also signifieth For it is called Adulterium quasi ad alterius thorum accessio The which sinne is of two kinds for either it is single or double adulterie Single adulterie is that vncleannesse which is committed either betweene a married man and a single woman or a married woman with a single man Double when as both the parties are married who defile themselues one with another Concerning the hainousnesse of which sinnes I shall not neede to say much §. Sect. 2. That adultery is an hainous sinne for if the sinne of simple fornication and whoredome bee so wicked and damnable as before I haue shewed then must it necessarilie follow that the sinne of adulterie which is a finne of the same kinde Leuit. 18.20.29 Ier. 7.9 10. Ezech. 22.11 but in a much higher degree of wickednesse is a notorious crime and an horrible abomination as the Scriptures also call it which continually calles and cries at the throne of Gods iustice for fearefull vengeance vpon the offenders And therefore leauing that which hath bin said concerning the greatnesse of the sinne of fornication and the grieuousnesse of the punishment to be applied to this sinne of adulterie but with a great ouermeasure in as much as it farre exceedeth in a higher degree of wickednesse I will content my selfe briefly to adde that which seemeth to bee more peculiar to this crime both in respect of the sinne and the punishment due vnto it First then §. Sect. 3. That the adulterer sinneth against God by violating his holy ordinance the adulterer sinneth in a peculiar manner against God in that he doth in the highest degree violate his owne ordinance of marriage which is most ancient as being instituted of God in Paradise most honourable as challenging the Lord for the first author and solemnizer therof and most holie and pure as being instituted and ordained in the state of innocencie and since the fall appointed as the ordinarie meanes to preserue our bodies and soules in puritie and chastitie vnspotted and vndefiled For whereas the Lord hath ordained that by marriage there should be such a neere communion between the parties conioyned that they shuld be no more two but one flesh in regard wherof a man ought to forsake father and mother that he may cleaue to his wife louing and cherishing her as being a part of himselfe and that to these ends that they may bee preserued from whoredome and all manner of vnlawfull lusts procreate an holy seede and be mutuall comforts one to another the fornicator doth vtterly violate this holy ordinance for he disioyneth those whom God hath conioyned and breaketh the bond of holy marriage by ioyning himselfe with an harlot and becomming one flesh with her hee forsaketh his deere spouse for whose sake he should forsake father and mother and adhereth to a filthie strumpet he loatheth his wife and loueth his whore he defileth his bodie and soule created according to Gods image in holinesse and purity with whoredome and vncleannesse he begetteth an vnholy seede and basterdly brood and becommeth vnto his wife of a chiefe comforter a most grieuous tormentor filling her heart with griefe and iealousie and her face with shame when she seeth her selfe reiected and set at naught Secondly the adulterer sinneth against God §. Sect. 4. 2. He offendeth God by breaking his couenant of marriage by breaking the couenant of the Lord which was made at the solemnizing of their mariage For then they do not only make a mutual contract one with another that they wil faithfully obserue marriage fidelitie and loue betweene themselues but also they make a couenant with God in his presence and in the face of his holy assemblie that they will performe this vow and promise betweene them made and therefore when they violate this holie contract
from him to bestow vpon her louers but also in bringing into his familie an adulterous issue who deuoure the fruite of his labours and confusedly diuide his substance and patrimonie amongst his owne children In which respect the adulterie of the wife is more pernicious then of the husband because it is accompanied with more abominable deceit no man being able who hath an harlot to his wife to know his owne children from the children of a stranger whereby hee is compelled to nourish his enemies for feare of destroying his chiefest friends and to giue inheritance to the children of fornication lest otherwise through his ignorance he may perchance disinherit the lawfull fruite of his owne bodie Lastly §. Sect. 6. Adulterers rob their yoke-fellovv of their heart and affection the adulterer or adultresse rob their wife or husband of their most valued right namely their hart affection and the vse of their bodie of which there is by vertue of mariage a communion in respect of one another and a peculiar and incommunicable proprietie in respect of all other persons in the world 1. Cor. 7.4 So the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 7.4 The wife hath not the power of her owne bodie but the husband and likewise the husband hath not the power of his owne bodie but the wife And therefore in adulterie there is also included the grossest and most pernicious kinde of theft seeing married persons liuing in this sinne are not only theeues of goods but man-stealers and theeues of the bodie and person which is of much greater value Thirdly and lastly §. Sect. 7. The adulterer sinneth against his owne familie the adulterer in a peculiar manner sinneth against his owne familie both by vtter neglecting of it all his thoughts endeuours and imployments being wholly taken vp by his harlot so as he hath neither leisure nor pleasure either to spend his time in the honest workes of his calling whereby he may maintaine his charge or with any wise prouidence dispose of that which he alreadie hath whereby he runneth into wilfull beggerie not caring which end goeth forward and maketh all his familie to partake of the fruit of his sinne and feele the like want and miserie And also by bringing Gods iudgements and heauie punishments vpon the whole house for his sinne whereby it is destroyed and brought to nought For this sinne of whoredome is a fire that shall deuoure vnto destruction and which shall roote out all the adulterers increase as Iob speaketh chap. 31.14 Iob 31.14 But as the adulterer sinneth against others §. Sect. 8. That adulterers sinne most grieuouslie against themselues so most grieuously against himselfe in that he not only defileth his bodie and soule with this abominable filthines but also woundeth his conscience with a sinne which as it is in it selfe very hainous so likewise of all other sinnes most vnexcusable seeing the Lord hath not only prouided a remedie against this sin but also hath in mercie granted vnto him the vse and fruition of it namely lawfull mariage For why should hee steale of his neighbour that hath plentie of water in his owne cesterne as the Wise man speaketh Prou. 5.15.19 Why should hee delight himselfe in vnlawfull lusts with a stranger vnto whom God hath giuen a wife in whom hee may reioyce as being neere vnto him euen as a part of himselfe and who may bee vnto him if the fault be not his owne either in his choice or vse as the louing Hinde and pleasant Roe Prou. 5.19 whose breasts may satisfie him at all times and in whose loue he may delight continually Whereby it appeareth that the adulterer is a wilfull theefe who stealeth not vpon necessitie but through curious wantonnesse like a rich miser who hauing plentie of gold at his owne command steales from his neighbour brasse or copper And this is that argument which the holy Ghost vseth to aggrauate the sinne of adulterie farre aboue the sinne of theft Men saith he doe not despise a theefe when he stealeth to satisfie his soule because he is hungrie c. But he that committeth adulterie with a woman he is destitute of vnderstanding he that doth it Prou. 6.30.32 destroyeth his owne soule Prou. 6.30.32 CHAP. XVI Of the punishment of Adulterie ANd thus haue I shewed that adulterie is a grieuous sinne §. Sect. 1. That by the law of God adulterie was pun shed with death The consideration whereof should bee an effectuall argument to restraine all men from falling into it for if euery ordinarie sinne deserueth Gods anger and eternall condemnation then what fierce wrath and deepe condemnation is due vnto them who make no conscience of committing these sinnes which are so capitall and hainous But because many secure worldlings make light account of the heauiest burthen of sinne and care little for prouoking Gods wrath so they may securely enioy their carnall pleasures therefore in the next place I will also shew how fearefully this sinne is punished and that both in this life and the life to come In this life the punishment of adulterie is either ordinarie or extraordinarie The ordinarie punishment which by the law of God is to be inflicted vpon adulterers Leuit. 20.10 is death it selfe as appeareth Leuit. 20.10 The man that committeth adulterie with another mans wife because he hath committed adulterie with his neighbours wife the adulterer and adulteresse shall die the death Deut. 22.22 So Deut. 22.22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to a man then they shall dye euen both twaine to wit the man that lay with the wife and the wife so thou shalt put away euill from Israel The which law was executed with the greatest seueritie among the people of God by his owne expresse appointment for whereas other crimes were not punished with death vnlesse the party were conuicted by the direct testimonie of two witnesses at the least the Lord permitted the iealous husband to make a speciall triall of his wiues chastitie and honestie and gaue vnto him an extraordinary and most admirable meanes for the conuincing her if she were guiltie of her sinne when no witnesses could bee produced namely that shee should drinke of the cursed water which should not hurt her being innocent but rather should make her fruitfull but if shee were guiltie then vpon the drinking thereof her bellie should swell and her thigh rot and so the woman should be accursed among her people Num. 5.14.15.27.28 Numb 5.14.27 So that rather then the Lord would haue this hainous sinne of adulterie goe vnpunished he would himselfe after this wonderfull manner discouer and punish it Now this punishment of adulterie by death §. Sect. 2. That the punishment of adulterie by death is a law of common equitie seemeth to be not a meere iudiciall law which was proper and peculiar to the common-wealth of Israel but a law of common equity which bindeth and holdeth in subiection all
nations vnto it First because long before the iudiciall law was giuen the same punishment was inflicted vpon adulterrers as appeareth by Iuda his sentence against his daughter in law Thamar Gen. 38.24 namely that because being espoused to his sonne shee had plaied the harlot she should be burnt to death So when Abimilech being a king had no superiour to execute this law vpon him the Lord himselfe threatneth death against him if he abused Sara Abrahams wife Gen. 20.3.7 The same punishment also Abimilech threatneth against any of his people without exception that should touch Isaacs wife Secondly Gen. 26.11 because the Heathens themselues who had not Moses law by the light of nature inflicted the punishment of death vpon adulterers whereby it appeareth that it is not iudiciall but morall and perpetuall seeing it was common to the Iewes and Gentils Ier. 29.22.23 Lucianus Strab. geograph lib. 16. Euseb de praeparat Euangel lib. 6. cap. 8. Alex. ab Alex. lib. 4. cap. 1. Lib. 1. bell Ieth So Nebuchadnezzar caused those two adulterous Prophets Zedechias and Achab to bee burnt with fire as the Prophet foretelleth Ier. 29.22.23 So Saletus Prince of Crotone a citie of Greece enacted a law that adulterers should be burnt to death By Draco his law likewise the same punishment was inflicted vpon the like offenders In like manner this sin was capital among the Arabians as Eusebius recordeth And so also among the Gothes as Procopius writeth Finallie among the Romans adulterie was punished with death both by the twelue tablei and by their law called lex Iulia which was made by Augustustus Cesar Other nations which did not inflict death vpon the adulterers punished them with tortures as bitter as death The Egyptians decreed that the nose of the adultresse should be cut off Diodor. Sic. lib. 1. cap. 6. and that the adulterer should bee beaten with a 1000. stripes almost vnto death Zaleucus King of the Locrenses made a law that the adulterer should lose both his eies which law when his owne sonne transgressed notwithstanding that the people being inclined to pitie would haue had his fault remitted he would not condescend but caused one of his owne Aelian in varia hist lib. 13. and one of his sonnes eies to be pulled out Among the Germans as Cornelius Tacitus recordeth the adultres being stripped naked before her kindred and friends had first her haire cut off and afterwards was beaten with cudgels through the towne by her husband By all which it appeareth §. Sect. 3. An obiection ansvvered that euen by the light of nature adultery in all ages hath bin condemned punished as a capitall crime and consequently that this punishment among the Iewes was not meerely iudiciall but morall and of common equitie Neither is that obiection of any force that our Sauiour Christ refused to condemne the woman taken in adulterie seeing hee came into the world not to execute the office of an earthlie Iudge but of a mediatour who should from God procure the pardon of our sinnes he came not to condemne but to saue and to giue his life a ransome for manie againe whereas our Sauiour asketh the woman if any man had condemned her according to the law in that case prouided it seemeth thereby that if the sentence of death had been lawfully passed against her he would not haue repealed it for he came not to violate the law but to fulfill it §. Sect. 4. That Magistrates ought to punish this sinne of adulterie vvith all seueritie And therefore our Christian Magistrates are to be exhorted that they would not lightly account of this sinne of whoredome which the law of God and the law of nations hath condemned as capitall but that they would enact seuere lawes for the punishment of this sinne which is so abominable vnto God and so pernicious vnto humane societie otherwise the guilt thereof will lie heauie vpon the land and prouoke the Lord in his iust displeasure Deut. 22.22 Ezech. 22.11 not only to punish them and the whole country for their negligence and remisnesse but also to take vengeance of the offenders himselfe by his extraordinarie iudgements when ordinarie punishments are not inflicted For when Magistrates neglect their dutie in punishing this sinne then the Lord will take the sword of iustice into his owne hand according to that Heb. 13.4 Heb. 13.4 Mal. 3.5 Whoremongers and adulterers God will iudge So he saith Mal. 3.5 that himselfe would come neere vnto the people of Iuda in iudgement and would be a swife witnesse against the adulterers and Ier. 5.7.8.9 Ier. 5.7.8 he professeth that in his instice he could not spare them who were guiltie of this sinne of whoredome but would visit them and be auenged on them for this and such other abominations As therefore it is impossible for a man to take fire into his bosome or to walke vpon the hot coales and not be burnt so impossible is it that a man should defile his neighbours wife and be acquitted of the Lord as innocent as the Wise man telleth vs Prou. 6.27.29 Prou. 6.27.29 Now the punishments which the Lord vsually inflicteth vpon adulterers in this life §. Sect. 5. God punisheth adulterie by the lavv of requitall are not only the same which hee inflicteth vpon fornicators of which I haue alreadie spoken as pouertie infamie slauerie to their lusts and harlots lothsome diseases impenitencie and such like the which the Lord encreaseth according to the rule of his iustice in a due proportion to their sinne and causeth them to light much more heauily vpon the adulterer then vpon the fornicator in as much as hee much more hainouslie offendeth but also with some peculiar punishments which are more proper to this sinne As first hee punisheth adulterie by the law of requitall and as they defile other mens wiues so hee suffereth other men to abuse theirs with the like filthines and vncleannesse And this is that punishment which the Lord threatned against Dauid 2. Sam. 12.11 and 16.22 and afterwards inflicted vpon him for his adulterie with Vriahs wife 2. Sam. 12.11 Thus saith the Lord Behold I will raise vp euill against thee out of thine owne house and will take thy wiues before thine eies and giue them vnto thine neighbour and he shall lie with thy wiues in the sight of this sunne The which was accordingly executed as appeareth 2. Sam. 16.22 And this iudgement Iob to approoue his innocencie in this behalfe imprecateth against himselfe if he had at anie time polluted himselfe and his neighbours wife with this sin Iob 31.9.10 Iob 31.9.10 If mine heart hath been deceiued with a woman or if I haue laid waite at the doore of my neighbour let my wife grinde vnto another man and let other men bow downe vpon her Secondly §. Sect. 6. God punisheth adulterie with his heauie curse Gal. 3.10 the Lord punisheth this hainous sinne with his
FOVRE 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 WHEREVNTO IS ANNEXED a Treatise of Anger By IOHN DOVVNAME Batcheler in Diuinitie and Preacher of Gods word ESAY 58.1 Crie aloud spare not lift vp thy voice like a trumpet and shew my people their transgressions and to the house of Iacob their sinnes AT LONDON Imprinted by FELIX KYNGSTON for WILLIAM WELBY and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Greyhound 1609. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE IOHN LORD HARRINGTON BARON OF EXTON AND TO THE NOBLE AND VERTVous LADIE his wife I. D. wisheth all increase of grace and true honor in this life and eternall happinesse and blessednesse in the life to come IF euer there were a time Right Honourable wherein Gods Ministers should crie aloude Esa 58.1 and lift vp their voice like a trumpet to tell the people of their transgressions and the house of Iacob of their sinnes then surelie it is now in these our daies and in this our land For howsoeuer the light of the Gospell hath for manie yeeres clearelie shined among vs shewing vnto vs the way of righteousnesse in which we walking may attaine vnto happinesse and the manifold by-paths of error and sinne to the end we may auoid them and though we haue had Gods faithfull Ministers sometimes piping vnto vs the sweete tunes of the Gospell to allure vs vnto holie obedience and sometimes thundring out the dreadfull sound of Gods fearefull iudgements due to sinne to restraine vs from running on in wicked courses yet there is little reformation and amendment but rather we are growne from ill to worse and waxe euerie day more secure and sensuall in our sins And because men haue not imbraced and loued Gods truth nor submitted themselues to bee ruled with this scepter of his kingdome therfore many are giuen vp of God to their own filthie lusts and to a reprobate minde and through the hardnesse of their hearts all the meanes of their conuersion and saluation become not only vneffectuall and vnprofitable but rather cause them to bee more obdurate in their sinnes The resplendent light of the Gospell doth make them more blind so as they goe groping in ignorance euen at noone daies the sound of the word and loud cries of Gods Ministers in their eares calling them to repentance doe make them more deafe to all instruction and admonition the comfortable beames of Gods gracious promises shining vpon their hearts doe not supple and soften them but rather make them more hard and obdurate and as the Apostle speaketh 2. Cor. 2.16 the word of God which in it own nature is the sauor of life vnto life becommeth vnto them the sauour of death to their deeper condemnation And as this is the state of all the who haue sold themselues to worke wickednesse and lie frozen in the dregs of their sinnes so euen the better sort who haue giuen their names vnto Christ haue been so intoxicated with the sweete cups of prosperitie and through long rest peace and plentie haue so rusted in their corruptions that it is to be feared they will not recouer their ancient puritie and brightnesse vntill the file of affliction with an heauie hand hath come often ouer them But neither the crying sinnes of those who are notoriouslie wicked nor yet the grosse corruptions of such as make profession of religion doe cause the state of our land to bee so dangerous and almost desperate as the nice wantonnesse of sinne which maketh it impatient of the least touch for howsoeuer it is in it selfe of the most slauish nature yet is it so backed in these times with the numerous multitude of offenders and so countenanced and befriended by men of best qualitie and greatest power that it is growne to be a matter farre more dangerous to reprooue sin then to commit it especiallie when it is cunninglie acted and plainelie reprehended Gods spirituall Chirurgions may indeede in these times make as manie corrasiues as they will but if they loue their peace and life they must take heed that they doe not apply them for patients wounded with the sores of sinne when they admit them to the cure hold the dagger of reuenge in their hands readie to stab them if they but touch them to the quicke And therefore needs must these impatient patients fester in their corruptions to the verie death of bodie and soule seeing they will by no meanes indure to haue their wounds searched Neuerthelesse all this must not daunt and discourage those whom the Lord hath called to the function of the Ministerie from the performing of their dutie but the more dangerous and desperate their state is who are committed to their charge the more earnest and diligent should they shew themselues in seeking their preseruation For they ought to preferre the spirituall health of those who are by God committed to their cure before their owne temporarie life and being appointed the Lords watchmen the more securely the people sleepe in sinne the louder must they crie till they haue awakened them when they see Gods iudgements approching and readie to seaze vpon them Ezech. 33.7.8 otherwise the people shall die in their sinnes but their blood shall be required at the watchmens hands The consideration of which dutie and the intire loue which I beare to my deare countrie hath made me willing whom the Lord hath vouchsafed this great and excellent calling to beate down as much as in me lieth foure capitall sins of this land prophane Swearing beastly Drūkennes filthie Whordome and corrupting Bribery both because they are so odious and abominable in Gods sight that they make our whole countrie liable to his wrath and to stand indangered to the fearefullest of his iudgements and also because I perceiue that they are not in the wane but in the increase and that like fretting cankers they spread further and further in the body of our State so that if those members which are alreadie infected bee not either cured by Gods Ministers or cut off by his lawfull Magistrates it is to be feared that these sores of sinne will grow desperate and past hope of any cure The which my poore labours I desired should offer themselues vnto the publicke view vnder the safe-guard of you honourable patronage being mooued thereunto both by mine owne loue and your fitnesse my loue towards your Honours being chiefely grounded vpon your loue towards God and to his true religion shewed both in your holy profession and Christian practise hath imboldned me to leaue vnto the world this perpetuall testimonie of your worth and my good-will and maketh me beleeue that these my workes shrowded vnder your names shal find with you kind acceptance not vpon
estate if his meane subiects should appeale vnto him as their Iudge in euery trifling businesse and produce him as a witnesse in euery slight cause which either needeth no proofe as being a matter of no importance or may easilie be proued either by manifest reasons or more inferiour testimonies then what dishonour and disgrace doe we offer to this supreme Maiestie the most glorious King of heauen and earth when in our ordinarie speeches and businesses we doe in an idle and senselesse manner name him hauing no occasion at all to speake vnto him or inuocate him by our oathes as a witnesse or Iudge in euery trifling and needlesse businesse which either deserueth no proofe or may easily be proued by other meanes seeing he is the chiefe soueraigne and supreme Iudge of heauen and earth vnto whom we are only to appeale in matters of highest nature and greatest necessitie Lastly §. Sect. 3. That it is a great sin to svveare by the seuerall parts of Christ if according to the common practise of the sonnes of Belial wee blasphemously sweare by the seuerall parts of Iesus Christ as his flesh blood heart and such like what doe we else but as much as in vs lieth in most despitefull manner crucifie him afresh and make a mock of his incarnation and sufferings What doe wee but most vngratefully dishonour him who took vpon him our fraile flesh indured a miserable life and suffered a cursed death that so hee might worke the worke of our redemption make vs of the heires of perdition and firebrands of hell the children of God and inheritours of the eternall ioyes of Gods kingdome In a word what doe wee else hereby but causlesly aggrauate the hainousnesse of our sins and plunge our bodies and soules into a fearefull degree of condemnation Iudas is a condemned wretch in hell because hee betrayed his master vnto the high Priests to be crucified for thirtie peeces of siluer what a fearfull sentence then are they to expect who themselues crucifie and teare in peeces his most precious bodie hauing no inducement of pleasure profit or credit to draw them vnto it but through meere vanitie or maliciousnesse whereby they are readie to gratifie the diuell by despiting God himselfe The souldiers are iustly taxed and reproued for parting but the garments of Iesus Christ and therefore how much more are they worthie of rebuke and punishment who diuide and teare in peeces his glorious and indiuisible person his manhood from his Godhead his soule from his bodie and all his blessed members one from another The Iewes grieuously sinned as all confesse in crucifying the Lord of life but these blasphemers sinne in diuers respects much more grieuously for they sinned of ignorance because they did not know him to be the promised Messias these of knowledge after they haue confessed and professed that hee is the Sauiour of mankinde they called vpon Pilate to haue him crucified these crucifie him themselues and in stead of crosse and nailes they rend him in peeces betweene their owne teeth they committed this sinne but once these innumerable times euerie day in the yeere euery houre in the day speaking no oftner then they do blaspheme they sinned against him in the state of humiliation when hee was but in the forme of a seruant these after hee is exalted to glorie and maiestie sitting at the right hand of God as the soueraigne Lord and Iudge of heauen and earth Many of them were pricked in conscience and repented of their sin at the hearing of one sermon Act. 3.17 these haue no sight sense nor remorse of their sinnes though their consciences haue been often conuinced in the ministerie of the word and though the Lord hath for many yeeres together granted them the meanes of their conuersion yet they continue in their sinne and in their hardnesse of heart As therefore they surpasse them in sinne so surely they shall exceede them in punishment and as it shall be easier for Tyre and Sidon Sodom and Gomorrah at the day of iudgement then for the people of the Iewes so shall it bee easier for the Iewes at that day then for these blasphemers Thirdly we are to abhorre this vaine and prophane swearing §. Sect. 4. 3. Because vaine svvearing doth smother the chiefe graces of Gods spirit because it doth smother and choake in vs the chiefe graces of Gods spirit As for example inuocation and prayer for with what face can we presume in the time of want and affliction to call vpon that name for helpe which wee haue so often abused by prophane swearing So also faith in Christs merits for how can wee beleeue that Christs body was crucified for vs which we so often and despitefully crucifie vnto our selues afresh or that his blood shall wash away our sinnes which by impious and prophane swearing wee haue so often trampled vnder our feete as an vnholy thing making but a mocke of it It ouerthroweth also our affiance in Christ both in this life and at the day of iudgement for how can wee trust in him as our Sauiour whom we daylie despite as though he were our enemie how can wee when we are cited before the tribunall of Christ hold vp our heades with any assurance of fauour when as our consciences shall tell vs that we haue seldome remembred him but to blaspheme him and haue more often named him in our oathes then in our prayers Fourthly this vaine swearing is to be auoided §. Sect. 5. 4. Because this vice ill beseemeth a Christian 2. Col. 4.6 Ephes 4.29 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 Moreouer it is an vndoubted badge and infallible note of a prophane person who maketh conscience of no sinne but would if he might with as little danger or discredit doe it commit any manner of wickednesse And hence it is that as Salomon maketh it a true note of a faithfull man to haue a reuerent respect of an oath so he pinneth it as a badge vpon the wicked mans sleeue Eccle. 9.2 that he maketh no conscience of customable swearing For as he parallelleth and opposeth the wicked to the iust the pure to the polluted the sinner to the good man so likwise the vsuall swearer to him that feareth an oath The reason is manifest for if neither Gods
loue mercy goodnesse nor the innumerable benefits which hee hath multiplied on them can restraine them from this vaine and vnprofitable sinne wherin there is no respect so much as of any worldly good then we may vndoubtedly conclude that were it not for feare of humane lawes they would if their lusts mooued them as easilie and readilie commit adulterie theft or any other capitall sinne which haue the worldly baits of pleasure profit or preferment to allure them for he that will not sticke to offend God gratis and for no benefit will much more doe it when he is hired with pleasure or profit Fiftly §. Sect. 6. 5. Because vaine swearing is an horrible abuse of our tongues because it is an horrible abuse of our tongue when as the Lord hauing giuen this excellent member for the setting forth of his glorie we abuse it to his dishonor by blaspheming our Creator and make that which should bee the trumpet of Gods praise the trumpet of Satan to proclame warre against heauen and an open defiance against God and all goodnesse Whereby we iustly deserue seeing we thus abuse this excellent facultie of speech which the Lord hath priuiledged vs with aboue all the rest of his creatures to the dishonor of the giuer and wheras the heauens declare the glorie of God and the earth sheweth his handie worke and all the rest of the creatures in their seuerall kinds doe with their dumbe eloquence magnifie and praise their Creator we contrariwise disgrace him with hellish blasphemies and impious oathes we deserue I say that the Lord should strike vs with present dumbnes and cast vs out as hee did Nebucadnezer from the societie of men amongst the brute and sauage beasts till with him we haue learned to speake to Gods glorie and to magnifie the mercie of our Creator Sixtly we are to auoid vaine swearing §. Sect. 7. 6. Because it is a cause and forerunner of periurie 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 1. Sam 19.6.15 as appeareth 1. Sam. 19.6.15 Seuenthly §. Sect. 8. 7. Because vaine swearers haue a fearefull account to make at the day of iudgement let vs flee this prophane vice of common swearing alwaies remembring that swearers haue a fearefull account to make at the day of iudgement For if an account must be giuen of euerie idle word then how much more of euerie vaine and bloodie oath if they shall not escape punishment who haue spoken idly and vainely how fearefull shall their condemnation bee who in their ordinarie talke haue spoken impiously and blasphemouslic Eightly §. Sect. 9. 8. Gods manifold mercies should restraine vs from vaine swearing let vs call to mind the number numberlesse of Gods infinite mercies both in our creation preseruation and redemption and thinke with our selues what a foule shame it is for vs thus to offend against this maiestie which wee haue found so mercifull and gracious especially by this sin which as it is vnto him most odious in that it robbeth him of his glorie which is most deare vnto him so it bringeth no appearance of good vnto vs for whereas other sinnes haue their seuerall baites to allure vs some the baite of profit some of honour some of pleasure this sinne of vaine swearing is destitute of them all for vaine oathes are in vaine and bring no profit but losse euen the losse of Gods fauour of a good conscience the assurance of saluation and of our credit and reputation amongst the faithfull nor any pleasure and delight vnles a man should like the diuell himselfe take a hellish pleasure in acting sin despighting God but contrariwise horror of minde and the torments of an euill conscience nor any credit and esteeme but rather brand the swearer with the blacke marke of a prophane person Seeing then if God had required a great matter at our hands we should haue been readie in regard of his boundlesse and endlesse mercies to haue done it how much more should we for his sake forsake and detest this sinne of vaine swearing which hath in it not so much as any respect of the least worldly benefit He hath bestowed vpon vs whatsoeuer good things we enioy and will we not at his request part with this sinne which is not onely vnprofitable but hurtfull He is so bounteous that he hath not spared to giue vnto vs his onely begotten and dearly beloued sonne in whom hee was delighted and well pleased and that to the death euen the bitter and cursed death of the crosse and shall we be so wickedly vngratefull that we will not at his sute part with a sinne which hath in it no respect of good pleasure profit or credit and contrariwise is hurtfull and pernicious both to our bodies and soules If Gods infinite loue mercie and innumerable benefits should so worke vpon our hearts and consciences that the strongest inducements and most alluring baites should not mooue and intice to commit any sin willingly and against our knowledge then shame confusion and vtter destruction iustly attend those who either through wantonnesse or maliciousnesse fall into this sinne hauing no reason in respect of pleasure profit or credit to perswade them thereunto according to the prayer of the Psalmist Psal 25.3 Psal 25.3 Let them be confounded that transgresse without a cause But if Gods mercies will not mollifie our flintie hearts § Sect. 10. yet let his iudgements denounced against prophane swearers 9. Gods iudgements should restraine vs from this sin of vaine svvearing bruse and batter them in peeces For in this life the Lord hath threatned against wicked swearers a whole volume of his curses Zach. 5.3 Which are said to be registred in a book to shew vnto vs that seeing they are kept vpon record they shal surely be remembred Zach. 5.3 in a large volume of twentie cubits long and ten cubits broad to note the multitude of Gods plagues which shall be inflicted vpon the swearer and in a flying
and all manner of idolaters he doth not approue of vaine swearing for in his law he hath absolutely condemned this taking of his name in vaine but that wee sweare in that manner which hee hath prescribed in truth righteousnes and iudgement that is for confirming of a necessarie truth which cā by no other lawful means be cleered and not vpon euery vaine and trifling occasion with feare and reuerence of Gods Maiestie as being in his presence and not in a swaggering humour impiously and irreligiously aiming in our othes neither at Gods glory nor the good of men Others there are who are not come to that audacious impudencie to defend their vaine swearing as lawfull §. Sect. 2. The excuse of vaine swearing by custome taken avvay and yet neuerthelesse if they be taxed and reprooued for it will not sticke to pretend many excuses why either they cannot or will not leaue it Some alleage for their excuse that they haue been inured to such a naughtie custome of swearing that howsoeuer they disallow it in themselues yet they fall into it at vnawares and can by no meanes giue it ouer But did they euer indeede condemne it as a sinne and themselues for falling into it Were they euer seriously and soundly grieued at their hearts because thereby they haue displeased and dishonored God Do they lothe and hate this wicked custome and earnestly labour to weane themselues from it Alas their consciences tell them that they doe nothing lesse but either that they carelesly neglect to set a watch before their lips that they may not thus offend or that what shew soeuer they make to the contrarie they like and loue their sinne and take a pride in vsing of it Wherof it must needs follow that howsoeuer these men please themselues as though all were well and haue put their secure consciences to silence by this vaine excuse yet in truth their estate is most wretched seeing they are content to liue in a known sin without repētance which if it be finall will enter them into the certen possession of eternall death Yea but many of them will say that they repent of their sinne for after they haue vainly sworne they smite themselues on the breast and aske God forgiuenesse O blindnesse to be pitied if it were not wilfully affected Is this the mends which thou makest in hypocriticall manner to smite thy breast for piercing of thy Sauiour Is this a prayer acceptable vnto God or like to returne with fruite into thy bosome when thou askest forgiuenes with a purpose still to offend and desirest his pardon as a priuiledge by vertue whereof thou maist securely goe forward in thy sinne Is this the repentance which God requireth to smite the breast and to aske forgiuenesse with fained lips when as in the meane time the heart is not smitten at all with bitter griefe nor earnestly resolued in a true hatred to leaue this sinne so vaine and so vnprofitable If for euery oath these swearers should sustaine the least worldly losse or indure the least bodily punishment euen the losse of a groat or the smart of a phillip it would soone reclaime them from their euill custome and yet so basely doe they esteeme the saluation of their soules so little doe they feare the hellish torments so slenderly doe they regard the Lords commandement and so meane a respect they haue of his Maiestie either to loue or feare him that they cannot finde in their hearts to weane themselues from this wicked custome of vaine swearing which bringeth vnto them no benefit no not so much as any worldly profit or aduantage Say therefore no more that it is an vnresistable custome but rather thy carnall prophanenes and vtter contempt of God which continueth thee in this sinne Neither alleage any longer this vaine excuse which doth but proclaime thy follie and aggrauate thy fault making it questionable whether thy sottishnes or impietie exceede one the other For may not any other sinner after the same manner pleade possession of their sinne as well as thou may not the murtherer say I cannot leaue murthering of my neighbour because I haue bin so often fleshed by killing and slaying may not the adulterer with as good reason and more necessitie excuse his adulteries because by long custome he hath gotten such an habit of whoredome that hee cannot leaue it may not a theefe when hee is arraigned before a Iudge as well excuse his theft by alleaging that hee hath so long continued in his rapine and robberie that hee hath no power to reclaime himselfe from stealing Now if in these cases euery one would condemne such excuses as ridiculous and the excusers as outragiously impious because customable liuing in sinne exceedingly aggrauateth the wickednes of the sinner then why should wee not condemne this excuse of swearers of like folly and impietie when as being reprooued for swearing at some times they pleade for themselues that it is their ordinarie custome and therefore they cannot leaue it For if it be a sin to sweare once or twice then is it out of measure sinfull to make an ordinarie practise of it and so to bring vpon our selues an habit of swearing Others excuse themselues §. Sect. 3. Their excuse taken avvay vvhich say they think no harme that though they sweare yet they thinke no harme and therefore they hope God will haue them excused To these I answere with our Sauiour that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh and therefore if the words be prophane we may safely conclude that the heart also is polluted Mat. 12.34.35 If the heart were a good treasurie they would as Christ saith bring out of it good things euen such pure golden speeches as would indure the touch and triall of Gods word and not vent foorth nothing else but drosse and filth If pietie and the true feare of God were rooted in their hearts they would not from these good trees bring foorth such euill fruites Mat 7.16.20 Iam. 3.10.11 if they were pure fountaines seasoned with Gods grace they would neuer send forth such bitter and polluted streames neither would they blaspheme God with their mouth if they blessed him in their hearts In a word if they had any dramme of true religion seated in the heart it would bridle the tongue and restraine it from vaine swearing for what sinne will a man leaue for Gods sake if he will not leaue this which is euerie way vnprofitable and manie waies hurtfull And therfore we may conclude with the Apostle that if any man amongst vs seemeth religious and refraineth not his tongue he deceiueth his owne heart and his religion is vaine Iam. 1.26 Iam. 1.26 Neither let them thinke that howsoeuer they excuse themselues God will haue them excused seeing he hath plainely told them that they shall giue an account for euerie idle word and therefore much more for vaine and impious oathes and that when he commeth to iudge he
will passe the sentence not according to our secret thoughts but according to our words and workes Matth. Matt. 12.37 12.37 By thy words thou shalt bee iustified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Neither let them suppose that this excuse which would seeme friuolous and foolish to a mortall man will goe for currant before the most wise and iust Iudge of heauen and earth Now what Prince hearing himselfe abused to his face by the reprochfull words of his base subiect would admit of such an excuse that whatsoeuer hee spoke with his mouth yet hee thought no ill in heart and will not thinke we the Lord be as iealous of his glorie which is most deare vnto him as an earthly King or will hee in his iustice acquite such offenders vpon such friuolous and vaine pretences Others shroude their sinne vnder the example of the multitude §. Sect. 4. Their excuse answered who pretend the example of the multitude alleaging that it is the common custome of all some few onely excepted who are but too scrupulous about euerie trifle But let such know that after this manner they may excuse and countenance any manner of wickednesse seeing no custome is more common then to liue in sinne Let them remember that God hath forbidden vs to follow the example of a multitude in that which is euill Exod. 23.2 or to fashion our selues according to the world whereof we are but pilgrims if at least we be inhabitants of the heauenly Ierusalem that Christ hath chosen vs out of the world not that we should still imbrace the impious practises of wicked worldlings but that becomming his Disciples we should follow his word and holy example as our onely guides Let them consider that common vse of committing sinne doth not excuse but much aggrauate it in Gods sight and that it doth more inflame his wrath and increase the punishment when as men combine themselues to worke wickednesse Finally let them call to minde that it is the narrow path and straite gate leading to eternall life Matth. 7.13.14 which is least frequented so that the Christian may goe in it without crouding though it be not large and spacious in respect of the small number which trauaile this way and contrariwise that there is no way more commonly haunted then the broade way which leadeth to destruction and consequently that wee can haue small comfort in hauing a numerous multitude to accompanie vs into hell Others alleage in their excuse §. Sect. 5. Their excuse taken away who alleage that they sweare nothing but the truth that they sweare nothing but the truth which may lawfully be confirmed with an oath But as I haue shewed Gods name is prophaned and abused not onely although most grieuouslie when wee sweare that which is false but also when it is vsed vpon euery trifling occasion to confirme an vnnecessarie truth which either is not worth proouing or may be demonstrated by other arguments or without that reuerend and religious respect of his glorious Maiestie which he requireth Yea §. Sect. 6. Their excuse answered vvho pretend that they svveare by small oathes but will some say I auoide this danger seeing my custome is not to sweare by God but by slight and small oathes as by my faith troth by our Lady the masse and such like and therefore I am to be excused because I do not take the name of God in vaine To this I haue alreadie answered whereas I prooued that the Lord requireth that we should sweare by his name only to which I may adde that our Sauiour hath directly forbidden such kind of oathes and hath inioyned vs in our ordinary cōmunication Matth. 5.34 to vse only yea yea nay nay telling vs that whatsoeuer is more commeth of euil Though therefore it be not so hainous a sin as that horrible abusing of Gods holy name yet it is a sin seeing Christ himselfe hath forbidden and condemned it and therefore not to be entertained and much lesse excused or defended by any Christian For wee should thinke no sinne so small that wee may willingly commit it seeing the least sinne meriteth the wages of eternall death and can no otherwise be expiated and done away but by the inestimable price of Christs precious blood or if we doe let vs assure our selues it shall not be small vnto vs for the least sinne in it owne nature is hainous and vnpardonable so long as it is willingly committed and excused or defended Lastly §. Sect. 7. Their excuse answered who alleage others incredulitie they excuse themselues by alleadging the incredulitie and suspition of others which is such that vnlesse they sweare they cannot be credited and beleeued But vnto this I answere that the best way to haue our words credited is not to confirme euerie thing we speake with an oath for so our oathes becomming common and ordinarie will be as little respected as a simple affirmation nay in truth they will deserue lesse credit for it is to be thought that hee who maketh no conscience of transgressing one commandement will not make much more conscience of transgressing another he that sticketh not to vse deieration and vaine swearing will not sticke at periurie and forswearing or if he doe it is not because he wanteth an heart to doe it but rather some strong inducement to perswade him But the best way to haue our speeches credited is to accustome our tongues to speake the truth and to be of an vpright iust and vnblameable life and conuersation and so shall our word be more regarded than anothers oath for it is not the oath that giueth credit and authoritie to a man but a man to his oath and if in our whole course and cariage we clearely shew that we make more conscience of lying than another of periurie his oath will not be so much credited as our bare promise or assertion Whereby it appeareth that ordinarie swearing is either needlesse or bootelesse For if a man be of an holy and religious conuersation there will be no vse of it vnlesse it be in waightie causes wherein an oath is lawfull because his word will carrie with it sufficient credit and contrariwise if he be knowne to haue accustomed himselfe to lying dissembling and false dealing his swearing will not profit him seeing his vnconscionable falsehood doth take away all credite and authoritie from his oath But let it be supposed that though we are iust and faithful §. Sect. 8. we cannot bee credited vnlesse wee sweare yet this giueth vs no dispensation for oathes in light or needlesse occasions seeing we are rather to obey our Sauiour Iesus Christs commandement who hath forbidden vs to sweare in our ordinarie communication then by vaine swearing to gaine credit to our speeches or to satisfie such suspitious and incredulous persons who will not beleeue vs without an oath For hereby we shall approue our obedience to God by making conscience of transgressing his law
constrained in their old age to drinke water So it is said Prou. 21.17 He that loueth pastime shall be but a poore man and he that loueth wine and oyle shall not be rich And Pro. 23.21 Pro. 21.17.23.21 The drunkard and the glutton shal be poore and the sleeper shall be clothed with rags And these §. Sect. 6. The drunkard sinneth against his seuerall parts and first against his soule with many more euils this vice bringeth to the whole man Besides which common mischiefes it is also pernitious to his seuerall parts for first it infatuateth the vnderstanding peruerteth the will and corrupteth all the affections To this purpose one saith Vbi regnat ebrietas ratio exulat intellectus obtunditur consilia deuiant iudicia subuertuntur Where drunkennesse raigneth as King there reason is banished as an exile the vnderstanding is dulled counsell wandreth and iudgement is ouerthrowne With this accordeth Seneca his definition of drunkennesse Nihil aliud est ebrietas quà m voluntaria insania Drunkennesse is nothing else but a voluntarie madnesse Extende in plures dies illum ebrium habitum nunquid de furore dubitabis If this drunken habite bee continued for many daies together who would make any doubt but that the partie were out of his wits Nunc quoque non est minor sed breuior But take it as it is and it is no lesse madnesse then frenzie but only shorter Although then drunkennesse be not direct madnesse yet to speake the best it is a temporarie forfeiture of the wits and in this it must needes be confessed to be worse then frenzie in that this is violent that voluntarie this the euill of punishment but that the euill of sinne Yea this vice doth not only rob men of reason but also of common sense so as they can neither preuent future danger nor feele present smart And this the Wise man in liuely manner expresseth Prou. 23.24 where hee saith Prou. 23.34.35 that the drunkard shall be as one that sleepeth in the middest of the sea and as he that sleepeth in the top of the mast 35. They haue stricken me shall he say but I was not sicke they haue beaten me but I knew not when I awoke therefore I will seeke it yet still A notable example hereof wee haue in Lot who was so besotted with drinke and depriued of sense and reason that vnwittingly he committed incest with his owne daughters Gen. 19.35 neither knowing when they lay downe nor when they rose vp So that whilest drunkennesse lasteth it hath the same operation with deadly poison for it intoxicateth the braine benummeth the senses infeebleth the ioints and sinewes and bringeth a man into a temporarie lethargie Hence it is that Cyrus in his childhood being asked by his grandfather Astiages Xenoph. in padia Cyri. lib. 1. why at the feast hee did not drinke wine returned this answere full of wittie simplicitie Because said he I tooke it to bee poison for at the last feast I obserued that those who drunke of it were soone after depriued of their vnderstanding and senses Whereby appeareth the odiousnesse of this sinne for if it bee a hatefull thing for a man to wound his owne flesh and wilfully to maime the members of his bodie how abominable is it to wound the minde it selfe and to offer violence against our reason and vnderstanding If it be a crime to offer violence against the subiects then surely to lay violent hands vpon the King himselfe and to pull him out of his regall throne must needes be condemned as outragious wickednesse And thus the drunkard sinneth against his owne soule §. Sect. 7. How the drunkard sinneth against his body 1. by deforming it Propert. lib. 2. eleg vlt. Neither is he a better friend or lesse iniurious to his bodie for first he deformeth it and defaceth that goodly feature in which it was created according to that Vino forma perit vino corrumpitur aetas By wine beautie perisheth and the vigour of age is disabled Neither is there almost any part of the bodie which is not disordered and deformed with this vice of drunkennesse their eyes become red their face is inflamed their breath noisome their speech stammering their bodies staggering their gestures apish and all their actions foolish And hence it was that the Lacedemonians vsed to shew vnto their children their Helots and slaues in the time of their drunkennesse thinking that their vgly deformitie both in bodie and minde would be an effectuall argument to make them lothe this vice which euen at the first view shewed so odious Secondly §. Sect. 8. 2. It disableth and weakneth the bodie as it deformeth the bodie so also it disableth it turning strength into weaknesse and health into sicknesse For as the earth it selfe with too much moisture is turned into bogges and quagmires so also is the bodie thereby wholly corrupted and through the redundance of humours the naturall heate being extinguished is brought vnto grieuous diseases as dropsies gouts palsies apoplexie and such like So that euen in this respect the drunkard buyeth his beastly pleasure at a high rate Senec. epist 59. for as one saith Ebrietas vnius horae hilaram insaniam longi temporis taedio pensat Drunkennesse requiteth one houres merry madnesse with a long and tedious time of sorrow and repentance As therefore sobrietie and temperance is the best nurse to preserue health and continue strength so drunkennesse excesse and surfetting are the speediest meanes to ouerthrow thē and the readiest way which a man can take to come with posting haste to immature age and vnnaturall weaknes Lastly it shortneth the life and bringeth vntimely death §. Sect. 9. Drunkennesse shorteneth the life and bringeth vntimely death For to say nothing of those dangers vnto which they expose themselues by quarelling and brauling in the time of their drunkennes in which many haue perished and to passe them ouer who hauing lost the sterne of reason wherewith they should guide themselues haue as it were dashed against vnhappie accidents and so made shipwrack of their liues some on the land some in the water some in the streetes and some in the ditches how many are there who haue drunke themselues dead and haue presently died with the weapon as it were in their bellie so that there needed not any Iurie to go vpon them to finde out the cause of their death it being no more sudden then the cause apparant Whose deaths charitie it selfe must needes iudge most miserable seeing they die in their sins and are taken away in Gods iust wrath euen whilest they are sacrificing their soules vnto Satan But yet small is the number of those who perish in this apoplexie of drunkennesse in comparison of those multitudes whom it linggringly consumeth for it doth by little and little quench the naturall heate and drowne the vitall spirits and so leadeth men though not by so direct a passage yet but a little way
dearest children of God are not priuiledged from them nor any other pardonable sin but onely from the cōtinuing and liuing in them Againe these faithfull seruants of God did not often fall into this sin of drunkennes for Noah fell into it but once and that as it seemeth vpon ignorance because hee did not know the propertie and operation of wine the vse whereof himselfe inuented whereby hee was also the more easilie ouertaken as being ouerioyed when he tasted such excellent fruites of his owne labours And Lot was but twice ouertaken and that by the allurement of his owne daughters to which he was more apt to giue eare because their hearts being oppressed with griefe for the destruction of Sodome the losse of his goods and suddaine death of his wife he tooke more libertie in the vse of these creatures for their comfort and refreshing So that howsoeuer these holy men were ouertaken once or twice with drunkennesse yet they were no drunkards for we must put a difference betweene those who fall into this sinne through infirmitie and those who make it their vsuall practise and consequently these examples serue no better for their excuse who liue and continue in this vice then Peters once denying of his master excuseth them who make a totall and finall apostasie from Christ and his true religion Againe §. Sect. 12. Drunkards abuse the Scriptures let these men know that they horribly abuse the Scriptures when as they harten themselues in their sinnes by the example of the faithfull who haue fallen into the like for the spirit of God hath purposely recorded their slips to shew humaine frailtie that we may not rest vpon our owne strength and Gods infinite mercies in pardoning these grosse offences of his seruants that those who through infirmitie fall into the like sinnes may not despaire of his goodnesse but receiue some refreshing for their fainting soules And finally that wee may bee stirred vp with more care to watch ouer our owne hearts and seeing their falles who haue gone before vs may turne aside from these slipperie places or more warilie looke to our owne footing lest we also slipping come to the like downe-falls There is no Pilot in his right wits when hee seeth sea-markes purposely set to giue warning of rockes sands and shelues whereupon others haue made shipwracke will take occasion thereby to runne his ship vpon them but rather will imploy all his care and skill that by auoiding them he may escape the same danger let vs therefore follow the like practise and seeing these examples are recorded for our learning that hee who thinketh he doth stand may take heede lest hee fall 1. Cor. 10.12 let them not make vs more securely to goe forward in our sinnes but rather mooue vs to worke out our saluation with feare and trembling as the Apostle exhorteth Phil. 2.12 Phil. 2.12 CHAP. IX The greatnes of their sinne who purposely make others drunke ANd thus haue I not onely shewed the hainousnes of this sinne of drunkennesse §. Sect. 1. The greatnesse of this sinne who make others drunke on set purpose but also haue pulled away from it such couerings of excuses vnder which men labour to hide it and so haue laid open the filthie nakednesse of this vice to the publike view that those who are not addicted thereunto may the more detest it and that those who haue been ouertaken with it may bee mooued seriously to repent for that which is past and for the time to come constantly resolue to leaue and forsake it as being to God odious hurtfull and iniurious to their neighbours and to their owne bodies and soules most pernitious Now for conclusion of this treatise we are briefly to shew that as it is a great sinne to liue in this vice ones selfe so it is no lesse grieuous in the sight of God to be guiltie of anothers drunkennesse In which respect many in our daies fearfully offend Some delight in others drunkennesse and that in a diuers manner for some take delight to see others drunken and make a sport and may-game of their neighbours sinne as though it were fit matter to moue laughter to see God dishonored his name blasphemed his creatures abused and to behold our neighbours nakednesse and as it were from a man transformed into a beast yea in truth in a farre worse condition both in respect of his present state and future danger in that he taketh a readie course to runne headlong into hell It would bee accounted barbarous inhumanitie for a man to laugh and delight himselfe when hee beholdeth another running vpon his swords point or casting himself downe from a high rock or fallen into the fire what therefore is it but horrible impietie to solace a mans selfe in anothers sinne whereby hee is laid open to Gods fearefull iudgements and indangered to suffer eternall torments in the fire of hell Others there are who doe not onely take pleasure in seeing the drunkennesse of their neighbour § Sect. 2. Some vse all meanes to help forward others in drunkennes but also helpe him forward in this wicked course and that both by alluring inticements and also forcible constraint They allure them by giuing them bad example by drinking vnto them in shew of kindnes requiring of them that by imitation they will returne a pledge of the like loue by chalenging them to expresse their loue and honourable respect to their absent friends by drinking carouses to their health and lastly by liberall spending they care not how much for the procuring store of the choisest wines and most inticing drinkes for vnto such a height of wickednesse are men come in these our times that though the wofull teares and pitifull complaints of their poore brethren cannot wring from them one penie for the reliefe of their extreme want or so much as a peece of bread to satisfie their hunger and sustaine their liues yet are they open handed and prodigally liberall in spending their money to make their neighbours drunke that so they may make themselues merrie in beholding their nakednesse But this will make a fearfull reckoning at the day of iudgement when God and their owne consciences shall accuse them of their gracelesse mispending the Lords talents by pinching the hungrie to pamper the full by withholding drinke from the thirstie to make others drunke with too great abundance by denying a penie to the poore needie vnlesse it bee squized out of them by authoritie whereas they are willing prodigally to spend shillings and pounds in these wicked abuses which tend to Gods dishonour and the destruction of their neighbour But howsoeuer this is a high degree of sinne §. Sect. 3. Some compell others to drunkennesse yet there are others in these wretched times who climbe a step higher on this ladder of wickednesse For taking pleasure to see others drunke they do not only allure them to take more then they should but also force and
constraine them to drinke more then they would vrging it as a matter of egregious wrong and singular disgrace which they will by no meanes let passe vnreuenged if they will not answere them in their carouses So that in these sinfull daies it is counted an iniurie worthie not only ill words but also wounds and stabs if a man will not for companie grieuously sinne against God destroy his owne bodie and soule and wilfully leape into hell fire But let such ruffians know The grieuousnes of this sin that this their behauiour is in reason most absurd outragiously iniurious to their neighbours desperate wickednesse against God and most damnable to their owne bodies and soules For first it is as absurdly foolish to compell another to drinke as much as themselues who hath neither the like appetite to receiue it nor strength to beare it as to force them to eate as much as themselues they hauing weaker stomackes and worse disgestion or to reach as high they being of lower stature or to beare as much when as they are not comparable in strength seeing nature hath not dealt alike with all in the one more then in the other but hath giuen to euery one his owne proportion Againe §. Sect. 4. what greater iniurie can they offer to their neighbour then comming into their companie as a friend to vse him as an enemie thrusting him with violence into these wicked actions which will weaken his strength impaire his health shorten his life and that which is worst of all wound his conscience with sinne and destroy his soule Neither in truth is this their good fellowship better then the Spanish crueltie to the poore Indians who laboured to commend their skill by striuing who could shoote neerest vnto their hearts and to approoue their strength by contending who could giue the deepest would in their naked bodies so these men to extoll their wicked strength and drunken valour strike deepe wounds not only into the name state and body but also into the very soules of their neighbours and that not of strangers and enemies but of their most familiar acquaintance and neerest friends So also they sinne against Gods Maiestie in most desperate and despitefull manner being not content themselues to commit all that outragious wickednes before spoken of but draw others also into the like impietie like wicked traitors who doe not only themselues rebell against their Soueraigne but also force others to rise and take vp armes against him Lastly §. Sect. 5. Such sin against their ovvne soules they most damnably sin against their owne soules not only in sinking them into hell by the waight of their owne sinnes which are intolerable but also in pressing them downe into the deepest condemnation and lowest bottome of hell by adding vnto them the vnsupportable burthen of their neighbours sins vnto which they are not onely accessarie but the principall causes and chiefe authors Against this wickednesse the Lord sharply inueigheth and denounceth a fearfull woe which shall ouerwhelme those who fall into it Hab. 2.15 Habac. 2.15.16 Woe vnto him that giueth his neighbour drinke thou ioynest thine heate and makest him drunken also that thou maiest see his priuities 16. Thou art filled with shame for glorie drinke thou also and be made naked the cup of the Lords right hand shall be turned vnto thee and shamefull spuing shall be for thy glory CHAP. X. Of the meanes whereby we may be preserued or freed from this sin of drunkennesse ANd thus haue I shewed the greatnesse of their sinne who either themselues liue in drunkennesse §. Sect. 10. The meanes to preserue or free vs from this sinne of drunkennesse or draw others into this sinne the which being sufficient and effectuall to perswade all who haue but the least sparke of grace to a detestation of this vice and to a full resolution to leaue and forsake it It onely now remaineth that wee set downe briefly some meanes whereby they may be enabled to master and subdue this sinne which is so wicked and abominable and these are either generall or more proper and particular The generall meanes is prayer whereby wee inuocate the assistance of Gods spirit to strengthen vs in our resolution of leauing this sinne the diligent hearing of Gods word The generall meanes which is the sword of the spirit that killeth our corruptions and that vnresistable cannon shot which battereth and beateth downe the strong holds of sin The frequent vse of the Lords Supper wherein wee daylie renue our couenant with God that wee will forsake the diuell and all these his workes of of darkenesse Diligent meditation on Gods inestimable loue towards vs who hath not spared to giue his sonne to death for vs and the innumerable benefits which together with him he hath plentifully bestowed vpon vs both in temporall and spirituall things All which if we bee not too too vngratefull may restraine and weane vs from all those sinnes which are most deere pleasant and profitable vnto vs and much more from this sinne of drunkennesse which is in no degree good and beneficiall and in many respects hurtfull and pernicious both vnto our soules and bodies Furthermore let vs meditate vpon the death and sufferings of Christ whereby he hath shed his dearest blood to redeeme vs from these sinnes both in respect of their guilt and punishment and so shall we not if we haue any sparke of grace preferre perishing wine before his precious blood nor trample it vnder our filthie feete by wallowing in this beastly sin Let vs meditate on that vnion which is betweene Christ and vs whereby we become members of his glorious bodie and so shall we stand vpon our spirituall reputation and be ashamed to dishonor our head by drawing him as much as in vs lieth into the communication of this swinish sinne Let vs also consider that our bodies are the temples of the holie Ghost the which we shall exceedingly dishonour if by drinking and swilling we make them to become like vnto wine-vessels But if Gods manifold blessings and great priuiledges which he hath vouchsafed vnto vs will not mooue vs yet there are other arguments which may constraine vs. As first if we doe consider that the Lord beholdeth vs when as in a brutish manner wee lie wallowing in this sinne that hee is a iust Iudge who will not let such grosse vices goe vnpunished that his fierce wrath is kindled with this sinne and that it will blaze out in his fearefull iudgements vnlesse wee preuent it by speedie repentance Lastly let vs alwaies haue in minde the last and terrible day of iudgement when we shall be called to a reckoning not onely for the shamefull abuse of Gods creatures but also for al those vaine and leaud words and those wicked and prophane actions which we haue committed in the time of drunkennesse More especially that we may bee brought into a true hatred and detestation of this sinne §. Sect.
Sect. 3. The fornicator staineth his name with reproch and infamie Pro. 6.33 so also against his whole person and that both in respect of this life and also the life to come In respect of this life he sinneth against himselfe by staining his good name with reproch and infamie for he that committeth these sinnes of vncleannes shall finde a wound and dishonor and his reproch shall neuer be put away as the wise man hath told vs who approoued it for true not onely by his doctrine but also by his owne example for the excellence of his wisdom hath not to this day taken away the blemish of this follie in his excessiue multiplying his wiues concubines The which also is continually verified in the experience of other men who haue defiled themselues with this vice for howsoeuer the wound may be curable if they truly repent and powre into it the precious balme of Christs blood yet a scarre will euer remaine in their name and reputation though God in his infinite mercie after true conuersion casteth their sins behind his backe and will not remember them yet are they seldome forgotten amongst men Secondly §. Sect. 4. Fornicators transforme themselues into beasts whereas the Lord in their creation hath made them in his owne image they by this sinne transforme themselues into the similitude of beasts for of all other sinnes the sinne of vncleannes is most sensuall and brutish in which respect the fornicator in the Scriptures is compared to the brute creatures Pro. 7.22 So the wise man likeneth the foolish young man misled by the harlot vnto an oxe led to the slaughter and to a bird hasting to the snare Ier. 5.8 The Prophet Ieremie compareth them to pampred horses neying after their neighbours wife Deut. 23.18 And in the law the whore and the dogge are coupled together as fitly resembling one another in their qualities and conditions Yea in truth they are far more filthie in this kind then the beasts themselues for they haue no other law to containe them but their owne nature and sensuall appetite and therefore they doe but their kind and that for the most part moderately in their due times and seasons whereas the fornicator hauing the law of God to restraine him doth neuerthelesse not onely satisfie but also glut nature and wholly imployeth his wit and reason to strengthen him in his filthines by art when the power and abilities of nature faile him In respect of the life to come the fornicator sinneth against himselfe §. Sect. 5. VVhoredome maketh a man vnexcusable first because of all other sinnes the sinne of whoredome maketh him most vnexcusable when in the great day of the Lord he shall be called to a reckoning for where as other sinnes may haue some colour of excuse drawne either from vnauoidable necessitie or want of conuenient meanes to shun them the fornicator can haue no such pretence because the Lord hath offred vnto him a remedie to preuent this sin namely lawfull mariage whereby he may bee preserued from it 1. Cor. 7.2 according to that 1. Cor. 7.2 To auoide fornication let euerie man haue his wife and let euerie woman haue her own husbād In which respect he is like vnto a thiefe which liueth by the common spoile not for want but when as hee may haue sufficient maintenance at his owne command by lawfull meanes not for any vrgent necessitie but for vaine and foolish curiositie Prou. 9.17 because stollen waters are sweet and the bread which is gotten guilefully hath a pleasant taste Neither let any man here obiect his pouertie and want of meanes to maintaine a wife and such a charge as vsually accompanieth mariage for seeing we cannot liue nor mooue but by Gods blessing we may more hopefully expect it when we liue according to his holy ordinance then when wee continue in sinne and prouoke his wrath by the common breach of his commandements But though hereby we should be brought into penurie yet better it is to want wealth then a good conscience and to liue in a poore estate in this life which is short and momentarie Luk. 16. hauing the assurance of Gods fauour and hope of future glorie then to haue the rich gluttons plentie here to bestow vpon our carnall lusts and afterwards to bee tortured in the euerlasting torments of hell fire Secondly §. Sect. 6. The fornicator excludeth himselfe out of the ioies of heauen and casteth himselfe into hell the fornicator liuing in his sin without repentance excludeth himselfe out of the ioyes of heauen and plungeth body and soule headlong into hellish torments Concerning the former it is said that no a Apoc. 22.27 and vncleane thing shall euer enter into the ioyes of the new Ierusalem and much lesse these who are defiled with the most polluting sins of fornication and vncleannes that b 22.15 whoremongers shal be excluded out of these eternall ioyes and haue no part in this heauenly c 1. Cor. 6.9 Gal. 5.19.21 Ephes 5 5. inheritance prepared for the Saints as appeareth by manifold testimonies of holy Scripture And for the other the Scriptures plainly testifie that whoremongers hold the direct course which leadeth into hell and euerlasting condemnation Prou. 2.18 and 7.27 and 9.18 so the wise man saith that the harlots house tendeth to death and that her guests are in the depth of hell And the holy Ghost plainely telleth vs that amongst many other hainous sinners the whoremonger shall haue his part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Apoc. 21.8 Apoc. 21.8 Now what desperate follie is this for a brutish pleasure which is vaine and momentany to hazard the losse of the eternall ioyes of Gods kingdome And for the quenching of their burning and beastly lust to kindle not onely the flame of Gods wrath but also the dreadful fire of hell wherein they shall eternally bee tormented both in soule and bodie CHAP. VIII That fornication is the cause of many other grieuous sinnes ANd thus haue I shewed that the fornicatour sinneth hainously both in respect of God his neighbour §. Sect. 1. That fornication is the cause of adulterie and all abominable vncleannesse and himselfe Now I am further to prooue that as this sin of whoredome is in it selfe exceeding sinfull so also it is the cause of diuers other grieuous sinnes for when the conscience is defiled with this polluting sinne it is made fit to admit and intertaine the foulest vices and most enormous crimes and such a large breach being made therein it is easily ouerflowed and drowned with a flood of wickednesse More especially fornication is the cause of greater sinnes of the same kinde as for example of adulterie for it is vsually seene by common experience that a young fornicatour maketh an old adulterer and hee who in the prime of his age maketh no conscience of defiling his neighbours childe ripening
maligne his person must bee exposed to all dangers in reuenge of her quarrell That I may say nothing of his continuall hopes feares despaire griefe ielousies quarrels truces wherewith he is no otherwise tormented then if hee were daily vpon a torturing rack sauing that himselfe chuseth his tormentor and voluntarily indureth this hellish punishment In which respect this sinne of vncleannes is by one compared to an infernall fire Hierom. O ignis infernalis luxuria cuius materia gula c. whose matter or nourishment is gluttonie and drunkennesse the flame burning lust the sparkles corrupt speeches and filthie communication the smoke infamie and disgrace the ashes vncleane filthinesse and the end hell torments Neither are base and effeminate men onely subiect to this tyrannical slauerie but euen the most strong and valiant §. Sect. 6. That the most vvise and valiant become slaues to their harlots being first conquered vvith their owne lusts the wisest and best qualified are in no better case when they haue giuen themselues ouer to bee ruled with their filthie affections for to say nothing of the thrice valiant Hercules who hauing vanquished many monsters was afterwards made through the violence of his lusts a base slaue to Omphale and changed his club and lions skinne into a spindle and distaffe receiuing his worke by taske among her maides nor of Sardanapalus the great king of Assyria who was so basely inthralled with his lusts that he vsed to weare womens apparrell and to spinne amongst his harlots the Scriptures themselues doe offer vnto vs two notable examples the one of the strongest the other of the wisest amongst meere men who being first made slaues to their owne lusts were afterwards subiected in the basest thraldome vnto their concubines and harlots The strong Sampson who with the iaw bone of an asse slew a 1000. men was so basely deuoted to the harlot Dalilah that when he was bewitched with her allurements he could not conceale from her his chief secret which imported him no lesse then his life though he had often experience of her treacherie falsehood And Salomon so much admired for his wisedome was so besotted vpon his wiues and concubines that they withdrew his heart from God who had inriched him aboue all other with his gratious benefits and inticed him to ioyne with them in their grosse idolatry So that no strength is able to incounter the violence of these fleshly lusts no wisdome can priuiledge men from being deluded and abused with the cunning wiles of these filthie harlots Thirdlie §. Sect. 7. God punisheth the fornicators bodie vvith lothsome diseases God punisheth the fornicator in his bodie with grieuous sicknesses and lothsome diseases for so wisely hath he ordred it by his wisdome and prouidence that they who who will taste the honie of this sinne shall also feele the sting of punishment for it spendeth the vitall spirits consumeth and extinguisheth the naturall heate and moisture which are the onely preseruers of health strength and life whereof followeth the corruption of the blood dissolution of the sinewes rottennes of the marrow aches in the ioynts cruditie in stomacke paine in the head lamenesse in the limnes gouts palsies and innumerable diseases Besides all which naturall and ordinarie sicknesses and infirmities the Lord hath of late punished this sinne with that most lothsome and desperate disease which is so odious euen to carnall men that all nations are ashamed to owne it whereof it is that it is diuerslie called by diuers people as the Neapolitan Indian and French disease which was neuer heard of in the daies of our ancestours till men in an vnusal manner multiplying their filthie lusts the Lord not much aboue an hundred yeeres-since brought vpon them this vnusuall punishment which is now growne almost as common as the sinne The consideration whereof should mooue all-men whose liues are more deere vnto them then their lusts and whose health and strength is more valued then a short and brutish pleasure to leaue this sin and loath these harlots who in this respect may not vnfitly bee compared to sweete but poysonous potions which delight in the taste but kill in the disgestion or vnto bandogs sauing that these hurt by fighting they by fauning these wound with biting they with kissing and wanton dalliance Or like the Iuie which whilest it seemeth louingly to imbrace the tree adioyning sucketh from it the naturall sap and moisture and so causeth it to rot and perish Lastly §. Sect. 8. God punisheth fornicators in their posteritie as the Lord punisheth this sinne in the fornicators themselues in regard of their owne person so also in respect of their posteritie As sometimes he punisheth them with barrennesse whereby their offpring is vtterly cut off and as it were dried in the spring according to the saying of the Prophet Hos 4.10 They shall commit whoredome and not increase Hos 4.10 Sometimes he visiteth the sinnes of these fornicators in their vncleane issue and pulleth them vp as soone as they begin to take roote because such pernicious weedes are not fit to cumber his Church or common-wealth In which respect Iob calleth whoredome a sire which deuoureth to destruction Iob 31.12 and wholly rooteth out a mans increase With which accordeth the saying of the sonne of Syrach namely that the harlots children shall not take roote nor her branches bring footh fruite Eccles 23.25 And if they liue and continue vpon the earth the Lord commonly giueth them ouer to patrizate and follow the father in his sinnes so as vsually the whorish issue may bee no more easily knowne by resembling their parents in their face and countenance then in their leaud liues and vnchaste conuersation CHAP. XI Of the spirituall punishments which God inflicteth vpon fornicators ANd these are the temporall punishments which are inflicted vpon fornicators §. Sect. 1. God subiecteth fornicators to his fierce vvrath besides which the Lord imposeth vpon them many spirituall iudgements as first he subiecteth them to his wrath and heauie displeasure as the Apostle witnesseth Ephes 5.3.6 where he saith Ephes 5.3.6 that for these sinnes of fornication vncleannesse and such enormous crimes commeth the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience and therefore it behooueth vs to mortifie these earthly lusts Col. 3.5.6 as he exhorteth vs Col. 3.5.6 that we may not incurre the heauie displeasure of our dread Lord and Soueraigne for if we feare to prouoke against vs the iust wrath of an earthly prince because in the light of his countenance is life Prou. 16.14.15 and 20.2 and his fauour is as a cloud of the latter rame whereas contrariwise the feare of a king is like the roring of a lion and his wrath is as the messengers of death then how much more should wee auoide those sinnes which prouoke the heauie wrath of the king of kings whose voice is like the dreadfull thunder and whose wrath causeth death eternall of
heauie curse and malediction for howsoeuer the curse of the law belongeth generally to all transgressors yet in some speciall manner it is denounced against this sinne of Adulterie and therefore the Prophet foretelleth that when they of the captiuitie of Iudah should take vp a fearefull curse against any it should bee in this forme that the Lord would make them like vnto Zedechiah and like Ahab two notable adulterers as appeareth Ier. 29.22 Ier. 29.22 So the Lord saith in his law that when the adulteres had drunke the cursed water is shuld be turned into bitternesse and cause her bellie to swell and her thighe to rot and the woman should be accursed among her people as it is Numb 5.27 Numb 5.27 §. Sect. 7. The punishment of adulterie in the life to come But showeuer the Lord to shew the riches of his mercie to all repentant sinners and to make the impenitent much more vnexcusable doth sometimes forbeare to inflict these punishments vpon adulterers in this life yet will hee most surely and most seuerely punish them in the life to come For if fornicators shall be depriued of the ioyes of heauen and haue their portion in hell fire euen in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone as before I haue shewed then surely the adulterers whose sinne is much more vnexcusable and hainous shall be plunged into a farre deeper degree of condemnation and be much more exquisitely tormented in those hellish torments And these are those intollerable and eternall punishments which are in so many places of the holy Scriptures denounced against adulterers some whereof I will annex that who so wil may search and examine them 1. Cor. 6.9.10 Gal. 5.19.21 Ephes 5.5 Apoc. 21.8 and 22.15 CHAP. XVII Of the meanes whereby we may be preserued from whoredome ANd thus haue I spoken of the sinnes of vncleannesse §. Sect. 1. The first means is to reclaime our willes from vncleannesse by considering euils which the doe accompanie it both of fornication which is that filthinesse that is committed betweene single persons and of adulterie which is committed betweene married folkes and haue prooued that they are not only hainous sins but also that they are attented vpon with innumerable mischiefes and punished with fearefull punishments both in this life and the life to come Now in the last place I will set downe some meanes whereby wee may be the better inabled to preserue our bodies in puritie and chastitie and bee either restrained or reclaimed from whoredome and vncleannesse The which meanes are either common preseruatiues from all manner of filthie lusts or more proper remedies against adulterie Concerning the former if we would be preserued from whoredome and all manner of filthinesse it behooueth vs first to reclaime our willes and to worke in our hearts and affections an vtter hatred and detestation of this sin so as we may desire nothing more then to be preserued from it if we be yet innocent or at least may be reclaimed if we haue offended For as it is in vaine to prescribe good medicines to such a patient as being in loue with his diseases will not receiue them so it is in vaine to thinke of meanes to preserue vs from sinne if wee still haue a liking of it or of remedies to cure our spiritual diseases if we be not come to an earnest desire and hearty resolution to part with them To this purpose therefore let vs in the first place often meditate with our selues of that which hath been alreadie spoken both concerning the hainousnes of the sinne and the greatnesse of the punishment As for example that it is in a high degree a notorious breach of Gods commandement the transgression whereof is accompanied with a fearefull curse that is is a badge of such an one as God hateth and a notable fruite of the flesh in which whosoeuer liue shall die eternally That he who committeth it grieuouslie sinneth against God his neighbour and himselfe and that in manie respects as hath been shewed That it is a cause also of many other sinnes the least wherof deserueth eternall death That howsoeuer carnall men make it their idoll and chiefe delight yet in truth it is a fearefull punishment of diuers other grieuous sinnes That it selfe also hath many fearefull punishments attending vpon it for it ruineth a mans estate it exposeth his name to infamie and reproch it maketh him a slaue to his owne filthie lusts and a vassall to an odious strumpet it infatuateth the mind and bridgeth vpon the bodie lothsome diseases and vntimely death it subiecteth a man to Gods fearce wrath and causeth impenitencie and hardnesse of heart it setteth the offender vpon a continuall racke and haunteth him like a hellish furie and in a word it dispossesseth him of the ioyes of heauen and casteth him headlong into the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone And if hauing put into the one skole these manifold euils of sinne and punishment we also put into the other the pleasure and profit of this sinne and consider with our selues how that we vndergoe all these mischiefes for the satisfying of our brutish lusts and for the inioying of a vaine short and beastly pleasure it is not possible if wee be not altogether blockish and void of common sense but that we should hate and abhorre this sinne and earnestly labour in the vse of all good meanes whereby we may bee preserued and deliuered from it Now these meanes which may bee vsed for this purpose are manifold §. Sect. 2. The second meanes is to purifie our hearts from filthinesse first wee must labour to purge and purifie our hearts from vncleane lusts as being the verie fountaines of all filthinesse and pollution and to withstand to the vttermost of our power the first motions and inclinations which draw vs vnto this sinne For as Christians ought to bee so farre off from committing these works of darkenes that they should not so much as take their names into their mouthes as the Apostle telleth vs so also they should not giue them the least intertainement into their hearts but as soone as the tentation or motion vnto vncleannes is cast into their mind they are at the first to reiect it as abominable and not to reuolue it in their thoughts nor to fight with these vncleane lusts as it were at handi-blowes but rather by skilfull shunning and auoiding of them For if we suffer them to rest any while in our hearts they will be able to make a strong partie of our owne corruptions and the longer they are retained the more hardly they will be repelled To this purpose Ambrose speaketh Quum alijs vitijs potest exspectari conflictus 1. Cor. 6.18 hanc fugite quia non potest aliter melius vinci Whereas saith he in some other vices wee may abide a conflict wee are to flie from these sins of vncleannesse as being the best meanes to get the victorie ouer them In
Let not the Sunne goe downe on your wrath And so much for the meaning of the words Now I will intreate of their seuerall parts Sect. 4. Of iust anger And first concerning iust anger what it is and what is required in our anger that it may be iust and holy The definition of iust anger T this anger is an holy and reasonable desire of reuenge stirred vp in vs vpon iust waightie and necessary causes whereby wee being after a lawfull manner angry with our owne and others vices sinnes rather then with the persons doe desire iustly to punish and reuenge the vices and sinnes to the end God may be glorified the parties amended and that the anger of God being pacified may be auerted not onely from the party offending but also the Church and common wealth First then it is required to holy and lawfull anger that the cause thereof be iust now the iust causes of anger are diuers First when wee are moued therevnto with a zeale of Gods glory The first cause of iust anger the glory of God for when we see God dishonoured and his glory defaced it is not onely lawfull to be angry with the offenders but also necessary for we professe our selues to be Gods subiects now we know that no good subiect can with patience endure to heare or see the glory of his Soueraigne impeached wee professe our selues Gods seruants and what good seruant can abide to see his maister disgraced wee professe our selues Gods children and good children are more grieued offended when they perceiue that their parents are any wayes abused or iniured then if the iniuries were offred to themselues if therefore we be loyall subiects faithfull seruants and louing children wee cannot choose but bee incited to a holy anger if we see our glorious Soueraigne our good maister and gratious father by any meanes dishonoured When Moses saw that the children of Israell had contrary to Gods expresse commandement reserued Manna till the next morning Example hee could not containe himselfe from shewing this holy anger when hee saw his Lord and maisters will not obserued Exod. 16.20 Num. 12.3 Exod. 16.20 So that though Moses were the meekest man that was on earth yet could he not with patience endure to see Gods ordinance contemned In like manner when he saw that honour and glory which was due onely to God almightie deriued to a base and brutish Idoll he was prouoked to an holy anger and so wholy possessed with a diuine and heauenly rage that hee not onely breaketh the two Tables written by Gods owne hand but sharpely reuengeth this idolatry with the death of three thousand of the offenders Exod. 32. So that though the people were dearer to him then his owne life yea then the saluation of his owne soule Verse 32. Num. 25.7.8 yet was the glory of God more deare and precious vnto him then eyther of both Phinees also when he saw God dishonoured with that shamelesse sinne of Zimry and Cozby being prouoked with an holy anger he reuenged this dishonour with the death of both the offenders Thus also was Elias zealous for Gods glory 1 Kin. 19.14 because the Children of Israell had forsaken his couenant cast downe his alters and slaine his Prophets And thus was our Sauiour Christ possessed with a feruent zeale of his fathers glory Iohn 2.17 Iohn 2.17 If therefore we would approue our selues to be Gods Children wee must follow their example and for as much as nothing more dishonoureth God then sin nothing should offend and displease vs more then sinne whether it be in our selues or in our neighbour When therefore wee fall into sinne wee are to be offended with our selues 1 Cor. 11.31 that so we may auert the Lords anger from vs for as they which iudge themselues shall not be iudged of the Lord so they who are angry with themselues for sinne shall escape the Lords anger And this our anger must proceed to a holy reuenge Those who haue offended by surfetting and drunkennesse are to punish themselues with fasting and abstinence Those that haue wallowed themselues in voluptuous pleasures are to subdue and mortifie them though they bee as deare and precious vnto them as their right hand and eie Those who haue defrauded their neighbor by purloyning away his goods are with Zacheus to make restitution foure fold Luke 19.8 And as we are bound by the law of charitie to loue our neighbours as our selues so also to bee angry with them as with our selues namely with this holy kinde of anger for sinne Whensoeuer therefore wee see them by their sinnes dishonour God we are to bee displeased therewith and so farre forth as the limits of our callings extend to shew our selues offended according to the example of the Prophet Ieremie who because the people would not heare the word of the Lord was euen filled with diuine wrath Ier. 6.10.11 Ieremie 6.10.11 But how cold mens zeale of Gods glory is in this age frozen in the dregs of sin too lamentable experience sheweth for first who almost is angry with himselfe for his sins in this respect because he hath by them dishonoured God euery one sheweth spleene enough if his sinnes receiue condigne punishment but hauing to do with themselues in respect of the sinne it selfe they are like milde doues without gaule The adulterer is much displeased if for his sinne he be enioyned to maske in a white sheete though therby he haue deserued death but the poyson of his sinne is most sweet to his enuenomed appetite The couetous extortioner is much offended if hee bee iustly depriued of that riches which hee hath vniustly gotten but he is not angry with his sinne into which hee is fallen by vniust comming by them The blasphemer is enraged if he be but reproued for his blasphemy though by the law of God he deserueth to die for it but he is nothing displeased with himselfe for dishonouring the Maiestie of God In a word euery one is angry with the smallest punishment yet not moued with the greatest sin but if we would be angry and sin not we must not be so much displeased for incurring that punishment which we haue iustly deserued as that by our sinnes we haue dishonoured God And the like abuse there is of our anger towards others men are soone stirred vp to choller against their neighbours vpon euery slight occasion and shew of iniury offered to themselues though it be but an vnkinde word or a mistaken speach or but a strange countenance but when God is dishonoured his name blasphemed his religion derided his Sabaths prophaned his whole worship and seruice contemned they can looke vpon the offenders with a smiling countenance and so confirme them in their sinne or if they be angry they will eyther not be seene in it at all or else they will shew it after so cold a manner that it shall hardly be discerned Whereas if
picture because it had a spot of dirt vpon it or his that should so extreamely dote vpon the rare workmanship of so excellent a feature that hee also would be in loue with the dirt for the pictures sake on the other side commend his wisdome who should so like the picture as in the mean time he disliketh of the deformity So alike foolish is he who will be angry at the person of man it selfe which was formed after Gods owne image because this image is spotted defiled with sin or he who will like and approue of such filthy corruption and deformities wherewith it is defaced but he is truely wise who so hateth the polluted spots of sinne that in the meane time he loueth Gods excellent workmanship and so esteemeth of the workmanship that he is much displeased with the pollution which deformeth it But the practise of the world is far otherwise for men will hardly bee friend to the person but they will be a friend to the sinne also nor an enimie to the sin but they wil withall maligne the person or else that which is worse they will hate the person of their neighbour and loue his vice And so much for the obiect of iust anger Sect. 12. The time of iust anger The fourth thing to be considered in iust anger is the time which must be short Not that it is vnlawfull to continue long in anger if it continue iust but least our holy anger by reason of our corruption degenerate into malice For as the most pure wine doth in time waxe sower vpon the dregs so our most holy anger if it be long retained is in daunger of receiuing some sowernes of malice from the dregs of our corruption The safest therefore and best course is quickly to be appeased especially if the party offending shew signes of repentance either for his sin towards God or his iniurie offered vnto vs for seeing vpon harty sorrow God pardoneth and forgiueth let vs not retaine that which he remitteth And so much for the time Sect. 13 The ends to be propounded in iust anger The last thing to be considered is the end which if we would haue our anger iust and holy must be iust and holy also The end of our anger is iust and holy when therein we propound vnto our selues eyther the glory of God or the publike good of the church or common wealth or the priuate benefit of him who either suffereth or doth the iniury The glory of God First for the glory of God wee set it forth by our anger eyther when being priuate men we shew our selues his children and seruants by manifesting our hatred and detestation of sin in word or countenance and so adorne the profession which we professe or being Magistrates doe become his instruments in punishing sinnes and executing iustice if therefore either priuate men or Magistrates propound vnto themselues this maine and principall end in their anger it is iust and holy The second end is 2. The good of the Church common welth the good of the Church and common wealth which end though it appertaine vnto all which are members of these bodyes yet doth it more properly belong vnto Magistrates who are to shew their anger in punishing sinne not onely that ciuill iustice which is the proppe of the common wealth may bee maintained but also that Gods anger which hangeth ouer whole Countryes where sinne is countenanced or not iustly punished may be auerted for if sinne be punished by men in authoritie God will not punish the common wealth for it Whereas otherwise if Magistrates wincke at sinne and so neglect their dutie imposed by God the Lord will in anger take the sword of Iustice into his owne hands and punish not onely the malefactour for offending but the Magistrate for not executing his dutie yea the whole Common wealth which is stained and polluted with their sinnes Examples hereof are plentifull in the word of God Examples for the sin of Zimry with Cozby Numb 25 God sent a grieuous plague amongst the people but after Phinees had executed iustice by slaying both the offenders the plague ceased For the sin of Achan Ios 7. God tooke away the hearts from the people so that they fled and some of them fell before the men of Ai but when the malefactor was iustly punished Gods anger was appeased Iudge 21 Because the Beniamites did not punish but rather countenance the sin of those who so shamelesly did abuse the Leuites Concubine we know what followed not onely the offenders but also the whole tribe some few excepted were attached by gods heauy iudgement If therfore Magistrates would haue the Lords anger auerted either from themselues or the common wealth they are to shew their anger in punishing sin if in drawing out the sword of iustice against iniquity they propound vnto themselues the good of the Church and common wealth their end is iust and holy and their anger also The third end of iust anger 3. The good of the party who suffered the iniury is the good of the party who suffereth the iniury for hereby the offender is restrained from committing the like when either priuate men sharply reproue him or Magistrates seuerely punish him for his offence whereas if neyther priuate men doe by their anger shew their dislike nor Magistrates inflict punishment for his misdemeanour he is ready to redouble his iniuries The last end is the good of the party who by offering the iniury prouoketh vs to anger 4. The good of the partie who offered the iniury For priuate men are to be angry with their neighbour not because they maligne him or seeke his hurt but because they may discourage him in his sin and so work his amendment And in like manner Magistrates must shew their anger in punishing offenders not to reuenge themselues on their persons but that they may seeke their good in reforming their vices For what greater good can a man doe his brother then to reclaime him from his sin which otherwise would destroy both body and soule by remaining in it Obiection But here it may be demanded how he seeketh his good and amendement when the punishment is capitall Answere I answer first in those cases there is a comparison of the publike good of the common wealth with the priuate good of the party offending which is to be neglected in respect of the other if therefore his offence be such as deserueth death he is to be punished with death that the burthen doe not lie vpon the land Secondly I answere he doth the partie good by bringing him to the sight of his sin and repentance by apprehending the paine of the punishment whereas otherwise hee would desperately runne on in his sinnes and so cast away both body and soule To preuent therefore cure this desperate disease it is necessarie to apply desperate phisick and to destroy the body
tame and gentle as the Cowe or Calfe Esa 11.6.7 according to the prophecie Esa 11.6.7 The Woolfe shall lie with the Lambe and the Leopard shall lie with the Kid and the Calfe and the Lion and the fat beasts together and a little child shall leade them and the Beare shall feede with the Cowe and their young ones shall lie together not that regeneration doth take away nature and the affections but because it doth partly subdue their violence and furie and partly sanctifieth and reformeth them so that whereas they were hurtfull and pernicious now they are good and profitable to themselues and others the qualitie and the obiect of them being altered Their loue which was immoderately set on the world and the pleasures of the flesh is now fixed vpon God their neighbour and spirituall things Their ambtious hope which expected nothing but honors and riches now longeth after the presence of God and fulnesse of ioy in the heauenly Ierusalem Their timorous feare wherby they were restrained from doing good and constrained to doe that which was euill because they would not displease men is now a notable bridle to curbe in their vnlawfull desires and a sharpe spurre to pricke them forward in the course of godlinesse because they would not offend God and whereas before it was a corrupt fountaine from which nothing did spring but polluted streames of sinne whose descent is into the deepe gulfe of eternall perdition now it is become the Welspring of life to make vs auoid the snares of death Prou. 14.27 as it is Prou. 14.27 So likewise rash and vnbridled anger which before regeneration caused men to rage against the person of their neighbour doth now oppose it selfe against sinne and vniustice only whereby God is dishonored and the Church and common-wealth damnified Do not therfore hereafter excuse thy furious rash anger by alleaging thy nature for thou mightest as wel say I cānot abstaine from it because I am carnall and vnregenerate as because I am hastie by nature for those who haue laid aside the old man and are renewed by Gods spirit haue this affection partly tamed and subdued and partly sanctified reformed and made fit for necessarie profitable vses whereas on the other side they that let the raines loose to this corrupt affection were neuer washed with the water of Gods spirit and consequently while they continue in this state cannot enter into the kingdome of heauen Ioh. 3.5 Iohn 3.5 But that we may neuer alleage this vaine excuse let vs consider further that it is no better then Lazers ragges to couer the deepe festred sores of our corruption or then Adams fig leaues to hide the nakednesse of sinne which may be as fit a vizour to disguise euen the most vglie vices as this of anger for nature corrupted prouoketh not onely to rash anger but also to all outrages And therefore the murtherer by as great shew of reason might excuse his murther because he is by nature cruell or the adulterer his adulterie because he is by nature lecherous or the theefe his theft because he is by nature couetous as the hastie man his anger because he is by nature cholericke As therefore if a murtherer or theefe should come before a Iudge and excuse his fact by saying it was his nature and therefore he could not chuse but commit it the Iudge would answere that it was his destinie also that he should be hanged So when wee shall bee arraigned before the Lord chiefe Iustice of heauen and earth the alleadging of our corrupted nature wil be so farre from excusing vs that it alone will bee sufficient to condemne vs. And so much for the first sort of anger which is to be seen in angry and cholericke men The second sort is of such as are slow to anger §. Sect. 2. 2. Anger which is slovvly entertained but long retained but being incensed are hardly pacified And these are like vnto more solid timber which is long before it be kindled but being kindled continueth long in burning As these are better then the other in respect of their slownesse to wrath so they are farre worse because they continue in it for anger retained becommeth hatred which is an affection farre more pernicious then anger it selfe and much more incorrigible for as rash anger is most commonly ioyned with repentance so this inueterate anger is alwaies ioyned with perseuerance in euill And he that is subiect thereunto doth not onely fall into sinne but also is resolued to continue in it yea he taketh delight therein oft times by meditating on reuenge as we may see in Esau who was resolued to retaine his anger against Iacob till his fathers death and in the meane time comforted himselfe by thinking on reuenge Gen. 27.41.42 Gen. 27.41.42 But if wee would bee the children of our heauenly father we must resemble him not onely in slownesse to anger but also in swiftnesse to forgiue and though our brother offend vs seuentie times seuen times yet must we continually bee readie to imbrace reconciliation Mat. 18.22 Matth. 18.22 and so wee shall not be ouercome of euill but ouercome euill with goodnesse as the Apostle exhorteth vs Rom. 12.21 Rom. 12.21 Whereas if we continue in malice we shall make our selues like vnto Satan and subiect to Gods wrath Matth. 7.2 For with what measure wee mete it shall bee measured vnto vs againe Matth. 7.2 And as we forgiue men their trespasses so will our heauenly father forgiue vs Mat. 6.14.15 §. Sect. 9. Hastinesse to anger and slovvnes to reconciliation Matth. 6.14.15 And so much for the second sort The third sort is of them who are easilie prouoked vnto anger and being prouoked will neuer be reconciled These men are monsters in nature and flat opposite to the Lord for whereas he is slowe to anger and readie to forgiue they are most slowe to forgiue and most prone to anger This anger I know not how to expresse nor to what I may compare it seeing naturall things cannot resemble it because it is monstrous and against the nature of all things sauing man For the most fierce Lions and cruell Tigers haue some cause which incenseth them to anger and some measure and end of their furie after it is prouoked and therefore they are far worse who are angrie without a cause and know not how to make an end Seeing therefore naturall things are not fit to resemble them let vs consider artificiall They are like vnto tinder which being kindled with the least sparke will also retaine the fire till it be consumed But herein they are vnlike the tinder may easilie be extinguished but their anger can by no meanes bee mitigated the tinder doth but consume it selfe or at the least those things which are neere about it but those that are frō them furthest distant are often scorched with the burning heat of their furious passion It is like vnto wild fire which
fallen into them For anger casting a mist of perturbation before the sight of reason maketh men vnable to iudge of good or euill right or wrong and whereas reason in it owne nature iudgeth that which is right anger maketh that seeme right which it iudgeth If therefore wee auoide those things most carefully which hurt the eyes or if they bee hurt vse such medicines as are fit to cure them because the eye is the light and guide of the whole bodie with how much more attentiue care ought wee auoide anger that blindeth reason seeing it is the light and guide of the soule which onelie eye of humane direction being put out like Polyphemus wee wander in the desarts of sinne and wickednesse If men abhorre drunkennesse and that worthilie because it maketh them differ from brute beasts onely in shape of the bodie why should they not for the same cause hate this vice of anger which like a burning ague doth so distemper disturbe the mind that while the fit lasteth it vttereth nothing but rauing Secondly §. Sect. 8. 2. Jt inflameth the soule with the heat of surie as anger hurteth the soule by blinding reason so also it doth macerate and vex it by inflaming it with furie for what greater torment can bee imagined then to haue the minde distracted vpon the racke of rage As therefore wee would account him a madde man who with his owne hands should set his house on fire and consume it so alike mad is hee to bee thought who will set his soule on fire with the raging flames of anger wherein it is not onely tormented in this life but also without repentance in the life to come it shall bee tormented euerlastingly because vniust anger is murther in Gods sight as appeareth Matth. 5.12 Matth. 5.22 and murtherers shall not inherite the kingdome of God but haue their portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Reuel 21.8 Reuel 21.8 Seeing therefore anger inflicteth on the soule the wound of sinne and sinne vnlesse it be cured with the soueraigne salue of Christs merit causeth death let vs carefully arme our selues against the violence of this passion and manfully repell this fierie dart with the shield of faith Yea let vs so strongly curbe it in with the raines of reason that no outward iniurie pricke it forward to seeke vniust reuenge For as we would condemne him of follie who when a wrong were offred him by another should in reuenge wound his owne bodie so more foolish is hee to bee esteemed who when another offereth him iniurie doth in seeking cruell and vniust reuenge wound his soule with sin And so much for the euils which anger bringeth to a mans selfe §. Sect. 9. The euils which anger bringeth to our neighbour 1. It ouerthroweth all friendship Now wee are to intreate of the euils which it bringeth to our neighbour First it ouerthroweth that excellent and comfortable vertue to mankind true friendship for there was neuer any friendship so inuiolable which anger if it were admitted hath not violated And hence it is that wise Salomon counselleth vs not to make friendship with an angrie man because he will bee sure to breake it Pro. 22.24 Prou. 22.24 Well therfore may that speech of Inno to Alecto be applied to anger Tu potes vnanimes armare in praelia fratres atque odijs versare domos Virg. Aeneid lib. 7. Thou it is who canst arme most louing brethren one against the other and ouerthrow whole houses and families with contentious discord Secondly §. Sect. 10. 2. It prouoketh men to offer iniurie it prouoketh to offer all indignities and wrongs to a mans neighbour as also to reuenge the smallest iniuries without all proportion For men incensed with anger will wittingly and willingly reuenge those iniuries which haue vnwittingly and vnwillingly been offered for angry words they will giue blowes for blowes wounds and for wounds death And therefore the Wise man saith That anger is cruell and wrath is raging Prou. 27.4 Prou. 27.4 Yea it prouoketh men not onely to reuenge small iniuries but also no iniuries for anger rageth euen against the innocents and that oftentimes because they are innocent and but too vertuous as the furious man imagineth And this is euident in the example of Cains anger against Abel Sauls against Ionathan and Dauid Nebuchadnezzars against the three children Herods against the innocents the Scribes and Pharises against Christ as before I prooued But as anger causeth men to be hurtfull to all others Anger most hurtfull to a mans owne familie so especially to those whom they should most loue cherish and defend that is they who are of a mans owne familie who because they are necessarilie conuersant with them are continnallie subiect and euen exposed to their furie and outrage the wife to their bitter speeches if they doe not worse that is like mad men beate their owne flesh the children to furious and vnreasonable correction the seruants not onelie to reuiling speeches but also to cruell stripes and blowes so that as one saith well we may know an angrie man if wee but looke in the faces of his seruants Plutarch de cohib irac §. Sect. 11. The euils which anger bringeth to common-wealth namely by their scarres and bruises And so much for the priuate euils which accompanie vniust anger Now we are to speake of the publike Vniust anger is the cause of all tumults and vprores seditions and conspiracies massacres and bloodie wars yea the ouerthrow and confusion of all cities and common-wealths It is the cause which inciteth the Magistrate against the subiect and the subiect against the Magistrate the Prince against the people and the people against the Prince kingdome against kingdome and nation against nation and that not onely vpon waightie causes but also vpon trifling occasions For as to make a furious and vnquenchable flame it is not materiall how small the fire is that kindleth it so the matter bee apt to receiue it wherein it is kindled for one coale is enough to burne a whole citie if it fall among flaxe and one sparke if it light in tinder or gunpowder so it mattereth not how small the cause is which inflameth anger for if the minde which receiueth it be subiect to be inflamed it is sufficient to set on fire and consume whole Kingdomes and Common wealths especially if power be correspondent to the violence of the affection Infinite examples might be brought to make this manifest Examples Gen. 34. as of Simeon and Leuie who in their anger put a whole Cittie to the sword though their quarrell were but to one man Of Abimelech Iudg. 9. 1 Sam. 22. Hest 3. who in his fury destroyed all the cittie of Sichem of Saul destroying Nob of Haman who being incensed onely against Mordecay laide a plot for the destruction of the whole nation of the Iewes But I shall
liuing Whereby it commeth to passe that the people wanting instruction are destroyed for want of knowledge and remaining blinded with ignorance are made an easie pray to bee seduced and mislead into errors and heresies by the Priests Iesuites Papists Brownists Familists and all other sectaries and wicked heretiques Of all which mischiefes the corrupt bribing which is vsed in these dayes is the principall cause for if it were not for the gifts of the purse the gifts of the mind would be respected and preferred But let all such corrupt patrons know that they are no better then sacrilegious theeues in the sight of God and men who by robbing the Church of such liuings which are dedicated and consecrated vnto God for holy vses do make both thēselues and their families liable to Gods heauie plagues and fearfull iudgemēts For if Balthasar was cut off in Gods wrath for drinking in the vessels of the Temple which his predecessor Nebuchadnezer had vniustly brought into his treasurie then what shall become of them who haue not onely the most part of their plate made of Church-mettall but also haue sacrilegiously taken the bread which they eate and the meate and drinke which they continually feede vpon Dan. 5. out of the Churches storehouse If Ananias and Sapphira were smitten with present death for keeping backe part of the price which was raised out of their owne possessions after it was consecrated to the Churches maintenance then what death and condemnation is due vnto them who violently rob and spoile the Church of her owne reuenues and lawfull right vnto which God in his word and good Princes by their lawes haue intitled it and wherewith others tendring more Gods glorie and the flourishing estate of the Church then their owne particular haue richly and religiously endowed it Secondly by this bribing §. Sect. 2. By bribing sufficient Ministers are corrupted euen those Ministers which are able to teach the people are so corrupted that they speake not those things which are profitable but such things as are plausible to their benefactors they daube ouer their faults with vntempered morter promising peace where the Lord denounceth warre and immunitie from punishment when the sword of Gods iudgement is alreadie drawne and readie to strike And of this corruption the Lord accuseth the Priests of Iudah Mich. 3.11 The heads thereof iudge for rewards Mich. 3.11 and the Priests therof teach for hire and the Prophets therof prophecie for money c. CHAP. VI. That the sinne of bribing is most pernicious to the briber himselfe ANd thus it appeareth that the sinne of bribing is pernicious both vnto Church and Common-wealth §. Sect. 1. Bribers depriue themselues of a marke of Gods children Now in the last place it followeth that I shew and prooue that as bribers are bad vnto all others so they are worst of all to themselues in respect of the manifold euils which they bring vpon their owne heads for first as they depriue themselues of a notable signe of the child of God who shall dwell in his holy mountaine and be an inheritour of the kingdome of heauen which is not to receiue rewards against the innocent Psal 15.5 so they take vpon them the marke of destruction and condemnation and carrie as it were vpon their sleeue the badge of a wicked man So it is said Prou. 17.23 Prou. 17.23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosome to wrest the waies of iudgement Psal 26.10 And these are the properties whereby Dauid describeth a bloodie or hainous sinner Psal 26.11 In whose hands is wickednesse and their right hand is full of bribes Secondly §. Sect. 2. Bribes blind the eie of the minde corrupt the iudgement wheras men chiefly excell the brutish creatures in the light of reason and in the vse of the vnderstanding and of a sound iudgement gifts and rewards blind the eie of the mind and the affections being therewith corrupted doe so corrupt the iudgement also that they cannot discerne betweene right and wrong truth and falsehood but like beasts follow their sense lusts and passions rather then the direction of their reason and vnderstanding And this argument the Lord himselfe vseth to inforce his prohibition concerning taking of bribes Exod. 23.8 Thou shalt take no gift for the gift blindeth the wise Exod. 23.8 Deut. 16.19 §. Sect. 3. Bribes make men base and sordidous and peruerteth the words of the righteous So Deut. 16.19 Thirdlie if a man suffer himselfe to be corrupted and ouerswaied with gifts and rewards though in his owne nature he be of neuer so generous and free a spirit yet in short time it will make him so base and sordidous that there is no pray of such smal value which will not make him stoope to seaze vpon it no course or carriage so inhumane dishonourable and dishonest which he will not be content to take vse for the inhaunsing of his gaine This the wise man obserued in his owne experience Prou. 28.21 Prou. 28.21 To haue respect of persons is not good for that man will transgresse for a peece of bread And the Lord accuseth the rulers of Ierusalem not onely for peruerting iudgement but also that they were base and sordidous in their bribing polluting Gods name by their iniustice for handfuls of barlie and peeces of bread Ezech. 13.19 Ezech. 13.19 In which respect such corrupt Iudges are fitly compared to a paire of scoles which when they seeme most equall will incline to either side by the addition of the least waight and turne againe to the contrarie side when that waight is ouerpoised with a greater Fourthlie §. Sect. 4. Bribing maketh a man obnoxious to Gods fearefull iudgements 2. King 5.16.21.27 Iob 15.34 this sinne of bribing doth make a man liable and obnoxious to Gods fearefull iudgements both in respect of his person and state Of the former we haue an example in Gehezi who taking an vnlawfull bribe from Naaman had that heauie punishment of lothsome leprosie inflicted both vpon himselfe and all his posteritie and for the other it is said that fire shall deuoure the houses of bribes Iob 15.34 And howsoeuer men thinke by receiuing rewards to peruert iustice and truth to aduance themselues and theirs to great wealth and plentie of all things yet in the end this riches wil melt and vanish away and those who lately flourished in their vniust courses shall be brought into pouertie and calamitie according to the saying of the Wise man Prou. 21.6 Prou. 21.6.7 The gathering of treasure by a deceitfull tongue is vanitie tossed to and fro of them that seeke death 7. The robberie of the wicked shall destroy them for they haue refused to execute iudgement §. Sect. 5. Briberie bringeth Gods curse woe and destruction Deut. 27.25 Esa 5.20.23.24 Fiftlie it bringeth vpon those who are corrupted with it Gods heauie curse and malediction as appeareth Deut. 27.25 Cursed be
he that taketh a reward to put to death innocent blood It maketh them subiect to that fearefull woe denounced Esa 5.20 Woe vnto them that speake good of euill and euill of good Which put light for darkenesse and darkenesse for light c. 23. Which iustifie the wicked for a reward and take away the righteousnesse of the righteous from him Yea it bringeth vpon them vtter destruction For as the fire deuoureth the stubble and as the flame consumeth chaffe so their roote shall be as rottennesse and their bud shall rise vp like dust because they haue cast off the law of the Lord of hosts and contemned the word of the holie one of Israel As it is vers 24. Lastlie §. Sect. 6. Briberie disinheriteth men of heauen by these bribing courses they disinherite themselues of their heauenly patrimonie and set to sale the kingdome of heauen for earthly and base prifes for they that take rewards against the innocent shall neuer dwell in Gods holy mountaine Psal 15.5 as it is Psalm 15.5 So the question being asked who should dwel with the deuouring fire and with the euerlasting burnings that is with the Lord who is called a consuming fire Deut. 4.24 Heb. 22.29 Deut. 4.24 Heb. 12.29 answere is made Hee that walketh in iustice and speaketh righteous things refusing gaine of oppression shaking his hands from taking of gifts c. Hee shal dwel on high Esa 13.15.16 c. as it is Esa 33.15.16 So that he who gaineth by oppression and filleth his hands with bribes can neuer indure Gods glorious presence but shall be consumed like stubble with this deuouring fire To the same purpose is that Pro. 15.27 Prou. 15.27 He that hateth bribes shall line whereby contrariwise is implied that he who loueth bribes shall not liue neither the life of grace in this world nor the life of glorie in the world to come By all which it is cleare and manifest that the briber loseth in his greatest gaine for whilest by his wicked and vniust courses he compasseth some earthly trifles he forgoeth all his title and intrest in Gods glorious kingdome and through his worldly prophanenesse and sottish follie he doth with Esau make sale of his spirituall birthright for a messe of pottage or such like transitorie vanities of like value and lesse necessitie Whilest he prouideth for his bodie hee destroyeth his soule whilest he laboureth after earthly things which are vaine and momentany he loseth heauenly things euen that superexcellent and eternall waight of glorie 2. Cor. 4.17 And whilest he hourdeth vp the rewards of iniquitie and gold which shall perish with him he forgoeth the fruition of the immortall God in whose presence is fulnesse of ioy and at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore Psalm 16.11 Psal 16.11 §. Sect. 7. The conclusion And thus haue I shewed the greatnesse of this sinne of briberie and the manifold euils which it bringeth both to priuate persons and societies to whole cōmon-wealths and to the briber himselfe Now as this sinne is of extraordinarie strength to hold men in subiection vnto it both in regard of the corruption of mans nature which is most prone to intertaine it and in respect of the vniuersalitie of this sinne and the mightie patrons which both countenance it with their practise and defend it with their power so my earnest prayer vnto almightie God is that he wil ioyne with my labours a more then vsuall blessing and an extraordinarie vertue and power of his holy spirit to beate downe this strong hold of sinue and to bring vs in subiection to his will not onelie in things profitable and gaineful but also in those which seeme accompanied with losse and hindrance That so respecting not our owne particular gaine but his glorie and doing him faithfull seruice in this life we may raigne with him in eternall glorie in the life to come The which mercie hee vouchsafe for his Christs sake to whom with the Father and the holie Spirit bee all honour and glorie praise power and dominion now and for euermore Amen FINIS Faults escaped Pag. 84. line 31. reade deridetur p. 101. l. 35. r. sinners p. 111. l. 34. marg r. their p. 124. l. vlt. r. our owne p. 129. l. 36. r. run secretly p. 131. l. 35. r. and labour p. 138. l 6. r. stop p. 144. l. 2. r. theft euen in theft p. 150. l. 5. r. example for the same sin the. p. 174. l. 19. r. by inflicting p. 197. l. 3. r. that they be not p. 200. l. 11. marg r. Eccles 3.4 p. 201. l. 35.36 r. whom they see outwardly p. 203. l. 25. r. vultus A TREATISE OF ANGER VVherein is shewed the lawfull laudable and necessarie vse of iust and holy Anger and what is required thereunto AND AFTERWARDS IS DECLARED what corrupt and vniust Anger is the kindes causes effects and properties thereof together with the preseruatiues and remedies whereby it may be eyther preuented or cured and expelled By IOHN DOVVNAME Batchelar in Diuinitie and Preacher of Gods Word PROV 26.31 Hee that is slow to Anger is better then the mightie man and hee that ruleth his owne minde is better then hee that winneth a Citie LONDON Printed by T. E. for William Welby dwelling in Paules-Church-yard at the signe of the Grayhound 1609. TO THE RIGHT Honourable Sir Thomas Egerton Knight BARON of Ellesmere Lord Chancellor of England and one of his Maiesties most honorable priuie Counsell my very good Lord health and prosperitie with increase of all spirituall graces in this life and eternall happinesse in the life to come HAuing had through your Honourable bountie a part of the Lords Vineyarde allotted vnto mee his most vnworthy woorkeman by your Honour his most worthie Steward to the end I should plant and water purge and prune it I thought it my part not onely to performe my duetie in this behalfe in such measure as God enableth mee but also to present vnto your Honour the first fruites of my labour which haue yet offered themselues to publike view to the end that I might thereby both shew my selfe not altogether negligent in our great Lord and Maisters businesse and also giue some token of most obliged dutie and humble thankfulnesse to you his Honourable Steward by whose appointment I haue obtained a place wherein I may imploy my paines whereas otherwise I should eyther haue stood idle in the market place or else beene compelled to haue digged in another mans ground with great labour and little fruite If these my first fruites seeme vnpleasant in your most learned and iudiciall taste eyther impute it to the immaturitie caused by their short time of grouth and small-experienced skill of the Vintager or else consider that they are destinated to a physicall vse for the purging away of choller and therefore though they bee not pleasant in taste yet may they bee profitable in operation Such as they are in all humilitie