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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20760	Foure treatises tending to disswade all Christians from foure no lesse hainous then common sinnes; namely, the abuses of swearing, drunkennesse, whoredome, and briberie. Wherein the greatnes and odiousnesse of these vices is discouered; and the meanes and remedies, which may either preserue, or weane men from them, are propounded. Whereunto is annexed a treatise of anger. By Iohn Dovvname Batcheler in Diuinitie, and preacher of Gods word.	Downame, John, d. 1652.; Downame, John, d. 1652. Spiritual physicke to cure the diseases of the soule, arising from superfluitie of choller, prescribed out of Gods word. aut	1609 (1609)	STC 7141; ESTC S110222	260,958	336

they are of one nature and are both direct witches who equally labour to enrich Satans kingdome both with their owne soules and with the soules of others who are seduced by them So among bribers there are some who may be called good in comparison of others who take rewards to right the others wrongs and releeue those whom others by their vniust sentences haue oppressed notwithstanding these are bribers too corrupt vnrighteous and naught although not altogether of so malignant a disposition as the other For it is as great iniustice to inforce a man to buy that which is his owne alreadie as to giue vnto him that which of right belongeth to another and hee that goeth thus farre to make iustice which is in her nature free to become venall and of a slauish nature within a while will be so blinded with gifts that he will not sticke to set iniustice also to sale and as one saith Qui non erubescat dicere Greg. lib. 12. Moral quid mihi dabis vt tibi iustitiam faciam nonne simile est ac sidicatur quid mihi vultis dare vt abnegem officium perdam deum vendam That is He that blusheth not to say what wil you giue me and I will doe you iustice is as readie to say what will you giue me and I will denie to execute iustice neglect my dutie and sell God himselfe Howsoeuer it is it cannot be but great preiudice to the vprightnesse of a Iudge and a shrewd presumption of his corruption when as hee receiueth gifts of those who haue suites depending before him for as a wife or maide would incurre the danger of iust suspition of hauing an vncleane heart who being solicited by a fornicator to commit whoredome should receiue his gifts although she should denie his suite for howsoeuer in word she refuse his wicked motion yet indeed she receiueth pledges of his loue so likewise are such Iudges not without cause to bee suspected who receiue gifts of those who labour to peruert iudgement for howsoeuer in outward shew they make profession of integritie yet in action they receiue the pawnes of vnrighteousnesse which will cause them to preiudice the cause and to hault in the administration of iustice and to respect the person of one more then of another and the cause for the persons sake Fourthly §. Sect. 9. Briberie is a cause of treacherie and treason the sinne of bribing is pernicious to the common-wealth as it is a cause of all treacherie and treason against the State For he that will not sticke to sel iustice and iniustice will not sticke to set the common-wealth to sale also and betray it into the hands of the enemie for large gifts when he doth but get opportunitie and can doe it safely secretly and without danger Of this great Philip of Macedon had often experience in his time and therefore he thought no castle so impregnable no fort so strong but that there might be found roome and passage for an asse laden with gold to enter into it But much more doth this corruption abound in our times for who seeth not that it is an vsuall thing in the time of warre as the prouerbe is Argenteis hastis pugnare to fight with siluer pikes to vndermine a State with siluer pick-axes and to batter downe the walles of the best defenced Citie with these golden bullets Neither do the great Commanders of these times vsually bring their forces against any countrie or citie or venture to winne it by inuasion and assault before they haue first made way vnto themselues by large gifts and by corrupting bribes haue made a great partie of the aduerse side or at least some speciall men who may giue them from time to time secret intelligence of all affaires of the State of oportunities to bee vsed and impediments to be remoued and who will when occasion serues betray their countrie as much as in them lieth into the enemies hand And by this meanes more cities are sacked and more countries subdued then by force of armes and dint of sword yea in truth so doth this bribing corruption infect all States in these daies that were it not that the Princes and gouernors being taught by manifold experience the greatnesse of this danger had a most vigilant eye to foresee and spie out these mischiefes and a seuere hand to punish trecherie when it is discouered scarce any State would remaine vnshaken and vnruined by these corrupt courses Lastly bribing is pernicious to the common-wealth §. Sect. 10. Bribing bringeth the common wealth to destruction as being in it selfe a notable meanes to bring it to destruction for not onely it ouerthroweth iustice and truth which are as it were the sinewes wherewith all States are strengthened and held together and euen the verie pillars vpon which the good and safetie of all common-wealthes are built which being taken away the State must needs bee weakened dissipated and brought to ruine but also it inflameth the fire of Gods wrath against that countrie where it much aboundeth and bringeth downe his fearefull iudgements vpon it whereby it will soone be destroyed though there were no enemies to oppose against it And as this truth is warranted by manifold experience of these times so by the infallible word of God which cannot lie Pro. 29 4. So Prou. 29.4 A King by iudgemen maintaineth the countrie but a man receiuing gifts destroyeth it The Prophet Ezechiel also reckoneth this sinne of bribing amongst those capitall sinnes which moued the Lord to bring vpon Ierusalem destruction and desolation Ezech. 22.12.14.15 Ezech. 22.12 The Prophet Micah likewise hauing shewed that all sorts of rulers amongst the people of Iuda were corrupted with bribing saith that for this cause Zion should bee plowed as a field and Ierusalem should bee made an heape of stones and the mountaine of the house as the high places of the forest Mich. 3.11.12 Mich. 3.11.12 CHAP. V. That the sinne of bribing is excceding hatefull to the Church BVt as the sinue of bribing is pernicious to the common-wealth §. Sect. 1. Bribing is the dore whereby insufficient Ministers enter so likewise it is exceeding hurtfull to the Church For as Iudas being possessed with greedie couetousnesse cared not to betray our head Iesus Christ for a reward saying vnto the high Priests What will you giue me and I will betray him so the greedie patrones of these dayes intending onely their owne gaine sticke not to betray the body of Christ to wit his Church into the hands of Ieroboams Priests made of the basest of the people in the first place demanding with Iudas What will you giue me neuer regarding in the meane while how few their graces bee whom they present so their gifts be manie nor how vnfit they are to teach the people so they are sufficient to bring large rewards or at least to subscribe vnto bonds by which they exclude themselues from the greatest part of their

persons from vnlawful concupiscence they must learne to ground it not vpon carnall respects as vpon beauty personage riches friends no nor yet vpon their morall vertues and other excellent parts for then the causes being taken away their loue also must needs cease as we find by daily experience in many who hauing married in the burning and almost raging heate of their loue haue afterwards come to as great a lothing one of another when either they find themselues disapointed and vnsatisfied in their hopes or the cause of their loue quite taken away or decaied but they must ground their loue vpon the loue of God and performe it one toward another in obedience to his commandement as also vpon the bond of mariage which nothing can dissolue but death or adulterie wherby there is such a neere vnion betweene them that they are no more two but one flesh so that though all other causes faile yet they are to continue their loue towards them because they are parts of themselues Ephes 5.28.29 and members of their owne bodie And therefore when they are faulty wounded and diseased with infirmities and corruptions they are not to cast them of and to seeke for new changing their true mēbers as it were for woodden legges and armes but ther to vse all good meanes whereby they may bee cured and amended And thus haue I shewed what fornication and adulterie is the hainousnes of the sinnes §. Sect. 10. The conclusion of this treatise and the grieuousnes of their punishments together with the meanes whereby wee may bee preserued from them now it onely remaineth that I earnestly desire the Lord the fountaine of all puritie chastitie and holinesse that hee will with his holie spirit blesse that which I haue deliuered to publike view that it may be effectuall to those that reade it either to restraine them from filthy lusts if yet they bee not defiled with them or to reclaime them from this filthinesse if alreadie they haue beene defiled with it that so they together with all the Saints of God beeing washed and clensed with the liuing waters of his word and spirit may be presented vnto him glorious and vndefiled without either spot or wrinckle and so beeing sanctified may bee admitted as citizens of that pure citie the new Ierusalem and as heires of that glorious kingdome with Christ which his most precious bloudshed hath purchased for vs. The which mercie the Lord vouchsafe vnto vs euen for the same his most deare sonnes sake to whom with the father and his holy spirit be ascribed al glorie and praise power maiestie might and dominion both now and for euermore Amen FINIS A TREATISE WHEREIN THE SINNE OF BRIBERIE IS DISCOVERED and displayed that it may be abhorred and auoided CHAP. I. Of the occasion of this Treatise AS there is great friendship §. Sect. 1. That the sins of couetousnes are most hardly cured and an inseparable league betweene corrupted nature and all manner of sinne whatsoeuer so this inuiolable amitie doth no where more manifestly appeare then betweene it and the sinnes of couetousnesse Wherof it commeth to passe that whereas other sinnes either lurke in corners as being ashamed to shew themselues or hang downe the head when they are discouered and reprooued selfe-guiltinesse taking from them all apologie and excuse these sinnes of couetousnesse are partly so couered and hid out of the sight of the offender with carnall loue and partly so gilded ouer with glorious pretences and as it were fenced in on all sides with excuses which partialitie maketh seeme impregnable that they dare vaunt themselues in open view stand in their owne defence and with an audacious fore-head incounter all opposers yea such sure possession do vices of this nature take of the hearts of men and so strongly are they backed with the multitude and qualitie of the offenders More danger in reprouing sinne then in committing it who all with vnited forces stand vp both by word and example in their defence that commonly the reproofe is made more vnpardonable then the sinne and whilest the vice though vnmasked stareth in mens faces without shame or blushing the reprehender is discountenanced if not persecuted and punished and his reasons are not onely reiected as weake but also exploded as ridiculous Of this we haue an example in our Sauiour Christ himselfe §. Sect. 2. The former point cleered by example for whereas when he sounded the sad tunes of the law against sin in generall and sought to affect the people with this mournfull musicke he onely complaineth that they did not weepe Luk. 7.32 it is said when hee went about to perswade them not to set their hearts vpon the earthly Mammon the couetous Pharises laughed him to scorne Luk. 16.14 So when Ezechiel preached the word of God vnto those whose hearts went after couetousnesse Ezec. 33.31 they gaue him the hearing but when he had said what be could against their sinne they mowed at him with their mouthes and derided him for his labour And so when Paul spake against the Idoll Diana Demetrius and the craftsmen not so much in heat of their deuotion as for the losse of their gaines which they formerly enioyed by making filuer shrines vnto their goddesse A 19.24 were at the hearing of this doctrine filled not onely with anger but also with outragious furie whereby they brought the whole Citie into an vprore and filled it with confusion laying violent hands vpon Paules companions when as the Apostle himselfe was out of the way Neither can Gods Ministers intreating of the like argument expect better successe in these worser times and corrupter age of the world wherein mens goodnes is measured according to their wealth and not their vertue and euerie one esteemed according to the quantitie of his riches without any respect of the meanes whereby he hath compassed them The which was some discouragement vnto me §. Sect. 3. Impudencie of sinne a discouragement to the reprouer intending to speake and write against one particular branch of couetousnesse the sinne of briberie because I feared lest when I had taken all the paines I could in disswading men from this vice I might iustly complaine with the Prophet that I haue spent my strength in vaine and that the word of the Lord is made a reproch vnto me and in derision daylie Ier. 20.8 For who seeth not that this sin of briberie is growne vnto a common practise and vsuall fashion hauing both multitude of offenders to defend it and the greatnesse of the delinquents to grace and countenance it In so much as now it is made a note of a braue minde to receiue great gifts and not to take baser bribes or to stoope vnto euerie sordidous pray Quis nisi mentis inops oblatum respuit aurum Yea now it is counted a signe of inciuilitie not to accept of all proffered kindnesses and a badge of follie and sottish

stupiditie to bee bashfull in exacting bribes when the partie is backward in tendring of them Howbeit on the other side §. Sect. 4. Gods Ministers must reprooue those sinnes which they haue small hope to reforme considering with my selfe that Christ inueighed against the Mammon of iniquitie though he were derided that Ezechiel preached against the sinnes of the people though his sermons were but like the pleasant songs of a cunning minstrell to make them merrie that Paul neuer ceased to reproue the idolatry of the Ephesians though he were persecuted for his paines that being called to bee Gods Ambassadours we must be readie for the deliuerie of of our message not onlie to accompanie Esay in the Kings court but also Ieremie in the stockes and dungeon and that being appointed the Lords watchmen Ezech. 33.8 we ought to tell the people of their sinnes vnlesse we would haue their blood required at our hands therefore remoouing out of sight all impediments I resolued to intreate of this argument and to inueigh against this sinne the loue of my countrie the respect of my calling and the necessitie of the times so requiring it For who may not plainely perceiue §. Sect. 5. That the sinne of briberie hath corrupted most states and conditions of men that doth not wilfully shut his eyes that where this sinne of bribing raigneth Rulers are corrupted Iustice peruerted impunitie admitted and together with it all sinne and wickednesse the whole state of gouernment disioynted and disordred Neither hath this contagion tainted one place alone but hath infected and poysoned the most part if not the whole state of Christendome and as it was truely said in the waining and declining estate of the Romane Church and monarchie Omnia venalia Romae all things at Rome are set to sale so is it but too truelie verified in these our daies both of that place which is now the common market not onelie of temporall but also of spirituall things as dispensations and pardons for sinnes yea euen of the ioyes of heauen and likewise of the most parts of Christendome which are exceedinglie ouerspread and corrupted with this vice For is not that found true in the common experience of these times which the Wise man obserued in his daies Eccles 10.19 that monie answereth vnto all ruleth all disposeth all and doe not almost all men make a cleere passage vnto themselues by gifts and rewards for the atchieuing of their desires and with these golden raies ripen all their hopes Doe but looke into the particulars and we shall find this no false imputation laide vpon the Christian State but a lamentable truth to be bewailed with deepe grones and mournefull teares For howsoeuer kingdomes themselues and free monarchies bee vnualuable and aboue the pitch of any price yet what is there in kingdomes which are not dailie compassed by rewards By this ladder some mount vp into the seate of eminencie purchasing by gifts titles which neuer came to them by inheritance or by desert neither doe they now as in former times ennoble and dignifie themselues by venturing their life spending their blood in the defence of their countrie but haue found a speedier and more easie course for the satisfying their ambitious desires namely by friends bought with gifts So that now if euer the saying of the Poet is verified In pretio pretium est dat census honores census amicitias pauper vbique iacet Rewards are onely rewarded gifts buy honours and procure friends whereas those who are poore in purse are contemptible in their persons So heretofore men were preferred vnto offices for their seruice sufficiencie and desert but now the vsual entrance into them is by large gifts which way is so common by reason all the other passages are stopped vp that men are not ashamed to passe thorow it at noone day and without blushing to iustifie their entrance Now what wonder is it if these men who entred into their places by bribing doe in the execution of them liue by extorsion or that paying for them only for terme of life more then would purchase a fee simple of like value if they tooke no more but due and ordinarie fees they should take vniust courses to helpe their bargaine and to keep themselues from beggerie Neither is this fault only now to bee found among some cunning courtiers who haue come to their skill by much study and long experience but euen amongst Magistrates in cities who are growne more skilful in cunning hādling of a bribing match thē in their own professions trades for learning wherof they haue serued seuē yeres apprentiship But as there are many forward proficients in this art of bribing so none goeth before many lawyers of these times §. Sect. 5. None goe before some lawyers in the art of bribing who in respect of their skill and deepe reach into these wicked mysteries may iustlie deserue to be esteemed not only Masters of this art but euen Doctors and professors For what matter is so foule and vniust which many of them will not countenance and defend for an extraordinarie reward what title so strong and cleare which they are not readie to vndermine and ouerthrow for the gaining of an ample bribe Neither are the lay estate and common-wealths alone tainted with this corruption but the infection of this vice hath corrupted the Church likewise For if wee looke into the schooles of the Prophets the seminaries of learning and religion we shall find that the preferments which by the founders of Colledges were destinated and appropriated to those who were poorest in purse most destitute of friends and worthiest in gifts both of pietie and learning are now sometimes conferred vpon such as are able to make most friends by gifts and rewards though altogether vnfit and vnworthie of them So likewise the preferments of the Church are in these times by the same meanes compassed in many places for theeues and intruders enter the Church dore by the helpe of these golden picklockes Neither is it now any great furtherance to the obtaining of Church preferments that a man by laborious studie hath attained vnto depth of learning and eminencie of gifts for though his head be neuer so full fraught with knowledge yet if his hands be emptie of bribes he may haue leaue to stand without doores and though he haue the tongue of the learned yet he shall neuer perswade his greedie patrone vnlesse he can make golden verses and mooue him to hearken with a siluer sounding voice Yea in truth learning in these times is accidentally an hinderance to the obtaining the rewards of learning for if that monie were saued which is laid out vpon bookes and candles and bestowed in gifts and bribes and if that time were spent in laying cunning plots for the procuring of preferments which is bestowed in making men worthie to bee preferred it would prooue a farre readier and speedier course to compasse these perferments though in