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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10184	Healthes: sicknesse. Or A compendious and briefe discourse; prouing, the drinking and pledging of healthes, to be sinfull, and vtterly vnlawfull vnto Christians by arguments, Scriptures, fathers, moderne diuines, Christian authors, historians, councels; imperiall lawes and constitutions; and by the voyce and verdict of prophane and heathen writers: wherein all those ordinary obiections, excuses, or pretences which are made to iustifie, extenuate, or excuse the drinking or pledging of healthes, are likewise cleared and answered. By William Prynne Gent. Hospitii Lincolniensis.	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1628 (1628)	STC 20462; ESTC S115452	103,812	122

is Storied of Alexander the great That after hee had composed the differences betweene the Persians and Macedonians hee made a great Feast vnto them and to others of other Nations whom hee had conquered to the number of 9000. men who did all drinke to his health and the health of his Army and to the perpetuall concord of the Persians and Macedonians out of the same Bowle It is recorded by Dion Cassius That the Roman Senate inacted for the honour of Augustus That the Romans should make wishes for him and drinke his health in all their publique and priuate Feasts Clea●chus is cited by Athaeneus bringing in V●pian drinking of an whole carouse for the Health of his Kindred as a pledge of his loue vnto them Plinie records Some Laws Ceremonies of the Romans obserued in their drinking Which doe much resemble our Healthing to wit That they must drinke vp all at a draught and not take breath to doe it that they must spet out none nor cast away none nor leaue no snuffe behinde them in the cup Which rules our artificiall Healthers and Drunkards doe now exactly keepe and obserue It is registred of the ancient Germans that they sit drinking and of the moderne Germans that they sit Healthing night and day till they haue laid one another dead drunke vnder the Table Saint Ambrose Saint Hierome and Saint Augustine make mention how the Gentiles and Drunkard 〈…〉 their times did vse to drinke the Healthes of their Emperours Kings Armies Friends and Children It is recorded of Fabius Maximus that hee was so much honoured among the Romans for his seruice against Hamball that no man might eate nor drinke before hee had prayed for him and drunke his Health Olaus Magnus recordes it of the Northerlings That they account it a kinde of Religious thing to drinke the Healthes of their Gods and Kings and Alexander Guagninus witnesseth that among the Sar●●atians who are for the most part Pagans and Infidels he is reputed the best seruant who can drinke his Maisters Health best I might here produce Lypsius Plautus Ioannis Fredericus Athenaeus Martiall and others to prooue vnto you That it was common and vsuall among the Gentiles to drinke the Healthes of their Deuill-gods their Friendes their Kings their Mistresses their Whores their Armies and the like I might likewise expatiate and lash out in proouing vnto you how they did drinke sometimes one cup sometimes two cups sometimes three sometimes fiue cups sometimes seuen cups sometimes more sometimes as many cups as there were letters in the names of the Gods or persons whose Healthes they dranke and the like and how they did drinke sometimes vnto the right hand sometimes to the left hand sometimes in a circle but then I should exceed the bounds of my intended breuitie Wherefore I will conclude and shut vp this with the authoritie of Saint Augustine who expressely informeth vs. That this filthie and vnhappy custome of drinking Healthes by measure and method is but a ceremonie and relique of Pagans and therefore wee should banish it from our Feastes and meetings as the poyson of the Deuill and know that if wee practise it either at our owne or other mens Tables that in doing so wee haue without all question sacrificed to the Deuill himselfe And with that of Martin Delrio and Iohn Fredericke who plainely certifie vs vpon the testimonie of Iohn de Vaux a great Magician That these Healthes were inuented by the Deuill himselfe and that Magicians Witches and inferior Deuills doe oft times vse them carrouzing the Health of Belzebub the Prince and King of Diuells in their Feastes and secret meetings as others vsually doe their Kings and Princes Healthes And should we then saith Fredericke endeuour to make these customes ours with which the infernall Spirits Witches and Magicians vse to flatter and gratifie their Belzebub and by which they seeke the vnhappy friendship of their familiar Spirit O wickednesse you Gods you Heauenly hostes who defend and keep● men backe from euill come neere and put to your helping hands lest any Christian heart should bee infatuated with so execrable a madnesse If therefore it be come to passe that Deuills and deuillisle persons haue drawn● these Healthes into their roundes and Feastes what Christian should not quake and tremble in euery ioy●t and member of his body when as hee is forced or allured to their Healthes perhaps as farre as drunkennesse it selfe thus farre Iohn Fredericke By all these Testimonies and Records which cannot be controuled it is now most cleare and euident That this drinking and quaffing off of Healthes had its originall and birth from Pagans Heathens and Infidels yea from the very Deuill himselfe that it is but a worldly carnall prophane nay Heathenish and Deuilish custome which sauours of nothing else but Paganisme and Gentilisme That it was but the Diuells drinke-offering or a part of that honour reuerence worship seruice sacrifice homage and odoration which the Gentiles Witches Sorcerers and Infernall Spiri●s gaue to Belzebub the prince of Deuils and euery other Deuill-gods to whose honor name and memory they were first inuented and consecrated And shall wee then who professe our selues to bee Christians in name turne Infidels and Pagans in our liues Shall wee who haue giuen vp our names to God and Christ wee who haue vtterly renounced in our Baptisme all worldly heathenish carnall and hellish Rites and Ceremonies and vowed solemnely vnto GOD himselfe to forsake the Deuill and all his Workes the P●mpes and Vanities of this wicked World and all the sinfull lusts of the Flesh betake our selues to these rudiments and ceremonies of the World to these workes of Darkenesse Sinne and Satan to these Riotous Idolatrous Prophane and Gracelesse Healthes Ordinances of Infidels Paga●s who were solely imbondaged vnto Satans discipline and neuer heard of Christ Shall we thinke to gratifie and honour God or Christian Princes Parents Nobles Captaines Friendes or Magistrates in the very selfe same kinde and manner as the Gentiles did adore their Deuill-gods in quaffing off their Healthes Shall we now thinke to celebrate the Natiuitie Circumcision Resurrection or Ascention of our blessed Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ or our Christian Feastiualls and Solemnities as the custome of too to many Healthen-Christians is who scandalize Religion and make it odious vnto Turkes and Infidels by their deboist their wicked and licentious liues in the selfe same manner as the Pagans did their Bacchanalia or their Deuill-feastes in drinking and carrouzing Healthes as if Light and Darkenesse Righteousnesse and Vnrighteousnesse Christ and Belial the Cup and Table of the Lord and the Cup and Table of Deuills the Temple of God and the Temple of Idoles which can haue no Communion no Concord nor Agreement were fully reconciled and recorded O let it bee neuer said of any who dare to beare

priuatly at least purposely or heartily for their health spirituall happines once a yeere as if they had more neede of Healthes then Prayers Hence is it that on most of our Festiuall and solemne dayes on the Coronation or birth-daies of our Kings or on the birth-dayes or marriage-dayes of our friendes vpon our solemnities for great deliuerances and mercies to our Kings our States or friends in steed of praying for them and of praising God for his great mercies blessings and fauours towards them wee are alwayes quaffing and taking off their Healthes as if Healthes were the best prayers that wee could put vp for them or the best Sacrifices and prayses that wee could offer vp to God in their behalfes when as in trueth they stinke in the very nostrells of God and all good men Since therefore God hath commanded vs to make Supplications Prayers and Intercessions for Kings for Magistrates and all that are in authoritie and for all men else and not to drinke Healthes for them which Swine and Oxen may doe as well as men and that to as good or better purpose since he hath enioyned vs to offer vp the Sacrifice of praise of prayer and thankesgiuing to him and not of Healthes for all his mercies and fauours to our selues or others it cannot but be Sinfull and vtterly Vnlawfull to out to lessen or abate our Prayers and thankesgiuings with our Healthes and to attribute that efficacy and power to those Healthes which is proper and peculiar to our Prayers as all our Healthers doe in their hearts and iudgements though not in open speaches though some of them are not ashamed to professe in words that the drinking of mens Healths is as beneficial to them as mens prayers for them a most Atheisticall and blasphemous speach Therefore this drinking of Healthes must needes be Sinfull and vtterly Vnlawfull Foureteenthly That which was a common practise custome and ceremonie of Gentiles and Heathens who knew not God in their ordinary Feastes and meetings and in the Solemnities and Festiualls of their Deuill-gods must needes bee Sinfull and vtterly Vnlawfull vnto Christians But this drinking of Healthes one to another in a certaine method order course measure and number was a common practise custome and ceremonie of Gentiles and Pagans who knew not God in their ordinary Feastes and meetings and in the Solemnities and Festiualls of their Deuill-gods yea it is an inuention and practise of the Diuell and his followers Therefore this drinking of Healthes must needes bee Sinfull and vtterly Vnlawfull vnto Christians The maior is warranted not onely by Fathers and Councells but likewise by many expresse Scriptures which doe positiuely enioyne vs Not to imitate the customes fashions ordinances rudiments traditions or ceremonies of the World or of the Heathen Gentiles or Worldly men not to learne their wayes nor customes● not to bee like to them nor yet to conforme nor fashion our selues vnto them especially in their prophane heathen●sh idolatrous and superstious rites and ceremonies The Minor I shall backe and prooue by diuers Authenticke Testimonies euidences and recordes both of prophane and Christian Authors It is recorded by Plato that certaine drunkards came in to Agatho Aristophanes and Socrates where they were discoursing compelling them to drinke and when these three Philosophers had drunke them all asleepe they fell to drinke in course one to another to the right hand out of a great bowle in the nature of our Healths Plutarch relates that it was the custome and manner of the ancient Grecians to drinke one to another in course by a certaine measure and that Iupiter in the feast that hee made to the Gods did power out wine into a cup and inioyne them to drinke it off one after another in course so that it seemes the great Deuill-god Iupiter was the first inuenter founder and i●stituter of our Hellish and Heathenish Healthes Alexander ab Alexandro and Polydor Virgill record that the Grecians yea and the Romans too did salute their Gods and friendes among their cupes and call vpon them by name carousing off the whole cup to them and that when as they drunke to any one they did alwayes nominate him to whom the cup should bee filled and giuen for to pledge them and so they did drinke the Health of their Gods first and then the Health of their friendes afterwards and hauing called on their Gods they did liberally drinke of the whole cup vnto them Yea no Embassador could enter within their territories nor yet discharge his Embassage vnlesse hee had first washed his hands and drunke a Health to Ioue their Idole god Saint Basil the Great informes vs that the Heathen Greekes in his times had ouerseers and stewards of their drinking in their feastes to see that euery man should take off his liquor and drinke in course and order and that the Master of the feast hauing a ferkin of coolewine brought vnto him did measure out to euery guesse an equall quantitie and proportion of wine which they must drinke off in order that so the cupps being equall there might bee no exceptions taken and one might not circumuent nor defraud another in drinking of which law he informes vs that the very Deuill himselfe was the author which order and course is now obserued in our Healthes Athenaeus relates that among the Tyrrhenians it was lawfull for any man to prouoke whom euer he would to pledge an Health Philo Iudaeus produceth the Heathen Philosophers disputing this question whether a wise man might enter into a combate of drinking for some great aduantage yea or no as to drinke for the health of his Countrey the honour of his Parents the safetie of his Children or neerest friends or for some other such like priuate or publike occasion by which it is euident that Healthes were commonly vsed among the Gentiles and Pagans in his times It is recorded of Amphyction King of Athens who was the first that mixed wine that he enacted that men should drinke but a little pure wine after meales but as much mixt wine as they would and that they should alwayes inuocate the name of Ioue or drinke Ioues Health in their drinking matches that so they might obtaine Health by it Whence Seleucus witnesseth that the Ancients did not vse to drinke much wine but in fauour and honour of the Gods whence they stiled their feastes and meetings Thaenas Thalias and Methas because they imagined that they might bee safely drunke in these feastes of theirs for the honour and sake of their Gods since the principall end of these their meetings was to drinke their Healthes So that Healthes it seemes were a part of the Deuills homage seruice and sacrifice at the first and hence I suppose it is that many are turned such incarnate Deuills in these our dayes that they feare not to begin or pledge the Deuills health which is so rife with many It

the face or to assume the name of Christians to themselues that they should euer glory or take a pride as many doe or get an habit or beare a share in drinking Healthes especially on those blessed times and happy dayes which summon and ingage them in a more neere and speciall manner to expresse their loue their thankefulnesse and their best obedience and respect to God for all his kindnesse mercy loue and goodnesse to them or when as hee comes vnto them in his best and richest mercies which call them vnto Temperance and Sob●ietie and not to Drunkennesse Riot and Excesse but let them worship him with a Reuerend Pure and holy Worship with a Gracio●s Temperate and holy Heart and with a Thank●ull Mederate Sober and Awfull vse of all his Creatures as himselfe Enioynes them or else let them vtterly renounce and disclaime the name of Christians and turne professed Pagans both in name and nature as they are in practice O let vs Christians who thinke sco●ne to bee stiled In●idels or Heathens or Carnail Worldly prophane or gracelesse persons bee ashamed to allow or practise that which makes vs either such or worse then such Let vs bee such in trueth and practise as wee would be in name or else let vs bee contented to bee deemed and reputed such euen Infidels and Pagans as our liues our Healthes and actions describe vs for to bee Let vs not honour court nor entertaine our God our Sauiour our Kings our Christian Princes Nobles Magistrates Friendes or Consorts with Healthes and roundes as the manner is as wee would entertaine or court the very Deuill himselfe for what other better complement or well●come could the Deuill Belzebub himselfe desi●e if hee were a bidden guesse vnto our Tables or what ●itter fare or entertainement could we giue him then to plye him hard with Healthes As the Magicians Witches and inferiour Deuills vse to doe vntill wee had got the staggars but let vs imitate the feastes and meetings of holy Christians in former ages Who did begin their Feastes with Prayers continue them with Temperance and Sobriet●e eating no more then would suffice their hunger drinking no more then would quench and satisfie their thirst eating and drinking as in Gods sight discoursing and talking as in his hearing concluding their meetings with a Psalme and Prayer and then departing not to a Tauerne or a Whore-house but to their owne houses with Temperance and Sobrietie hauing their Soules as well replenished with Grace and Discipline as their bodies with grosse and corporall foode If wee would now at last obserue this Antient Godly and Religious practise in the entertainement of our friendes and in our Feasts and meetings which are commonly made the Theaters of Healthes of Drunkennesse and Riot especially in the time of Christs Natiuitie Wherein men commonly sell themselues to Drunkennesse Healthing Dauncing Carding Dicing Idlenesse Epicurisme Wantonnesse and excesse of Sinne as if it were a time of loosenesse and prophanenesse not of Grace and Holinesse doing more true seruice to the Deuill during this Holy time then all the yeere besides what Ioy what Peace and Comfort what increase and strength of Grace would it bring vnto our Soules and to the Soules of all our friendes and guesse which are now so much indangered and without Repentance damned by these sinfull Healthes which wee begin vnto them O therefore let vs now at last abandon these Heathenish Idolatrous and Hellish customes as vnbeseeming Christians as the Inuentions Ceremonies and Customes of Infidels and Pagans whose waies and workes wee must not practise O let it neuer bee recorded of vs Englishmen who haue taken vp this Heathenish custome but of punie times as it is storied of the Polonians That they vsually as their manner is doe ●arrouze and quaffe off great Bowles to the Health of one another oft times against their natures so that their mutuall loue one to another which they doe principally expresse in their Feastes and meetings doeth oft times depriue them of their health and make them subiect to many diseases through to much Healthing That they will oft times force one another to drinke saying either pledge me or fight with me which is the cause of many Duels and that they account him the best seruant who can drinke his Maisters Health best Let not the Moscouites description euer suite with vs of whom it is registred That they know full well how to allure men to drinke and that when as they haue no other occasion of drinking they begin to drinke their Dukes Health then the Prince his Brothers Health and next the Healthes of other men of place and dignitie whose Healthes they thinke that no man either will or dare denie Let it not be storied of vs as it is of the Ancient and moderne Germans That they Carrouze and Health and Drinke so long till they haue laid one another dead drunke vnder the Table or caused one another to vomit vp their shame and surfet a sinne to common in our swinish age and a custome among Drunkards in Saint Ambrose his dayes Let it not be reported of vs as it is of the Ancient Persians That they drunke so liberally at their Feastes that though they were able to carry themselues into their Banqueting-roomes yet they were alwayes carried out of them because their owne legges could not beare them the case of too to many now among vs. Let it be neuer inrolled of vs as it is of the Brasilians That whole Villages of them meet together to drinke and quaffe as they vse to doe at our Countrey Wakes or Reuells carrouzing and drinking off whole Bowles one to another some times three dayes together till they are not able to stand and till they haue drunke vp all the Caouin or liquor in the place Let vs not be of the same minde and iudgement as the inhabitants of Cumana and G●iana are Who account him the greatest and brauest man and the most compleate and accomplished Gallant who is able to carrouze and swill downe most which is the opinion of many Gul-gallants in our Bacchanalian age But since we are Christians and Saints in name and reputation since the Grace of God which bringeth Saluation hath appeared to vs touching vs that denying vngodlinesse and worldly lusts wee should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that Blessed hope and Glorious appearing of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe for vs that he might Redeeme vs from all iniquitie and from our vaine conuersation receiued by tradition from our Fathers that hee might Redeeme vs from the World and all worldly prophane and heat henish customes ceremonies ordinances rudiments and traditions of Gentiles Pagans and Infidels and purifie vs vnto himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes Let vs be no longer Pagans Heathens and Infidels in our practise in taking vp in vsing

hurt and preiudice that can befall them because it makes them the Patrons occasions and pretences of other mens Drunkennesse and excesse and so oft times inuolues them not onely in the guilt but likewise in the Temporall and Eternall punishment of their Sinnes To expostulate and argue this a little farther Can it so much as euer enter into any Christians thought that the Drinking or pledging of any mans Health should bee a grace or honour to him Can it bee any honour to a Christian King or Prince or Potentate or any other person whatsoeuer to be honoured with Gods dishonour To bee honoured with excessiue roundes and drunken Healthes wherein Gods creatures are abused his Commandements violated his Name disgraced his Image defaced and the Soules of men his best and chiefest Creatures euen oft times drowned and infatuated and without his infinite Grace and Mercy for euer Damned through excesse It is for the praise and honour of any Christians especially of such as represent the person and place of God on earth to be honoured with the very Sacrifice and Drinke-offering of the Deuill himselfe the Author and Owner of these Hell●sh Healthes to see whole troupes of men lye groueling in the ground and reeling vp and downe in euery corner to vomit vp their shame or falling dead Drunke vndertheir Tables like so many Swine not able for to speake nor any wayes to helpe themselues whiles they striue to gratifie please and honour them in carrouzing off their Healthes by rule and measure euen beyond rule and measure to Gods dishonour and their owne Eternall ruine Can this bee any credit grace or honour to bee honoured with the Drunkennesse the Excesse the Sinne and shame of others to be honoured and delighted with Gods great dishonour and with the Damnation and ruine both of the Soules and Bodies of our dearest Friendes and Kinred of our Children Seruants Associates Inferi●urs Subiectes Equals or Superiours who honour and respect vs most which are oft times ruined and alwayes hazzarded by these Excessiue Ebrious Heathenish and superfluous Healthes Doubtlesse if there bee any dishonour in the World that can befall men without all question this is it to bee thus honoured with Gods dishonour and the losse and ruine of other mens Soules which Healthes oft times distroy But admit that this were no dishonour vnto men from the very thoughts of which God keepe all Christians Yet questionlesse there cannot be a greater Staeine Blemish nor Ecclipse vnto the Honour Dignitie Worth and Credit of any Christian Prince or Potentate of any Christian Maiestrate Noble-man Lord Generall Captaine Prelate Maister Superiour or the like then for euery Infamous Beastly Drunken Swinish Sot euery Deboist Riotous Prophane and dissolute Rorer Ruffin Gul-gallant or Pot-companion euery base and rascall Tapster Pedler Tinker Cobler Hostler Seruing-man Mechanicke Clowne or Foot-boy to thrust their Names their Healthes and Dignities into their Pots and Cans and to tosse them off in euery cup as ordinary prophane and sordid things What Christians or Wisemen are there in the World that stand vpon his honour but would thinke themselues much dishonoured and defamed to be honoured of such impudent such base such beastly Swinish and Drunken Sots as these to haue their Dignities Healthes and Names thus banded and tossed vp and downe in euery Cup and Can at euery Ale-bench at euery Riotous meeting or Conuenticle of good-fellowship What man of place or credit would not scorne and disdaine to bee made the Complement the Ceremonie the By-word the Song the Cup-seruice or Pot-discourse of euery Infamous and beastly Drunkard or the Ornament Crowne or Garland of euery cup and large carrouse What Christians would not disdaine and scorne this as the very foulest blemish and dishonour that might or could be befall them to haue their Healthes their Names their place and persons made a common prologue or preludium an ordinary Baud or Pander a vsuall inlet way or passage vnto Drunkennesse and Excesse a common shooe-horne baite or engine to force or draw men on to drinke beyond all measure and a dayly patronage plea or Sanctuary to iustifie and beare out or else a frequent and iniust Apologie or Excuse to extenuate salue or mitigate the Intemperance Drunkennesse Excesse and sinne of Infamous base and Swinish men who thinke they may lawfully and saffely drinke till their Braines their Wits their Tongues their Eyes their Feete their Sences and all their members faile them so long as they doe but drinke their Kings their Queenes their Lords their Ladies their Maisters their Mistresse their Friendes their Maiestrates their Captaines or Commanders Healthes as if their very persons names and place were a sufficient dispensation protection plea or patronage to iustifie and beare out at least to mitigate and excuse their Drunkennesse and Excesse both against God and man Can there be any honour or credit vnto any to bee thus honoured of euery base infamous and beastly Drunkard of euery Pot-companion Tun or Hogs head to be the dayly phrase complement theame or rhetoricke of euery ebrious and luxurious sot the vsuall ceremonie crowne or motto of euery bowle and cup the subiect foote or prologue of euery drunken round or the occasion cause and patronage of Drunkennesse and excesse This is the sole and onely honour and credit that men gaine vnto themselues or receiue from others in hauing their Healths carro●zed drunke off and should not this honour be nay is it not their greatest infamie disgrace and shame vndoubtedly it is As the honour is exceeding small nay none at all but the dishonour very great that comes to such whose Healthes are frequent in the mouthes and cups of others so likewise is the profit and aduantage small and the losse and danger great that redoundes vnto them by these Healthes Not to mention the excessiue thankelesse and prodigall expense of men oft times in prouiding Wine and Liquor for others of purpose for to drinke their Healthes which though it bee but a Temporall disaduantage in respect of charge yet it will light heauy on mens Soules at last in regard of that prodigalitie and excesse which did attend it how euer men slight and disrespect it now I will onely touch vpon that great and fearefull danger which lights vpon the Soules of all such men whose Healthes are rife and frequent either in their owne or other mens cups and houses● There is no man whose Health is drunke by others with his consent his priuitie his approbation or command which is the case of many● but is vndoubtedly made a sharer and partaker of the Excesse the Sinne and Drunkennesse and of all the dishonour that redoundes to God by meanes of this drinking or pledging of his Health all the euill that is occasioned and wrought in others by it will bee laid vpon his Soule and score at last For if hee who bids but an Heretique God speed be made a

nor colour for thee in the sight of God because Christians must not bee men pleasers they must not liue to the lusts and wills of men but to the will of God Eue was perswaded by the Serpent to eate of the forbidden fruit and Adam by Eue yet that would not iustifie them in the Court of Heauen Solomon was drawne away after strange Gods by the allurements and perswasions of his Idolatrous and out●landish wiues yet this would not excuse him to the Lord. Perswasions and intreaties of our dearest friends who oft times doe but act the Deuills part in carnall Councells and aduice when as we vainely thinke they act their owne will neuer mitigate nor salue our sinnes nor yet the pledging of these Healths when as we shall come to answer for them before the Iudgement Seate of Iesus Christ as we shall bee sure to doe ere long Wherefore let neither threatnings nor intreaties hencefoorth mooue thee to pledge or second Healths because they cannot iustifie excuse nor beare thee out in the day of Iudgement The last pretence or colourable excuse or allegation which men produce or make for pledging Healthes is this That it is but a slight and triuiall matter for to pledge an Health it is but a kinde of precisenesse and it sauours of a Puritanical● factious humour to refuse it whence those who make a Conscience and scruple of it are commonly derided scorned censured and condemned as humorous precise and factious persons as men more scrupilous then wise Wherefore to auoid all inconueniences of this nature it is the best the wisest and the safest course to make no bones of pledging Healthes To this I answere That I haue already manifested this Drinking and pledging of Healthes to bee a Sinfull and Vnlawfull thing by conuincing Arguments Reasons and Authorities If any man can solue these Reasons and Answere these Authorities● so far as to perswade and fully satisfie his owne Heart and Conscience in the sight of God that Healthes are lawfull in themselues and that hee may safely vse them then let him drinke and pledge them at his pleasure I will not once restraine him But if his Conscience Heart and Iudgement vpon due deliberation and aduice shall once perswade him or informe him that Healthes are Sinfull and Vnlawfull either in their vse or in themselues I answere then that though the Drinking or pledging of Healthes doeth seeme but a small a slight or triuiall thing to Luxurious Riotous and Licentious persons yet it is of infinite and weighty consequence because it is a sinne and so drawes Eternall death and condemnation after it Indeed this is the reason why Heathenish Prophane Lasciuious and Time nay Purse● consuming Stage-playes condemned and sentenced by some two and thirtie seuerall Synodes and Councells by some two and thirtie Fathers by some fourtie Christian Authors and Moderne Diuines by some foure Heathen States three Christian and sixe Heathen Emperours and by some two and twentie of the Grauest Best and Wisest Heathen Philosophers Poets and Christians as the inuentions and workes of Satan as the Pompes and Vanities of this wicked World which Christians haue renounced in their Baptisme as the Semminaries Ministers Fewell and Fomenters of all sinne and wickednesse especially of Fornication Whoredome and Vncleanesse as the very Poyson and Corruption of mens Soules and manners and as Pernicious and Vnsufferable euills in any Christian or wel ordered Common wealth why Effeminate Mo●strous Strange and Met●tricious habits and attires why mixt Lasciuious and Effeminate Dauncing I say not Modest Chast and Sober measures why Curled Broidered false Supposititious haire why immoderate Dicing and Carding of purpose for to winne and gaine and not for necessary recreation onely why the Odious and Infernall art of Face-painting why Idlenesse Wantonnesse Pride Effeminacy Scurr●litie Lying Swearing Cursing Vsury Couetousnesse Oppression Iniustice Gl●tto●e Riot Drunkennesse Healthes and such like great and hainous sinnes and euill sports and vanities which God himselfe which Fathers Councells Moderne Diuines together with Christian and Heathen Authors haue frequently and resolutely condemned doe now so ruffle and swarme among vs as if they were the chiefe an onely vertues because they doe repute and deeme them but small or little sinnes and vanities of which God takes no notice or else no sinnes at all For if men did vnfainedly beleeue them to bee sinnes indeed as they shall surely finde them to be such at last how euer they admire and adore them now they could not play nor dally with them they could not hugge nor yet imbrace them as they doe But yet beloued Readers this wee must learne and know that as these and all sinnes else are very great so we are to repute them great and no sinne small because they are committed against a Great an Infinite and Eternall God and so draw a Great an Infinite and Eternall punishment after them Idle words Idle thoughts Vaine actions which most men deeme but trifells shall draw men into Iudgement and without repentance plunge them deepe in Hell for euer at the last and will not Idle Vaine Luxurious Heathenish and sinfull Healthes and all the fore-recited sinnes which haue no good nor profit in them much more doe it If so then deeme not Healthes nor any such like pettie sinnes with which men vs● to dally to be but toyes and triuiall thin●s of which men are to make no Conscience for feare they draw you on to greater sins and presse your Soules to Hell at last But admit that this Drinking and pledging of Healthes which Councels Fathers Christian writers of Moderne times nay very Heathen Authors haue condemned were such deminature slight and pettie toyes and nicities as most repute them yet since they are scandalous hurtfull and offensiue and haue no comm●ndable lawfull nor authorized vse it should make vs the more ready and willing to renounce them The lesser any sinne seemes to bee the lesser pleasure benefit profit or aduantage it brings vnto vs the more indifferencie there is in it the more forwards should we bee to relinquish and foregoe it Hee that will not bee at so much cost nor losse as to denie himselfe in small and triuiall things for Christ Suppose a strange and vglie fashion a meritricious and lasciuious attire a varnished and painted face an effeminate vnnaturall ruffianly and vnlouely louelocke a prophane godlesse oath the Rhetoricke and Phrase of most men speach a surrillous and filthie song or iest an vnhealthie vaine superfluous and excessiue Health or any such petty sinnes and triuiall euills which bring no good no profit gaine nor pleasure with them how will hee denie himselfe or crosse his lusts and flesh in greater things which haue some sensible and seeming good or pleasure in them Certainely he that is vnfaithfull in the lesse will be vnfaithfull likewise in that which is the greater he which will stand with God