the Lord should find him idle had not such as spend away much precious time at ale-houses need desist from this course for fear that the Lord when he cometh should find them idle § The plea of such as go to Taverns is drive away their sorrows and cares answered Plea 16. I go to Taverns only at such times as I meet with crosses and am burdned with cares and oppressed with grief and sorrow and when I am there I drink freely to ease my heart of my grief and cares and I hope there is no great hurt in this though I now and then take a little more than is meet A. 1. It is true that wine and strong drink moderately taken are usefull for such as are of a sorrowfull spirit for they are of a cheering nature Psal 104.15 Wine that maketh glad the heart of man and are to be given chiefly to such as are of a sorrowfull spirit Prov. 31.6 7. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish and wine unto those that be of an heavy heart Let him drink and forget his poverty and remember his sorrow no more But this doth not give a liberty to any person to drink wine or strong drink to excess And if you make use of time to chear your hearts why not at your own houses rather than alehouses 2. Wine and strong drink taken immoderately instead of driving away sorrows bring much wo and sorrow Prov. 23.29 30. Who hath wo Who hath sorrow They that tarry long at the wine Drunkenness is wickedness and wickedness bringeth a multitude of sorrows along with it Psal 32.10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked And instead of easing a man of his burden and trouble it encreaseth his burdens and troubles For excess of wine burdens the soul with the guilt of sin It leaves a load upon the Conscience And the burden that ariseth from the guilt of sin is far greater than the burden of cares Psal 38. 4. Mine iniquities are gone over mine head as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me 3. Wine and strong drink taken immoderately instead of making men merry do make them mad They swear and curse and rage and carry themselves like mad men Prov. 20.1 Strong drink is raging What Festus said to Paul Act. 26.24 Paul thou art beside thy self much learning hath made thee mad The like may be said to such a man as is overcome with wine and strong drink Thou art beside thy self much drinking hath made thee mad 4. The right way to get ease and comfort under our sorrows and cares is not to go to Taverns and Ale-houses to drown our cares and drive away our sorrows with wine and strong drink and merry company which will prove bitterness in the latter end and encrease our sorrows and burdens but the right and ready way to get ease and comfort when we are oppressed with sorrow and burdened with cares is 1. To betake our selves to Prayer Joh. 16.20 24. Ye shall weep and lament ye shall be sorrowfull but your sorrow shall be turned into joy Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full See here the way for such as weep and lament and are full of sorrow to have their sorrow turned into joy and that is to betake our selves unto Prayer for hereby we shall be filled with joy Hannah who was in great bitterness of spirit before she went to Prayer got so much comfort by Prayer that she went away and was no more sad 1 Sam. 1.13 She was in bitterness of soul and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore And the woman went away and did eat and her countenance was no more sad 2. The way to get ease under our burdens and sorrows is to cast our burdens and cares upon God for if we do so he will put under his everlasting arms and bear up our spirits Psal 55.22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustein thee § The plea of Young Drunkards answered Plea 17. I am a young man and young men must have their pastimes and recreations and this is that which pleaseth me above other delights to keep jovial company and to be merry with my companions at a Tavern and I hope this is allowable in a young man and if it be not I have time enough before me I will repent when I am old and then God will be gracious unto me A. 1. Drunkenness is an abominable sin in any men either young or old and therefore not to be allowed not to be pleaded for in any Psal 5.5 Thou hatest all workers of iniquity This will not exempt a man from the hatred of God that he is a young man if he be a worker of iniquity For all the Generation of evil doers are hatefull to God the young as well as the old It is an aggravation of sin to be an old sinner Isa 65.20 The sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed Yet this will not excuse a man from drunkenness or any other sin to say I am a young man I hope it is no great offence for me now and then to be overcome with wine or strong drink 2. Vain and lose young men that give themselves to their pleasures and will not be reclaimed by the advice and counsel of Parents Friends Relations or God's Ministers they may if they think good take their own course and do whatever their own hearts prompt them to and is pleasing to their corrupt natures but yet let them know that the Lord will call them to judgment for all their idle courses and sinfull pleasures and mispent time Eccl. 11.9 Rejoyce O young man in thy youth and let thy heart chear thee in the days of thy youth and walk in the ways of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes but know thou that for all these things God will call thee to judgment 3. It is very evil and dangerous for young men to allow themselves in drunkenness or other evil practises with a purpose to repent and to become new men when they are old in hope that God will be mercifull to them whensoever they repent of their sins And that on several accounts as 1. Our young time is our choicest time and our choicest is to be given to God and not to be spent in the service of sin Eccl. 12.1 Remember now thy creatour in the days of thy youth while the evil days come not nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them The days of old age are evil days years wherein we have no pleasure and shall we spend our good days our comfortable days in the service of sin and spend our evil days only and the years wherein we have pleasure in the service of God 2. It is dangerous to spend your young time in riotous courses or other sins and think to repent when you are old because you do not know whether you shall live to be old God cuts
Thou that saiest there is no God see whither thou dost speak against thine own conscience It is most likely that thou rather wishest there were than really thinkest in thy heart that there is no God For this truth is so deeply graven upon man's heart that there is a God that it is hardly possible to root it totally and constantly out of our minds but Conscience will some time or other discover that there are some Notions of a Diety remaining in the worst of men What mean those accusations of Conscience which even such as profess themselves Atheists feel for secret sins which none know but themselves especially in times of distress and when they are in danger of death They are intimations that there are apprehension there is a God to whom men must be accountable even for their secret sins Why do Atheistical persons fear and tremble when it Thunders and Lightens in a dreadful manner Why did Caligula the Emperour who feared no man on Earth shew so much timerousness when it Thundred and Lightned that he got under his Bed Their fears of God's judgments shew that there are some impressions of the Being of God remaining in the Minds and Consciences of the most professed Atheists 4. If you will not be convinced of your folly in being of this singular and wicked Opinion that there is no God enjoy your Opinion to your self and please your self in your own delusion and take your fill of sin but know whither you will believe it or will not that there is a righteous God who will call thee to judgment for all these things and will without repentance cast you into Hell-fire for your sins and when you feel his vengeance in the other world you shall never doubt any more whither there be a God to Eternity For whatever Atheistical Opinions men hold on Earth they shall cease to be Atheists when they come in Hell § The despairing Drunkard's Plea who thinks there is no hope of mercy for him and therefore resolves still to go on in his sins Plea 27. I have been such a vile and wretched sinner and have lived so â—â—…ng in this sin of drunkenness that I am afâ—â—â—… there is no Mercy for me And therefore I had as good enjoy what delight and pleasure I can whilst I live seeing I must perish when I die If I did apprehend there was any hope of Mercy for me I would speedily break off my evil courses and reform my life A. 1. Despair doth harden mens hearts to go on still in their trespasses Jer. 18.12 And they said There is no hope but we will walk after our own devices and we will every one do the Imagination of his own evil heart And therefore we should be careful that we do not give way to despairing thoughts concerning the mercy of God 2. Though your case should be hopeless yet you had better break of your evil courses than go on to add sin to sin for that will lessen your torments in the other world 3. There is hope upon your Repentance that you may obtain mercy from God though you have been as vile a Drunkard as any that lives upon the face of the Earth For 1. The blood of Christ is of sufficient vertue to wash away the greatest sins of the greatest sinners in the world Joh. 1.23 Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world All sins though never so many for number and never so heinous for nature are cleansed away by the blood of Christ from such as repent and believe in him Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin 2. The Lord for Christ his sake hath promised remission of sins upon their repentance to the chiefest of sinners and such as have continued so long in their sins that they have even wearied the patience of God to bear with them Isa 1.16 17 18. Put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil learn to do well Come now let us reason together though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red as Crimson they shall be as wool The most heinous sins such as are like scarlet and crimson of a deep die shall be forgiven to such as cease to do evil Isa 43.24 25. Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins thou hast wearied me with thine Iniquities I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins Though a man hath been a very wicked man and led an evil Life and committed abundance of sin yet upon his Repentance God will pardon all his sins Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon 3. Abominable Drunkards and other vile sinners have obtained pardon of sin through the blood of Christ and Sanctification by the Spirit of Christ 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Such were some of you that is such as are mentioned in the foregoing verses Drunkards Idolaters Adulterers abusers of themselves with Mankind Theives Revilers Extortioners And yet though some of them had been such abominable sinners they were pardoned by the blood and sanctified by the Spirit of Christ And therefore let no man though a great sinner though the chiefest of sinners say his case is desperate for there is mercy for him upon his Repentance Prov. 28.13 Who so confesseth and forsaketh shall have mercy Sect. 7 And Exhortation to such as are addicted to this sin of drunkenness to break off their sin If drunkenness be such a wofull sin then let me exhort all persons that are addicted to this sin of drunkenness whether they be rich or poor young or old speedily to break of their sin and to leave of their drunken courses and companions I entreat and beseech you for God's sake whose name is dishonoured by this beastly sin and for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake who shed his most precious blood to redeem you from this and your other sins and for the Holy Ghost's sake who is greived and vexed by your sensual courses and for the Gospel's sake which is scandalized by your lose Conversations and for your own sake that you would not ruine your selves Body and Soul for ever and for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake that you would not deprive your selves of the unspeakable glory and joys of Heaven rather than to leave off this swinish sin and for your Families that you would not ruine and corrupt your Families and entail God's Judgments on your Posterity and for the Nation 's sake that you would not pull down God's wrath upon the Land of your Nativity leave off your
speaks of it as an odious sin in Kings and Princes that are Rulers over others to be addicted to this sin of drunkenness Prov. 31.4 It is not for Kings O Lemuel it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for Princes strong drink It is not the use but the excess of wine and strong drink that is forbidden to Kings and Princes And there may be several reasons why Magistrates should above others avoid this sin of drunkenness 1. They are God's Vicegerents on earth they are in the place and in the stead of God among men Exod. 4.10 Thou shalt be to him instead of God They that are Rulers and Judges do not or at least ought not to rule and judge for themselves but for the Lord. 2 Chron. 19.6 And he said to the Judges take heed what ye do for ye judge not for man but for the Lord. And what a dishonour is it to the Holy and Blessed God that his Vicegerents that they that rule and judge 〈…〉 stead on earth should be tainted and 〈…〉 with such a beastly sin as drunkenness 2. When Magistrates are pious prudent sober and temperate they are blessin◠〈◊〉 the places over which God hath set the 〈◊〉 but when they are like children and can't govern themselves but eat and drink unseasonably and excessively they bring wo and misery not only on themselves but on others also even on the whole Land where they live Eccl. 10.17 Wo to thee O Land when thy King is a child and thy Princes eat in the morning Blessed art thou O Land when thy King is the Son of Nobles and thy Princes eat in due season for strength and not for drunkenness 3. When Magistrates are given to excess of wine or strong drink it unfits them for their employments it makes them forget God and the duty of their places and to pervert judgment Prov. 31.4 5. It is not for Kings O Lemuel it is not for Kings to drink wine nor Princes strong drink least they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted And those Magistrates do wickedly and are altogether unlike God that through carelesness or taking bribes or affection or any other account pervert judgment Job 34.12 Yea surely God will not do wickedly neither will the Almighty pervert judgment It is the opinion of all men that they deserve the curse of God who pervert judgment though in the cause of the meanest persons such as strangers widdows and fatherless Deut. 27.19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger fatherless and widdow and all the people shall say Amen 4. The Magistrates example hath a great influence on the people When Rulers are just and holy and temperate that will encline the people to the love and practice of Justice Temperance and Holiness When Crispus the chief Ruler of the Synagogue believed many of the Corinthians embraced the faith of Christ Act. 18.8 And Crispus the chief Ruler of the Synagogue believed on the Lord with all his house and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized While Joshua ruled Israel who was a pious person that served the Lord Israel served the Lord also Josh 24 15 31. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua Manassah's evil example made Judah and Jerusalem to sin at an high rate and to do worse than the Heathen 2 Chron. 33.2 5. 5. Magistrates dishonour themselves exceedingly in the sight of the people by excess of wine and render themselves contemptible by giving themselves over to vicious courses Hab. 2.15 16. Wo to him that giveth his neighbour drink and maketh him drunken that thou mayest look on his nakedness Thou art filled with shame for glory drink thou also and let thy foreskin be uncovered the cup of the Lords Right-hand shall be on thee and shamefull spewing shall be on thy glory The Babylonians were much addicted to the sin of drunkenness for which as well as for other sins the Lord denounceth Gods judgments against them because they were given to drinking themselves and would make others drunk also and among other punishments which they should receive from the Lord for this sin this was one that they should be filled with shame instead of Glory Thou art filled with shame for Glory and shamefull spewing shall be on thy glory They that understand this place Metaphorically grant that it may have a litteral sense to this effect Potest hoc ad Regem Babylonium referri quod vomet ipse cum magno dedecore quod ante intemperanter hauserat They are Calvin's words upon the place This may have reference to the King of Babylon that he should vomit with great shame what he had drunk in an excessive manner Though men be advanced to never such dignity and glory yet if they be given to excess of wine if they will drink till they spew if they will drink till they lose their understandings this stains their glory their drunkenness is a greater shame to them than their promotion to places of Government is a glory to them § It is worse in Ministers than in any other men II. Drunkenness is a worse sin in a Minister of the Gospel who should be a pattern as well as a preacher of Righteousness than in any other man Under the Mosaical Law the Priests were forbidden to drink wine or strong drink upon pain of death when they were to go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation Lev. 10.8 9. And the Lord spake unto Aaron saying do not drink wine nor strong drink thou nor thy Sons which thee when ye go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation least ye dye it shall be a statute for ever throughout your Generations And the reason of this strict prohibition of wine and strong drink to the Priests when they were to attend the service of the Lord is added ver 10.11 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy and between clean and unclean and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the Statutes which the Lord hath spoken to them by the hand of Moses The prohibition of the Priests drinking wine when they were to attend the service of the Lord is renewed by Ezekiel Ezek. 44.21 Neither shall any Priest drink wine when they enter into the Inner Court And as under the Law there was a strict charge given to the Priests not to drink wine or strong drink when they were to be employed in serving the Lord and teaching the people so it is required of all Ministers under the Gospel that they be sober and not given to wine 1 Tim. 3.2 3. A Bishop must be blameless vigilant sober not given to wine Tit. 1.5 For a Bishop must be blameless as the Steward of God not given to wine What the Apostle saith in his Epistle to Timothy and Titus concerning the qualifications of a Bishop concerneth all the Ministers of the Gospel which
thing to tell a lye unto men but it is worse to lye unto God Ananias and Sapphira were both smitten with sudden death for lying unto God about the price of their Land So many vows and promises as we make to God to break off our sins so many lyes we tell him if we do not perform those promises And therefore they that have told God many lyes of this nature may wonder at God's patience that he suffers them to live and hath not long since cast them into hell when as he struck Ananias and Sapphira dead for telling but one lye and he hath said All lyars shall have their part in the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21.8 § This sin is aggravated from the times when it is committed as if on Sabbath days before or after the Lords Supper when Gods Judgments are abroad VII Drunkenness is a vile sin at all times yet 't is worse if committed at some times than others As for instance 1. It is worse for a man to be drunk on a Sabbath day than on other days For the Sabbath day is to be employed in Holy and Religious Exercises Exod. 20.8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy And 't is a double sin to be drunk on the Sabbath day for such to their drunkenness add prophanation of the Sabbath 2. It is worse to be drunk when a man comes to the Lord's Table to partake of the Lord's Supper or soon after a man hath been at this Holy Ordinance then it is to be overcome with wine at other times In the Church of Corinth there were some that did presume to come to the Lord's Table when they were little better than drunk 1 Cor. 11.21 But such as are drunken a little before or soon after they come to the Lord's Table eat and drink unworthyly of that Holy Ordinance And such as eat and drink unworthyly at the Lord's Table are guilty of a mighty great sin for they are guilty of the body and blood of Christ 1 Cor. 11.27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. That is 1. He shall be deemed guilty of abusing and trampling under foot the body and blood of Christ and God shall deal with him as an abuser of the body and blood of Christ 2. He shall be esteemed as a shedder of Christs Blood and Crucifier of his Body and God shall deal with him as with a Murderer of Christ It is a great Crime to be guilty of the blood of an innocent man but it is more to be guilty of the blood of Christ than to be guilty of the blood of all the men in the World And as drunkards commit a great sin so they bring great judgment on themselves by coming in their sins to the Lords Table for they eat and drink damnation to themselves ver 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself 3. It is worse to be drunk in a day of common calamity when Gods judgments hang over or are come on the places where we live than in a day of prosperity for they that do so despise the judgments of God The Lord expects when he sends his judgments upon us that we should break of our sins and learn Righteousness Isa 26.9 When thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the World will learn Righteousness There is a wo denounced against those that are at ease and are jovial and give themselves to drinking and other pleasures when evil days are coming Amos 6.1 3 5 6. Wo to them that are at ease in Zion ye that put far away the evil day that chaunt to the sound of the Viol that drink wine in bowls Days of common calamity call for fasting and mourning and instead of fasting and mourning at such times for a man to give over himself to riotous courses is a most provoking sin as we may see Isa 22.5 12 13 14. It is a day of trouble and of treading down and of perplexity by the Lord of Hosts in the valley of vision And in that day did the Lord God of Hosts call to weeping and to mourning And behold joy and gladness Eating flesh and drinking wine let us eat and drink for to morrow we dye And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of Hosts surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye dye saith the Lord God of Hosts It is a very dreadfull threatning which is here denounced against those that in a day of common calamity give up themselves to a voluptuous course of life and will not leave off their riotous and drunken courses Surely this iniquity shall not be purged till ye dye saith the Lord God of Hosts Here is God's word and his oath for that word surely is used to express God's Oath Heb. 6.13 14. to assure such contemners of God's word and his judgments that this iniquity shall not be purged till they dye That is 1. God will plague men all the days of their lives for this sin And 2. Without Repentance will punish them to Eternity for what sins are not pardoned before we dye shall never be forgiven § It aggravates this sin to be eager and greedy of it VIII The more eager and greedy men are of this sin of drunkenness or of any other sin the more heinous it is for it shews a man to be come to a great degree of sin when he commits it with greediness Eph. 4.19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to commit all uncleanness with greediness And they commit this sin with greediness 1. Who rise early to follow after strong drink and continue at it all day such are wofull drunkards that will set from Morning to Night drinking and tipling at Taverns and Ale-houses Isa 5.11 Wo to them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink and continue till night till wine inflame them 2. They are greedy drunkards that use incentives to provoke their thirst that when they have a design to meet their Companions at a Tavern will eat salt meats in the Morning that they may drink the more freely and largely contrary to that command of the Apostle Rom. 13.14 Make not provision for the flesh to fullfill the lusts thereof 3. They are greedy drunkards whose minds hanker after Taverns and Ale-houses when they are at their Callings and do frequently leave their Callings to go to the Ale-house without being called out by their idle Companions only as they are enticed by their own hearts lusts And such also as can 't walk the Streets or travel on the Road but they must call in and have a pot or two almost at every Ale-house especially if it have a name for vending good drink As they were notorious Idolaters who could not pass by a mountain or a grove where there was
an Idol but they must bow themselves and shew respect to every Idol that came in their way Jer. 3.6 She is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree and there hath played the Harlot So they are notorious drunkards that can't pass by any Tavern or Ale-house but they must go in and tipple there 4. They are greedy drunkards that can never have enough but drink till they are dead drunk that they can't go nor speak but lye like dead men And if Friends send for them there is no getting them away or the Master of the house would perswade them to forbear drinking they fall into a rage and are like mad men of such it may be said what the Prophet speaks Isa 56.11 They are greedy dogs which cannot have enough 5. They are greedy drunkards who do not only go themselves frequently to Taverns but invite and entice others to go along with them Isa 56.11 12. They are greedy dogs that cannot have enough Come ye say they I will fetch wine and we will fill our selves with strong drink § It is an aggravation of this sin to boast and glory of it IX It is an aggravation of the sin of drunkenness or any other sin when a man will glory and boast either of being drunk himself or making others drunk All sin is matter of shame and blushing Jer. 3.25 We lye down in our shame and our confusion doth cover us for we have sinned against the Lord our God Ezra 9.6 O my God I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee my God for our iniquities are encreased And therefore they are impudent sinners that will glory and boast of their sins God will confound those that boast of their sins Psal 97.7 Confounded be all they that boast themselves of Idols And as boasting of Idols so boasting of any other sin will bring confusion with it Such as glory in those evil courses whereof they have cause to be ashamed their end will be destruction not only in this life but in the other World for ever Phil. 3.19 VVhose end is destruction whose God is their belly whose glory is their shame § It is an aggravation of this sin to continue long in it X. The sin of drunkenness and all other sins are aggravated by long continuance in them Jerusalem's adultery was the greater and more heinous because of its long continuance Ezek. 23.43 I said unto her that was old in adulteries And the hatred of the Philistines against the Jews was the more displeasing to God because they had hated the Jews a long time Ezek. 25.15 16. Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge and have taken vengeance with a despitefull heart to destroy it for the old hatred Therefore thus saith the Lord God I will stretch out mine hand against the Philistines When a man hath been disobedient from his youth this makes his disobedience the greater sin Jer. 22.21 This hath been thy manner from thy youth that thou obeyest not my voice All impenitent sinners are under the curse of God but more especially the old sinner Isa 65.20 The sinner being an hundred years old is accursed Sect. 6. The pleas and excuses of drunkards whereby they would excuse their sin answered and removed As it was with those that were invited to the supper and did not go They all with one consent began to make excuse Luk. 14.18 So it is with this Generation of men they have all of them one excuse or other whereby they would excuse or at least extenuate and lessen this abominable sin of drunkenness I will instance in several excuses and shew how vain and frivolous they are § Though men of good fashion and great parts be addicted to this sin we must not follow their example Plea 1. The greatest wits the able'st Scholars and the best sort of Gentlemen are usually great drinkers they are only a company of dull souls pitifull sneaking fellows such as affect singularity that speak against drunkenness and will not go to Taverns and drink as freely as other men and therefore I can't believe this is such an odious and abominable sin as you would represent it to be A. 1. There never were wiser and better men in the World than the Prophets and the Apostles yet they all with one consent declaim against this sin of drunkenness as a most odious abominable sin yea our Lord Jesus Christ chargeth and commandeth us to take heed least at any time our hearts be overcharged with drunkenness Luk. 21.34 And take heed unto your selves least at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness John the Baptist was an eminent person for wisdom and piety our Lord Jesus Christ gives this Character of him Mat. 11.11 Verily I say unto you among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist He was not only highly esteemed among men but he was great in the sight of God and converted many Souls and he never drunk any wine or strong drink Luk. 1.15 16. He shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his Mothers Womb and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God And therefore to say none but dull souls and sneaking fellows and such as affect singularity speak against drunkenness is a reproaching the Prophets and the Apostles and the best men that ever lived yea our Lord Jesus Christ himself for they all preached against and abhorred the sin of drunkenness 2. To say that all generous Spirited men and great wits are great drinkers and that they that are not so are a company of dull souls and pityfull sneaking fellows is to reproach and condemn the generation of the righteous as if they were the basest fort of men whereas they are the excellentest persons that are upon the face of the earth Psal 16.2 3. My goodness extendeth not unto thee but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight Prov. 12.20 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour Those sober men whom drunkards call pityfull sneaking fellows shall lift up their heads with joy and boldness before Jesus Christ at the day of judgment when wine bibbers shall call to the Rocks and Mountains to fall on them and to hide them from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 3. Though drunkards think themselves the only wise men and cry up their Companions as the only witty and brave men yet in truth and reality they are very fools and there is not one wise man amongst them Prov. 20.1 Wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wie If Solomon be to be believed who was one of the wisest men that ever lived yea if the Spirit of God
and others to repent of and forsake this sin of drunkenness If some drunkards be cut of in the act of sin while you are spared you must not think that they were greater sinners than you are but by their example God calls you to Repentance Luk. 13.4 5. Those eighteen upon whom the Tower of Siloam fell and slew them think ye that they were sinners above all that dwell in Jerusalem I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish 5. Your prospering in a sinfull course and being free from trouble of Conscience and also your being free from the judgments of God is a sure token that God intends to destroy you for ever Psal 94.7 When the wicked spring as the grass and all the workers of iniquity do flourish it is that they may be destroyed for ever Some mens sins go before to judgment and some men they follow after 1 Tim. 5.24 The less you meet with here for your sins the more you have to come in the other World 6. If you be free from God's judgments on your outward man yet it may be he sends his plagues upon your heart Exod. 9.14 I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart If the Lord give a man up to his own hearts lusts or to an hard and impenitent heart this is a worse judgment than afflictions on the Body or Estate § The plea of such as fear reproaches if they should not drink to excess as others do answered Plea 13. I would leave off this sin of drunkenness were it not that I feared reproach and scorn my companions with whom I have used to frequent Taverns and Ale-houses will call me a precise fool and say I am turned Puritan if I should not do as they do and besides my occasions do oft times lead me into the company of Gentlemen that are great drinkers and if I should scruple drinking in their company they would reproach and scorn me now I stand much upon my honour and to avoid reproaches I am drawn to that which I am convinced is a great evil but I can't avoid it unless I should make my self a derision and scorn among my acquaintance A. 1. If you stand upon your honour then whatever scoffs are put upon you hold fast your Sobriety be not by any means drawn to excessive drinking for drunkenness is a great reproach to any man be he a great or a mean man Prov. 14.34 Sin is a reproach to any people To be reproached for our temperance or any other branch of Righteousness is a real honour 1 Pet 4.14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you Then we are reproached for the name of Christ when we are reproached for our obedience to any of the Commandments of Christ of which this is one Take heed to your own selves least at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfitting and drunkenness Luk. 21.34 And therefore if any man reproach you because you will not overcharge your selves with drunkenness this is your happiness this is your glory for the Spirit of glory rests upon those that are reproached for the name of Christ 2. None but fools will mock at you for refusing to drink to excess Prov. 14.9 Fools make a mock at sin And who will regard what fools say As for all good men if you live in the fear of God they will honour you It is mentioned as a Character of a good man He honoureth them that fear the Lord. Psal 15.4 Yea if you abstain from drunkenness out of Conscience to the command of Christ the Lord himself will honour you Joh. 12.26 If any man serve me him will my Father honour 3. If you are ashamed to keep your sobrietp because of the scoffs and jears of sottish men the Lord Jesus Christ will disown you and be ashamed of you before the Holy Angels and before his Heavenly Father Mark 8.33 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this sinfull and adulterous Generation of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his father with the Holy Angels 4. If you will not turn from your sottish courses at the call and command of God the Lord himself will laugh at you and mock you in the day of your calamity Prov. 1.23 24 26. Turn ye at my reproof Because I have called and ye refused I also will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh And that is very dreadfull to have God instead of helping us in our distress mock and laugh at us in our calamity Yea the Devils also who tempted you to sin will laugh at you in Hell for your folly in parting with Heaven for such a poor matter as a pot of drink 5. You have slighty thoughts of sin and low thoughts of your immortal souls and of the joys of Heaven and the torments of Hell if you will commit such an horrible sin as drunkenness and cast away your immortal souls and deprive your selves of the joys of Heaven rather than bear the scoffs and jears of foolish and sottish men § The plea of rich men whereby they would excuse their drunkenness answered Plea 14. If I were a poor labouring man and should lye at the Ale-house and spend what I earned and my Family be in want I should be greatly to be blamed but I am a rich man and have a great Estate I can spend freely at Taverns and Ale-houses and not feel any want of what I spend there and therefore I hope I may be excused A. 1. It is indeed a very great crime for labouring men or any others to wast their Estates at Ale-houses whereby their Families are brought to want for such are worse than infidels 1 Tim. 5.8 If any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denyed the Faith and is worse than an Infidel 2. The rich drunkard shall find no more favour with God than the poor man yea than the begger For the Lord is no respecter of persons but will render to every man according to his works Riches avail nothing to keep off the wrath of God Prov. 11.4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath Job 36.19 Will he esteem thy riches No not Gold nor all the forces of strength Yea it will go worse with rich drunkards at the day of judgment than with poor men that have been addicted to this sin For they sin against greater mercy and abuse greater Talents than poor men What is said of the rust and canker which is on the Gold and Silver of rich men that are covetous and hoard up their Riches and do no good with them Jam. 5.3 Your Gold and your Silver is cankered and the rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire ye have heaped treasure together
off some persons that are addicted to company keeping when they do but begin to follow after vain persons and to eat and drink with the drunken Mat. 24.48.49 50 51. If that evil servant shall begin to smite his sellow-servants and to eat and drink with the drunken the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him and in an hour that he is not aware of and shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth 3. If you should live till you are old if you spend your young time in sin who can tell whether God will give you Repentance in your old age It is a rare thing to see a sinner converted in his old age It is as hard for one that hath been accustomed to do evil to do good as it is for a Blackamore to become white or a Leopard to change his spots Jer. 13.23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil 4. If the Lord should give you Repentance the sins of youth will lye heavy upon you in your old age and will cause much bitterness in your soul Job 13.26 Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth § The plea of such drunkards as make a profession of Religion answered Plea 18. If I were a prophane drunkard that would curse and swear I should look upon my self as in a very sad condition but though I am now and then overcome with drink I am a Religious person I hear and write Sermons I pray in my Family I will lay down my life for Christ I will rather burn than turn from the true Religion And therefore I hope God will not take any notice of my sin though I do sometimes drink to excess A. 1. To be a drunkard and yet to be a Religious person are inconsistent each with other as inconsistent as light and darkness as Heaven and Hell The grace of God teacheth a man to live soberly Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us the denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live righteously soberly and godly in this present World And therefore such as live intemperately and have not learned sobriety are destitute of the grace of God That man that maketh profession of Religion and yet is a drunkard his Religion is a vain Religion 2. Our making a profession of Religion and performing Holy duties will be so far from causing God to take no notice of our sins that he will visit us sooner and punish us more severely than other men if we live in drunkenness or such like sins Amos 3.2 You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities Such of the Jews as made a profession of Religion and yet lived sinfull lives the Lord tells them he would punish them for their iniquities even for all of them 3. The prayers and other Religious services of drunkards are an abomination to God Prov 15.8 The Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. Sacrifice was part of God's worship under the Law and when offered up in a right manner was very acceptable to God yet when performed by a wicked man it was an abomination to the Lord. The services of impenitent sinners are a burden and a weariness to the Lord. Isa 1.13 14. Incense is an abomination to me the new Moons and Sabbaths and calling of Assemblies I cannot away with it is iniquity even the solemn meeting your new moons and your appointed feasts my Soul hateth they are a trouble to me I am weary to bear them Incense did cast forth a sweet and delightful smell yet when offered by impenitent sinner it was an abomination to the Lord If impenitent sinners should have such gifts in prayer as that their prayers should be pleasing and delightfull to those that joyn with them yet their prayers are an abomination to the Lord. 4. Such as make a profession of Religion and yet live in drunkenness are worse and in a more woful condition than ignorant and prophane drunkards Isa 28.1 Wo to the drunkards of Ephraim Ephraim was a Tribe of Israel and a drunken Israelite is in a more wofull condition than a drunken Egyptian or a drunken Philistine The sins of such as make a profession of Religion do bring more dishonour to God and scandal to Religion then the sins of other men Rom. 2.17 23 24. Behold thou art called a Jew and restest in the Law and makest thy boast of God Thou that makest thy boast of the Law through breaking the Law dishonourest thou God For the name of God is blasphemed through you among the Gentiles 5. They deceive their own hearts that think they could lay down their lives for Christ who will not who cannot lay down a swinish and sottish lust for Christ which is prejudicial both to their Bodies and Souls § The plea of such as drink to excess to avoid envy and hatred of their neighbours and for fear of having ill offices done them answered Plea 19. I live in a drunken sottish place where my neighbours are generally given to drinking and if I should not do as my neighbours do I shall be envied and hated and they will put troublesome offices upon me or raise me in the rates or do me some ill turn and therefore though I approve not of drinking and tipling yet I am necessitated to do as they do else I should not live a quiet life amongst them I do this only to avoid trouble and therefore I hope I may be excused A. 1. If you will not live soberly and temperately and righteously in this present evil world for fear of hatred and envy and trouble then it is not possible that you should be a true Christian and lead a holy and righteous life or do any good works for no man can be a Christian indeed but wicked men will hate him Luk. 21.19 Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake No man can lead a Godly Life but he shall meet with trouble 2 Tim 3.12 Yea and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution No man can do any good work but some or other will envy him Eccl. 4.4 I considered all navel and every right work that for this a man is envied of his neighbour 2. If you live righteously and soberly God will love you Psal 146.8 The Lord loveth the righteous But if you be a worker of iniquity the Lord will hate you Psal 5.5 Thou hatest all workers of iniquity And if the Lord love you you need not be troubled though all your neighbours and all the men in the World hate you And if the Lord hate you it is not the love of your neighbours will comfort you
their sinfull courses and say in their hearts they shall have peace though they go on to add sin to sin 1. The Lord will not spare him No excuses no pleas no entreaties no tears shall prevail with God to spare such a man The Lord will not spare him that is the Lord will shew him no mercy he will not spare him from destruction here Jer. 13.14 I will not spare but destroy them Nor spare him from eternal torments in the other world Not sparing implyes a casting down to Hell 2 Pet. 2.4 God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell 2. The anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoke against that man If the Lord's anger be kindled but a little they are happy that are secured from it Psal 2.12 And therefore that man is in a wofull condition against whom God's anger and his jealousie waxeth hot and sinoaketh The jealousies of a man is dreadsull Prov. 6.34 35. But the jealousie of God is far more dreadfull that burns like fire Psal 79.5 Shall thy jealousie burn like fire 3. All the curses that are written in this book shall lye upon him The curses written in this book that is the curses of God denounced in the Scripture and they are more dreadfull than the curses of any men they shall not only come and fall but they shall lye upon that man that adds drunkenness to thirst and that not only some but all of them To have any one of the curses of God come upon a man is dreadfull but to have them all not only to fall but to lye upon a man is unspeakable misery 4. And the Lord shall blot out his name from under Heaven That is the Lord shall give him no part no portion in the Kingdom of Heaven and the Lord shall root out his posterity and leave him no name of Son or Daughter and shall cause his name the memory and remembrance of him to perish 5. The Lord shall separate unto evil out of all the Tribes of Israel according to all the curses that are written in the book of this Law As much as to say God will separate such a man from the rest of mankind to make him an object of his wrath and a monument of his displeasure to pour out all his wrath upon him and to bring upon him all the plagues and all the curses threatned in his word against impenitent sinners Let such drunkards and other impenitent sinners as go on still in their sins and yet hope for Salvation when they dye consider and lay to heart what dreadfull judgments are here denounced against such as add drunkenness to thirst and yet bless themselves in their hearts and say they shall have peace § The plea of such as have a secret hope God will spare them either because of some excellency or because Christ dyed for sinners or because they confess their sin Plea 21. I do verily believe that some yea many drunkards shall be shut out of Heaven but I have a secret hope that God will spare me because of those excellencies he hath put upon me and because Christ dyed to save sinners and when ever I am drunk as soon as I am come to my self I confess my sin and make vows and promises to leave my sin A. 1. It is folly and self-flattery makes thee think God should spare thee for that sin for which God will condemn others For God is no respecter of persons but will execute vengeance upon every impenitent sinner of what Nation rank or condition soever they be upon the rich as well as the poor the honourable as well as the base the great as well as the mean man Act 10.34 Of a truth I perceive God is no respecter of persons Rom. 2.6 9 Who will render to every man according to his deeds Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Centile 2. Let such as fancy that God will spare them and not cast them to hell for their drunkenness and their other sins because of some excellency they have above others as because they are great men or Learned men honourable men or the like consider that God did not spare the Angels when they sinned but cast them into Hell 2. Pet. 2.4 God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell Yet the Angels are wiser than the greatest Scholars and most Learned Men in the World and more glorious Creatures than the greatest Gentlemen Knights Noblemen yea more glorious than Kings and Princes And if God did not spare the Angels when they sinned against him but cast them down to Hell why shouldest thou think that he will spare thee and not cast thee to Hell for thy drunkenness because thou art a Learned or an Honourable man seeing all thine Excellencies whatever are inferiour to the Excellency of Angels Obj. But Christ died to save Sinners but he did not dye to save Angels and therefore I hope God will save me though I go on still in my Sins A 1. Jesus Christ who came into the World to save sinners came also to call sinners to Repentance Luk. 5.32 I came not to call the Righteous but sinners to Repentance He came not to save Sinners in their sins I mean to let Sinners live as they list and yet to save their Souls but he came to save sinners from their sins Matth. 1.21 Thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins 2. Jesus Christ who came to save Sinners tells us expresly that he will not save one sinner without Rrepentance but that all who do not repent shall perish and that he will shut out of Heaven at the day of Judgment all workers of Iniquity Luk. 13.3.5 I tell you nay but except you repent ye shall all likewise perish I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish He speaks the same words twice that they may sink the deeper into our hearts See also Luk. 13.27 Depart from me all ye workers of Iniquity Obj. I do believe may some say such as do not repent of their sins shall not be saved by the death of Christ but I repent of my Drunkenness when I have been overcome with Wine or strong Drink one day the next day when I am sober I am grieved for my sin and I confess my sin to God and make vows that I will not be drunk any more and therefore I hope God will spare and pardon me though he condemn other Drunkards A. 1. If you so repent of are grieved for and confess your sin as to forsake your Drunkenness you shall find mercy with God and he will pardon your sin though you have been a very vile and wicked person and have committed abundance of sin Isa 55.7 Let thē wicked for sake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will
bemoaned their sins and prayed to God to turn them from their sins God gave them grace to forsake their Idols Jer. 31.18 20. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself Turn thou me and I shall be turned I will surely have mercy upon him compared with Hos 14.8 Ephraim shall say what have I to do any more with Idols Obj. 3. I have prayed to God often to give me Grace to leave off this sin of drunkenness but God doth not regard my prayers this sin prevails over me as ever it did I find no help against this sin by praying to God 1. Do you not dissemble in your hearts with God when you pray for grace to leave this sin though you pray against this sin yet possibly you have no desire no mind no intention to leave it and this is a dissembling with God As the Jews dissembled in their hearts when they sent to the Prophet Jeremiah to pray for them when they had no mind to do that which they desired him to pray for Jer. 42.20 Ye dissembled in your hearts when ye sent me unto the Lord your God saying Pray for us unto the Lord our God and according unto all that the Lord our God shall say so declare unto us and we will do it So men may pray for themselves they may pray against their sins as if they had a mind to leave their sins and yet but dissemble in their hearts with God and not be really willing to break off their sins The Lord is nigh to all them that call upon him in truth Ps 145.18 If you would obtain what you pray for you must heartily desire what you pray for else you do not pray in truth 2. Do you watch against the Temptations and Occasions that may draw you to this sin This you must do as well as pray against it if you would have God keep you from it Matth. 26.41 Watch and Pray that you enter not into temptation To pray against drunkenness and yet to run your selves needlesly upon temptations to go into idle and vain company and to Taverns and Ale-houses this is but a mocking of God 3. Do you strive against this sin and use means to avoid it as well as pray against it If not that may be the reason why the Lord doth not answer your prayers For we must strive against sin as well as pray against it Heb. 12.4 Striving against sin When any evil Motions or evil Lusts arise into our hearts and solicit us to gratifie them we must not yield to them but must deny the sollicitations of sin Tit. 2.12 Denying ungodliness and worldly Lusts 1. Pet. 2.11 I beseech you abstain from fleshly Lusts 4. You must wait as well as pray if you would have your prayers answered Psal 40.1 2. I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined his Ear and heard my cry He brought me up also out of an horrible pit out of the miry Clay By the horrible Pit and miry Clay out of which the Lord brought David upon his crying and waiting on the Lord some understand his exceeding great afflictions and troubles out of which he obtained deliverance by Prayer †de profundo iniquitatum ex vitijs carnalibus Aug. Others interpret this Pit and miry Clay out of which David was delivered of his sins that defiled him like the mire and cleaved and stuck fast to him as the Clay And to warrant this interpretation we shall find that sinful Lusts are compared to a pit Prov. 22.14 Prov. 23 27. And to the mire Isa 57 20. 2 Pet. 2.22 Such as find their feet stick fast in the miry Clay of their sins if they cry unto the Lord and wait patiently upon him he will bring them out of the miry Clay and establish their goings in his wayes so as they shall not return to their sins again § Consideration of the evil and danger of this sin will help us to forsake it 2. Consider seriously with your selves the evil and horrible Nature of this sin of drunkenness and what the latter end of it will be It offends and displeaseth God it is a trampling under foot the blood of Christ who shed his blood to redeem us from our vain conversations it makes a man like a Beast yea worse than a beast it ruines your Bodies destroys your Souls wasts your Estates blemisheth your reputations will undo your Families it is the Nursery of all manner of wickedness though it be pleasant for a while at the last it will bite like an Addar and sting like a Serpent It will most certainly shut you out of Heaven and plunge you in the depths of Hell A serious consideration of their wayes is useful and beneficial for all sorts of persons Good men by pondering their wayes may reform what is amiss in them Ps 119.59 I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies And such as are wicked and graceless persons by considering their ways may be led and brought to repentance Ezek. 18.27 28. When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed he shall save his soul alive Because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed he shall surely live he shall not die Mark those words because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions A serious consideration of our wayes will help us to turn from all our transgressions The want of a due consideration of our ways is the reason why men commit and continue in abominable impieties Hos 7.1 2. They commit falsehood and the Thief cometh in and the troop of Robbers spoileth without and they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness § Reading Hearing and Meditating on God's word a great help against Drunkenness and all other sins 3 Read the Scriptures diligently attend on the Preaching of God's word Meditate on what you read and hear this will be a means to reclaim you from drunkenness and all other sinfull and destructive courses The Word of God hath a converting power in it and when it is set home by the Spirit of God it will convert a sinner from the error of his wayes Psal 19.7 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul It was by God's word that David was kept from sinning against God Psal 119.11 Thy word have I hid in mineheart that I might not sin against thee It was by God's word that he was kept from sinfull and destructive courses Psal 17.4 By the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer The reading of the Scriptures is a great help to bring men to the knowledge and the fear of the Lord and to make them leave and forsake their sins Deut. 31.11.12 Thou shalt read this Law before all Israel in their hearing that they may learn and fear the Lord your God and observe to do all the words of this Law And as reading the Scriptures so
hearing the word of God preached is a powerfull means to reclaim men from their sins and bringing them to Salvation 1 Cor. 1.21 It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe Rom 10.17 So then Faith cometh by hearing Meditation also on what we read and hear out of God's Word is a special means to encline our hearts to shun those wayes that are forbidden and walk in those wayes that are commanded in God's Word Psal 119.15 I will meditate in thy Precepts and have respect unto thy wayes § The belief of the truth of those things which the Scriptures speak concerning this sin is an help to our forsaking it 4. Lay to heart and believe the truth of those things which the Scriptures speak concerning drunkards and drunkenness As namely that drunkenness is a manifest work of the flesh concerning which the Lord tells again and again that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5.19 20.21 It will as certainly exclude a man out of Heaven as Murder and Adultery or any other sin We are told plainly in God's word that drunkards shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Drunkards shall inherit the Kingdom of God And that Hell is prepared for drunkards and doth as it were open its mouth to receive them and that such as follow after strong drink and enflame themselves with wine though there be multitudes of them and some of them very jolly men and live in great pomp and splendor their pomp and their multitude and their glory shall descend into Hell Isa 5.11 14. The Scriptures tell us plainly that such as drink till they are drunken the Lord will cut them asunder and give them their portion with unbelievers Luk. 12.45 46. And where shall unbelievers have their portion In Hell fire Rev. 21.8 The unbelieving shall have their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone So that it is evident from the Scriptures that drunkards shall most certainly be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven and be cast into Hell fire For nothing is more certainly true than what God hath revealed in the Scriptures And therefore let me reason a little with all those drunkards into whose hands this discourse shall come about the certainty of their damnation if they persist in their drunken and sottish courses Suppose all the Ministers that are this day upon the face of the earth and all the knowing and wise men in the World should come to thee and tell thee if thou dost not leave off thy drunkenness thou wilt certainly be shut out of Heaven and be cast into Hell would this startle thee That which the Lord tells us in his Holy Word is more certainly true than what is told us by all the men of the world For all men are fallible and subject to mistakes and may be overtaken with a lye but God is infallible and is a God that cannot lye Rom. 3.4 Let God be true and every man a lyar Suppose one of thy drunken companions that dyed in his sins and is now in Hell should be permitted to come from the dead and should tell thee Hell fire is an intolerable torment for I have been in it and I am sent by God to thee to tell thee except thou dost repent of thy sins and leave of thy drunkenness thou shalt as certainly go to Hell as I or any other sinner would this make thee leave thy sin Or suppose one of thy Godly Friends or Acquaintance that is now in Heaven should come to thee from Heaven and say I am sent from God to tell thee that except thou dost repent and leave off thy drunkenness thou shalt surely be cast into Hell would this startle thee wouldst thou believe this Message would this make thee repent God's word is more to be credited and a more forcible means to perswade men to repent than a message brought by a Saint or Sinner risen from the dead Luk. 16.30 31. If one went from the dead they will repent And he said unto him if they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Suppose an Angel should call to thee out of Heaven when thou art at a Tavern or an Alehouse and say O thou drunkard except thou dost repent thou shalt surely go to Hell Or suppose an Angel should bring thee a List of the names of those that shall be condemned at the day of judgment would this startle thee to see thy name in that List When the Scripture tells thee that no drunkard shall inherit the Kingdom of God but they shall all without Repentance be cast into Hell-fire that is more certain than if thou heardest a voice from Heaven telling thee thou art a damned creature or then if thou sawest thy name in the List of those that are to be damned for there is as great or a greater certainty in what we read in the Scriptures than in what we hear spoken by a voice from Heaven 2 Pet. 1.18.19 And this voice which came from Heaven we heard We have also a more sure word of Prophesy Suppose the Lord himself should come and speak to thee in a dream as he did to Abimelech Gen. 20.3 God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said unto him behold thou art but a dead man for the woman which thou hast taken for she is a mans wife Suppose I say the Lord himself should say to thee in a dream or a vision Behold thou art a damned creature for the evil courses that thou takest if thou dost not break off thy drunkenness I will cast thee into Hell-fire would not this make thee leave off thy drunkenness The Lord tells thee in his Word that drunkards shall not inherit his Kingdom but shall be cast into that Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone And what God saith to thee in the Scriptures is as much to be regarded is as true and certain as what he saith to us in a dream or vision or by an audible voice from Heaven What the Scripture saith God saith for the Scriptures are God's Word and therefore what the Scripiure saith shall be is as certain to come to pass as if it were already done What the Scripture saith is more sure and certain than what we see with our eyes or hear with our eares or feel with our hands for our senses are fallible When Isaac's eyes were dim he mistook Jacob for Esau though he heard him speak and felt him with his hands but what the Scripture saith is infallible For all Scripture was given by inspiration of God and God is an infallible God And therefore know O drunkard whosoever thou art that readest these lines that if thou dost not leave off thy drunkenness thy damnation is more certain than any thing that thou seest with thy eyes or hearest with thy eares or feelest
fulfil the lusts of the flesh Some might enquire what course shall we take that we may subdue the lusts of the flesh the Apostle directs to a ready way for getting power over all lusts and it is this that we get and walk in the spirit But some may say How shall we come to be filled with the spirit A. 1. By earnest longings and servent Prayers to God to give us yea to fill us with his Holy Spirit Luk. 11.13 Your Heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him Psal 81.10 Open thy mouth and I will fill it Psal 107.9 He satisfieth the longing soul and filleth the hungry with goodness 2. By acting Faith on God's Promises where he hath promised to give his spirit in an abundant and plentiful measure to us The more full we are of Faith the greater fulness we shall have of the spirit Act. 6 5. They choose Stephen a man full of Faith and of the Holy Ghost Now we have divers promises wherein the Lord hath promised to pour out his spirit richly and abundantly upon us Isa 44.3 I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground By water and floods we are to understand a plentiful effusion of the spirit as the words following shew us I will pour my spirit on thy seed See also Joh. 7.38 39. 3. Be careful you do not quench nor grieve the Holy Spirit after the Lord hath given any measure of it to you either by the Omission of known duties or the Commission of known sins For thereby you will hinder farther Communications of the spirit But some may say I am afraid God will not fill me with his Holy Spirit because I have been such a vile and sinful creature though I should seek unto him A. God through and for the sake of Jesus Christ will shed abroad his spirit abundantly on those that have been vile and great sinners if they turn to the Lord and make their supplication to him Prov. 1.23 Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my spirit unto you This promise is made to such as have been very great sinners to such as loved simplicity hated knowledge delighted in scorning as we may see in the fore-going verse yet even to these upon their turning God promiseth to pour out his spirit See also Tit. 3.5 6. According to his mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour These persons on whom God through Jesus Christ did shed abroad his spirit abundantly had been great sinners as we may see ver 3. They were sometime foolish disobedient serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating one another yet on them for Christ's sake the Lord did shed abroad his spirit abundantly § Putting on the Lord Jesus is a special help against drunkenness and all other sins How we are to put on Christ 10. If you would cast off this sin of drunkenness put on the Lord Jesus Christ for the puting on Christ will help you to put off your drunkenness and all your other sins Rom. 13.12 13. Let us walk honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkenness not in chambering and wantonness not in strife and envying but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ The Apostle doth not bid us put on temperance that we escape rioting and drunkenness or put on chastity as a remedy against wantonness or put on love and peace as a remedy against strife and envying but as a remedy against drunkenness and all the other sins he bids us put on the Lord Jesus Christ The putting on Christ will help us to put off drunkenness and all other vicious courses But some may say what is it to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and how and when may we be said to put on Christ Ans 1. We put on Christ by faith when we put on a garment we apply it to our bodies So we put on the Lord Jesus Christ when we make application of him and his saving benefits to our souls Christ is to be put on not only for justification from the guilt but also for sanctification from the filth and power of sin For he hath righteousness and holiness merit and spirit for sinners wherein all that believe in him do communicate with him This is absolutely necessary for the mortification of this and all other sins the power of sin can never be subdued but by the power of Christ Our old man must be crucified with him Rom. 6.6 and through the spirit we must mortifie the deeds of the body Rom. 8.13 To him therefore must we look and upon him we must rely by faith for grace and help to enable us to forsake and mortifie our sins It is through faith in Christ that we obtain victory over our corruption 1 Joh. 5.4 This is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith By the world which is overcome by faith understand not onely th◠men of the world but the lusts and corruptions which we are liable to whilest we are in the world Now we have good encouragement to look to Christ and rely on him for grace to help us against our lusts For 1. Jesus Christ was sent into the world by the Father on purpose to bless us in turning us from our iniquities Act. 3.26 And we may warrantably rely on Christ for the giving us those blessings which his Father sent him to beslow upon us 2. Our Lord Jesus gave himself to death for us that he might redeem us from the guilt and power of all our sins Tit. 2.14 who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works And we may warrantably rely on Christ for that blessing which he hath purchased for us with his own blood 3. Trusting and hoping in Christ is the way to be redeemed from all our iniquities Psal 130.7 8. Let Israel hope in the Lord And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities 2. We put on Christ by imitation when we make him our pattern and example resolving and endeavouring by the help of his grace to walk as he walked while he was in the world 1 Joh. 2.6 It was one end of God's sending Christ into the world to set us an example even in our own humane nature Rom. 8.29 Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son And it is our duty to be followers of Christ Matth. 11.29 Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart Joh. 13.15 I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done 1 Cor. 11.1 Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ Now Christ did no sin 1 Pet. 2.21 22. Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps who did no sin The wicked Jewes indeed maliciously slandered him and said Math. 11.19 Behold a man gluttonous and a wine-bibber But they laid to his charge things that he knew not And Christ challenged any of them to prove their charge Joh. 8.46 Which of you convinceth me of sin If then we thus put on Jesus Christ by imitation and warrant our practise by his example we shall not make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof which is the last direction Now the Lord in whose hand the hearts of all men are turn the eyes of concerned sinners upon these lines convince the guilty of the evil aggravations and danger of this shameful woful destroying damning yet abounding sin stop the mouth of all pleas in excuse or extenuation thereof and effectually persuade to a serious compliance with the counsel of God by speedy repentance and thorow reformation that they may never-feel the dreadful execution of the wo denounced It appeareth by the Authors manuscript that he designed had not death prevented him to have added hereto a narrative of the remarkable judgments of God upon drunkards with the use that ought to be made thereof FINIS