have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon 2. If you only confess your sin but soon commit it again and make vows and promises of Reformation but break them as oft as you make them this is not true Repentance this is but dissembling with God and a kind of mocking God when you confess your sin and yet are not resolved to leave your sin and to make vows and Promises when you do not mean to perform them The promise of pardon is to such as confess and forsake their sins not to such as confess and commit them again Prov. 28.13 Whoso confesseth and forsaketh shall find mercy VVhen men make Vows and Promises to God to reform their lives and their Hearts are not real neither are they stedfast to what they promise God accounts all our vows and promises but flattery and telling him so many lies Ps 78.34 35 36 37. When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early after God And they remembred that God was the 〈◊〉 rock and the high God their Redeemer Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth and they lyed unto him with their tongue For their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his covenant § Noah and Lot's Drunkenness will not excuse Drunkards Plea 22. Noah and Lot were good men and there is no doubt but they are gone to Heaven yet they were both drunk with VVine and that in as fearful and shameful manner as ever we were Noah was so drunk that he lay uncovered within his Tent and one of his Sons saw his Nakedness Lot was so overcome with some that he knew not what he did but committed Incest with both his Daughters and why may not we be good men and go to Heaven as well as Lot and Noah though we be now and then overcome with Drink A. 1. Though Noah was once overtaken with Drunkenness and Lot was surprized twice yet they were no Drunkards A Drunkard is one that is addicted and given to the sin of drunkenness one that is frequently overcome with VVine and strong drink A good man may be overtaken with a fault and may fall into sin but they are wicked men that lie and continue in their sins A Sheep may fall into the Mire but they are Swine that love to wallow in the mire 2. Noah and Lot repented of their drunkenness and so obtained Mercy but impenitent Sinners such as instead of repenting go on still in their trespasses instead of Mercy shall receive vengeance from God Psal 68.21 But God shall wound the head of his Enemies and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses 3. The falls of the Saints the sins of Lot and Noah and other Servants of God are recorded into Scripture not to justifie or encourage any man in his sins but as warnings to all that think they stand to take heed lest they fall 1 Cor. 10.12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall The Apostle had spoke in the foregoing verses of the murmurings and several other sins of the Israelites and of God's judgments against them for their sins and tells us that these things are recorded that such as think they stand should take heed lest they fall And therefore they that make this use of the fall of the Saints to encourage themselves in their sinful practices wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction 4. Lot's sin was punished in his posterity for the Children which he begat of his Daughters in his drunkenness namely Moab and Ammon brought forth a cursed Generation of Men that proved great Enemies to the Church of God For Moab who was Lot's eldest Daughters Son was the Father of the Moabites And Ben-ammi that was the Son of the younger Daughter was the Father of the Ammonites Gen. 9.37 38. And the Lord had such an indignation against the Moabites and Ammonites that he made a special Law against them above other Nations to exclude them from coming into the Congregation of the Lord. Deut. 23.3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the Congregation of the Lord even to their tenth Generation they shall not enter into the Congregation of the Lord for ever § The Plea of such as say Drunkenness is their infirmitie Plea 23. There is no man perfect in this VVorld but all men have their infirmities and failings one in one kind and another in another kind and this is my infirmitie that I love a Cup of good drink too well and when I am amongst my Companions I can't for my heart forbear drinking over much and I hope that seeing this is mine infirmity God will be gracious unto me and not shut me out of Heaven for a sin of infirmity A. 1. It is true all men have their infirmities and failings whilst they are in this World Eccl. 7.20 For there is not a just man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not The holiest men in the world have acknowledged themselves to be imperfect There was not a holier man on Earth than Job if perfection be taken for integrity and uprightness in that sence he was a perfect man Job 1.10 Yet Job was conscious to himself of his infirmities and durst not stand upon his own justification in the sight of God and say that he was perfect Job 9.20 If I justifie my self my own Mouth shall condemn me if I say I am perfect it shall also prove me perverse The Apostle Paul acknowledgeth himself imperfect Phil. 3.12 Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect But although the Servants of God have their infirmities they do not live in such beastly sins as Drunkenness What Moses saith of the degenerate Jews Deut. 32.5 may be applyed to Drunkards They have corrupted themselves their spot is not the spot of his Children they are a perverse and a crooked generation They flatter and delude themselves who live in such vicious courses as drunkenness and call their sins their infirmities 2. Such as are frequently overcome with wine and strong drink their drunkenness is not a sin of infirmity but a wilful and presumptuous sin as will appear in these respects 1. A man that sins through infirmitie is willing and desirous to be freed from his sins Matth. 26.40 41. What could ye not watch with me one hour The Spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak The sleepiness of the Disciples was their infirmity their Spirits were willing to have watched but their flesh was weak And such a man as sinneth through infirmity useth means to be freed of his sins Psal 77.10 And I said This iâ—â—â—y infirmitie but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high The Psalmist having through infirmity called in question the love and mercy of God calleth to mind his former experiences of God's gracious dealings with his soul he used means to get out of that sin
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
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
it if he hath an occasion and temptation to commit it § Drunkenness brings national judgments V. Drunkenness is such an abominable sin that it brings down National Judgments Whole Nations are punished for this sin of drunkenness The Earth is weary of bearing drunkards and often spueth out its inhabitants We read of the inhabitants of the Land of Canaan that their Land spued them out for their defiling it and the Israelites are warned not to defile their Land least they also be spued out Lev. 18.28 That the Land spue not you out also when ye defile it as it spued out the Nations that were before you And when the Israelites did defile their Land by drunkenness and other sins they were a burden to the Land it was weary with bearing them it spued them out and they were carryed captive into a strange Land Isa 5.11.13 Wo to them that rise up early to follow strong drink and continue untill night till wine enflame them Therefore my people are gone into captivity The Lord threatned to send a mighty adversary against Ephraim for their pride and drunkenness which came upon them as furiously as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm and as a mighty flood of waters that should overflow all places and bear down all before it Isa 28.1 2. Wo to the crown of pride the drunkards of Ephraim Behold the Lord hath a mighty and strong one which as a tempest of hail and a destroying sterm as a flood of mighty waters over-flowing shall cast down to the earth with the hand So that drunkards are the plague of a Nation that bring down Gods judgments on themselves and the places where they live And when an over-flowing scourge comes on a Nation usually drunkards have the speediest and deepest share in the judgments of God Amos 6.1 3 6 7. Wo to them that are at ease in Zion that put far away the evil day that drink wine in bowls Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive When the King of Assyria invaded the Land of Israel the drunkards were trod under feet like mire in the streets Isa 28.2 3. Behold the Lord hath a mighty and strong one c. The crown of pride the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trod under foot § Drunkards oft times dye in the act of sin VI. Drunkenness appears to be a great sin because oft times it is punished with sudden death and sometimes drunkards are cut off in the very act of sin They are very frequently cut off suddenly and unexpectedly Nah. 1.10 While they are drunken as drunkards they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry Stubble that is fully dry is consumed in a moment so are many drunkards cut off suddenly when they have no thoughts no expectations of death Luk. 12.45 46. If that servant shall begin to eat and drink and to be drunken The Lord of that Servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him and at an hour when he is not aware and will cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers We see here the wofull condition of drunkards both in their death and after their death Their death is oft times sudden and unexpected they have not a day not an hours warning Their Lord comes in a day that they did not look for him and in an hour that they were not aware of and shall cut them in sunder that is seperate their souls from their bodies by death and after death give them their portion with unbelievers that is in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone Rev. 21.8 Drunkards are ost times cut off in the very act of sin which is a dreadfull token of Gods displeasure when he will not vouchsafe a sinner space for Repentance but cuts him off in the very act of sin Elah a King a King in israel was cut off in the very act of sin while he was drinking himself drunk in his Stewards house 1 King 16.9 10. His servant Zimri conspired against him as he was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza Steward of his house in Tirzah And Zimri went in and smote him and killed him This is recorded to the terrors of all drunkards in all Ages to the end of the World As Christ said to deterr us from looking back remember Lots wife So may I say to deter you from drunkenness Remember Elah who was killed whilst he was drinking himself drunk And if God did not spare a King in Israel take heed least he do not spare you Besides Elah's example Amnon one of David's Sons was killed whilst his heart was merry with wine 2 Sam. 13.28 When Belshazzar had been drinking wine with a thousand of his Lords in the day time he was slain in the night Dan. 5.1 30. Belshazzar the King made a great feast to a Thousand of his Lords and drank wine before the Thousand In that night was Belshazzar the King of the Caldeans slain Besides these examples we have known or heard of several others some that have dyed dead drunk and never came to life again others that have fallen off their horses in their drunkenness and broke their necks others that have fallen into the water and been drowned and others cut off by other means § It unfits a man for the service of God and his Generation and for Death and Judgment VII Drunkenness makes a man unfit for any good work unfit for the service of God and Men unfit for Death and Judgment It makes a man unfit for Prayer and all other Religious Duties 1 Pet. 4.7 The end of all things is at hand be ye therefore sober and watch unto Prayer No men are fit for Prayer but sober men It is probable Nadab and Abihu had distempered themselves with wine or strong drink when they presumed to offer up strange fire and fire went out from the Lord and devoured them for immediately after the relation of their sin and punishment there is a strict charge given to Aaron and his Sons that they should not drink wine or strong drink when they went into the Tabernacle of the Congregation upon pain of death that they might be fit for their employment Lev. 10.8 9 10 11. It also unfits a man for the service of his Generation especially for a place of publick trust Many Armies have been ruined Towns and Kingdoms lost by the drunkenness of the Commanders A small Army of the Israelites not exceeding 7000 setting upon the Syrians when Benhadad their King was drinking himself drunk with his Confederates put the Syrians to flight and slew them with a great slaughter although besides his own great army he had Thirty and Two Kings that came to his assistance 1 King 20.16 17 20. And as this sin renders us unfit for the service of God and Men so also it makes us unfit for the day of death and judgment Luk. 21.34 And take heed to your selves least at any time 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
this great Nation is a wise and understanding people The Israelites worshipped the true God and professed themselves to be the people of God they enjoyed the means of grace and therefore a drunkard of Ephraim was in a worse condition then a drunkard of Moab or Egypt A drunken Israelite was worse than a drunken Heathen That it is far worse for men of knowledge and eminent for profession of Religion to be addicted to this sin of drunkenness than ignorant and prophane men may be made out several ways As 1. When men of knowledge and professors of Religion will frequent Taverns and set tipling at Ale-houses till they are enflamed with strong drink their example will embolden ignorant and young persons to do as they do and may ruin them for ever What the Apostle saith of knowing persons sitting and eating in the Idols Temple 1 Cor. 8.10 11. If any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the Idols Temple shall not the Conscience of him that is weak be emboldned to eat those things which are offered to Idols And through thy knowledge shall thy weaker brother perish for whom Christ dyed The same may I say of sitting at Taverns and Ale-houses If any man see thee which hast knowledge sit and drink and tipple at a Tavern or an Ale-house shall not he that is weak be emboldned to follow thy example and through thy knowledge thy weak brother may perish Eternally What is said of Achan Josh 22.20 That man perished not alone in his iniquity The same may be said of men of knowledge they perish not alone in their iniquities their example draweth multitudes to sin and destruction with them 2. The miscarriages of men of knowledge and professors of Religion cause the name and Gospel of God to be blasphemed Rom. 2.17 23 24. Behold thou art called a Jew and restest in the Law and makest thy boast of God and knowest his will Thou that makest thy boast of the Law through breaking the Law dishonourest thou God For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you When such as are called and accounted the people of God and know his will do break God's Laws this causeth God's name to be dishonoured and blasphemed VVhen David who had a great name for Religion fell into scandalous sins his fall gave great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme his name 2 Sam. 12.14 Because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme the child also that is born unto thee shall surely dye As the Philistines rejoyced and triumphed when they heard that Saul and his mighty men fell in the battel 2 Sam. 1.19 20. The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places now are the mighty fallen Tell it not in Gath publish it not in the streets of Askelon least the daughters of the Philistines rejoyce least the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph So do prophane men rejoyce and triumph when they hear of any persons eminent for profession of Religion that fall into any scandalous sins As the Heathen spoke scoffingly of the children of Israel when they went into captivity Ezek. 36.20 These are the people of the Lord and are gone forth out of his Land So are prophane men ready to say when they see professors of Religion overcome with wine or strong drink These are the people of the Lord and yet they will drink and tipple and be drunk as well as other men and thereupon make a scoff at Religion and think by reason of some mens miscarriages that all Religion is nothing else but hypocrisie 3. Sins against knowledge are far greater than sins of ignorance A sin committed against knowledge is so great that a sin of ignorance is as it were no sin compared with it Joh. 9.41 Jesus saith unto them if ye were blind ye should have no sin but now ye say we see therefore your sin remaineth Joh. 15.22 If I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sin but now they have no cloak for their sin They had not had sin that is not to be understood absolutely for all men have sinned Heathens that never heard of the Gospel as well as other men Rom. 3.23 but it is to be understood comparatively their sin is so great being committed against knowledge against the light of my Gospel that their sin had been none at all compared with their sin as it is now aggravated by being committed against light Yet sins of ignorance are of that heinous nature that they are not explated but by the blood of Christ For there were Offerings and Sacrifices for sins of ignorance under the Law as we may see Lev 4.2 3 13 14 22 23 27 28. Which did type out the expiation of our sins by Christs offering up himself a Sacrifice for us Heb. 9.26 Eph. 5.2 And it is said expresly Heb. 9.22 VVithout shedding of blood is no remission And if sins of ignorance be not expiated but by the blood of Christ and would have procured our being cast into Hell torments for ever what heinous sins are sins against knowledge seeing sins of ignorance are as no sins compared with sins against light 4. Such as sin against knowledge and under a profession of Religion shall have far greater punishment in the other VVorld than ignorant persons Luk. 12.47 That servant which knew his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes The Pharisees who were knowing persons being given to oppression and other sins and covering their sins with a profession of Religion our Lord Jesus Christ saith to them Matth. 23.14 Therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation And as such as sin against light and sin under a profession of Religion shall receive greater damnation in the other World so they oft times are punished sooner and more severely in this World than other men Amos 3.2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities Ezek. 9.6 Slay utterly old and young and begin at my Sanctuary VVhen God sends forth his judgments he usually begins at his Sanctuary Attending upon God's Ordinances will be so far from securing impenitent sinners from God's judgments that it will hasten their ruine § Drunkenness is worse in women than in men IV. It is a greater shame to see a drunken woman than a drunken man A drunken woman was in old times accounted a daughter of Belial 1 Sam. 1.13 14 15 16. Eli thought she had been drunken and Eli said unto her how long wilt thou be drunken put away thy wine from thee And Hannah answered and said no my Lord I am a woman of a sorrowfull Spirit I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink Count not thine hand-maid for a daughter of Belial Hannah's answer to Eli implyeth that drunken women were counted daughters of Belial But what is it
that caution consider diligently what is before thee There is another awakening expression Put a knife to thy Throat if thou be a man given to thine appetite that is 1. Stand in as much awe and be in as great fear of offending God by thine excess in eating or drinking as a man is in fear of offending that hath a knife put to his Throat 2. Look upon thy Soul to be in as great danger of perishing by intemperance when thou art at a great man's table as thy body is in danger of perishing when thou hast a knife at thy Throat Or 3. Put a knife to thy Throat that is use all means possible to mortifie and restrain thine inordinate appetite 't is like the expression Ps 39.1 I will keep my Mouth with a bridle that is I will force my self to be silent I will refrain from speaking I will keep in such words as are unseemly though they would be breaking out So put a knife to thy Throat that is restrain thine inordinate affections force thy self to be temperate in eating and drinking Many think that it is a desirable thing to be invited to feasts with great men to eat at a Rulers Table and they have a longing mind after such things but let them hear what Solomon saith in this case Prov. 23.3 Be not desirous of his dainties for they are deceitful meat The greater dainties are on the Table the greater is the danger The Daintier our Meat and Drink is the more deceitful For while dainties please the Palate if they allure us to intemperance they kill the Soul And is not that deceitful that comes with an appearance of pleasure and destroys both Body and Soul 2. You are under a temptation to this sin when sensual Lusts arise in your hearts or evil motions are put into your minds by Satan whereby you are enticed and enclined to go to Taverns and Ale-houses to be merry among your jovial Companions James 1.14 Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his lust and enticed Now when such Lusts or inordinate desires after wine or strong drink arise in your hearts do not gratifie them do not make any provision for their satisfaction Rom. 13.14 Make no provision for the Flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof But withstand resist and deny their solicitations hearken not to their enticings but list your heart to God to subdue your evil inclinations and attend the the works of your callings When the lusts of our hearts solicit us to evil we may give a double reply to them Non licet How shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God And Non vacat I am not at leisure We may reply as Nehemiah Neh. 6.3 When we are employed and diligent in our callings we have a great advantage against the lusts of our own heart and the temptations of Satan by not being at leisure to attend their motions When we are idle and out of employment our own sins and Satans temptations have a great advantage on us and will easily prevail over us 3. You are under a temptation to this sin when your drunken companions entice and call you to go to the Alehouse or when being there they urge and importune you to drink more than is meet In this case remember what the Lord saith Prov. 1.10 15 18. My Son if sinners entice thee consent not my son walk not thou in the way with them refrain thy foot from their path They lay wait for their own blood they lurk privily for their own lives If one should entice you to an Alehouse to murder you when he comes there if you knew this before hand would you go with him They that entice you to Alehouses and make you drunk when you come there do a worse thing than murder your Bodies for they draw you to that sin which will damn your Body and Soul for ever and that is a worse hurt than murder What Solomon saith of such as yield to the enticing of an Harlot Prov. 7.21 22 23. With much fair speech she caused him to yield He goeth after her strait-way as an Ox goeth to the slaughter or as a fool to the correction of the stocks till a Dart striketh through his Liver as a bird hasteth to the snare and knoweth not that it is for his Life The same is applicable to those that yield to the enticing of drunkards or other sins VVhen they yield to their enticings and go along with them they go as an Ox to the slaughter that they follow them to their own destruction as surely though they consider it as little as the Ox that goeth to the slaughter they go as a Fool to the correction of the stocks when once they are got in they can as hardly get out as a man can get his feet out of the Stocks Till a dart strike through his Liver that is till he be certainly ruined body and Soul If a dart go through the Arm or Thigh that wound may be cured but if it strike through the Liver it is certain death there is no cure for such a wound As a bird hasteth to the snare and knoweth not that it is for his life A snare taketh suddenly and holdeth surely Such is the case of those that follow the enticing of Sinners they as little consider that they are doing that which will destroy their Souls that their lives lie at stake as the bird doth that hastneth to the snare she looks for meat but looseth her life so doth the Drunkard that is taken in the snare of evil Company he looketh for pleasure but looseth his Soul 4. You are under a temptation to excess of drinking when you meet with brisk and pleasant Wine or other pleasant drink that which is pleasant to the Eye or pleasant to the Tast The most pleasing Wine or other drink it taken excessively will bite like a Serpent and sting like an Addar Prov. 23.31 32. § Inordinate affection to Wine and strong drink to be mortifyed by such as would avoid drunkenness 7. Let such as would avoid drunkenness mortifie their inordinate affection to Wine and strong Drink This is necessary because the inordinacy of the affections to VVine or strong Drink is is sinful and offensive to God as well as the act of Drunkenness It is evil to have the mind and heart hanging after Taverns and Ale-houses as well as to be a frequenter of those places He is a Drunkard in his heart that hath an inordinate Affection to Wine or strong Drink as well as he committeth Adultery with a Woman in his heart that lusteth after her in his heart Besides this inordinate affection to Wine or strong Drink is the root of this sin of drunkenness We do not lay the Ax to the root of Drunkenness if we only indeavour to forbear the actual Commission of this sin and do not endeavour to mortifie our inordinate affections A man may purpose and make vows and use other means