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
which spake by Solomon who is the Spirit of truth be worthy to be believed we must assent to it as a certain truth that whosoever is deceived by wine or strong drink is not a wise man They may be wise for managing worldly matters but they have not that wisdom which cometh from above which maketh wise to Salvation for that wisdom teacheth men to be pure and holy Jam. 3.17 The wisdom that is from above is first pure And therefore impure and filthy drunkards have none of this wisdom They are so far from being wise men that in truth and reality they are very fools for they part with the glory and pleasures of Heaven for ever for a pot of drink or a cup of wine and for the enjoyment of the pleasures of sin which are but for a season they plunge themselves into the torments of Hell for ever 4. They are not the best sort of Gentlemen that are given to drinking and other vices Debauched Gentlemen are the reproach of the Gentry The best sort of Gentlemen are pious and virtuous Gentlemen who hate and abhor vicious courses such as walk in the fear of God and themselves and families are patterns of piety and virtue such as love and seek the welfare of their Country and are rich in good works 5. This will not excuse any man at the day of Judgment to say many Gentlemen and men of great parts were addicted to drunkenness For 1. Those Gentlemen will be in as miserable a condition as the poorest beggars at the Judgment seat of Christ Who have been vicious persons their Riches will avail them nothing at all at that day Job 36.19 Will he esteem thy Riches No not gold nor all the forces of strength Those Rich men that fared deliciously every day and drunk their fill of wine and strong drink while on earth shall not get one drop of water to cool their tongues when they are in Hell Luk. 16.19 23. 2. Vicious Gentlemen will be in a worse condition in the other world than the poorest and meanest begger on the face of the earth for they shall be tormented for mispending their Estates with which God intrusted them to do good with all Potentes potenter torquebuntur What is said of Babylon Rev. 18.7 How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her The same measure shall be meeted out to vicious Gentlemen the greater pomp they have lived in on earth and the more deliciously they have fared the more sorrow and torment they shall have hereafter 3. Pious persons that have been so poor that they have begged their bread shall reign with Christ in Heaven while vicious gentlemen shallcry and roar in Hell and beg for a drop of water to cool their tongues and be glad of it though brought by the hand of a beggar that hath begged Alms at their doors Luk. 16.20.21 22 23 24 26. Lazarus was a poor begger full of noysom running sores which the dogs licked when he lay at the rich mans gate he would have been glad of any crumbs that fell from the rich mans Table but when he dyed Angels carryed his Soul into Abraham's Bosom and when the rich man dyed he went to Hell and there being in great torment he begged that Lazarus might dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue but he could not obtain that favour to have so much as a drop of water to cool his tongue though he was a great man and lived gallantly while he was on earth § The example of such Ministers as are given to this sin No excuse for drunkards The wofull condition of a drunken Minister Plea 2. There are many Ministers will drink as hard as any other men and we hope we may do as our Ministers do we have honourable thoughts of our Ministers and besides our Ministers are learned men and if drunkenness were such an horrible sin as you would make us believe surely they that are such learned men would not be addicted to such a foul sin A. 1. To be a Minister of Christ is an high and honourable employment and it is a good thing that people should have honourable thoughts of the Ministers of Christ and esteem them very highly for their work and office sake 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the mysteries of God 1 Thes 5.12 13. We beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you And to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 2. We must not follow the example of any Minister though he should be the best Minister in the World farther than he followeth Jesus Christ Who was a better Minister than the Apostle Paul yet he desired no man to follow his example farther than he himself followed Christ 1 Cor. 11.1 Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ 3. Did you know what a wofull condition drunken Ministers are in you would not be in their case for the whole World The Prophet Jeremiah trembled Body and Soul and was amazed when he considered the wofull condition of drunken Ministers Jer. 23.9 11. Mine heart within me is broken because of the Prophets all my bones do shake For both Prophet and Priest are prophane Prophane Ministers are in Gods account as bad as Sodomites Jer. 23.14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing they commit adultery and walk in lyes they strengthen also the hands of evil doers that none doth return from his wickedness they are all unto me as Sodom And we know that the men of Sodom were such an abomination to the Lord that he consumed them with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven Prophane Ministers are the worst sort of men and therefore in Scripture they are compared to the tail Isa 9.14 15. The prophet that telleth lyes he is the tail There is a most bitter cup as bitter as wormwood and gall prepared for drunken and prophane Ministers Jer. 23.15 When Ministers are ignorant or negligent in their work or prophane in their lives their flock lyeth open for a prey to all that have a mind to devour them Isa 56 9 10 11. And the blood of all those souls that perish either by their negligence or evil example will be required at their hands 4. It is no marvel to see some Ministers that have great parts and much learning given to drunkenness and other scandalous sins For 1. Knowledge without Grace will not make a man an Holy man The devils have great knowledge yet they are wicked Spirits and do very wicked things 2. It was so under the law there were many wicked Priests that lived in scandalous sins Jer. 10.21 The pastors are become brutish Jer. 23.11 Both prophet and priest are prophane And it is foretold it would be so under the Gospel that there would
for the last day The like may be said of what rich men spend lavishly at Taverns and Ale-houses your Gold and your Silver which you have consumed in a lavish manner upon your lusts will be a witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire for at the last day you must be accountable to God for all that treasure which you have wasted upon your lusts 3. Rich men are not Lords of their Estates to spend them according to their own will they are but Stewards and must emyloy them according to the will of God 1 Pet. 4.10 As every man hath received the gift even so Minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God Though the Lord makes Rich his Stewards yet he retains a propriety in all things that he commits to their trust He calls our corn and wine his corn and his wine and our wool and flax his wool and his flax Hos 2.9 I will take away my corn and my wine and my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness All our cattel are his cattel Psal 50.10 Every beast of the forrest is mine and the cattel upon a thousand hills Yea the Lord hath a propriety in all things that all men have in all parts of the World 1 Chron. 29.11 All that is in Heaven and all that is in the Earth is thine Now seeing rich men are but the Lord's Stewards they must not spend their Estates upon their lusts but must honour the Lord with them Prov. 3.9 Honour the Lord with thy substance What is spent in excess of wine and strong drink and riotous courses is employed to the dishonour of God 4. What abundance of treasure might you have laid up in Heaven if you had given all that money to the poor members of Christ which you have spent vainly and sinfully at Taverns and Ale-houses Whereas all that is spent that way is treasure laid up in Hell that will torment you to Eternity § The plea of such as go to Ale-houses out of idleness answered Plea 15. I go to Ale-houses and Taverns only at such times as I have nothing else to do and I have found the pot and the pipe and a merry companion delightfull pastimes methinks it is pleasant recreation to sit in an Ale-house and to hear and tell news and talk of old stories over a pot of drink or a dish of Coffee should I not do this I should be at a loss how to spend away my time my spare hours would be a burden to me A. 1. Those men do not know the worth and preciousness of time that go to Coffee-houses Ale-houses and Taverns meerly out of an idle humour to pass away the time Time is more precious than Silver and Gold for all the Silver and Gold in the World can't purchase one day one hour of that time which is past and hath been mispent Upon this moment of time well improved or mispent dependeth our eternal happiness or eternal misery It is a great sin for a man to spend his mony idly and vainly but it is a greater sin to spend his time which is more precious than Money in a vain and idle manner 2. If you do not know how to prize your time consider the dolefull lamentations of despairing souls that think the day of Grace is past and listen to the sighs and groans of dying men who have not made their peace with God and whose Consciences are troubled for their mispent time And consider what precious thoughts damned souls have of time Oh what would dying men and damned souls give for so much time to repent and make their peace with God as you spend idly in ale-houses and taverns They would give Millions of Silver and Gold yea the whole World to gain but so much time as you mispend in idleness 3. To idle away precious time in coffee-houses and ale-houses which is the common practise of many persons is a great and provoking sin and I shall give one instance for the proof hereof Idleness was one of the sins for which God destroyed Sodom with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven Ezek. 16.49 50. Behold this was the iniquity of thy Sister Sodom Pride fullness of bread and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters Therefore I took them away as I saw good Now that is an horrible sin which provoked God to rain down Fire and Brimstone from Heaven upon such a famous City as Sodom and consume it with all its inhabitants to ashes And if idleness were such a provoking sin in a Sodomite then it is far worse in a Christian Anidle Christian is worse thau an idle Sodomite for Christianity teacheth us better things than the light of nature taught the Sodomites It shall be more tolerable at the day of judgment for the men of Sodom than for such as profess the Christian Religion and yet spend their time in idleness 4. Such as are Christians indeed and live in the exercise of the power of Godliness have so much work to do for God and for their own souls and for others that they rather complain of want of time than want of pastimes and recreations They do not complain that they have so much spare time they can't tell how to spend their time they rather wish they could live without eating and drinking and sleeping that they might have more time to spend in the service of God and their Generation 5. If that time which many spend vainly in ale-houses were spent in doing good to their own souls and others as in visiting the lick comforting the afflicted c. this would bring much glory to God Joh. 15.8 Herein is my father glorified that ye bear much fruit And this would redound to your comfort and benefit in this life and the life to come 6. It is the command of Christ that we should always abound in the work of the Lord. 1 Cor. 15.59 Always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Is this to abound always in the work of the Lord to spend abundance of precious time in vain discourse in ale-houses or such like places this is rather abounding in idleness 7. Would you be willing to be found in an ale-house spending away your time between the pot and the pipe when Jesus Christ shall come to Judgment Christians should not be in those places or do those things which they would not be found in at the coming of Christ to Judgment Jam. 2.12 So speak ye and so do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty Calvin would not desist from his employment though advised to it for his health and gave this reason Vultis ne ut Dominus cum venerit c. What would you that the Lord when he comes should find me idle If Calvin was unwilling when infirm to desist from his studies for fear that
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
Pride 2. What is meant by the Drunkards of Ephraim 3. What by the wo denounced against Pride and Drunkenness What is meant by the Crown of Pride A. 1. By the Prophets crying wo to the Crown of Pride we may understand that Pride is odious to God in all sorts of persons though they be Kings and Princes such as wear Crowns if great men If the greatest Kings be lifted up with Pride they are an abomination to the Lord. Prov. 16.5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest Monarch in the World All People Nations and Languages trembled and feared before him whom he would he slew and whom he would he saved alive Dan. 5.19 Yet when this great King was lifted up with Pride God did no spare him but deposed him from his Kingly Throne and made him lower than the lowest of men For he was driven from among men and had his dwelling among the beasts and did eat grass as the Oxen. Dan. 5.20 But when his heart was lifted up and his mind hardned in Pride he was deposed from his Kingly Throne Dan. 4.31 32. O King Nebuchadnezzar the Kingdom is departed from thee and they shall drive thee from men and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field they shall make thee to eat grass as Oxen. 2. By wo to the Crown of Pride we may understand wo to those in whom Pride is a reigning sin Crowns are worn by those that reign in token of their regal dignity We must not suffer Pride or any other sin to reign in us Rom. 6.12 Let not sin reign in your mortal body that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof Good men may be overtaken with Pride as well as other sins but it doth not reign over them but they resist and oppose it and humble themselves for it as we may see in the case of Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32.25 26. His heart was lifted up Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the Pride of his heart Now the wo denounced against Pride is against the Crown of Pride that is where Pride is a reigning sin 3. By the Crown of pride may be understood those Crowns or Garlands made of Roses or other Flowers which drunkards use to wear at their drunken meetings Ebrii solebant sibi coronas imponere As Grotius observeth It was an Heathenish custom for drunkards to put Crowns on their heads which custom was imitated by many of the Israelites against such as these the Prophet denounceth Gods judgments wo to the Crown of pride to the drunkards of Ephraim as if he should have said wo to those drunkards in Ephraim that take a pride in drunkenness that glory in their shame that strive to excell and get the mastery of each of other in drunkenness What is meant by the Drunkards of Ephraim A. A drunkard is one that is given addicted accustomed to the sin of drunkenness one that is frequently drunk Noah was once overtaken with drunkenness but he was no drunkard he was not addicted and accustomed to this sin Ephraim was a Tribe in Israel Numb 1.33 Of the Tribe of Ephraim were 40500. Sometimes by Ephraim is understood the Ten Tribes of Israel which revolted from the house of David in the days of Jeroboam As Isa 7.2 It was told the house of David Syria is confederate with Ephraim that is with the Ten Tribes of Israel vvhich vvere called by the name of Ephraim because Jeroboam vvho vvas the first King that the ten Tribes set up after their defection from the house of David vvas of the Tribe of Ephraim 1 King 11.26 31. And also because Ephraim vvas the chiefest of the ten Tribes so that vvo to the drunkards of Ephraim is as much as vvo to the drunkards in Israel Israel vvas a people that had God's Word and Prophets a people for vvhom God had done greater things than for any Nation under Heaven Psal 147.19 20. Israel professed themselves to be the people of the Lord And therefore to be a drunkard in Israel was far worse than to be a drunkard in Egypt or Moab or any other Heathenish Land What is meant by that wo which the Prophet denounceth against the Crovvn of pride and the drunkards of Ephraim A. It implyes that pride and drunkenness are vvofull sins and that all proud persons and all drunkards are in a vvofull condition This little vvord wo is a comprehensive vvord it comprehends all sorts of miseries both in this Life and the Life to come VVhen the Scripture saith vvo to drunkards it implyes that the curse of God is upon them in this Life and vvill vvithout Repentance remain upon them to Eternity But see more particularly what is included in the wo denounced in the Scripture 1. The wo denounced in Scripture implyeth all sorts of misery and calamity on the outward man even to our utter ruine and destruction Numb 21.29 Wo to thee Moab thou art undone 2. The wo denounced in Scripture implyeth Spiritual judgments that God will send his plagues on those mens souls to whom his word saith wo. Isa 3.9 Wo unto their Soul for they have rewarded evil against themselves 3. When the Scripture denounceth wo against sinners this wo includeth in it the certain and unavoidable damnation of Hell Mat. 23.28 33. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites How can ye escape the damnation of Hell So that this wo comprehends all sorts of judgments internal external and eternal judgments Sect. 3. Drunkenness is a wofull sin VVhat drunkenness is when a man is in Scripture account a drunken man The text being explained I shall not at present treat of the wo denounced against the sin of pride though that be an abominable sin but of the wo denounced against the drunkards of Ephraim which concerneth all other drunkards as well as those of Ephraim though more especially such drunkards as live under the means of grace and are professors of the Christian Religion And the Doctrine which I shall insist on is this Doct. Drunkenness is a wofull sin and all drunkards are in a wofull condition especially such as live under the means of grace and make a profession of Religion VVo to the drunkards of Ephraim It is not to be understood exclusive as if other drunkards were not in a wofull condition as well as those of Ephraim but eminenter the drunkards of Ephraim above others were in a wofull condition because they sinned against more light and more means of grace than the drunkards in Heathenish Countries Before I shew what a wofull sin drunkenness is it will be expedient to enquire what drunkenness is Drunkenness is sometimes taken figuratively as when it is applyed to sin Rev. 17.2 6. or affliction Isa 51.21 Or properly for being drunk with wine or other strong drink Eph. 5.18 Be not drunk with wine And in this sense I shall handle it in this discourse Drunkenness is a vice so well known that
are easily drawn to commit the worst sort of uncleanness Lot though a Righteous man being overtaken with drunkenness committed incest twice Eph. 5.18 Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as Beza observeth omnis profusio eaque summâ cum turpitudine conjuncta All excess of riot even that which is joyned with the greatest filthiness No filthiness comes amiss to a drunken man who is shameless whilst he is overcome with strong drink The Jews who were much addicted to Drunkenness were greatly addicted to Whoredom also Hos 4.11.18 Whoredom and wine take away the heart Their drink is sour they have committed whoredom continually Their drink is sour some interpret of the sour belches drunkards have after their cups and another effect of immoderate drinking wine besides the souring of it in the stomach is that it provokes men to VVhoredom Hierom hath a smart passage to this effect Nunquam ego ebrium castum putabo I shall never think a drunkard can be a chast man 2. Drunkards are easily persuaded to be idolaters for they making their belly their God Phil. 3.19 will easily be perswaded to bow down their bodies to an Idol and comply with any Religion which will suit best with their interest Hos 3.1 The children of Israel who look to other Gods and love flagons of wine Dan. 5.4 They drunk wine and praised the Gods of Gold and of Silver of Brass of Iron of Wood and of Stone 3. Drunkenness is accompanied with abundance of vain bablings and foolish and idle talk which men have together when they are in their cups Prov. 23.29 30. VVho hath bablings They that tarry long at the wine And if any think there is no great hurt in those bablings and foolish talking that drunkards have when they sit together at Iuns or Ale-houses Let such consider 1. That vain bablings harden the heart and dispose a man to ungodly practises 2 Tim. 2.16 But shun prophane and vain bablings for they will encrease unto more ungodliness 2. Though foolish talking and jesting is made light of and accounted by many a matter of mirth yet it is a sin brings down Gods wrath Eph. 5.4 6. Neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient Let no man deceive you with vain words for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience 3. Men must give an account for every idle word at the day of judgment and without Repentance they shall be condemned for their idle words as well as their other sins Mat. 12.36 37. But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned 4. There are fevv drunkards but they vvill mock and scoff and rail at the Ministers and Servants of Christ and sing Songs of them especially vvhen they are in their cups Prov. 20.1 Wine is a mocker that is it makes men mockers Mercer's note upon that Text is Vini potor derisor Dei hominumque esse solet P. drunkard is wont to be a derider of God and men It hath been usual with drunkards in former as well as these days to sing Songs of the people of God Psal 69.12 I am the song of drunkards Now this mocking the Ministers and people of God is a grievous sin it brings down wrath without remedy 2 Chron. 36.16 They mocked the Messengers of God and despised his words and mis-used his Prophets untill the wrath of the Lord arose against his People till there was no remedy Mockers bring upon themselves mighty and unavoidable judgments Isa 28.24 Now therefore be ye not mockers least your bands be made strong Forty and Two little Children were torn in peices by two Shee bares for mocking a Prophet and calling him baldhead 2 King 2.23 24. And if God was so offended with little children for this sin of mocking a Prophet that he sent two bears which rent in peices 42 Children how offensive is it to the Lord to hear those that are come to mans estate knowing and understanding men mock and scoff at his servants Though no judgment come upon them in this World for their sin yet without Repentance a worse thing will come unto them they shall be rent and torn that is they shall be tormented in the other World for ever by the Devil who is a roaring Lyon a far more dreadfull enemy than the Bears that tore the little children in peices 5. Drunkards are usually swearers and some of them will swear dreadfull Oaths such as would make a man tremble to hear them And swearing prophane swearing is an abominable sin and brings a man in danger of hell fire Jam. 5.12 But above all things my brethren swear not neither by Heaven neither by the Earth neither by any other Oath but let your yea be yea and your nay be nay least ye fall into condemnation 6. Drunkards are oft times persecutors and smiters of their fellow-servants Matth. 24.48 49. If that evil servant shall say in his heart my Lord delayeth his coming and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants and to eat and drink with the drunken They are such as eat and drink with the drunken that smite their fellow-servants And smiteing and persecuting the servants of Christ is an heinous sin he takes it as ill when his servants are persecuted as if he himself were persecuted Act. 9.4 Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Saul did not persecute Christ in his own person for he was in Heaven setting at his Fathers Right-hand but he persecuted Christs Servants and Christ was as much offended at the persecution of his Members as if he himself had been persecuted 7. Drunkenness casteth men into a deep sleep and maketh them dreadfully secure under those judgments that hang over their heads Prov. 23.34 Yea thou shalt be as one that lyeth down in the midst of the Sea or as he that lyeth on the top of the Mast. Solomon speaking of such as tarry long at the wine sets out their danger by one that lyeth sleeping upon the top of a Mast in the midst of the Sea who is in danger every moment to fall into the Sea and to be drowned yet fears nothing while he is a sleep Such is the case of drunkards they are in danger of falling into Hell every day and yet they fear nothing till God awakens their Consciences and shews them their sin and misery When the Prophet calls Awake ye drunkards Joel 2.5 It implyes that they are in a deep sleep and that it is no easy matter to awake them 8. Sometimes drunkards commit murder in their drunkenness and quarrel with and kill their best friends It is reported of Alexander that when he was drunk he killed his Beloved Friend Clytus Yea there is no sin so horrid but a drunkard may fall into
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
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
dearest friends or nearest Relations we have in all the World should entice us to that which is evil we must by no means consent unto them Deut. 13.6 8. If thy brother the son of thy mother or thy son or thy daughter or the wife of thy bosom or thy friend which is as thine own soul entice thee secretly saying let us go and serve other Gods Thou shalt not consent unto him nor hearken unto him 3. It will not excuse us in the sight of God to say we were enticed to this or that sin for it is an heinous offence to be drunk or commit idolatry or any other such like sin though we were enticed to these sins Job 31.26.27 28. If I beheld the Sun when it shined or the Moon walking in brightness and my heart hath been secretly enticed or my mouth hath kissed my hand This also were an iniquity to be punished by the Judge for I should have denyed the God that is above § The plea of being urged and importuned to drink more than is meet is no excuse for drunkenness Plea 7. If I drink too much it is at such times as I am urged and importuned thereto by the company among whom I am and I can't tell how to withstand the importunity of my friends when they are very urgent with me to drink beyond measure I hope the urgency and importunity of friends will be my excuse if I now and then drink too much A. 1. The great God is more urgent and importunate with you to abstain from excessive drinking and all other sins then any men can be He calls to you he chargeth you to take heed that you be not at any time overcharged with drunkenness Luk. 21.34 Take heed to your selves least at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfitting and drunkenness He commands you to abstain from drunkenness Eph. 5.18 Be not drunk with wine He beseecheth you to abstain from fleshly lusts 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the Soul And drunkenness is a lust and work of the flesh as you may see Gal. 5.19 20 21. He pleads with you to turn from those evil courses that will be your ruine Ezek. 33.11 Turn ye turn ye from your evil ways for why will ye dye O house of Israel And shall not the importunity of the great God prevail with you above the importunity of all the men in the World Though they be great men though near friends though such as will be angry with you if you yield not to them yet their importunity should not prevail with you to break the command of the great God 2. Brute beasts cannot be drawn by any urging and importunity to drink more than satisfieth their natures unless there be force used with them and the drink be powred down their throats they will not take more than quencheth their thirst And therefore it is below a man to say I could not avoid drinking to excess for I was importuned and urged thereunto Yea they are sunk a degree below beasts that will be prevailed with by importunity to drink more than is for their good 3. If a man should urge you to cast your selves into a fiery furnace would you consent thereto or if a man should importune you to part with a fair Estate for a trifle would you consent to it Should importunity prevail with you to do these things When by importunity of any man you yield to drink unto drunkenness you yield to that which is more prejudicial to you than casting your selves into a fiery Furnace or parting with a great estate for a trifle For by drunkenness you provoke God to shut you out of the Kingdom of Heaven and to cast you body and soul into that Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone there to remain for ever And that is infinitely worse than to be cast into any fiery Furnace on earth 4. They are none of your friends that urge and importune you to drink more than is for your good They may be pretended friends but are real enemies For they urge you to that which will be your ruine to that which will undo you Body and Soul for ever And is he a friend or an enemy that urgeth you to that which will be your ruine § The plea of such as say they are drawn to this sin by their Relations and Friends on whom they have their dependance Plea 8. My Friends and Relations on whom I have my dependence are addicted to this sin of drunkenness and if I should not do as they do they would cast me off they would disinherit me they would leave me out of their Wills and give me nothing at their death and therefore I am forced to comply with their way and humour and drink more than is meet to please my Relations from whom I hope to be much advantaged at their death A. 1. You have a greater dependance on God than on any man upon the face of the Earth You depend upon God for your beings your life your motion yea for all things Act. 17.28 In him we live and move and have our beings And therefore you had need be more carefull to please and more fearfull to offend God than to please or offend any man on the face of the earth 2. Suppose your Parents or Relations should cast you off for retaining your integrity and because you will not defile your self with their evil ways the Lord will be a friend to you and will take the care of you Psal 27.10 When my Father and Mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up But if we sin against God to please our Relations and forsake his wayes the Lord will cast us off 1 Chron. 28.9 If thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever And if the Lord cast us off it is not all the men in the World can do us good 3. What is the loss of an earthly inheritance to the loss of the Kingdom of Heaven Suppose you should lose a great inheritance on earth for want of complying with your Parents or Relations in sinfull courses yet that is nothing in comparison of the loss of Heaven which you will bring upon your selves by excessive drinking although it be to please your Relations for drunkards shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.10 If you sustain loss for Righteousness sake all such losses shall be made up with an hundred sold advantage both here and hereafter Math. 19.29 But if you lose the Kingdom of Heaven you are a lost undone man for ever Nothing is able to make up that loss 4. If you resolve to please God rather than to please your Friends it may be the Lord will turn the hearts of your Friends towards you For the hearts of all men are in his hands And it is said Prov. 16.7 When a mans wayes please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be
or Ale-house before he can conclude it and besides trading is so bad that if a new Customer come or a former Customer lay out a considerable sum of mony to engage him to come again I must go with him to the Tavern and give him a glass of wine and when I am among my Customers or driving on a bargain I forget my self and am surprized before I am aware and I hope this will excuse me A. 1. It is an evil custom and sinfull practice of many men to leave their Shops and Houses to make bargains at Ale-houses and Taverns But such as profess themselves to be the servants of Christ must not conform to the sinfull customs and practices of the men of this world Rom. 12.2 Be not conformed to this World They must break and reform and not follow evil customs 2. You may quickly lose more than you get by driving bargains at Taverns and Ale-houses For 1. You will lose your reputation among sober persons and that is a greater loss to lose your good name than to lose great riches Prov. 22.1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches If a man be counted a tipler a haunter of Taverns this is a blemish to him he hath lost his good name 2. By driving bargains at Ale-houses you will be in danger to debauch your Conscience and will lose the peace of your Conscience you will get a wound and a snare to your Soul And if a man lose a good Conscience that is a greater loss than the loss of all Riches 3. If you contract a habit of drunkenness by driving bargains at Ale-houses you will lofe your Souls and the loss of the Soul is such a great loss as can't be made up by the gaining of the whole World Mark 8.36 For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own Soul 4. If you get a habit of drunkenness by frequenting Taverns you will lose the favour of God Psal 5.5 Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity And a man had better lose estate liberty life and all that he hath in the World than lose the favour of God 3. You do and get more hurt than you are aware of by frequenting Taverns to make bargains For your example in frequenting Taverns to make bargains encourageth others to go thither who go out of wantonness and hardens them in their evil practice And you get much hurt for by degrees your heart will be hardened and from sipping now and then you will proceed to larger draughts and from thence to drunkenness 4. There is a far better way to engage Customers than to go to taverns with him and that is by affable carriage by selling them good Commodities by dealing justly and truly with them this would invite men to deal with you Prov. 24.26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer When a man is known and proved to be a man of his word this doth so engage men to him that every one desireth to deal with such a man Prov. 28.20 A faithfull man shall abound with blessings Diligence in a mans Calling that also engageth Customers All men love to employ a diligent person Prov. 22.29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business he shall stand before Kings he shall not stand before mean men 5. When your necessary occasions draw you to a Tavern or Ale-house look upon it as a place of temptation and hasten away be as one that sitteth on thorns be at no ease till you are gotten away 6. It will not excuse your drunkenness to say I was surprized before I was aware whilst I was drinking with a Friend or a Customer for you ought to watch over your selves and it argues want of Wisdom to be deceived or surprized with wine or strong drink Prov. 20.1 Wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise § The plea of such as think drunkenness is no sin because they have no trouble of Conscience neither meet with any affliction for their excess Plea 12. If drunkenness were such a great sin as you would perswade us surely I should have terrors in my Conscience or be followed with some sore judgment for this sin but I have no terrors in my Conscience and I meet with no afflictions or judgments from God and therefore I can't believe that drunkenness is such an heinous and wofull sin as you have represented it to us A. 1. A man may be a greater sinner in the sight of God and yet the Lord may not set home his sin upon his Conscience or inflict his judgments upon him in this life because he reserveth him to be punished at the day of Judgment Job 24.12 Yet he layeth not folly to their charge Job speaks here of abominable sinners that oppress the poor and needy and fatherless and take away their lands and flocks and their rayment and their food insomuch that they cause men to groan and cry out like wounded men yet God layeth not folly to their charge that is doth not charge their sin upon their Consciences nor punish them for their sins 2 Pet. 2.9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished 2. It is probable that you had some gripes in your Consciences for this sin your hearts have smitten you at one time or another though now you have by your sottish courses stifled those checks of your Consciences and your Consciences be now fallen asleep And it is very likely you have had many rebukes from God since you went on in this way but you not regarded them It is usual with those that are addicted to this sin to be regardless of God's dealings both what God doth to themselves and others Isa 5 11 12. They follow strong drink they regard not the work of the Lord nor consider the Operation of his hands 3. If you have no remorse of Conscience for this sin this doth not argue your sin to be a small sin but shews that you are an obdurate hardned sinner and so your condition is much worse than those drunkards that have trouble of Conscience for what they have done They are the worst sort of sinners that sin at an high rate and yet feel no trouble in their minds for what they have done Eph. 4.19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness It is a wofull condition to be given up to an hard heart and feared Conscience and to have no feeling of the evil of sin 4. Suppose you have met with no judgments from God for your evil courses you have known or heard of others on whom God hath sent his judgments for their sin of drunkenness some have broken their limbs some have broken their necks others have had ther sore judgments inflicted on them all which are warnings to you
under the hatred of God 3. If you be hated of your Neighbours and have ill Offices done you because you will not break the Commandments of God as other men do this is matter of joy rather than of sorrow such hatred makes you happy rather than miserable Luk. 6.22 23. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil for the Son of Mans sake Rejoyce ye in that day and leap for joy for behold great is your reward in Heaven 4. It is far better being troubled and hated and envyed of men raised in your rates and to have all the ill Offices done that you can think of than to have troubles in your own Consciences and be shut out of Heaven and be tormented in Hell for ever which will be the certain effect and consequence of drunkenness What petty inconsiderable things are being envied of neighbours raised in your rates and the like to the loss of the Kingdom of Heaven and the suffering of the torments of Hell 5. If you cannot withstand the temptation of drunkenness by reason of your living among sottish neighbours remove your habitation and choose a dwelling among more sober and pious persons whose Godly example may excite and encourage you to lead a Godly Life § The plea of such as will not believe that God will shut them out of Heaven for such a small sin as drunkenness answered Plea 20. If I thought God would shut me out of Heaven for excessive drinking I would forthwith leave off my going to Ale-houses and Taverns and would never be drunk any more for I am not such a fool as to cast away my immortal Soul and deprive my self of the glory and joys of Heaven for ever for so small a matter as wine or strong drink but it can't enter into my heart to believe that God will shut men out of Heaven and cast them into Hell for such a small sin as drunkenness for such a small matter as drinking a little too much wine or strong drink and therefore I will take my liberty to eat and drink and be merry and hope to go to Heaven as well as the most precise and abstemious persons in the World A. 1. Dost thou call drunkenness a small sin It is a great abominable a monstrous most loathsome and beastly sin It is a sin against the light of nature and a sin against the light of Scripture It makes a man like a beast yea worse than a beast for there are many beasts will not drink more than satisfieth nature It makes a man like a devil some men when they are in their cups will rage and swear and curse at that dreadfull rate that they seem rather to be incarnate devils than men Yea some drunka ds are worse than devils for the devils are afraid of being tormented and pray that they may not be tormented before their time Mat. 8.29 Art thou come hither to torment us before the time Luk. 8.28 What have I to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God most high I beseech thee torment me not But many drunkards do frequently in their cups call out to God to damn them as if they longed to be in Hell and dared the most high God to damn them And shall any man then be so far deluded as to think or say that drunkenness is but a small sin 2. The Lord foresaw that many drunkards would flatter themselves with vain hopes of Salvation and therefore he hath given a caution to drunkards that they would not deceive themselves with vain and groundless hopes of enjoying the Kingdom of Heaven For he hath plainly declared that no drunkards shall enter into his Kingdom 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived Nor drunkards shall inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5.19 21. Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Drunkenness Revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God By these and such like Scriptures it is plain and evident that drunkards shall not inherit the Kingdom of God and that drunkenness is a sin that will certainly shut a man out of Heaven And therefore whether you believe it or believe it not it is most sure that if you do not repent of and forsake this sin of drunkenness you shall not you cannot be saved 3. The Lord is a very merciful and gracious God and his tender mercies are over all his works but yet he will not shew mercy to any contrary to his Word He is faithfull and true as well as merciful Psal 25.10 All the paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth Psal 85.10 Mercy and Truth are met together It was never known that the Lord did shew mercy to any in a way contrary to his truth or that mercy and truth crossed each other If the Lord should save drunkards he should not be true to his word for he hath said in his Holy Word that drunkards shall not inherit his Kingdom And therefore it is vanity and folly to hope for Salvation contrary to the word of God which is in effect to hope that God will break his word that he may save our souls 4. Such drunkards as will not believe that God will shut men out of Heaven for the sin of drunkenness do add unbelief to their drunkenness and do thereby go about to make God a lyar 1 Joh. 5.10 He that believeth not hath made God a lyar 5. It is an horrible provocation for drunkards or other sinners when they hear or read of God's judgments that he will shut them out of Heaven and cast them into Hell c. To bless themselves and think that they shall have peace and that God will be merciful to them and spare them though they go on in their sins Hear how dreadfully God threatens such persons Deut. 29.18 19 20 21. Least there should be among you man or woman or family or tribe And it come to pass when he heareth the words of this curse he bless himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of my heart to add drunkenness to thirst The Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoke against that man and all the curses that are written in this book shall lye upon him and the Lord shall blot out his name from under Heaven and the Lord shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel according to all the curses of the Covenant that are written in this book of the Law Here are several judgments denounced against all such persons whether men or women of what Family or Nation soever they be that bless themselves in
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
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
drunkards is only a corporeal transient pleasure but the joy and delight which temperate men find in the wayes of God are spiritual pleasures the joyes and comforts of the Holy Ghost Act. 9.31 Walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Ghost And there are no pleasures in this world to be compared with the comforts of the Holy Ghost 2. The pleasures of drunkenness bring dreadfull pains along with them And those after pains are of that afflicting nature that no wise man would purchase those vain imaginary pleasures at so dear rate as to have all those pains that they bring with them For 1. Drunkenness causeth sharp and painfull sicknesses which sometimes are of long continuance And what good will a man's pleasures that are vanished away do him when he is on his sick-bed 2. Drunkards meet with many sharp rebukes and sore afflictions which vex and peirce them like Thornes Prov. 26.9 As a Thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard And if there be a Thorn in the hand there can be but little joy in the heart 3. There are pains in the Conscience that follow the drunkard 's pleasures The guilt of his sins will one day sting the drunkard like a serpent and bite him like an adder though for the present it seems a pleasing thing to be among drunken companions Prov. 23.31 32. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red when it giveth his colour in the cup when it moveth it self aright At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder 4. The worst pains that follow drunkards are the pains of Hell for they are eternal intolerable unspeakable pains Then all their mirth and jollity shall cease for ever VVhat is said of Israel in the day of their calamity Amos 8.3 The Songs of the Temples shall be howlings in that day The like may I say of drunkards when they are in Hell The Songs of the Taverns shall be howlings in that day Then those that were styled roaring boyes that were wont to sing shall howl and roar in Hell through grief and anguish of heart And what the Prophet Isaiah saith of the calamities that were coming on the Jews Isa 24.7 8 9. All the merry hearted do sigh the mirth of Tabrets ceaseth the noise of them that rejoyce endeth the joy of the Harp ceaseth they shall not drink wine with a Song strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it The same shall be verified of drunkards that were full of mirth while they lived when God shall cast them into Hell all the merry hearted shall sigh and mourn for ever there are no Musical Instruments no pleasant Songs there the noise of them that rejoyce endeth there shall be no drinking of wine or strong drink no not one drop of water to cool their tongues their strong drink shall be bitter to them that took most pleasure in it 3. Are wine and strong drink thy chiefest joy and delight thou hast in this world then thou makest thy belly thy God For that which is our chiefest joy that we make our God Ps 43.4 I will go unto the altar of God of God my exceeding joy And such as make their Belly their God their end will be destruction Phil. 3.19 Whose end is his destruction whose God is their belly 4. The pleasure men take in drunkenness is sinful pleasure and the pleasures of sin are so dangerous so destructive to Body and Soul that a wise and gracious person will chuse rather to suffer any kind of Affliction than to embrace the pleasures of Sin Moses was a wise man and he chose rather to undergo an afflicted condition in the Wilderness than enjoy all the Pleasures of Pharaoh's Court because he could not enjoy them without sin Heb. 11.25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season 5. If the pleasantest and most delightful Wine in the World were presented to you if you saw a Spider or a Toad or some other poisonous Creature in the Cup would you not throw it away Drunkenness will do you more hurt than any poison For poison only kills the Body but drunkenness kills and destroys both Body and Soul for ever If any man should say to you when you are in your Cups as they cryed to the Prophet 2 King 4.40 O thou man of God there is death in the Pot. As if one should say to you O thou Drunkard there is death in the Cup and were sure what he said was true would you not throw away your Cup There is a worse thing than death in the drunkards Cup there is damnation in the Cup. And shall the pleasantness of the Liquor entice you to drink your own damnation 6. The more pleasure men take in their sin the greater is their sin and the greater will be their punishment It is a damnable sin not only to do unrighteous actions but to take pleasure therein 2. Thess 2.12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness The more voluptuously men live here the greater sorrow and torments they shall have hereafter Rev. 18.7 How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much torment give her § The obstinate Drunkard's Plea that is resolved to take his course though he go to Hell when he die Plea 25. You may spare your pains for I am resolved I will go on in my way if I must be damned for this sin of drinking I will bear it as well as I can I shall have good store of Company with me in Hell and shall have Neighbours sure and therefore let God have his will on me hereafter and I will have my will while I am here A. 1. Dost thou consider what thou sayest Thou art a Heaven daring a God provoking Sinner Dost thou contemn God Who hath hardned himself against him and prospered Job 9.4 Dost thou make a light matter of Hell Torments The Devils who have not their full torment till the day of Judgment are afraid of those Torments that they must undergo when that day is come Matth. 8.29 Art thou come hither to torment us before the time And they begged of Christ they might not be tormented Luk. 8.28 I beseech thee torment me not And art thou more hard-hearted than a Devil to make a light matter of Hell Torments 2. Canst thou bear a fit of the stone in extremity or other racking pains when thou hast all manner of helps that love or mony can procure to asswage thy pains and give thee ease and when thou hast thy Friends about thee to comfort thee and a soft Bed to lie on How then wilt thou bear the Torments of Hell where there is no bed to lie on but flaming fire no Friends to comfort thee but Devils that will mock and laugh at thee no Cordials to bear up thy fainting Spirits not so much as a
drop of water to cool thy tongue All the pains that were ever felt by any men in this world are but flea-bites compared with the Torments of Hell Canst thou hold thine hand one hour in the fire If not how wilt thou be able to lie Body and Soul in Hell-fire for ever The fire of Hell is seven times hotter than any fire on Earth 3. How troubled was Jesus Christ when our sins were only imputed to him He was so full of sorrow that he was ready to die with grief Matth. 26.38 He was in such an Agony that his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground Luk. 22.44 And if our Lord Jesus Christ found it so difficult to bear the punishment of our sins when they were only imputed to him how wilt thou be able to undergo the punishment of thy own sins in the other world for ever 4. It will be no mitigation but an addition to thy torments in Hell that thou shalt have many of thy Neighbours and Companions with thee Their hideous cries and their roarings will add to thy sorrows especially such as thou hast been instrumental to draw to sin The rich man when he was in Hell torments was very solicitous to have means used that his five Brethreen might not come into the same place of torment Luk. 16.28 Which he did not out of love to his Brethren's Souls for there is no true love among the damned in Hell but for fear of encreasing his own Torments It would terrifie a Drunkard and almost put him out of his wits whilst he is on Earth if the Ghost of one of his sottish Companions that died in his sins and is damned for his sins should appear to him and where ever he goeth haunt him But it will be a far greater trouble to be with them and haunted with them in Hell and to have them cry out against them had it not been for you had not you enticed me encouraged me by your example I had repented and had not come into this place of torment § The Atheistical Drunkard's Plea who doth not believe there is a God or Life to come answered Plea 26. As for those that believe there is a God to whom an account must be given for what is done whilst we live in this world and a Heaven for the righteous and a Hell for the wicked and yet live in drunkenness and such like sins they are vile wretches that will act so contrary to their Consciences and their profession but for my part I believe none of these things but do look upon them as Stories and Fables I do not think that there is a God a Heaven or an Hell or a future life but am of opinion that when a man dyeth there is an end of him even as there is of a Beast and therefore I will take all the pleasure I can while I live and do approve of that saying Let us eat and drink for to morrow we must die A. 1. Drunken sottish Atheists that do not believe there is a God are the greatest Fooâ—s in the whole world For there is nothing more evident and plain than that there is a God What we see with our Eyes and hear with our Ears and feel with our Hands is not more â—ure than this truth that there is a God For 1. All Creatures in Heaven and Earth proclaim the being of God with a loud voice Thregular Motions of the Heavens and the fir mament which is beset with an innumerable company of Stars and the constant succession of day and night declare that there is a God and that this God is a glorious God for no Creature was able to frame such a glorious work as the Heavens which are adorned with Sun Moon and Stars these are the work of none but a God neither can any but a God guide and order their motions Ps 19.1 2. The Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work Day unto day uttereth Speech and night unto night sheweth knowledge Yea if thou goest to the Birds or Beasts of the Earth or Fishes of the Earth and they will convince thee of thy folly and tell thee that he is a very ignorant and blind Creature that doth not see the Workmanship of a God in all these things For none of these Creatures made themselves neither could any man make them none but a God was able to make maintain and govern all these Creatures Job 12.7 8 9. But ask now the Beasts and they shall teach thee and the Fowls of the air and they shall tell thee or speak to the Earth and it shall teach thee and the Fishes of the Sea shall declare unto thee Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought all this All Creatures in the Air on the Earth and in the Sea do proclaim with a loud voice that there is a God and own the Workmanship of God in every Creature 3. They are more foolish than the Ox and the Ass that will not believe there is a God For the Ox knoweth his Owner and the Ass his Masters Crib Isa 1.3 And seeing all men live and are maintained by the Providence of God Act. 17.28 For in him we live and move and have our being It is greater folly than is found in the Ox or the Ass for a man to deny his Master yea his God that made him and maintains him and to say there is no God 4. The Being of God is so evident that all people in all places and all ages of the World do own that there is a God none but very Fools ever said or thought otherwise Mich. 5.5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his God and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and for ever We see here that all people do own a God though many of them are ignorant of the true God and Worship Idols instead of God And therefore they deserve to be chronicled for the veryest Fools that ever lived who think or say in their hearts there is no God Ps 14.1 The Fool hath said in his Heart there is no God 2. Thou that thinkest there is no God wert once of another mind before thou hadst debauched thy Conscience by thy sottish courses thou didst believe the being of God as well as other men See therefore into what a woful condition thou hast brought thy self by thy drunken and sottish courses thou art fallen into a worse condition than a Devil and art more blind and hardned than a Devil For the Devils believe there is a God and tremble at the apprehensions of the Torments that he will inflict on them Jam. 2.19 Thou believest that there is one God thou doest well The Devils believe also and tremble And therefore such as neither tremble at Gods judgments nor believe that there is a God are greater Infidels and more hardned than the Devils 3.