at peace with him And if God can encline the hearts of our enemies towards us then much more the hearts of our friends when we do those things that are pleasing in his sight However run the hazard rather adventure the displeasing your friends by obeying God than displease God by complying with the sinfull humours and ways of your friends 5. It is great folly to comply with friends or Relations in their evil ways in hope to get an Estate from them after their Death For 1. Who can tell but you may dye before your friends And what will your sinfull complyance do you good if you dye before your friends Or who can tell but they may take a disgust at you though you strive to humour mour them in that which is sinfull And what a sad case is that to lose the favour of God and your friends also 2. If you should obtain that estate you hope for your sinfull complyance will do your souls more hurt than ever your Estate will be able to do you good 3. Such an state as is gotten by a sinfull complyance hath not God's Blessing going with it And it is better being without an Estate than to have it without the Blessing of God For an estate without a blessing doth a man much hurt of such an estate it may be said as Solomon doth Eccl. 5.13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the Sun namely riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt § The excellency of wine or strong drink is no excuse for drunkenness Plea 9. I am not won't to be disguised with drinking except it be at such times as I light of excellent wine and very pleasant liquors and when I meet with pure and pleasant wine or other choice drink I can't refrain my self but I must drink to excess and I hope in such a case I may be excused A. 1. This is a vain frivolous foolish excuse If a thief should say I never rob a man but when I meet with a rich and tempting prize Or an adulterer should say I never commit adultery but when I meet with a fair and beautifull woman Would such pleas excuse the thief and adulterer No more will it excuse a drunkard to say I am never overcome with wine but when I meet with pure rich and generous wine 2. There is no purer clearer pleasanter water than Spring water yet the pleasantness and purity of the Spring water doth not tempt the wild asses or other beasts to drink more than will quench their thirst Psal 104.10 11. He sendeth the springs into the valleys which run among the hills they give drink to every beast of the field the wild asses quench their thirst And shall man who was made after the Image of God and who hath a more excellent Spirit than any of the beasts drink to excess because he meets with pure wine and excellent drink 3. The purest and most excellent wine when drunk to excess will prove the most deadly poyson for it destroyes Body and Soul whereas other poyson destroys the Body only That passage of Moses may be applyed Deut. 32.33 Their wine is the poyson of dragons and the cruel venom of asps And what wise man would drink the poyson of dragons and the cruel venom of asps though it should be made pleasant to the tast Or would drink the sweetest and richest wine under Heaven if he knew there were the poyson of dragons or the cruel venom of asps infused into it The guilt of drunkenness is more destructive to a man than the poyson of dragons or the cruel venom of asps for the one kills the Body only the other will destroy Body and Soul for ever 4. Whereas drunkards say they can't for their hearts refrain from drinking to excess when they meet with choice and excellent wine which is both pleasant to the eye and and tast they should consider with themselves that the briskest purest most pleasant wine if drunk to excess will bite like a serpent and sting like an adder Prov. 23.31 32. Look not thou upon the wine whâ—… 〈◊〉 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 There is scarce any drunkard so sottish that after he hath drunk a glass of wine should espy a serpent at the bottom of his second or third glass that would certainly bite him if he proceeded to drink any more and should discern an adder under the table that would surely sting him if he did not flee the room but would refrain drinking though he had a bottle of the best and pleasantest wine that ever was drunk standing before him What the Lord tells us in his holy word is as certainly true as what we see with our bodily eyes and therefore seeing the Lord tells us that such as are enticed by the pleasantness of the look or tast of the wine that is before them to drink to excess shall find their excess in drinking will bite them like a serpent and sting like an adder this should make us refrain immoderate drinking although we should meet with pure and pleasant wine If any say I have been often drunk but never found the wine that I drunk biting me like a serpent and stinging me like an adder if I had I would have broken off this course of drinking long ago A. Though you have not felt any biting or stinging from the sin of drunkenness for the present yet you may find it hereafter and shall assuredly find it without Repentance At the last it bitcth like a Serpent Though for a while this Serpent seems to be asleep yet at the last it will bite more dreadfully than any serpent and it will sting worse than any adder 1. It bites in this life many men with horrors of Conscience and sharp and painfull diseases in their bodies 2. It will sting terribly at the hour of death 1 Cor. 15.56 The sting of death is sin When a drunkard comes to dye then his frequent drunkenness and all mad pranks that he committed when he was drunk will come to his mind and sting his Conscience when he lyes upon his death-bed And the sting that sin puts into death is worse than the sting of an adder or the biting of a serpent 3. At the day of judgment then drunkenness will bite and sting worse then at the day of death then drunkards will be stung with their sin that they will be desirous that the Rocks and Mountains should fall on them and cover them from the wrath of the Lord. Rev. 6.15 16 17. 4. In Hell torments when drunkards shall be cast to the old Serpent the devil then this sin of drunkenness will torment you worse than the biting of any serpent or the stinging of any adder § The plea of common tiplers and of such as are strong to drink wine answered Plea 10. I acknowledge that I go
attend on my Ministry and I thought it necessary to warn others yea to warn all my hearers to take heed and beware of this sin of drunkenness If any say I have no need to be warned to take heed of the sin of drunkenness I hate and abhor it and look upon it as a most beastly sin what manner of persons do you take us to be that you warn us to take heed of drunkenness A. 1. They do not know the corruption of their own hearts nor what strength and power there is in a temptation that think they have no need to be warned to take heed of drunkenness There is in our corrupt natures an inclination to all sin Rom. 7.8 Sin taking occasion by the Commandment wrought in me all manner of concupiscence And it is from God's restraining us that those evil inclinations that are in our hearts do not break forth in our lives Gen. 20.6 I with-held thee from sinning against me therefore suffered I thee not to touch her By the power of temptation we may be drawn to those sins which we think our selves most averse unto yea to which we apprehend that we have such an averseness that we will rather suffer death than consent to them Matth. 26.35 Peter said unto him though I should dye with thee yet will I not deny thee Though Peter thought and said this that he would rather dye than deny Christ yet being in a temptation he did three times fall into that sin which he thought he of all men should never have yielded to ver 33. Though all men shall be offended because of thee yet I will never be offended And which he thought he should rather dye than commit he fell thrice into in one night in the same night in which he solemnly professed he would rather dye than deny the Lord Jesus Hazael seemed to scorn the Prophets words when he told him how cruelly he would deal with the people of Israel that he would kill their young men with the sword and dash out their childrens brains and rip up the women with child and replyed 2 King 8.13 But what is thy servant a dog that he should do this great thing Yet he fullfilled what the Prophet had foretold 2. Our Lord Jesus Christ saw it needfull to warn his own Disciples who had left all to follow him to take heed of this sin of drunkenness Luke 21.34 And take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares That our Lord Jesus Christ speaks here to his own Disciples is evident from Ch. 20.45 and Luk. 21.5 7. Compared with Matth. 24.1 3. Matthew relating much of the same discourse tells that it was a private discourse between Christ and his Disciples And several passages in the Chapter shew plainly that it was spoken to the Disciples As ver 12.15 17 28. They shall lay their hands on you and persecute you and ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake c. Now if our Lord Jesus Christ saw it needfull to warn his own Disciples who were enabled to suffer persecution for Righteousness sake to take heed of drunkenness why should any of us think we have no need to be warned to take heed of this sin 3. Persons of great eminency for the grace of God have been overtaken with this sin of drunkenness and that in a very shamefull manner Noah was a man of great eminency in the grace of God he kept his integrity when all the men on the earth had corrupted their ways Gen. 6.9 11 12. He was a Preacher of Righteousness 2 Pet. 2.5 He was renowned for his faith and fear of God and was an heir of the Righteousness which is by saith Heb. 11.7 He was a man in great favour with God and could do great things with God in Prayer and is ranked with Job and Daniel God's special favourites Ezek. 14.14.16 18 20. Yet this Noah who was so eminent and famous in his Generation was overcome with Wine in a most shamefull manner in so much as he lay uncovered in his Tent and his Son saw his nakedness and this after he had seen Gods judgment in drowning the old World for their sins and his infinite mercy in sparing him and his Family Gen. 9.20 21 22. And Noah planted a Vineyard and he drunk of the Wine and was drunken and he was uncovered within his Tent and Ham saw the nakedness of his Father and told it his two brethren without Lot was a Righteous man so eminent for Holiness that he was vexed in his Soul to see the unrighteousness of the Sodomites 2 Pet. 2.7 8. He was in such favour with God that the Lord sent two Angels to his house to give him warning of the destruction of Sodom and to bid him hasten out of that place lest he was consumed Gen. 19.1 12 13 15. He was in such favour with God that though Sodom's sins were exceeding great and Angels were come down from Heaven to destroy that place yet they could do nothing towards destroying that City till Lot was gone out of it and escaped to Zoar ver 22. Hast thee escape thither for I cannot do any thing till thou art come thither He had such power with God that he prevailed for the sparing of a whole City which had deserved destruction as well as Sodom for the Cities about Sodom were given to fornication and going after strange flesh as well as Sodom Jude 7. Yet at Lot's request the City of Zoar was spared Gen. 19.21 See I have accepted thee concerning this thing that I will not overthrow this City for the which thou hast spoken Yet this Righteous Lot was twice overcome with wine and that to such an high degree as that he knew not what he did and in his drunkenness committed the heinous sin of incest with both his Daughters for his two Daughters were with Child by lying with their Father when they had made him drunk Gen. 19.30 to the 36. And Lot's sin was the greater because it was committed after he had seen God's terrible judgments on Sodom and the adjacent Cities for their sins and after God had shewen a miracle of mercy tovvards him in his deliverance out of Sodom Novv if such eminent Saints as Noah and Lot vvere overtaken vvith the sin of drunkenness and that in a very dreadfull manner vvho can say they have no need of being vvarned to take heed of this sin Let these examples have this effect upon us to make such as think they stand take heed least they fall 1 Cor. 10.12 Sect. 2. The Text opened What 's meant by the Crown of Pride what by the drunkards of Ephraim what by the wo denounced against them The Prophet in this Text denounceth God's judgments against two great sins Pride and Drunkenness for opening whereof let us consider 1. What is meant by the Crown of
there is little need of any definition to be given of it yet for a fuller opening of the nature of this sin I shall give this description of it Drunkenness is a sin whereby a man is inclined to excess in drinking to the depriving of himself of the use of his reason For the explaining of this description of drunkenness there are three things to be considered in the sin of drunkenness 1. The inordinate love and desire of wine or other strong drink This is sinfull when the heart is inordinately enclined to the love and desire of wine or strong drink It is noted as a vice in the children of Israel that they loved flagons of wine Hos 3.1 The children of Israel who look to other Gods and love flagons of wine It is mentioned as a requisite in the Minister of the Gospel that he must be one not given to wines 1 Tim. 3.3 His heart his affections must not run after wine As the going out of the heart after Idols is sinfull as well as the bowing the body to Idols Ezek. 20.16 Their heart goeth after their Idols So the going out of the heart to wine or strong drink in an inordinate manner is sinfull as well as excessive drinking For inordinate affections to things in themselves lawfull become sinfull A man may be guilty of drunkenness by his inordinate desire as well as the immoderate use of wine Ebrietas est inordinata vini concupiscentia vel usus Tho. Aquinas 22 ae q. 150. 2. Excess in drinking wine or strong drink Drunkenness is sometime called by this name excess of wine 1 Pet. 4.3 The time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles when we walked in lasciviousness lusts excess of wines There is a lawfull use of wine and strong drink especially for such as have weakly stomachs and such as are oppressed with grief but then it must be with moderation 1 Tim. 5.23 Vse a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities Prov. 31.6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish and wine to those that be of heavy hearts But it must be temperately and with moderation All excess in drinking is sinfull and a degree of drunkenness If any say what is excess in drinking when may men be counted excessive in drinking A. 1. When they drink more than conduceth to their health The end of our eating and drinking is the preservation of our health Act. 27.34 Take some meat for this is for your health 2. VVhen a man is so overcharged with drink that he is unfitted either for the service of God or the works of his calling Luk 21.34 Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness c. The end of eating and drinking is for strength that we may be enabled for the duties of our general and particular callings Eccl. 10.17 Blessed art thou O Land when thy Princes eat in due season for strength and not for drunkenness VVhen we are rendred unfit for our callings by wine or strong drink that is excessive and sinfull drinking Prov. 31.4 5. 3. The deprivation of the use of our reason and understanding It is ordinary for some men to drink so much that they lose the use of their understanding they know not what they say or what they do And when men have drunk so much that they know not what they say or do this is drunkenness in an high degree For the further convincing of men when they are guilty of this sin of drunkenness I shall shew when a man is in the account of the Scripture esteemed and called a drunken man 1. VVhen a man hath drunk so much that he can't go upright but reels and staggers as he goes in the streets not through bodily weakness but through abundance of drink such a man is a drunken man Psal 107.27 They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man Job 12.25 He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man Isa 24.20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard 2. VVhen a man hath drunk so much as that he vomits and spues up what he hath drunk and that not from the weakness of his stomach but from abundance of drink this shews a man to be a drunken man Jer. 25.27 Drink ye and be drunken and spue Isa 28.7 8. They have erred through wine and through strong drink are out of the way For all Tables are full of vomit and filthiness so that there is no place clean He proves them guilty of drunkenness by their filthy vomiting on the Tables and Places where they sat drinking together 3. VVhen a man hath drunk so much that wine hath overcome him and taken from him the use of his understanding that he is like a man at his wits end he knoweth not what he saith or what he doth that man is guilty of drunkenness in an high degree Jer. 23.9 I am like a drunken man and like a man whom wine hath overcome Psal 107.27 They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wits end 4. Such as are frequently at Taverns and Ale-houses and set tipling there a long time together though through the strength of their brain they do not come away disguised and staggering as others do yet these are ranked amongst drunkards Joel 1.5 Awake ye drunkards and weep and howl all ye drinkers of wine And have a wo denounced against them as well as those that are common and notorious drunkards Prov. 23.30 31. Who hath wo They that tarry long at the wine they that go to seek mixt wine Isa 5.11 Wo unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink that continue untill night till wine inflame them Such as set bibbing and tipling wine or strong drink are noted as a detestable generation of men whose company is to be shunned avoided by sober men Prov. 23.20 Be not amongst wine bibbers Sect. 4. Drunkenness proved to be a great and wofull sin several ways VVe have seen what the sin of drunkenness is now I shall prove by several arguments that drunkenness is a great a dangerous a wofull sin whereby it will appear that all drunkards are in a wofull condition § Drunkenness is expresly against the command of God I. Drunkenness is plainly and expresly forbidden in Gods word Eph. 5.18 Be not drunk with wine Luk. 21.34 Take heed to your selves least at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness Rom. 13.12 Let us walk honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkenness The drunkard can't plead ignorance that he did not know drunkenness to be a sin He can't plead for himself as Peter did for the Jews that put Christ to death Act. 3.17 I wot that through ignorance ye did it as did also your Rulers 1 Cor. 2.8 For had they known it they would not have Crucified
it if he hath an occasion and temptation to commit it § Drunkenness brings national judgments V. Drunkenness is such an abominable sin that it brings down National Judgments Whole Nations are punished for this sin of drunkenness The Earth is weary of bearing drunkards and often spueth out its inhabitants We read of the inhabitants of the Land of Canaan that their Land spued them out for their defiling it and the Israelites are warned not to defile their Land least they also be spued out Lev. 18.28 That the Land spue not you out also when ye defile it as it spued out the Nations that were before you And when the Israelites did defile their Land by drunkenness and other sins they were a burden to the Land it was weary with bearing them it spued them out and they were carryed captive into a strange Land Isa 5.11.13 Wo to them that rise up early to follow strong drink and continue untill night till wine enflame them Therefore my people are gone into captivity The Lord threatned to send a mighty adversary against Ephraim for their pride and drunkenness which came upon them as furiously as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm and as a mighty flood of waters that should overflow all places and bear down all before it Isa 28.1 2. Wo to the crown of pride the drunkards of Ephraim Behold the Lord hath a mighty and strong one which as a tempest of hail and a destroying sterm as a flood of mighty waters over-flowing shall cast down to the earth with the hand So that drunkards are the plague of a Nation that bring down Gods judgments on themselves and the places where they live And when an over-flowing scourge comes on a Nation usually drunkards have the speediest and deepest share in the judgments of God Amos 6.1 3 6 7. Wo to them that are at ease in Zion that put far away the evil day that drink wine in bowls Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive When the King of Assyria invaded the Land of Israel the drunkards were trod under feet like mire in the streets Isa 28.2 3. Behold the Lord hath a mighty and strong one c. The crown of pride the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trod under foot § Drunkards oft times dye in the act of sin VI. Drunkenness appears to be a great sin because oft times it is punished with sudden death and sometimes drunkards are cut off in the very act of sin They are very frequently cut off suddenly and unexpectedly Nah. 1.10 While they are drunken as drunkards they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry Stubble that is fully dry is consumed in a moment so are many drunkards cut off suddenly when they have no thoughts no expectations of death Luk. 12.45 46. If that servant shall begin to eat and drink and to be drunken The Lord of that Servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him and at an hour when he is not aware and will cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers We see here the wofull condition of drunkards both in their death and after their death Their death is oft times sudden and unexpected they have not a day not an hours warning Their Lord comes in a day that they did not look for him and in an hour that they were not aware of and shall cut them in sunder that is seperate their souls from their bodies by death and after death give them their portion with unbelievers that is in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone Rev. 21.8 Drunkards are ost times cut off in the very act of sin which is a dreadfull token of Gods displeasure when he will not vouchsafe a sinner space for Repentance but cuts him off in the very act of sin Elah a King a King in israel was cut off in the very act of sin while he was drinking himself drunk in his Stewards house 1 King 16.9 10. His servant Zimri conspired against him as he was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza Steward of his house in Tirzah And Zimri went in and smote him and killed him This is recorded to the terrors of all drunkards in all Ages to the end of the World As Christ said to deterr us from looking back remember Lots wife So may I say to deter you from drunkenness Remember Elah who was killed whilst he was drinking himself drunk And if God did not spare a King in Israel take heed least he do not spare you Besides Elah's example Amnon one of David's Sons was killed whilst his heart was merry with wine 2 Sam. 13.28 When Belshazzar had been drinking wine with a thousand of his Lords in the day time he was slain in the night Dan. 5.1 30. Belshazzar the King made a great feast to a Thousand of his Lords and drank wine before the Thousand In that night was Belshazzar the King of the Caldeans slain Besides these examples we have known or heard of several others some that have dyed dead drunk and never came to life again others that have fallen off their horses in their drunkenness and broke their necks others that have fallen into the water and been drowned and others cut off by other means § It unfits a man for the service of God and his Generation and for Death and Judgment VII Drunkenness makes a man unfit for any good work unfit for the service of God and Men unfit for Death and Judgment It makes a man unfit for Prayer and all other Religious Duties 1 Pet. 4.7 The end of all things is at hand be ye therefore sober and watch unto Prayer No men are fit for Prayer but sober men It is probable Nadab and Abihu had distempered themselves with wine or strong drink when they presumed to offer up strange fire and fire went out from the Lord and devoured them for immediately after the relation of their sin and punishment there is a strict charge given to Aaron and his Sons that they should not drink wine or strong drink when they went into the Tabernacle of the Congregation upon pain of death that they might be fit for their employment Lev. 10.8 9 10 11. It also unfits a man for the service of his Generation especially for a place of publick trust Many Armies have been ruined Towns and Kingdoms lost by the drunkenness of the Commanders A small Army of the Israelites not exceeding 7000 setting upon the Syrians when Benhadad their King was drinking himself drunk with his Confederates put the Syrians to flight and slew them with a great slaughter although besides his own great army he had Thirty and Two Kings that came to his assistance 1 King 20.16 17 20. And as this sin renders us unfit for the service of God and Men so also it makes us unfit for the day of death and judgment Luk. 21.34 And take heed to your selves least at any time your
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
he see how vain this excuse is in other sins If a Murderer should say I do not make it my common practice to kill men I do it but now and then when I meet with men to whom I have born a grudge a long time Or an adulterer should say I do not commit adultery every day it is but now and than when I have convenient opportunity Or a Thief should say I am no high-way man that maketh a trade of robbing I do steal only at some times when I can do it and no body take notice of it would not these excuses be vain in the case of murder adultery theft and such like sins and if so why not in the case of drunkenness also 3. Christians should be so carefull of scandalous sins as not to commit them so much as once Eph. 5.3 Fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness let it not be once named among you as becometh Saints And particularly concerning drunkenness our Lord Jesus chargeth us to beware not only of being drunken often but least at any time our hearts are overcharged with drunkenness Luk. 21.34 And take heed least at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness 4. Once being drunk is enough to shut a man out of the Kingdom of Heaven for ever without Repentance Gal. 5.21 Drunkenness revellings they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God It is not said they that do such things often but they that do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Adam did eat but once of the forbidden fruit and for that one offence he was cast out of Paradise and by that one offence judgment came upon himself and upon all men to condemnation Rom. 5.18 The Bethshemites looked but once into the Ark and for that one offence there dyed Fifty Thousand Threescore and Ten men 1 Sam. 6.19 David numbered the people but once yet for that one offence there came a Pestilence which killed Seventy Thousand men 2 Sam. 24.10 to the 16. 5. Though you are but beginning to be a company keeper and are overcome but seldom yet who knows that if at any time your heart be over-charged with drunkenness but that may be the time when God may call you out of the World Luk. 21.34 Take heed least at any time your hearts be overcharged with drunkenness and so that day come upon you unawares God cuts off some men when they do but begin to be company keepers and gives them their portion in eternal misery Mat. 24.48 49 50 51. If that evil Servant shall begin to smite his fellow 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 .. 6. Though at present you are drunk but seldom yet unless you repent and break off this evil course of drinking you will by degrees fall into it more and more and may in a little time prove as common as notorious as sottish a drunkard as any other man For it is ordinary for impenitent sinners to grow more vile every day than other 2 Tim. 3.13 Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse § Privacy in the commission of this sin is no excuse for it Plea 5. If I were an open drunkard I should think my self to be in a sad condition but though I cannot deny but that I am sometime overtaken with the sin of drunkenness yet it is very privately and therefore I hope God will be mercifull to me A. 1. The more open and impudent men are in the commission of their sins the greater their punishment shall be Isa 3.9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them and they declare their sin as Sodom they hide it not wo unto their Soul Those impudent sinners as are not ashamed to sin openly and seek not to hide their sins are in a most wofull condition 2. Drunkenness is such a shamefull sin that in old times men sought for private times and private places for the commission of this sin They were ashamed to be drunk in the day time and took the opportunity of the dark night to keep their drunken meetings 1 Thes 5.7 They that be drunken be drunken in the night When some persons that heard the Apostles speaking with tongues supposed them to be drunk the Apostle refutes that supposition not from the piety of the men that abhorred that vice not from the rationality of their discourse but from the time of the day Act. 2.15 These are not drunken as ye suppose seeing it is but the third hour of the day It was such an unusual thing in those times to see a man drunk in the day that the Apostle thought it sufficient proof that they were not drunken because it was but the third hour of the day But alas it is otherwise in these times wherein we see men frequently reeling and staggering at high noon day 3. Although open drunkards are in a worse condition than such as are secretly given to drunkenness yet such as are secret drunkards shall not be excused by their secresie in their sins For 1. All our secret sins are committed in the sight of God Psal 90.8 Thou hast set our sins before thee our secret sins in the light of thy countenance David plotted Vriah's death and defiled Bathsheba with great secresie 2 Sam. 12.12 Thou didst it secretly Yet he confesseth these sins were committed in the sight of God Psal 51.4 Against thee thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight 2. What sins we commit in secret without Repentance shall be punished openly Eccl. 12.14 God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or bad As it is with secret duties they shall have an open reward Math. 6.4 Thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly So it is also with secret sins § The plea of such as say they are good natured and never go to ale-houses but when enticed answered Plea 6. I never go to Ale-houses but when I am enticed and I am so good natured that if any of my friends or acquaintance ask me to go with them to the Ale-house I can't deny them and when I am there I am overtaken before I am aware A. 1. What you call good nature is an evil nature to be so flexible and easie to yield to a temptation to sin God commands us when sinners entice us not to give our consent unto them Prov. 1.10 My son if sinners entice thee consent thou not A good nature will teach us to obey God and to refuse our consent to the enticings of sinners That is an evil nature that prompts us to disobey God to please and gratifie a friend or neighbour 2. If the
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
which he fell into through infirmity But this is not the case of drunkards they do not use means to avoid drunkenness they may keep at home and not go to taverns and alehouses and when they are there they may forbear drinking and seeing they do not use means to shun this sin as avoid going to Taverns and avoid such company as draws them to this sin their sin of drunkenness is not an infirmity but a presumptuous sin 2. Then a man sins presumptuously when he knoweth this or the other thing to be a sin and to be expresly against the command of God and yet will go on to commit that sin When God commanded the Israelites that they should not go up against the Amorites and yet they would go contrary to the command of God they are charged with rebellion and presumptuous sinning against God Deut. 1.42 43. And the Lord said unto me say unto them go not up neither fight So I spake unto you and ye would not hear but rebelled against the Commandment of the Lord and went presumptuously up into the Hill The case is the same with drunkards they are rebels against God and presumptuous sinners The Lord saith unto them Be not drunk with wine Eph. 5.18 Take heed unto your selves least at any time your hearts be overcharged with drunkenness Luk. 21.34 But they will not hear but rebell against the command of God and go on presumptuously and will drink wine and strong drink till they are drunk they are so far from taking heed least any time their hearts be overcharged with drunkenness that they are oft times overcharged with this sin When God commanded the Israelites to cast away the Idols of Egypt and they would not hearken to him this is called rebelling against God Ezek 20.7 8. Then said I cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes and defile not your selves with the Idols of Egypt I am the Lord your God But they rebelled against me and would not hearken unto me they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes neither did they forsake the Idols of Egypt The case is the same here God commands every one to leave off the sin of drunkenness but when men will not hearken to the Lord but will be drunk still this is rebellion against God 3. When men plot and contrive how to carry on their sins they do not sin by surprize but with deliberation this is presumptuous sinning against God As it is in killing a man when a man plotteth and designes his death this is a presumptuous sin Exod. 21.14 If a man come presumptuously on his neighbour to slay him with guile So it is with other sins when they are plotted and contrived sins they are presumptuous sins VVhen David plotted and contrived the death of Vriah his killing Vriah was not a sin of infirmity but a presumptuous sin and a despiseing the Commandment of God 2 Sam 11.14 15. David wrote a Letter to Joab saying set ye Vriah in the forefront of the hottest battel and retire ye from him that he may be smitten and dye Compared with 2 Sam. 12.9 Wherefore hast thou despised the Commandment of the Lord to do evil in his sight thou hast killed Vriah the Hittite with the Sword This is the case of many drunkards they sin with deliberation they have their stated and set bouts for drinking such a day at such a tavern or such a private house and at another time at another place Others forecast their business and the receiving their money that they may be provided to meet their Companions at the Alehouse 4. VVhen a man yields willing obedience to the lusts of his own heart his sins are not sins of infirmity but reigning sins Rom. 6.12 Let not sin therefore Reign in your mortal body that ye should obey it in the lusts of it And he himself is the servant of sin ver 16. Know ye not that to whom ye yeild your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness Now this is the case of many drunkards if a sensual lust arise in their hearts and encline them to go to the Alehouse or if one of their companions call them to go with them they yield present and willing obedience they leave their callings and families and all their business to gratifie their sensual lusts which shews that drunkenness is a reigning sin in them and that they are the servants of sin § The plea of such as say they can't leave their drunken courses because they find much pleasure and delight in them Plea 24. I am convinced that drunkenness is a vile sin but I find so much pleasure and delight in it that I can't leave it the Songs and Musick and merry company that I have at Taverns and the delight I have in drinking wine and strong drink are the chiefest joy I have in this World and therefore I can't be perswaded to leave them A. 1. There is more true and real pleasure in Temperance and Godliness than there is in Gluttony and Drunkenness or Musick or Songs or merry company For 1. Intemperance disorders the body and clouds and disturbs the mind and brings pains and aches and sicknesses Hos 7.5 In the day of our King the Princes have made him sick with bottles of wine Whereas temperance is ordinarily attended with a healthfull constitution of body and freedom and serenity of mind and temperate persons eat and drink with greater delight than gluttons and drunkards though they have no better fare than bread and water 2. The pleasures that drunkards have in their cups their songs their musick their merry company is not comparable to those pleasures that temperate men find in an Holy Life For the drunkards pleasures are meer vanity and vexation of Spirit Eccl. 2.2.3 8.17 I said of laughter it is mad and of mirth what doth it I sought in my heart to give my self unto wine I gat me men-singers and women-singers and the delights of the sons of men as Musical Instrumens and that of all sorts All is vanity and vexation of Spirit They leave the heart sad and end in heaviness Prov. 14.13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowfull and the end of that mirth is heaviness But the pleasure and peace and delight which temperate men find in the wayes of God is exceeding great solid and abiding pleasure Psal 119.165 Great peace have they which love thy Law and nothing shall offend them Psal 21.6 Thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance Psal 138.5 Yea they shall sing in the wayes of the Lord. VVe see here there is peace great peace gladness exceeding gladness to be found in the wayes of God yea such as will make the heart sing for joy Yea all the wayes of God bring pleasure and peace Prov. 3.17 Her wayes are wayes of pleasantness and all her paths are peace The pleasure of
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
Thou that saiest there is no God see whither thou dost speak against thine own conscience It is most likely that thou rather wishest there were than really thinkest in thy heart that there is no God For this truth is so deeply graven upon man's heart that there is a God that it is hardly possible to root it totally and constantly out of our minds but Conscience will some time or other discover that there are some Notions of a Diety remaining in the worst of men What mean those accusations of Conscience which even such as profess themselves Atheists feel for secret sins which none know but themselves especially in times of distress and when they are in danger of death They are intimations that there are apprehension there is a God to whom men must be accountable even for their secret sins Why do Atheistical persons fear and tremble when it Thunders and Lightens in a dreadful manner Why did Caligula the Emperour who feared no man on Earth shew so much timerousness when it Thundred and Lightned that he got under his Bed Their fears of God's judgments shew that there are some impressions of the Being of God remaining in the Minds and Consciences of the most professed Atheists 4. If you will not be convinced of your folly in being of this singular and wicked Opinion that there is no God enjoy your Opinion to your self and please your self in your own delusion and take your fill of sin but know whither you will believe it or will not that there is a righteous God who will call thee to judgment for all these things and will without repentance cast you into Hell-fire for your sins and when you feel his vengeance in the other world you shall never doubt any more whither there be a God to Eternity For whatever Atheistical Opinions men hold on Earth they shall cease to be Atheists when they come in Hell § The despairing Drunkard's Plea who thinks there is no hope of mercy for him and therefore resolves still to go on in his sins Plea 27. I have been such a vile and wretched sinner and have lived so â—â—…ng in this sin of drunkenness that I am afâ—â—â—… there is no Mercy for me And therefore I had as good enjoy what delight and pleasure I can whilst I live seeing I must perish when I die If I did apprehend there was any hope of Mercy for me I would speedily break off my evil courses and reform my life A. 1. Despair doth harden mens hearts to go on still in their trespasses Jer. 18.12 And they said There is no hope but we will walk after our own devices and we will every one do the Imagination of his own evil heart And therefore we should be careful that we do not give way to despairing thoughts concerning the mercy of God 2. Though your case should be hopeless yet you had better break of your evil courses than go on to add sin to sin for that will lessen your torments in the other world 3. There is hope upon your Repentance that you may obtain mercy from God though you have been as vile a Drunkard as any that lives upon the face of the Earth For 1. The blood of Christ is of sufficient vertue to wash away the greatest sins of the greatest sinners in the world Joh. 1.23 Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world All sins though never so many for number and never so heinous for nature are cleansed away by the blood of Christ from such as repent and believe in him Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin 2. The Lord for Christ his sake hath promised remission of sins upon their repentance to the chiefest of sinners and such as have continued so long in their sins that they have even wearied the patience of God to bear with them Isa 1.16 17 18. Put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil learn to do well Come now let us reason together though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red as Crimson they shall be as wool The most heinous sins such as are like scarlet and crimson of a deep die shall be forgiven to such as cease to do evil Isa 43.24 25. Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins thou hast wearied me with thine Iniquities I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins Though a man hath been a very wicked man and led an evil Life and committed abundance of sin yet upon his Repentance God will pardon all his sins Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon 3. Abominable Drunkards and other vile sinners have obtained pardon of sin through the blood of Christ and Sanctification by the Spirit of Christ 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Such were some of you that is such as are mentioned in the foregoing verses Drunkards Idolaters Adulterers abusers of themselves with Mankind Theives Revilers Extortioners And yet though some of them had been such abominable sinners they were pardoned by the blood and sanctified by the Spirit of Christ And therefore let no man though a great sinner though the chiefest of sinners say his case is desperate for there is mercy for him upon his Repentance Prov. 28.13 Who so confesseth and forsaketh shall have mercy Sect. 7 And Exhortation to such as are addicted to this sin of drunkenness to break off their sin If drunkenness be such a wofull sin then let me exhort all persons that are addicted to this sin of drunkenness whether they be rich or poor young or old speedily to break of their sin and to leave of their drunken courses and companions I entreat and beseech you for God's sake whose name is dishonoured by this beastly sin and for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake who shed his most precious blood to redeem you from this and your other sins and for the Holy Ghost's sake who is greived and vexed by your sensual courses and for the Gospel's sake which is scandalized by your lose Conversations and for your own sake that you would not ruine your selves Body and Soul for ever and for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake that you would not deprive your selves of the unspeakable glory and joys of Heaven rather than to leave off this swinish sin and for your Families that you would not ruine and corrupt your Families and entail God's Judgments on your Posterity and for the Nation 's sake that you would not pull down God's wrath upon the Land of your Nativity leave off your
we would escape Eternal Death we must cast them all away and not allow our selves in any known sin Ezek. 18.31 Cast away from you all your Transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new Spirit for why will ye dye O house of Israel § The lingring sinner's plea answered I am convinced I must leave off my drunken courses or else there is no Salvation for me and I am purposed to do so but I am desirous to have a few merry bouts more at drinking and then I will become a new man A. 1. Sinful lusts are insatiable it is not once or twice gratifying our sinful lusts that will give satisfaction to our corrupt natures but the oftner we fulfil the lusts and desires of the flesh the more strongly our hearts will be carried out after sin It is here as it is with the fire the laying on new fewel makes the fire rage and burn more furiously the adding of new acts of sin makes our lusts to rage and crave the more furiously for farther opportunities of sin Ezek. 16.28 29. As Idolaters and Adulterers are insatiable in their lusts so are drunkards and other sinners also The sluggard the longer he lyeth in his bed the lother he is to rise Prov. 6.9 10. So it is with the drunkard the longer he lyeth in his drunkenness the more unwilling he will be to leave it 2. The time past is sufficient and too much which you have already spent in sin 2 Pet. 4.3 and therefore you should not wast any more precious time in such sottish courses 3. Thy own heart and the Devil deceive thee in suggesting such thoughts as these I will have but a merry bout or two more in drinking and then I will leave this course For it is likely thou hast thought and resolved so many times heretofore and yet nothing is done When a Sermon hath come home to thy Conscience or when thou hast been near unto death or hast met with some startling providence hast thou not thought with thy self I will leave of my drunkenness and what set a time for thy Repentance and yet thou art fallen to it a fresh again Sin is of a deceitful hardning nature if it can but prevail with us to defer our Repentance it will harden our hearts Heb. 3.13 4. VVho can tell but the next merry bout which thou hast with thy companions thou may'st be taken out of the VVorld VVhile Job's children were eating and drinking wine in their Eldest Brother's house they were all slain by a great wind that blew down the house Job 1.18 19. VVhy may not sudden death come upon thee when thou art drinking wine and making merry as well as on Job's children They were the children of a Godly man their mirth was innocent mirth yet were they cut off while they were drinking wine And why may it not be so with thee also The Rich man that said to his Soul eat drink be merry had his soul taken from him that very night Luk. 12.19 20. § The presumptuous sinner's Plea answered who goes on in his sin presuming that at what time soever he repents God will be merciful to him and presuming that he may live long If any say God is a merciful and gracious God and at what time soever a sinner repents of his sins God will pardon him and therefore I will repent of my evil wayes but not yet I will enjoy my sinful delights a while longer and then I will repent and I doubt not but God will be merciful to me and that I shall go to Heaven as well as other men A. 1. It is an horrible abuse of God's mercy to take occasion from God's mercy to continue in sin Gods goodness should lead us to Repentance and therefore they that presume upon God's mercy to continue and go on in their sins are guilty of despising the riches of God's grace Rom. 2.4 2. It is true that God hath promised to forgive penitent sinners at what time soever they repent truly of their sins but he hath not promised to give Repentance to such as refuse to turn at his call and go on in their sins presuming that God will be gracious to them True Repentance is never too late but late Repentance is seldom true 3. Though you be young and strong and like to live many years yet it is dangerous to defer your Repentance on many accounts as 1. Life is uncertain some die in their full strength and the height of their prosperity when they are at greatest ease they go down in a moment into the grave Job 21.13 23. Such as promise themselves many years in this VVorld may not have one days continuance Luk. 12.19 20. And if sudden Death take you away before you have repented of your sin you are lost for ever 2. If your life should be continued God may take away the use of your understanding and give you up to distraction and persons under distraction are not apprehensive what need they have of Repentance 3. If you should enjoy Life and have the use of your understanding yet who can tell whither God will give you repentance for your sin it may be he will give you up to your hearts lusts instead of giving you repentance and because you refused to repent in the day that he offer'd you mercy possibly he may swear in his VVrath that you shall never enter into his rest as he did to the Jews Heb. 3.7 8 11. 4. If you should repent it may be it will be as Judas did repent he grew desperate and hanged himself he was so burdned and troubled in his Conscience for his sin that he could not bear his burden but went away and hung himself Matth. 27.3 5. Judas repented himself saying I have sinned and went and hanged himself 4. Let such as put off their repentance because they are young and strong and like to live many years or on any other account consider this that if they do not repent now it is most likely they will not repent nor leave off their sins as long as they live For 1. The longer you live in sin the less able you will be to repent for continuance in sin strengthens sin and weakens the Soul Jer. 13.23 Custom in sin doth give sin such rooting in the heart that it will be as hard a matter for such as have got a custom of sinning to leave their sins as it will be for a Blackamore to change his skin or the Leopard his Spots 2. The longer any man lives in his sins the less willing he will be to repent for his inclinations to sin will be strong and his aversness to holiness greater and his heart will be more hardned in sin Heb. 3.12 3. The longer a man continueth to provoke God the less hope there is of his assistance and giving us his grace and the more ground for fear that he should say his Spirit shall no more strive with
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
the Lord of Glory Drunkards sin against light both against the light of nature For nature teacheth us that it is a shamefull thing for a man to be drunk and against the light of Gods word and that is a great aggravation of sin to sin against the light of Gods word Sins of ignorance are as it were no sins compared with sins against knowledge 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 Drunkards cast Gods word behind their backs and trample his Commandments under their feet God faith be not drunk with wine Take heed least your hearts be overcharged with drunkenness But they say in affect though not in words we will not regard these commands of God let God say and do what he will we will take our fill of wine and strong drink Drunkards and other sinners that know God's will and will not do it contemn and despise God Psal 10.13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God Drunkards are guilty of rebellion against God who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords for sinning against the light of Gods word is accounted rebellion Job 24.13 They are of those that rebell against the light And that is an heinous sin to be stubborn and rebellious against the God of Heaven 1 Sam. 15.23 Rebellion is as the sin of witch-craft and stubborness is as iniquity and idolatry § It is a beastly sin II. Drunkenness is a beastly sin it deprives a man of his reason and makes him carry himself like a beast It is a vile thing for a man to degrade and make himself like a beast Job 18.3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts and reputed as vile in your sight Bildad thought himself and his friends wonderfully disparaged when he thought they were counted as beasts But how do they vilifie and disparage themselves who do in reality make themselves no better than brute beasts by their drunkenness yea this sin makes a man worse than a beast The Ass is a silly beast yet the Asses will not drink to excess they drink no more than will quench their thirst Psal 104.11 The wild Asses quench their thirst And therefore as Solomon sends the sluggard to the Ant Prov. 6.6 Go to the Ant thou sluggard consider her ways and be wise So may I send the drunkard to the wild Asses go to the wild Asses thou drunkard and consider their ways and be wise who having no guide over-seer or ruler never drink any more than will quench their thirst though they meet with the best and pleasantest Springs and purest Fountains under Heaven And wilt thou who hast had many instructors that have taught thee the odiousness of this sin of drunkenness be enticed by the pureness of the wine or the pleasantness of thy drink to drink to excess Toads and Serpents which are hatefull creatures will not drink more than is suitable and convenient to their natures And shall man who was made after the Image of God make himself worse than a Toad or a Serpent by drinking to excess § It is a mischievous sin both to body soul and estate III. Drunkenness is a most mischievous sin and brings a world of mischief along with it both to soul and body and estate and good name 1. It doth great mischief to the Soul For 1. It besots and stupifies the Soul and estrangeth a mans heart from God who is his chiefest good Hos 4.11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart We may take heart here for the understanding As Rom. 2.21 Their foolish heart was darkned And so it is true that wine takes away the heart that is it stupifieth the mind it blinds and darkens the understanding and maketh men sottish as Jeremiah complains of the Jews who were much addicted to drunkenness Jer. 4.22 My people is foolish they have not known me they are sottish children and have none understanding they are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge Or we may take heart for the affections and so it is true that wine taketh away the heart for drunkenness taketh of the heart from God and all that is good Drunkards have no love to God no delight in God no desire of enjoying God no fear of God no heart to that which is good Drunkenness is a fleshly lust and fleshly lusts war against and tend to the ruine of our precious Souls 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the Soul 2. It brings great mischief to the body by the painfull diseases that it breeds in the body and by the wounds and bruises men get by falls when they have drunk so much they are not able to go or to guide the Horses they ride on and also by the wounds they get in quarrels and contentions with their Companions when they are in their cups Prov. 23.29 30. VVho hath wo who hath sorrow who hath contentions who hath wounds without cause who hath redness of eyes They that tarry long at the wine Not only the eyes are made red but the whole body is enflamed and greatly distempered by excessive drinking Isa 5.11 VVo to them that follow strong drink that continue till night till wine enflame them Our bodies should be the Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.19 VVhat know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you And it is dangerous defiling the Temple of God with excess of wine or strong drink 1 Cor. 3.17 If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy 3. It brings ruine upon a mans estate Prov. 23.21 The drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty Many persons by their drunken and sottish courses wast fair estates that were left them by their Parents others that have been brought up to callings spend all they gain by their callings in excessive drinking whereby it comes to pass that they make no provision for their Families but their Wives and Children are brought into great want and straits such as these are as bad yea worse than Infidels 1 Tim. 5.8 But if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denyed the faith and is worse than an Infidel 4. It blasts a mans reputation It is a shame for a man to have the brand of a drunkard set upon him even children will hour and deride a drunken man when they see him reel and stagger as he goeth in the streets § Drunkenness is the cause of many other sins IV. The greatness of the sin of drunkenness will appear from hence that it disposeth a man to many other great and crying sins as for instance 1. Drunkenness disposeth men to commit uncleanness Prov. 23.31 33. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red Thine eyes shall behold strange women When men are overcome with wine they
hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares § It will exclude a man out of Heaven VIII Drunkenness is such an odious sin that the Lord hath told us expresly that he will not admit any drunkards into the Kingdom of Heaven 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Know y not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived Neither Fornicators nor Drunkards shall inherit the Kingdom of God If a man be a drunkard and think to go to Heaven when he dyeth he deceiveth his own Soul Drunkenness is a manifest work of the flesh and the Scripture tells us plainly that they that live in drunkenness and such like sins shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5.19 20 21. Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Vncleanness Lasciviousness Drunkenness Revellings and such like of 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 Drunkards may know their doom before they come to the judgment seat of Christ I tell you before that is before the day of judgment come before the sentence be past upon you that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God The Apostle knew drunkards were dull of hearing and slow of heart to believe and therefore he tells them over and over that they shall not inherit the Kingdom of God and what folly and madness is this to part with a Kingdom an Everlasting Kingdom the Kingdom of Heaven for a pot of drink or a cup of wine It was a foolish act in Esau and argued him to be a prophane man to sell his Birth-right for a morsel of meat Heb. 12.16 Least there be any fornicator or prophane person as Esau who for one morsel of meat sold his birth-right Drunkards are guilty of worse prophaneness than Esau for they part with a better blessing than a Birth-right namely with the Kingdom of Heaven for a pot of drink or a cup of wine which doth them no good but much hurt It is not drinking wine or strong drink but excess of drinking excludes us from the Kingdom of Heaven and excess of wine doth a man no good but much hurt § It is a damnable sin IX Drunkenness is a damnable sin a sin for which men shall be condemned to the torments of Hell for ever The drunkard shall be cut asunder and have his portion appointed with unbelievers Luk. 12.45 46. If that servant shall begin to eat and drink and be drunken the Lord of that servant will cut him asunder and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers But what is it to have our portion appointed with the unbelievers It is to be damned and to be cast into the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone Mark 16.16 He that believeth not shall be damned Rev. 21.8 The unbelieving shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone Hell is full of drunkards Isa 5.11 14. Wo unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink that continue untill night till wine enflame them Therefore Hell hath enlarged her self and opened her mouth without measure and their glory and their multitude and their pomp and he that rejoyceth shall descend into it There is scarce any sin fills Hell like drunkenness following of wine and strong drink sends great multitudes to Hell The glory and pomp and jollity of drunkards shall be no security to drunkards to keep them from the bottomless pit The drunken Gentleman and drunken Prince notwithstanding all his bravery shall descend into Hell as well as the drunken beggar They that enflame themselves with wine and strong drink shall be tormented in flames of fire for ever And then they that drunk wine in bowls and filled themselves with strong drink shall not with all their entreaties get so much as one drop of water to cool their tongues § It is a bewitching sin very hardly left by those that are addicted to it X. Drunkenness is an enticing bewitching sin which is very hardly left by those that are addicted to it Neither the word nor rod of God prevaileth with men to leave this sin but they go on sinning against light sinning against the counsels and reproofs and tears of friends against the checks of their own Consciences though the Lord afflict them in their bodies estates good names yet still they persevere in this sin Though when upon sick beds they are under terrors of Conscience and feel as it were some flashes of Hell Fire and make great vows and solemn protestations that if God will spare their lives and raise them up again they will leave off their drunkenness yet when they are restored to health they return to their old courses again Prov. 23.35 They have stricken me shalt thou say and I was not sick they have beaten me and I felt it not VVhen shall I awake I will seek it yet again Solomon speaks here of drunkards who are not disheartned by all the difficulties and troubles and blows that they meet with in following after strong drink but resolve to seek yet again and to persist in their dissolute courses Drunkards are wont to encourage themselves and one another to persist in their drunken courses under all discouragements Isa 56.12 Come ye say they I will fetch wine and we will fill our selves with strong drink and to morrow shall be as this day and much more aboundant In stead of desisting they grow more resolved in their way And the reason why this sin is hardly left and so few recovered from it may be partly from the strength this sinfull habit gets in the soul by the many repeated acts of this sin and also from the pleasingness of this sin to corrupt nature for the more pleasing any sin is the more hardly it is left and chiefly from the just and righteous judgment of God who giveth up men who go on sinning against light unto their own hearts lusts saying to them he that is filthy let him be filthy still Drunkenness is called by some vitium maximae adhaerentiae a sin that sticks closer and faster to a man than any other sin Sect. 5. Several aggravations of the sin of drunkenness We have seen the greatness of this sin of drunkenness now let us consider the aggravations of this sin It is worse in some men than others and worse at sometimes than others § It is worse in Magistrates than in other persons I. It is a great sin for any man to be overcome with drink but 't is worse for Magistrates than for other persons The greater and more eminent the person is that commits the offence the more heinous is the offence Omne animi vitium tanto conspectius in se Crimen habet quanto major qui peccat habetur The Scripture