whose hearts are over-charged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness though their outward-man appear to be well enough Luke 21. 34 and generally they are guilty of this evil who pamper the flesh and make provision for the lusts thereof Rom. 13. 13 14. And the Drunkenness here admonished of is not only of the highest degree thereof But of all intemperance and insobriety whatsoever And not only are we dehorted from the habit of Drunkenness or accustoming our selves to excess but from any and every one particular act It is true indeed the evil is still the greater when men sin in an high or the highest degree and accustom themselves to such a bruitish Iniquity But yet it is a provoking evil to God and that of which we are admonished to be at any one time polluted herewith and deceived hereby Therefore our Saviour saith to his Disciples Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeting and drunkenness c. Luke 21. 34 and the rather we should take heed hereof not only because it is a provoking Iniquity in it self but because Wine is a mocker and deceiver of men many times men think to drink but a little and Wine deceives them till they are overcome therewith and deceived thereby or persons think if for once they should be overtaken yet they will not make a trade of it Truly if they do not yet that once is a provoking evil And yet usually men are deceived for when they are once overcome they are more easily inticed and deceived again and again and so brought into bondage 2 Pet. 2. 19. It is such a Cord as that when a man is taken therewith it is an hard thing to disentangle himself again Prov. 5. 22 and therefore whosoever is deceived thereby though but very seldom or once is not wise Prov. 20. 1. Good therefore it is for us to abstain from every kind and degree of this evil as well as of others 1 Thes 5. 22. And thus we have spoken to this second Inquiry and shewn in some measure what it is to be Drunk with Wine and when men may be said so to be 2. We come in the next place to note some Instructions which are contained in this admonition and dehortation of the Apostles as to say I. From the persons to whom it is given so we may note That such persons as have heard and believed the word of truth the Gospel of our salvation and after they have believed have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise unto the day of Redemption need to be admonished and warned of being Drunk with Wine Such manner of persons these were to whom the Apostle here writeth as appears Eph. 1. 13 14 and 2. 5-10 and 4. 30 and 5. 8 c. And yet to these he gives this admonition and saith Be not drunk with Wine So our Saviour gives alike admonition to his Disciples Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness Luke 21. 34. Thus also the Apostle to the Romans who were the called of Jesus Christ beloved of God c. yet to them he saith including himself also Let us walk honestly not in rioting and drunkenness Rom. 1. 6-8 and chap. 13. v. 13 14. And to the Thessalonians on whose behalf he gave thanks to God alwayes Remembring without ceasing their work of Faith and labour of love and patience of hope knowing their election of God Yet to them he saith Let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober For they that sleep sleep in the night and they that are drunken are drunken in the night But let us be sober 1 Thes 1. 2-4 with ch 5. v. 6-8 Yea the Apostle Paul himself did keep under his body and brought it into sujection lest that by any means when he had preached to others he himself should become a cast-away or reprobate 1 Cor. 9. 27. And it may further appear that hearty and unseigned Believers and all of them need to be admonished of and dehorted from this iniquity of Drunkenness if we consider 1. They are not wholly spiritual but partly carnal yea some more carnal than spiritual 1 Cor. 3. 1-4 They have still sin in them and the lusts thereof annoying them both hindring them from what is good and enticing them to what is evil To which sin and its lusts they are naturally apt to sow and to side with them Therefore they need to have and suffer the word of exhortation and those warnings given by the Holy Ghost Thus the Apostle complaineth I am carnal sold under sin And when I would do good evil is present with me Rom. 7. 14-24 And the Prophet complains with grief and sorrow I am ready to halt and my sorrow is continually before me For I will declare mine iniquity and be sorry for my sin Psal 38. 17 18 And mine iniquities prevail against me Psal 65. 3. Hence such Exhortations and Commandments are given to us by the Lord Jesus Mortify your members that are upon the earth Col. 3. 5. as signifying the affections and lusts of the flesh are our Members the members of the Old-man And the flesh lusteth against the spirit Gal. 5. 17. Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11 and 4. 3-7 Do ye think saith the Apostle James that the Scripture saith in vain the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy even to all that is evil and forbidden of God And it saith not this in vain but it therefore thus speaketh that we might take heed to our spirit that we trust not therein or thereto and that we follow not after it nor obey it in the lusts thereof Jam. 4. 1 3-5 with Mal. 2. 15 16 Ezek. 13. 3. If there were no sin in them but they were perfect as to attainment and wholly sinless as some ungodly spirits boast of themselves who yet are not washed from their filthiness there would be no such need for their being so admonished and warned of this iniquity But alas it is not so with them For if we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and instead of having no sin in us the truth is not in us saith the Apostle 1 Joh. 1. 8 and this amongst other things he did write to the Believers not to strengthen them in any evil wayes or to plead for sin but that they might not sin but might lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the ingraffed word which is able to save their Souls 1 Joh. 2. 1 with chap. 1. 8-10 Jam. 1. 14-20 that they might not trust in their own heart He that trusteth therein is a fool Prov. 28. 26. For every imagination of the thoughts of his heart is only evil and that continually Gen. 6. 5. From within out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts of all things adulteries fornication murders thefts covetousness wickedness deceit
he will come and bless them Exod. 20. 24. But shall the workers of Iniquity have fellowship with him no surely Psal 49. 20. and Psal 5. 4 5. 5. The way to testify love to thy Friend or brother is to withdraw from him in any thing that is evil and shew thy dislike thereof both in word and action and if thou so dost not thou art an hater and murderer of thy Brother however thou pretendest thy self to be a Friend and to shew friendship to him Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thine heart Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour and not suffer sin upon him Or that thou bear not sin for him Levit. 19. 17. with 1 Joh. 3. 15. And therefore as the Lord said in former times concerning open Idolatry so we may in part of this Idolatry 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 let us make our belly our god and serve it thou shalt not consent unto him nor hearken unto him Deut. 13. 6-8 with Philip. 3. 19. and Rom. 16. 18. Oh! Withdraw your selves from every Brother that walks disorderly and not after the Apostles tradition that they may be ashamed 2 Thes 3. 6 14. And rebuke such an one And though at present he takes it grievously yet he that rebuketh a man afterward shall find more favour than he that flatters with the tongue Prov. 28. 23. with Job 17. 5. Obj. 3. Another may say I may be born with a little for my Intemperance for I entertain such as declare the Gospel and lay out my self and spend my estate in receiving the Brethren and adventure all for the Gospel sake Answ 1. If thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted and rewarded Who is there even among you that shut the doors for nought neither do ye kindle a fire on Gods altar for nought faith the Lord of hosts Mal. 1. 10. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed towards his name in that ye have ministred to the Saints and do minister And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence unto the end Heb. 6. 10 11. Answ 2. But this should be no plea in your hearts or mouths for your Intemperance and Prodigality But rather ye should be clean who in this sense bear the vessels of the Lord Isa 52. 11 or else by means of you the name of God will be blasphemed amongst the Gentiles And still your sin is the greater if you walk disorderly because by receiving the Brethren you have greater and more frequent advantage by their company conference and conversation to abstain and flee from all that is evil Oh! therefore defile not the house of God for If any man defile the temple of God him will God destroy 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. Answ 3. It is to be feared that you who are so forward to proclaim your own goodness in laying out your selves for the Gospel are more large in laying out and consuming upon your lusts what God is betrusting you with for the honouring of him his name and Gospel If you would but at the years end faithfully cast up what you have laid out for the gratifying your own or others lusts on the one hand and what you have expended towards the service of Christ and entertaining his messengers on the other and lay both in the balance the former may so greatly over-weigh the latter as that this is nothing in comparison of that And it may possibly too truly be said to you in this case as he said in another Is not the gleaning of the grapes of your prodigality and intemperance more and better than the Vintage of your liberality towards Christ and his Gospel and people Judg. 8. 2. 4. The more kind you have been toward his people the more kind should they be to you And in love to your Souls beg and be seech you that you would take heed lest at any time your heart be overcharged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness or the cares of this life Oh! refrain your feet from every crooked path and from bibbing and bibbers particularly that you lose not all your reward in conclusion And the Lord in mercy guide us all by his counsel and help us to be guided thereby that hereafter he may receive us to Glory So he desireth to pray who is Your most unworthy Friend and Brother Charles Phelpes Errata PAge 17 line 15 for them read men p. 21 l. 13 r. Drunkards p. 22 l. 14 r. excluded p. 23 l. 16 dele and put it in l. 17 after daily p. 25 l. 4 for is r. in p. 36 l. 7 r. Mal. 2. p. 48. l. 30 for Isa 45. r. Isa 59. p. 51 l. 14 r you may p. 52 l. 2 r. sottish children l. 16 r. joyning p. 58 l. 27 r. belong p. 61 l. 20 del first Comma l. 23 r. Nahum p. 63 l. 24 r. dehort p. 65. l. 14 for sensually r. sententially p. 70 l. 4 r Rom. 8 3. p. 79 l. 6 r. testified l. ll del first and. p. 93 l. 32 r. fulfilled his p. 94 l. 3 r. tasted p. 96 l. 29 for at r. as p. 106 l. 11 for own r. one As also in p. 121 l. 11. p. 140 l. 23 r. Sun l. 24 for Matth. r. Mal. p. 142 l. 18 r. might p. 144 l. 5 r. deprivations p. 148 l. 7 r. right l. 19 r. Drink p. 155 l. 20 dele it p. 156 for the first there r. they p. 158 l. 26 r. as are There are some other literal escapes and mispointings which the Reader is desired to correct as he finds them A CAVEAT Against DRUNKENNESS Ephes V. 18. And be not drunk with Wine wherein is excess but be filled with the spirit THese words are a further Admonition and Instruction which the Apostle gives to these Believers to whom he writes unto whom after his salutation of them chap. 1. v. 1 2 he had been magnifying the Apostles Office in chap. 1. v. 3-12 and blessing God for his great mercy to them in causing the Gospel to be preached to them and helping them to receive it so as it wrought effectually in them chap. 1. v. 13-15 Who sometimes were dead in sins and trespasses in a sad and miserable condition chap. 2. v. 1 2-5 11 12 and yet then Christ made peace for them and preached it to them and they were saved by Grace out of that sad condition and made fellow-Citizens with the Saints the Apostles Gospel being received by them not as the word of Men but as it is in truth the Word of God chap. 2. v. 13-22 minding them how that now the Mystery is opened and revealed as it was not in former times In which is contained That the Gentiles should have the unsearchable riches of Christ preached among
that receiveth this testimony of Jesus receiveth the Spirit Gal. 3. 1 2. And he that rejecteth and despiseth it despiseth and rejecteth the holy Spirit 1 Thes 4. 8. Hence the words which Christ spake unto us are said to be and are spirit and life Joh. 6. 63. And the Apostles were able Ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the spirit 2 Cor. 3. 5 6. And the Spirit is said to be the word of God even the Gospel of Christ Ephes 6. 17. And the Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy Rev. 19. 10. And whereas our Saviour signifies unto us the necessity of a mans being born of the Spirit that he may enter into the Kingdom of God Joh. 3. 5 6 8 the Apostles explicating it unto us shews that the immortal and incorruptible seed is the Gospel 1 Cor. 4. 15. the word of truth Jam. 1. 18 19. the word which by the Gospel hath been preached to us 1 Pet. 1. 23-25 Gal. 4. 21-29 And so also the spirit with which they should be filled is the Word and Testimony of Christ And this understanding of it agrees well with the saying of the same Apostle in another Epistle in which he is speaking to the same purpose as here For whereas here he saith Be ye filled with the spirit speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns c. He thus elsewhere expresseth it Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you in all wisdom Teaching one another in Psalms and Hymns c. Compare Eph. 5. 18 19 with Col. 3. 16. 17. And this the spirit wherewith they should be filled the Gospel of Christ and the holy Spirit which breathes therein and always accompanies it and in which he testifies of Christ glorifies him and takes of his things and shews unto us And so we have briefly spoken to the first thing and come to the second viz. II. How or in what respects the Spirit answers unto though yet it infinitely exceedeth Wine It doth appear in the very words that though the Spirit be opposed unto Wine and signified to be exceedingly and inexpressibly better yet there is some answerableness between these two But there is nothing in the Spirit answering to any evil in the Wine Of the former it is said therein is excess but not of the latter we cannot exceed in drinking in the Spirit nor will our being filled therewith lead us to any thing that is displeasing unto God or hurtful unto men But the Spirit doth in many particulars answer unto Wine as that is good and may lawfully and commendably be made use of by us though still as we have said it infinitely exceeds and excels it As to say 1. Wine is the blood of the Vine or Grapes which are the fruit of the Vine it proceeds from the Vine without which we could have no Wine properly so called Gen. 49. 11 12. Matth. 26. 29. So it may be said of the Spirit as sent forth and communicated to us It is the blood or fruit of the Vine of the true Vine which cheareth the heart of God and man even of Jesus Christ who is the true Vine Joh. 15. 1. We could have had no Spirit but by and from him by his having been trodden in the wine-press as it were It is indeed the blood of the Vine the procurement and product of the precious Blood and sufferings of our Gracious and blessed Redeemer It is upon the account of Wisdom's having killed her killing that the Wine is mingled that the Spirit is received into the nature of man that it might be imparted to us and that we have any Gospel or glad tidings preached to us by the messengers Prov. 9. 1-3 So much our Lord Jesus signifies to his Disciples It is expedient for you saith he that I go away that he departed from them by death that he died for our offences and rose from the dead for our justification and went to him that sent him For if I go not away the Comforter this Holy Spirit will not come unto you But if I depart I will send him unto you Joh. 16. 7. The Father hath so loved him that he hath given all things into his hand and particularly given the Holy Spirit unto him without measure to speak and make known Gods words But the reason why he so loved him was because he laid down his life that he might take it again compare Joh. 3. 34 35. with chap. 10. 17. It is because Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was raised again and exalted that he hath received of the Father the Holy Spirit which also he shed forth upon his holy Apostles that by them the Preaching might be fully known Act. 2. 31-33 It was upon the Lamb that had been slain that John saw the seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth Rev. 5. 6. And because this Spirit is procured for us and dispensed to us by the Blood of this Vine therefore it may be called and included in his Blood as that which is obtained by Blood is called Blood 2 Sam. 23. 16 17. Act. 1. 19. So whereas in one place it is said Come drink of the Wine that I have mingled to wit of his Spirit In another it is said My blood is drink indeed He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him saith our Saviour compare Prov. 9. 3-5 with Joh. 7. 37-39 and 6. 53. 54-56 Oh! this Spirit is Wine in this respect Wine by way of eminency it is the product of the true Vine who hath been tormented for our transgressions bruised for our Iniquities Hence the Spirit is called as hath been said the Spirit of Christ because obtained by him put upon him and sent forth from him 1 Pet. 1. 11. Rom. 8. 9. Philip. 1. 19. And the Spirit of Gods Son whom he in the fulness of time sent forth made of a woman made under the Law to redeem us that were under the Law Gal. 4. 4 5 6. This is Wine indeed the Blood of the true Vine to him are we beholding for it and have therefore cause to give thanks to God for his unspeakable gift and to do it in the name of our Lord Jesus and so to thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath been Sacrificed for us that this Wine might be mingled for us and dispensed to us 2 Cor. 9. 15. Eph. 5. 18-20 1 Tim. 1. 13-15 2. As Wine was used to wash away spots from Garments and make them clean and comely for so much appears to be meant by that Prophesy of Jacob concerning Judah He washed his garments in Wine and his clothes in the blood of Grapes Whereto possibly respect may be had in saying They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb who is the true Vine Gen. 49. 11. Rev. 7. 14. And as Wine was used to cleanse away filth the filth
and not sin c. Eph. 4. 22-30 31. And when also they so drink in of this Wine as that they are filled with the fruit of the Spirit with love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against which the Law is not The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth Gal. 5. 16-22 Eph. 5. 8 9. And have the righteousness of the Law fulfilling in them more and more Rom. 8. 3 4. And are seeking after and setting their affections upon things above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God having their conversation not on earth but in Heaven Col. 2. 12. and 3. 1-5 Philip. 3. 7-9-20 And when they are led by this Spirit and overcome thereby to speak unto and to be teaching and admonishing one another sounding forth Gods praises holding forth the word of life in word and conversation holding fast and holding forth the profession of their faith and hope without wavering without fear of men or their fear without fear of amazement speaking the word of Christ and walking in his way and as he hath left us an example with boldness and confidence and chearfully and confidently enduring whatever they may meet with and undergo taking joyfully the spoiling of their goods for Christ and his Gospel sake so as walking in the wisdom and humility of Christ not being moved by any thing they suffer nor counting their lives dear to themselves that they may finish their course with joy when they are so filled with Christ's Gospel as that it is a burning fire shut up in their bones and they are even constrained to speak what they have seen and heard Psal 39. 1-3 Jer. 20. 7-11 Act. 2. 11-13 The being filled with the Spirit is to be imboldned by it as Esth 7. 5. So of the Apostles and Believers it is said They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spake the word of God with boldness And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the Resurection of the Lord Jesus c. Act. 4. 30 31 32. and vers 20. Mic. 3. 8. To which we shall not enlarge any further because we have spoken so largely in shewing the answerableness of the Spirit unto Wine before nor indeed am I in a meet capacity to speak any thing hereabout because I am not filled therewith my self and therefore do but darken Counsel by words without knowledg IV. We come in the last place briefly to note some Instructions from this Exhortation of the Apostle Be ye filled with the Spirit Namely I. That even the Believeres themselves which have received the Holy Spirit and have been sealed therewith unto the day of Redemption may not be filled or so filled with the Holy Spirit as God would have them to be as is before signified in what we have said These were Believers and had received this good Spirit in some measure and yet they are instructed and exhorted to be filled therewith and made more spiritual thereby The Believing Corinthians were Baptized into one body and made to drink into one Spirit and yet they were not filled with the Spirit For the Apostle could not speak unto them as unto spiritual ones but as carnal as unto Babes in Christ 1 Cor. 12. 13. with chap. 3. 1-3 The Believing Hebrews though in receiving the word of Christ they received his Spirit yet alas they still needed to be taught which were the first principles of the Oracles of God and were become such as had need of Milk and not of strong meat Through their dulness of hearing and slowness of heart to believe the first and great things of Gods Law the word of the begining of Christ the Apostle knew not well how to speak unto them of the High-Priesthood of Christ his Sacrifice which he had offered his Mediation in the Heavens and Advocation for Believers his coming again with the high acts and works of faith c. Heb. 5. 10-14 and 6. 1 2 c. The Thessalonian-Believers though they received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit yet there were wants found in their Faith and therefore the Apostle did pray night and day exceedingly that he migh see their face and might perfect that which was lacking in their faith 1 Thes 1. 2-6-10 and 2. 13. and 3. 10. There may be much or somewhat lacking in them that have received this good Spirit as to their being filled therewith there may be somewhat wanting in their knowledg faith establishment rejoycing confidence consolation in Christ conformity unto Christ conversation c. They may be and some of them are but little children And others though they be young men yet still they may receive and dirnk in more and more of this Spirit in the Testimony of Christ yea and the fullest may yet be fuller while they are here in mortal bodies For they receive here but some First fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8. 23. And this Instruction may be of usefulness unto us 1. To warn and admonish us all to take heed and beware of high-mindedness and that we should not think of our selves more highly than we ought to think but to think soberly as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith Rom. 12. 2. 3. A sad and dangerous thing it is for us all to think and say We are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing This is the high-way so to provoke Christ as to cause him to spue us out of his mouth Rev. 3. 15-17 We have none of us yet attained nor are we already perfect as to attainment Philip. 3. 12 13. Alas how short are we in every thing We have cause continually to cry out and complain of and and bewail our leanness emptiness blindness instability in the faith inconformity to Christ Oh! be we not high-minded think we not more highly of our selves than is meet for that will hinder us from coming continually unto Christ who is the fountain of life and Spirit and all spiritual blessings 2. This instruction shews unto us and informs us that the receit of the Spirit is a gradual thing it is not wholly received at once But the Light and Spirit of Christ is received and shines more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4. 18. They who have obtained like precious faith with the Apostles and know and are established in the word of truth the Gospel of our salvation may grow in grace and in the knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 1-12 with chap. 3. 18. They who are in Christ go from strength to strength from one degree to another until every one of them appear before God in Zion Psal 84. 4-7 3. This Instruction may teach us that we should not conclude concerning any that they have not the Spirit of Christ because they are not so filled therewith as they should be for the former may be where the latter is wanting as we have
them and fellow-heirs in believing this Gospel which these Believers also were chap. 3. v. 1-13 And praying for them chap. 1. v. 16-23 and 3. 14-21 From these premises he beseecheth them to walk worthy of the Calling wherewith they were called chap. 4. v. 1 both in putting off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts not fashioning themselves according to the former lusts in their Ignorance not walking as other Gentiles in the vanity of their mind chap. 4 like to that 1 Pet. 1. 1-13 14 c. 1 Thes 4. 1-6 But putting on the New-man as Col. 3. 1-16 being followers of God and Christ chap. 4. v. 31 32 and 5. 1 2. Avoiding and Abstaining from those fleshly lusts that war against the Soul And having their Conversation honest amongst the Gentiles which know not God ch 5. v. 3-11 c. In which we may take notice of the order of the Apostle in writing to the believers namely how he minds them of the Gospel first of all as it is now preached according to the Revelation of the Mystery And so gives to them Commandments by the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 1. and 2 and 3 and 4. 1 2. And amongst others he gives unto them this Commandment we have read and propounded to speak unto and as that which was needful to be received and obeyed to the end they might avoid other evils for surely this is the root of many other evils which here he admonisheth of and that exhortation here given is needful to our so walking more generally as to please God In which words we have to consider 1. A Dehortation or Admonition of the Apostle unto these Believers Be not drunk with Wine 2 An Argument or Motive to ingage them to receive it Wherein is excess 3. An Exhortation or Instruction But be ye filled with the Spirit 1. A Dehortation or Admonition of the Apostle to these Believers Be not drunk with Wine He saith not use no Wine for that we may do lawfully Every creature of God being good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving c. 1 Tim. 4. 1-5 and 5. 23 but abuse it not Be not Drunk with Wine In speaking to which words we shall first speak thereto briefly by way of Explication and then note some Instructions 1. By way of Explication let us inquire and consider 1. Of what Wine he here speaketh and what is intended hereby 2. What it is to be Drunk herewith and when a man may be said so to be 1. Of what Wine he here speaketh and what is intended hereby To this we may say the Wine here spoken of in general is such as is opposed to the Spirit in the latter part of the verse and so it is not here to be understood as it may and must be in some places to wit for Spiritual and Heavenly-drink So Wine is used at some times Cant. 2. 4. Isa 25. 6 and 55. 1 2 c. And this still further appears in what is added to this admonition viz. he speaks of such Wine as in which is excess which there cannot be in our receiving and drinking in Christ and the Spiritual things of and in him But now here by Wine is meant that which is Earthly And indeed it being opposed to the Spirit and said to be such as in which is excess it may be taken more generally for all things on the Earth in which we are seeking delight chearing and comfort But yet we shall look upon it in a more strict consideration and so speak of it to wit either as it signifies 1. Most strictly The fruit of Earthly Vines Gen. 9. 20 21. Mat. 26. 29. The blood of the Grape Gen. 49 11. 2. Or also as more largely it signifies Strong Drink of whatsoever or howsoever it be made As it seems there was Wine made of other Fruit beside Grapes in former times though also there are several sorts of Grapes and several sorts of Wine made thereof Nehem. 5. 18 as of Pomgranates Cant. 8. 2 and so there might be of Apples and Pears c. As strong liquors are made with us of these Fruits as Sider Perry c. and the Drink made hereof might be called Wine or however included in this word when it is mentioned alone unless the context necessarily confine it to Wine most properly so taken So when the Preacher sought in his heart to give himself to Wine c. to that end he planted him Vineyards and made him Gardens and Orchards and planted Trees in them of all kind of fruit whereof also Wine might be made Eccles 2. 3-5 And indeed all Strong Drink is included many times in this expression when mentioned alone So whereas the Nazarites in the Law were forbidden to drink Wine or Strong Drink or the Vinegar of Wine or of Strong Drink c. Num. 6. 3 4 all these are or may be included in this one word Wine in Amos 2. 12. Thus again when Eli mistakingly said to Hannah Put away thy Wine from thee She in her Answer supposes that under the word Wine Strong Drink generally might also be meant and comprehended for She answered and said No my Lord I have drunk neither Wine nor Strong drink 1 Sam. 1. 14 15. So when it is said of John the Baptist he came neither eating Bread nor drinking Wine without doubt under the word Wine is comprehended also all Strong Drink For it was Prophetically said of him He shall drink neither Wine nor strong Drink compare Luke 7. 33 with chap. 1. 15. And so it seems Wine and Strong Drink are indifferently used one for the other See Prov. 20. 1 and 31. 4 5 6. Isa 5. 11 22 and 56. 12 c. And so we shall here look upon it in this place and accordingly speak to it as including all Strong Drink whatsoever 3. Under this word Wine may also be included and comprehended Meat of desire or such food as wherewith men may be and are intemperate and excessive And so as Bread many times doth include all Food Mat. 6. 11 Joh. 6. 35. And so men may eat for Drunkenness Eccles 10. 17 so also Wine may comprehend all pleasant meat and drink in the use whereof men are intemperate Because Wine is said to make glad the heart and is usually the principal thing in intemperate ones desire So when the Lord speaks of his peoples abuse of his Corn and Wine and Oyl in Hos 2. 5 8 9 he thus describeth this Branch of their iniquity in chap. 3. v. 1 They love Flagons of Wine Comprehending all their former abuse of Gods mercies under their inordinate affection to Wine or Strong Drink Thus also when the Apostle Paul writing unto and directing Titus in the ordination of Elders and Bishops faith If any be balmeless not accused of riot he adds as the reason For a Bishop must be blameless not given to Wine c. Tit. 1. 6 7 where surely he gives