hearing the word of God preached is a powerfull means to reclaim men from their sins and bringing them to Salvation 1 Cor. 1.21 It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe Rom 10.17 So then Faith cometh by hearing Meditation also on what we read and hear out of God's Word is a special means to encline our hearts to shun those wayes that are forbidden and walk in those wayes that are commanded in God's Word Psal 119.15 I will meditate in thy Precepts and have respect unto thy wayes § The belief of the truth of those things which the Scriptures speak concerning this sin is an help to our forsaking it 4. Lay to heart and believe the truth of those things which the Scriptures speak concerning drunkards and drunkenness As namely that drunkenness is a manifest work of the flesh concerning which the Lord tells again and again that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5.19 20.21 It will as certainly exclude a man out of Heaven as Murder and Adultery or any other sin We are told plainly in God's word that drunkards shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Drunkards shall inherit the Kingdom of God And that Hell is prepared for drunkards and doth as it were open its mouth to receive them and that such as follow after strong drink and enflame themselves with wine though there be multitudes of them and some of them very jolly men and live in great pomp and splendor their pomp and their multitude and their glory shall descend into Hell Isa 5.11 14. The Scriptures tell us plainly that such as drink till they are drunken the Lord will cut them asunder and give them their portion with unbelievers Luk. 12.45 46. And where shall unbelievers have their portion In Hell fire Rev. 21.8 The unbelieving shall have their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone So that it is evident from the Scriptures that drunkards shall most certainly be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven and be cast into Hell fire For nothing is more certainly true than what God hath revealed in the Scriptures And therefore let me reason a little with all those drunkards into whose hands this discourse shall come about the certainty of their damnation if they persist in their drunken and sottish courses Suppose all the Ministers that are this day upon the face of the earth and all the knowing and wise men in the World should come to thee and tell thee if thou dost not leave off thy drunkenness thou wilt certainly be shut out of Heaven and be cast into Hell would this startle thee That which the Lord tells us in his Holy Word is more certainly true than what is told us by all the men of the world For all men are fallible and subject to mistakes and may be overtaken with a lye but God is infallible and is a God that cannot lye Rom. 3.4 Let God be true and every man a lyar Suppose one of thy drunken companions that dyed in his sins and is now in Hell should be permitted to come from the dead and should tell thee Hell fire is an intolerable torment for I have been in it and I am sent by God to thee to tell thee except thou dost repent of thy sins and leave of thy drunkenness thou shalt as certainly go to Hell as I or any other sinner would this make thee leave thy sin Or suppose one of thy Godly Friends or Acquaintance that is now in Heaven should come to thee from Heaven and say I am sent from God to tell thee that except thou dost repent and leave off thy drunkenness thou shalt surely be cast into Hell would this startle thee wouldst thou believe this Message would this make thee repent God's word is more to be credited and a more forcible means to perswade men to repent than a message brought by a Saint or Sinner risen from the dead Luk. 16.30 31. If one went from the dead they will repent And he said unto him if they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Suppose an Angel should call to thee out of Heaven when thou art at a Tavern or an Alehouse and say O thou drunkard except thou dost repent thou shalt surely go to Hell Or suppose an Angel should bring thee a List of the names of those that shall be condemned at the day of judgment would this startle thee to see thy name in that List When the Scripture tells thee that no drunkard shall inherit the Kingdom of God but they shall all without Repentance be cast into Hell-fire that is more certain than if thou heardest a voice from Heaven telling thee thou art a damned creature or then if thou sawest thy name in the List of those that are to be damned for there is as great or a greater certainty in what we read in the Scriptures than in what we hear spoken by a voice from Heaven 2 Pet. 1.18.19 And this voice which came from Heaven we heard We have also a more sure word of Prophesy Suppose the Lord himself should come and speak to thee in a dream as he did to Abimelech Gen. 20.3 God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said unto him behold thou art but a dead man for the woman which thou hast taken for she is a mans wife Suppose I say the Lord himself should say to thee in a dream or a vision Behold thou art a damned creature for the evil courses that thou takest if thou dost not break off thy drunkenness I will cast thee into Hell-fire would not this make thee leave off thy drunkenness The Lord tells thee in his Word that drunkards shall not inherit his Kingdom but shall be cast into that Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone And what God saith to thee in the Scriptures is as much to be regarded is as true and certain as what he saith to us in a dream or vision or by an audible voice from Heaven What the Scripture saith God saith for the Scriptures are God's Word and therefore what the Scripiure saith shall be is as certain to come to pass as if it were already done What the Scripture saith is more sure and certain than what we see with our eyes or hear with our eares or feel with our hands for our senses are fallible When Isaac's eyes were dim he mistook Jacob for Esau though he heard him speak and felt him with his hands but what the Scripture saith is infallible For all Scripture was given by inspiration of God and God is an infallible God And therefore know O drunkard whosoever thou art that readest these lines that if thou dost not leave off thy drunkenness thy damnation is more certain than any thing that thou seest with thy eyes or hearest with thy eares or feelest
with thy hands Thou art as sure to go into Hell-fire as if thou wert there already Thou art as sure to be shut out of Heaven and cast into Hell as if thou heardest a voice from Heaven telling thee thou art a damned creature As the Apostle said to the Galathians Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth Crucified among you In like manner may I speak to drunkards Oh foolish drunkards who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the Commandment of God who commands you to leave off your drunkenness when as it is evidently set forth in the Scriptures that no drunkards shall inherit the Kingdom of God Surely drunkards either do not read the Scriptures or if they do read them they do not believe what they read or if they believe the truth of the Scriptures they slip out of their minds and they do not lay them to heart for if they did really believe that their drunkenness would shut them out of Heaven and cast them into Hell they would break of this damnable sin And this may be one reason why Drunkards shall have their portion with Unbelievers Luk. 12.45 46. Because whatever they may profess outwardly they are inwardly and in heart Unbelievers § They that would avoid drunkenness must shun the occasions of this sin 5. They that would get rid of this sin of drunkenness must avoid and shun the occasions of this sin What is said of the wild ass Jer. 2.24 In her occasion who can turn her away may be applyed to the vile and sinful heart of man It is an hard matter to turn the heart away from sin when a man hath a fit convenient and enticing occasion for the commission of sin We must be careful that we do not put an occasion of falling in our Brothers way Rom. 14.13 Judge this rather that no man put a stumbling or an occasion to fall in his brothers way And if we must not put an occasion of falling in our Brothers way then surely we must remove all occasions of falling into sin out of our own way If any say what are the occasions of this sin of drunkenness which you would have us to avoid A. 1. Do not keep Company with drunkards be not amongst them when they have their drinking bouts for the being in their company when they are drinking together may prove a snare to you and occasions your being overtaken with the sin of drunkenness There is so much evil and danger in being among drunkards that sober men that have any regard to the Commandments of God and to their own wellfare should avoid as much as they can coming into their company Prov. 23.20 21. Be not amongst Winebibbers For the Drunkard shall come to poverty Here are two things observable 1. A Command from God not to come amongst VVine-bibbers 2. The reason of this command for a drunkard shall come to poverty As much as to say To be amongst VVinebibbers is the way to become drunkards and by becoming Drunkards Men are brought to poverty As keeping company with angry and furious men we shall learn their ways and become furious like unto them Prov. 22.24 25. Make no Friendship with an angry man and with a furious man thou shalt not go lest thou learn his ways and get a snare to thy Soul So by keeping Company with Drunkards we are in danger to learn their ways and to get a snare to our Souls 2. Avoid going to Ale-houses and Taverns if you would avoid drunkenness For by being in such Places you are under a temptation to sin by excess of wine and strong Drink Solomon adviseth those that would shun the sin of uncleanness not to come near the door of an Harlots house lest being near her door they should be drawn to go into her house and bring dishonour to them by committing that shameful sin of uncleanness Prov. 5.8 9. Remove thy way far from her and come not nigh the door of her house lest thou give thine honour unto others and thy years unto the cruel The like a dvice may I give to such as are inclined to the sin of drunkenness Keep from Taverns and Ale-houses come not near such Places lest you be tempted by Satan and your own hearts to go in and be overcome with VVine and strong drink 3. Avoid laying VVagers or playing at Cards or Dice or any such like Games for VVine or strong Drink for this is an occasion of much evil and very frequently draws persons to drink unto uncess 4. Avoid drinking healths which though it be a common practice amongst many persons yet it is condemned by many soled and judicious persons for a great evil See Voetius Tom. 3. p. 1217. who gives several reasons against this practice If any say I can refuse any health but the King 's and if the King's health be put upon me my loyalty shall be questioned It was a wise Speech of a Lord Chancellour oft noted by Mr. Harris I will pray for the Kings Health and drink for my own This can be no test of loyalty for prohibited by the Kings Proclamation § Temptations to this sin to be watched and resisted 6. If you would not be overcome with wine or strong drink watch and pray against and resist the temptations that you meet with to this Sin It is our blessed Saviour's counsel Watch and Pray that you enter not into temptation Matth. 26.41 And we had need watch and pray that we enter not into temptation because our corrupt natures are easily drawn to sin when we meet with temptations to sin And therefore we had need watch and strive and resist temptations and besides our own endeavours to pray for God's Grace to assist us I will instance in some times of temptation wherein we had need be very watchful that we fall not into this sin 1. When we are at Feasts or in the Houses or in the Company of great persons where there is great plenty of Wine and strong Drink that a man may take his fill of free cost and he is called upon to eat and drink abundantly if a man be not very watchful and careful of himself at such a time he is in danger to fall into excess Prov. 23.1 2. When thou sittest to eat with a Ruler consider diligently what is before thee and put a knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to thy appetite Rulers Tables are furnished with variety of the choicest meats and plenty of all sorts of wine Neh. 5.18 And therefore such as eat with Rulers should consider diligently what is before them that is they should consider and that diligently what snares and temptations are before them and what danger they are in to offend God by excess of eating and drinking when they have such variety and plenty before them of those things that may entice them to excess And besides
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
bemoaned their sins and prayed to God to turn them from their sins God gave them grace to forsake their Idols Jer. 31.18 20. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself Turn thou me and I shall be turned I will surely have mercy upon him compared with Hos 14.8 Ephraim shall say what have I to do any more with Idols Obj. 3. I have prayed to God often to give me Grace to leave off this sin of drunkenness but God doth not regard my prayers this sin prevails over me as ever it did I find no help against this sin by praying to God 1. Do you not dissemble in your hearts with God when you pray for grace to leave this sin though you pray against this sin yet possibly you have no desire no mind no intention to leave it and this is a dissembling with God As the Jews dissembled in their hearts when they sent to the Prophet Jeremiah to pray for them when they had no mind to do that which they desired him to pray for Jer. 42.20 Ye dissembled in your hearts when ye sent me unto the Lord your God saying Pray for us unto the Lord our God and according unto all that the Lord our God shall say so declare unto us and we will do it So men may pray for themselves they may pray against their sins as if they had a mind to leave their sins and yet but dissemble in their hearts with God and not be really willing to break off their sins The Lord is nigh to all them that call upon him in truth Ps 145.18 If you would obtain what you pray for you must heartily desire what you pray for else you do not pray in truth 2. Do you watch against the Temptations and Occasions that may draw you to this sin This you must do as well as pray against it if you would have God keep you from it Matth. 26.41 Watch and Pray that you enter not into temptation To pray against drunkenness and yet to run your selves needlesly upon temptations to go into idle and vain company and to Taverns and Ale-houses this is but a mocking of God 3. Do you strive against this sin and use means to avoid it as well as pray against it If not that may be the reason why the Lord doth not answer your prayers For we must strive against sin as well as pray against it Heb. 12.4 Striving against sin When any evil Motions or evil Lusts arise into our hearts and solicit us to gratifie them we must not yield to them but must deny the sollicitations of sin Tit. 2.12 Denying ungodliness and worldly Lusts 1. Pet. 2.11 I beseech you abstain from fleshly Lusts 4. You must wait as well as pray if you would have your prayers answered Psal 40.1 2. I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined his Ear and heard my cry He brought me up also out of an horrible pit out of the miry Clay By the horrible Pit and miry Clay out of which the Lord brought David upon his crying and waiting on the Lord some understand his exceeding great afflictions and troubles out of which he obtained deliverance by Prayer †de profundo iniquitatum ex vitijs carnalibus Aug. Others interpret this Pit and miry Clay out of which David was delivered of his sins that defiled him like the mire and cleaved and stuck fast to him as the Clay And to warrant this interpretation we shall find that sinful Lusts are compared to a pit Prov. 22.14 Prov. 23 27. And to the mire Isa 57 20. 2 Pet. 2.22 Such as find their feet stick fast in the miry Clay of their sins if they cry unto the Lord and wait patiently upon him he will bring them out of the miry Clay and establish their goings in his wayes so as they shall not return to their sins again § Consideration of the evil and danger of this sin will help us to forsake it 2. Consider seriously with your selves the evil and horrible Nature of this sin of drunkenness and what the latter end of it will be It offends and displeaseth God it is a trampling under foot the blood of Christ who shed his blood to redeem us from our vain conversations it makes a man like a Beast yea worse than a beast it ruines your Bodies destroys your Souls wasts your Estates blemisheth your reputations will undo your Families it is the Nursery of all manner of wickedness though it be pleasant for a while at the last it will bite like an Addar and sting like a Serpent It will most certainly shut you out of Heaven and plunge you in the depths of Hell A serious consideration of their wayes is useful and beneficial for all sorts of persons Good men by pondering their wayes may reform what is amiss in them Ps 119.59 I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies And such as are wicked and graceless persons by considering their ways may be led and brought to repentance Ezek. 18.27 28. When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed he shall save his soul alive Because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed he shall surely live he shall not die Mark those words because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions A serious consideration of our wayes will help us to turn from all our transgressions The want of a due consideration of our ways is the reason why men commit and continue in abominable impieties Hos 7.1 2. They commit falsehood and the Thief cometh in and the troop of Robbers spoileth without and they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness § Reading Hearing and Meditating on God's word a great help against Drunkenness and all other sins 3 Read the Scriptures diligently attend on the Preaching of God's word Meditate on what you read and hear this will be a means to reclaim you from drunkenness and all other sinfull and destructive courses The Word of God hath a converting power in it and when it is set home by the Spirit of God it will convert a sinner from the error of his wayes Psal 19.7 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul It was by God's word that David was kept from sinning against God Psal 119.11 Thy word have I hid in mineheart that I might not sin against thee It was by God's word that he was kept from sinfull and destructive courses Psal 17.4 By the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer The reading of the Scriptures is a great help to bring men to the knowledge and the fear of the Lord and to make them leave and forsake their sins Deut. 31.11.12 Thou shalt read this Law before all Israel in their hearing that they may learn and fear the Lord your God and observe to do all the words of this Law And as reading the Scriptures so
drop of water to cool thy tongue All the pains that were ever felt by any men in this world are but flea-bites compared with the Torments of Hell Canst thou hold thine hand one hour in the fire If not how wilt thou be able to lie Body and Soul in Hell-fire for ever The fire of Hell is seven times hotter than any fire on Earth 3. How troubled was Jesus Christ when our sins were only imputed to him He was so full of sorrow that he was ready to die with grief Matth. 26.38 He was in such an Agony that his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground Luk. 22.44 And if our Lord Jesus Christ found it so difficult to bear the punishment of our sins when they were only imputed to him how wilt thou be able to undergo the punishment of thy own sins in the other world for ever 4. It will be no mitigation but an addition to thy torments in Hell that thou shalt have many of thy Neighbours and Companions with thee Their hideous cries and their roarings will add to thy sorrows especially such as thou hast been instrumental to draw to sin The rich man when he was in Hell torments was very solicitous to have means used that his five Brethreen might not come into the same place of torment Luk. 16.28 Which he did not out of love to his Brethren's Souls for there is no true love among the damned in Hell but for fear of encreasing his own Torments It would terrifie a Drunkard and almost put him out of his wits whilst he is on Earth if the Ghost of one of his sottish Companions that died in his sins and is damned for his sins should appear to him and where ever he goeth haunt him But it will be a far greater trouble to be with them and haunted with them in Hell and to have them cry out against them had it not been for you had not you enticed me encouraged me by your example I had repented and had not come into this place of torment § The Atheistical Drunkard's Plea who doth not believe there is a God or Life to come answered Plea 26. As for those that believe there is a God to whom an account must be given for what is done whilst we live in this world and a Heaven for the righteous and a Hell for the wicked and yet live in drunkenness and such like sins they are vile wretches that will act so contrary to their Consciences and their profession but for my part I believe none of these things but do look upon them as Stories and Fables I do not think that there is a God a Heaven or an Hell or a future life but am of opinion that when a man dyeth there is an end of him even as there is of a Beast and therefore I will take all the pleasure I can while I live and do approve of that saying Let us eat and drink for to morrow we must die A. 1. Drunken sottish Atheists that do not believe there is a God are the greatest Fooâ—s in the whole world For there is nothing more evident and plain than that there is a God What we see with our Eyes and hear with our Ears and feel with our Hands is not more â—ure than this truth that there is a God For 1. All Creatures in Heaven and Earth proclaim the being of God with a loud voice Thregular Motions of the Heavens and the fir mament which is beset with an innumerable company of Stars and the constant succession of day and night declare that there is a God and that this God is a glorious God for no Creature was able to frame such a glorious work as the Heavens which are adorned with Sun Moon and Stars these are the work of none but a God neither can any but a God guide and order their motions Ps 19.1 2. The Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work Day unto day uttereth Speech and night unto night sheweth knowledge Yea if thou goest to the Birds or Beasts of the Earth or Fishes of the Earth and they will convince thee of thy folly and tell thee that he is a very ignorant and blind Creature that doth not see the Workmanship of a God in all these things For none of these Creatures made themselves neither could any man make them none but a God was able to make maintain and govern all these Creatures Job 12.7 8 9. But ask now the Beasts and they shall teach thee and the Fowls of the air and they shall tell thee or speak to the Earth and it shall teach thee and the Fishes of the Sea shall declare unto thee Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought all this All Creatures in the Air on the Earth and in the Sea do proclaim with a loud voice that there is a God and own the Workmanship of God in every Creature 3. They are more foolish than the Ox and the Ass that will not believe there is a God For the Ox knoweth his Owner and the Ass his Masters Crib Isa 1.3 And seeing all men live and are maintained by the Providence of God Act. 17.28 For in him we live and move and have our being It is greater folly than is found in the Ox or the Ass for a man to deny his Master yea his God that made him and maintains him and to say there is no God 4. The Being of God is so evident that all people in all places and all ages of the World do own that there is a God none but very Fools ever said or thought otherwise Mich. 5.5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his God and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and for ever We see here that all people do own a God though many of them are ignorant of the true God and Worship Idols instead of God And therefore they deserve to be chronicled for the veryest Fools that ever lived who think or say in their hearts there is no God Ps 14.1 The Fool hath said in his Heart there is no God 2. Thou that thinkest there is no God wert once of another mind before thou hadst debauched thy Conscience by thy sottish courses thou didst believe the being of God as well as other men See therefore into what a woful condition thou hast brought thy self by thy drunken and sottish courses thou art fallen into a worse condition than a Devil and art more blind and hardned than a Devil For the Devils believe there is a God and tremble at the apprehensions of the Torments that he will inflict on them Jam. 2.19 Thou believest that there is one God thou doest well The Devils believe also and tremble And therefore such as neither tremble at Gods judgments nor believe that there is a God are greater Infidels and more hardned than the Devils 3.
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