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
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
which spake by Solomon who is the Spirit of truth be worthy to be believed we must assent to it as a certain truth that whosoever is deceived by wine or strong drink is not a wise man They may be wise for managing worldly matters but they have not that wisdom which cometh from above which maketh wise to Salvation for that wisdom teacheth men to be pure and holy Jam. 3.17 The wisdom that is from above is first pure And therefore impure and filthy drunkards have none of this wisdom They are so far from being wise men that in truth and reality they are very fools for they part with the glory and pleasures of Heaven for ever for a pot of drink or a cup of wine and for the enjoyment of the pleasures of sin which are but for a season they plunge themselves into the torments of Hell for ever 4. They are not the best sort of Gentlemen that are given to drinking and other vices Debauched Gentlemen are the reproach of the Gentry The best sort of Gentlemen are pious and virtuous Gentlemen who hate and abhor vicious courses such as walk in the fear of God and themselves and families are patterns of piety and virtue such as love and seek the welfare of their Country and are rich in good works 5. This will not excuse any man at the day of Judgment to say many Gentlemen and men of great parts were addicted to drunkenness For 1. Those Gentlemen will be in as miserable a condition as the poorest beggars at the Judgment seat of Christ Who have been vicious persons their Riches will avail them nothing at all at that day Job 36.19 Will he esteem thy Riches No not gold nor all the forces of strength Those Rich men that fared deliciously every day and drunk their fill of wine and strong drink while on earth shall not get one drop of water to cool their tongues when they are in Hell Luk. 16.19 23. 2. Vicious Gentlemen will be in a worse condition in the other world than the poorest and meanest begger on the face of the earth for they shall be tormented for mispending their Estates with which God intrusted them to do good with all Potentes potenter torquebuntur What is said of Babylon Rev. 18.7 How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her The same measure shall be meeted out to vicious Gentlemen the greater pomp they have lived in on earth and the more deliciously they have fared the more sorrow and torment they shall have hereafter 3. Pious persons that have been so poor that they have begged their bread shall reign with Christ in Heaven while vicious gentlemen shallcry and roar in Hell and beg for a drop of water to cool their tongues and be glad of it though brought by the hand of a beggar that hath begged Alms at their doors Luk. 16.20.21 22 23 24 26. Lazarus was a poor begger full of noysom running sores which the dogs licked when he lay at the rich mans gate he would have been glad of any crumbs that fell from the rich mans Table but when he dyed Angels carryed his Soul into Abraham's Bosom and when the rich man dyed he went to Hell and there being in great torment he begged that Lazarus might dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue but he could not obtain that favour to have so much as a drop of water to cool his tongue though he was a great man and lived gallantly while he was on earth § The example of such Ministers as are given to this sin No excuse for drunkards The wofull condition of a drunken Minister Plea 2. There are many Ministers will drink as hard as any other men and we hope we may do as our Ministers do we have honourable thoughts of our Ministers and besides our Ministers are learned men and if drunkenness were such an horrible sin as you would make us believe surely they that are such learned men would not be addicted to such a foul sin A. 1. To be a Minister of Christ is an high and honourable employment and it is a good thing that people should have honourable thoughts of the Ministers of Christ and esteem them very highly for their work and office sake 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the mysteries of God 1 Thes 5.12 13. We beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you And to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 2. We must not follow the example of any Minister though he should be the best Minister in the World farther than he followeth Jesus Christ Who was a better Minister than the Apostle Paul yet he desired no man to follow his example farther than he himself followed Christ 1 Cor. 11.1 Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ 3. Did you know what a wofull condition drunken Ministers are in you would not be in their case for the whole World The Prophet Jeremiah trembled Body and Soul and was amazed when he considered the wofull condition of drunken Ministers Jer. 23.9 11. Mine heart within me is broken because of the Prophets all my bones do shake For both Prophet and Priest are prophane Prophane Ministers are in Gods account as bad as Sodomites Jer. 23.14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing they commit adultery and walk in lyes they strengthen also the hands of evil doers that none doth return from his wickedness they are all unto me as Sodom And we know that the men of Sodom were such an abomination to the Lord that he consumed them with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven Prophane Ministers are the worst sort of men and therefore in Scripture they are compared to the tail Isa 9.14 15. The prophet that telleth lyes he is the tail There is a most bitter cup as bitter as wormwood and gall prepared for drunken and prophane Ministers Jer. 23.15 When Ministers are ignorant or negligent in their work or prophane in their lives their flock lyeth open for a prey to all that have a mind to devour them Isa 56 9 10 11. And the blood of all those souls that perish either by their negligence or evil example will be required at their hands 4. It is no marvel to see some Ministers that have great parts and much learning given to drunkenness and other scandalous sins For 1. Knowledge without Grace will not make a man an Holy man The devils have great knowledge yet they are wicked Spirits and do very wicked things 2. It was so under the law there were many wicked Priests that lived in scandalous sins Jer. 10.21 The pastors are become brutish Jer. 23.11 Both prophet and priest are prophane And it is foretold it would be so under the Gospel that there would
and others to repent of and forsake this sin of drunkenness If some drunkards be cut of in the act of sin while you are spared you must not think that they were greater sinners than you are but by their example God calls you to Repentance Luk. 13.4 5. Those eighteen upon whom the Tower of Siloam fell and slew them think ye that they were sinners above all that dwell in Jerusalem I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish 5. Your prospering in a sinfull course and being free from trouble of Conscience and also your being free from the judgments of God is a sure token that God intends to destroy you for ever Psal 94.7 When the wicked spring as the grass and all the workers of iniquity do flourish it is that they may be destroyed for ever Some mens sins go before to judgment and some men they follow after 1 Tim. 5.24 The less you meet with here for your sins the more you have to come in the other World 6. If you be free from God's judgments on your outward man yet it may be he sends his plagues upon your heart Exod. 9.14 I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart If the Lord give a man up to his own hearts lusts or to an hard and impenitent heart this is a worse judgment than afflictions on the Body or Estate § The plea of such as fear reproaches if they should not drink to excess as others do answered Plea 13. I would leave off this sin of drunkenness were it not that I feared reproach and scorn my companions with whom I have used to frequent Taverns and Ale-houses will call me a precise fool and say I am turned Puritan if I should not do as they do and besides my occasions do oft times lead me into the company of Gentlemen that are great drinkers and if I should scruple drinking in their company they would reproach and scorn me now I stand much upon my honour and to avoid reproaches I am drawn to that which I am convinced is a great evil but I can't avoid it unless I should make my self a derision and scorn among my acquaintance A. 1. If you stand upon your honour then whatever scoffs are put upon you hold fast your Sobriety be not by any means drawn to excessive drinking for drunkenness is a great reproach to any man be he a great or a mean man Prov. 14.34 Sin is a reproach to any people To be reproached for our temperance or any other branch of Righteousness is a real honour 1 Pet 4.14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you Then we are reproached for the name of Christ when we are reproached for our obedience to any of the Commandments of Christ of which this is one Take heed to your own selves least at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfitting and drunkenness Luk. 21.34 And therefore if any man reproach you because you will not overcharge your selves with drunkenness this is your happiness this is your glory for the Spirit of glory rests upon those that are reproached for the name of Christ 2. None but fools will mock at you for refusing to drink to excess Prov. 14.9 Fools make a mock at sin And who will regard what fools say As for all good men if you live in the fear of God they will honour you It is mentioned as a Character of a good man He honoureth them that fear the Lord. Psal 15.4 Yea if you abstain from drunkenness out of Conscience to the command of Christ the Lord himself will honour you Joh. 12.26 If any man serve me him will my Father honour 3. If you are ashamed to keep your sobrietp because of the scoffs and jears of sottish men the Lord Jesus Christ will disown you and be ashamed of you before the Holy Angels and before his Heavenly Father Mark 8.33 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this sinfull and adulterous Generation of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his father with the Holy Angels 4. If you will not turn from your sottish courses at the call and command of God the Lord himself will laugh at you and mock you in the day of your calamity Prov. 1.23 24 26. Turn ye at my reproof Because I have called and ye refused I also will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh And that is very dreadfull to have God instead of helping us in our distress mock and laugh at us in our calamity Yea the Devils also who tempted you to sin will laugh at you in Hell for your folly in parting with Heaven for such a poor matter as a pot of drink 5. You have slighty thoughts of sin and low thoughts of your immortal souls and of the joys of Heaven and the torments of Hell if you will commit such an horrible sin as drunkenness and cast away your immortal souls and deprive your selves of the joys of Heaven rather than bear the scoffs and jears of foolish and sottish men § The plea of rich men whereby they would excuse their drunkenness answered Plea 14. If I were a poor labouring man and should lye at the Ale-house and spend what I earned and my Family be in want I should be greatly to be blamed but I am a rich man and have a great Estate I can spend freely at Taverns and Ale-houses and not feel any want of what I spend there and therefore I hope I may be excused A. 1. It is indeed a very great crime for labouring men or any others to wast their Estates at Ale-houses whereby their Families are brought to want for such are worse than infidels 1 Tim. 5.8 If any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denyed the Faith and is worse than an Infidel 2. The rich drunkard shall find no more favour with God than the poor man yea than the begger For the Lord is no respecter of persons but will render to every man according to his works Riches avail nothing to keep off the wrath of God Prov. 11.4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath Job 36.19 Will he esteem thy riches No not Gold nor all the forces of strength Yea it will go worse with rich drunkards at the day of judgment than with poor men that have been addicted to this sin For they sin against greater mercy and abuse greater Talents than poor men What is said of the rust and canker which is on the Gold and Silver of rich men that are covetous and hoard up their Riches and do no good with them Jam. 5.3 Your Gold and your Silver is cankered and the rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire ye have heaped treasure together
have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon 2. If you only confess your sin but soon commit it again and make vows and promises of Reformation but break them as oft as you make them this is not true Repentance this is but dissembling with God and a kind of mocking God when you confess your sin and yet are not resolved to leave your sin and to make vows and Promises when you do not mean to perform them The promise of pardon is to such as confess and forsake their sins not to such as confess and commit them again Prov. 28.13 Whoso confesseth and forsaketh shall find mercy VVhen men make Vows and Promises to God to reform their lives and their Hearts are not real neither are they stedfast to what they promise God accounts all our vows and promises but flattery and telling him so many lies Ps 78.34 35 36 37. When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early after God And they remembred that God was the 〈◊〉 rock and the high God their Redeemer Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth and they lyed unto him with their tongue For their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his covenant § Noah and Lot's Drunkenness will not excuse Drunkards Plea 22. Noah and Lot were good men and there is no doubt but they are gone to Heaven yet they were both drunk with VVine and that in as fearful and shameful manner as ever we were Noah was so drunk that he lay uncovered within his Tent and one of his Sons saw his Nakedness Lot was so overcome with some that he knew not what he did but committed Incest with both his Daughters and why may not we be good men and go to Heaven as well as Lot and Noah though we be now and then overcome with Drink A. 1. Though Noah was once overtaken with Drunkenness and Lot was surprized twice yet they were no Drunkards A Drunkard is one that is addicted and given to the sin of drunkenness one that is frequently overcome with VVine and strong drink A good man may be overtaken with a fault and may fall into sin but they are wicked men that lie and continue in their sins A Sheep may fall into the Mire but they are Swine that love to wallow in the mire 2. Noah and Lot repented of their drunkenness and so obtained Mercy but impenitent Sinners such as instead of repenting go on still in their trespasses instead of Mercy shall receive vengeance from God Psal 68.21 But God shall wound the head of his Enemies and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses 3. The falls of the Saints the sins of Lot and Noah and other Servants of God are recorded into Scripture not to justifie or encourage any man in his sins but as warnings to all that think they stand to take heed lest they fall 1 Cor. 10.12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall The Apostle had spoke in the foregoing verses of the murmurings and several other sins of the Israelites and of God's judgments against them for their sins and tells us that these things are recorded that such as think they stand should take heed lest they fall And therefore they that make this use of the fall of the Saints to encourage themselves in their sinful practices wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction 4. Lot's sin was punished in his posterity for the Children which he begat of his Daughters in his drunkenness namely Moab and Ammon brought forth a cursed Generation of Men that proved great Enemies to the Church of God For Moab who was Lot's eldest Daughters Son was the Father of the Moabites And Ben-ammi that was the Son of the younger Daughter was the Father of the Ammonites Gen. 9.37 38. And the Lord had such an indignation against the Moabites and Ammonites that he made a special Law against them above other Nations to exclude them from coming into the Congregation of the Lord. Deut. 23.3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the Congregation of the Lord even to their tenth Generation they shall not enter into the Congregation of the Lord for ever § The Plea of such as say Drunkenness is their infirmitie Plea 23. There is no man perfect in this VVorld but all men have their infirmities and failings one in one kind and another in another kind and this is my infirmitie that I love a Cup of good drink too well and when I am amongst my Companions I can't for my heart forbear drinking over much and I hope that seeing this is mine infirmity God will be gracious unto me and not shut me out of Heaven for a sin of infirmity A. 1. It is true all men have their infirmities and failings whilst they are in this World Eccl. 7.20 For there is not a just man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not The holiest men in the world have acknowledged themselves to be imperfect There was not a holier man on Earth than Job if perfection be taken for integrity and uprightness in that sence he was a perfect man Job 1.10 Yet Job was conscious to himself of his infirmities and durst not stand upon his own justification in the sight of God and say that he was perfect Job 9.20 If I justifie my self my own Mouth shall condemn me if I say I am perfect it shall also prove me perverse The Apostle Paul acknowledgeth himself imperfect Phil. 3.12 Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect But although the Servants of God have their infirmities they do not live in such beastly sins as Drunkenness What Moses saith of the degenerate Jews Deut. 32.5 may be applyed to Drunkards They have corrupted themselves their spot is not the spot of his Children they are a perverse and a crooked generation They flatter and delude themselves who live in such vicious courses as drunkenness and call their sins their infirmities 2. Such as are frequently overcome with wine and strong drink their drunkenness is not a sin of infirmity but a wilful and presumptuous sin as will appear in these respects 1. A man that sins through infirmitie is willing and desirous to be freed from his sins Matth. 26.40 41. What could ye not watch with me one hour The Spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak The sleepiness of the Disciples was their infirmity their Spirits were willing to have watched but their flesh was weak And such a man as sinneth through infirmity useth means to be freed of his sins Psal 77.10 And I said This iâ—â—â—y infirmitie but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high The Psalmist having through infirmity called in question the love and mercy of God calleth to mind his former experiences of God's gracious dealings with his soul he used means to get out of that sin
drunkenness and company-keeping If you have any regard to the honour of God if you have any love to Jesus Christ if you have any respect to the Blessed Spirit of God if you have any respect to your own welfare either in this or the World to come if you have any love to your Families or to the Nation in which you live break off this beastly this sottish this bewitching this abominable this damnable sin of drunkenness To press on this Exhortation the more effectually consider 1. If you will turn from this loathsome sin of drunkenness there will be exceeding great joy both in Heaven and Earth at your Conversion Your Parents and Godly Relations that have prayed for you and wept for your disorderly courses they will rejoyce at your Conversion Prov. 10.1 A wise Son maketh a glad Father The Ministers of God will rejoyce exceedingly at your Conversion for they have no greater joy in this World than to see the fruit of their labours in the Conversion Holy Conversation and Salvation of those to whom they preach Joh. 3d. Epist 3.4 I rejoyced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee even as thou walkest in the truth I haveno greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth The Apostle Paul had such joy in the Conversion of the Thessalonians that he was not able to express his joy and his thankfulness to God for their Conversion 1 Thes 3.9 What thanks can we render to God again for you for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God And the Saints and Servants of God will joy to hear of your Conversion Act. 15.3 Declaring the Conversion of the Gentiles they caused great joy unto all the brethren Yea more if you repent of your sins and turn from drunkenness you will cause joy among all the Angels of Heaven Luk. 15.7 10. 2. If you neglect or refuse to break off this sin of drunkenness you will be grief to God and Men and bring grief and sorrow to your own Soul You will grieve God that made you and maintains you that God in whom you live and move and have your being Gen. 6.5 6. God saw that the wickedness of man was great on the Earth And it grieved him at his heart And by your hardness of heart and persisting still in your sins you will grieve Jesus Christ who shed his blood to save lost man Mark 3.5 Being grieved for the hardness of their hearts Your going on in this sin in a rebellious manner will grieve the Holy Spirit of God Isa 63.10 They rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit You will be a grief to your Parents Prov. 19.13 A foolish son is the calamity of his Father Prov. 17.25 A foolish son is a grief to his Father and bitterness to her that bare him You will be a great grief to God's Ministers and to all Godly People Psal 119.136 158. Rivers of tears run down mine eyes because they keep not thy Law I bebeld the Transgressors and was grieved because they kept not thy Word And you will bring great sorrows to your own Soul Prov. 23.29 30. Who hath sorrow They that tarry long at the wine See also Prov. 5.11 12 13 14. And will you grieve God and grieve your Parents and grieve God's Ministers and all God's Servants and pierce your own Soul through with many sorrows rather than leave off this grievous sin of drunkenness What shall I say more to perswade you to leave off this vile sin of drunkenness If teares would prevail with you I would say with the Prophet Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a Fountain of tears that I might weep day and night before you till I had prevailed with you to leave this abominable this Soul destroying sin of drunkenness If the mercies of God would make any impression upon your hearts I would beseech you by all the mercies of God that ever you received or hope to receive either in this World or in the World to come to break off this beastly sin If God's promises would do any thing to lead you to Repentance I might tell you what great things God hath promised to do for you if you will leave of this and your other sins He will give you a free full and eternal pardon of all your Transgressions he will give you his Heavenly Kingdom where you shall have unspeakable glory fullness of joy and Rivers of pleasure for evermore he will withhold no good thing from you If you have any fear of God's judgments I might tell you of the VVorm that dyeth not of the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone of blackness of darkness of being sent from Christ's Judgment Seat with a curse into Everlasting Fire to have your abode with the Devil and his Angels all which things and more than the tongue of man can express will be your portion if you break not off this damnable sin of drunkenness If any words or arguments will prevail with you I could wish I had the tongue of Men and Angels to speak to you in the most perswasive manner to leave off this Soul destroying sin § The convinced sinner's case considered that is almost perswaded to leave off this sin It may be some will say my heart begins to relent methinks I am almost perswaded to leave off my drunkenness and to become a new man I am of the mind to bind my self with a vow and to make a solemn promise never to be drunk any more what counsel would you give to one in my condition A. 1. Do not only almost but altogether resolve to leave off this sin else you will be but almost saved If you be double minded sometimes of the mind to leave your sins and sometimes of the mind to keep them still you will be unstable in all your wayes Jam. 1.8 2. Do not only resolve and promise and vow to forsake this sin but perform your vows and promises As that man's Son dealt with his Father whom his Father bid go and work in his Vineyard he said I go Sir but he went not Matth. 21.30 So many men deal with God they make promises to God to leave their sins but they perform them not Now it is better not to make any vows or promises of Reformation than after we have made them not to perform them Eccl. 5.5 Better it is that thou shouldst not vow than that thou shouldst vow and not pay 3. Take heed of leaving this sin for a time and then returning to it again as the dog doth to his vomit and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire for the latter end of such persons is worse than the beginning 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. 4. Turn from all your other sins as well as drunkenness if you would find favour with God and obtain the remission of your sins It is not sufficient to cast away some of our sins but if
us 4. The World and the Flesh and the Devil will be as tempting hereafter as they are now and our hearts as ready and more ready to yield than they are now § The plea of such as say they would leave off their drunkenness but they cannot Helps against this sin of drunkenness If any say I am abundantly convinced that Drunkenness is an abominable sin and I would leave it but I cannot I find it hath got such power over me as that I can't withstand it What shall I do that I may be able to leave this sin A. It is no easie matter for a man that is accustomed to this sin to leave it it is of such an enticing bewitching nature and therefore having set out the greatness of this sin and answered the Pleas that are made use of to excuse this sin I shall now propose some helps against this sin § Prayer is a special help against Drunkenness and all other sins 1. Pray to God to give you his Holy Spirit to sanctify your hearts and to turn you from this and from all your other sins When the Apostle had cautioned the Ephesians against Drunkenness as a means and help against this sin he exhorts them to be filled with the Spirit Eph. 5.18 Be not drunk with Wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit Now the way to get the Spirit of God is to pray for it Luk. 11.13 Your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him By Prayer to God we may obtain help against all our sins such as are strongest and of longest continuance Psal 119 2 3. Blessed are they that seek him with the whole heart they do no iniquity Such sins as we are most inclined to that have dwelt in us a long time and are become natural to us may be overcome by the grace of God Jam. 4.5 6. The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy but he giveth more grace That is God's grace is sufficient for the subduing our strongest Corruptions and if we do seek to him with humble hearts he will give us more strength of grace than there is strength of sin in us whereby we shall overcome those sins that have dwelt longest in us and to which our Hearts and Spirits are most strongly enclined But here some may say by way of discouragement Obj. 1. It is true Prayer will do great things with God but it is said Joh. 9.31 We know that God heareth not sinners and therefore to what purpose should I that am a sinner pray to God to give me his grace to leave and forsake my sins seeing God will not hear me A. 1. When it is said God heareth not sinners it is to be understood of impenitent sinners of such as love and delight in their sins and hate to be reformed and turn a deaf Ear to the word of God Prov. 28.9 He that turneth away his Ear from hearing the Law even his Prayer shall be an abomination 2. As for such sinners as are desirous to leave and forsake their sins there is hope for them if they pray to God for his grace that he will hear them The VVoman of Samaria that discoursed with Christ at Jacob's VVell was a great sinner she lived with a man that was not her Husband and so was an Adultress Joh. 4.16 17 18. She was a Samaritan ver 4. and the Samaritans were Idolaters and did did not know what they worshipped ver 22. Ye worship ye know not what See also 2 King 17.24 28 29 41. The Samaritans were a people of ill fame among the Jews Joh. 8.48 Say we not well thou art a Samaritan and hast a Devil This VVoman of Samaria had carried her self unkindly to Christ yet when he asked for a draught of water though she knew the VVell was deep and that he had nothing to draw with ver 11. She did not grant him his request but instead of giving him water she gave him a check ver 9. How is it that thou being a Jew asketh drink of me which am a Woman of Samaria for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans Yet our Lord Jesus Christ incourageth this VVoman to pray though a Samaritan though one that lived with a man as her Husband that was not her Husband though she had carryed her self unkindly to Christ he incourageth her to pray and tells her if she had asked he would have given her living water Joh. 4.10 Jesus said unto her if thou knowest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee give me to drink thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water Oppressours and Unrighteous persons are great sinners yet they are exhorted to seek the Lord and have a promise that if they seek God they shall live Amos 5.6 7. Seek ye the Lord and ye shall live ye that turn judgment to Wormwood and leave off righteousness in the Earth Obj. 2. But I have such inclinations to drinking and have been so long addicted to this sin and am so enslaved to it that I think it is in vain to pray for help against it for I fear there is no hope that I should ever be made able to leave off this sin A. 1. There is nothing too hard for God Jer. 32.17 He that formed the Heavens and the Earth out of nothing that brought light out of darkness there is nothing too hard for him He can enlighten those that are under the greatest ignorance and blindness he can make those that have carnal and vile hearts to become Heavenly and Spiritual He can make the chief of sinners to become the greatest Saints There is a possibility yea a probability that God may give repentance to such as are the greatest Slaves to Sin and Satan that Satan leads them Captive at his pleasure and doth with them even what he will and oppose the means of their recovery yet such as these may be recovered out of the Devil's snare 2 Tim. 2.25 26. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them Repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil who are taken captive by him at his will 2. We have examples of God's Mercy and Grace in recovering other sinners that have been as much enslaved to their sins as you are and their hearts have been as much glued to their sins as yours are and have continued as long in their evil courses as you have done The Apostle tells us of some that were Servants to their sins and served divers Lusts and Pleasures that were saved by the washing of Regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.3 5. The Israelites were exceedingly given and addicted to the sin of Idolatry Their hearts went after their Idols and were glued to them Ezek. 20.16 Their heart went after their Idols Hos 4.17 Ephraim is joyned to Idols Yet when they
to break off this sin but if there be in his heart an inordinate affection to VVine or strong drink he will not be able to leave off his drunkenness But here some may say How shall we get our inordinate affections to wine and strong drink mortifyed 1 Seek after Union with Jesus Christ It is through Union with Christ that we receive vertue from him for the crucifying of our sinful Lusts and inordinate affections Gal. 5.24 They that are Christ's have crucifyed the Flesh with the affections and Lusts The affections cleave so fast to sin and are carried out so inordinately after the Creatures that nothing less than Grace given to us from Jesus Christ can turn the heart from sin and place the affections on right objects VVe may think our selves free but we shall never be free indeed from the slavery of sin and inordinate affections till Jesus Christ makes us free John 8.36 If the Son shall make you free then shall ye be free indeed 2. Be convinced and perswaded in your judgments of the great evil that is in setting your Affections inordinately on VVine or strong Drink or any other Creature VVhen man was in his state of Innocency his judgments ruled his affections and when God recovers man out of his fallen Estate he works upon and regulates his affections by enlightning and renewing the Mind Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge Knowledge hath a great influence on renewing the Man that is all the Faculties of the Soul Understand therefore and be perswaded in your Judgments and Consciences that there is much evil in setting your affections inordinately on VVine and strong Drink or any other Creatures I will instance in some of those evils 1. Such as love wine or strong drink inordinately make not the Lord their God but make Bacchus their God VVhat a man loves most and best that is his God They that have such a love for wine and strong drink that they value not the transgressing of the Command of God to take their fill of their drink they love their drink more and better than they love God and so make their drink their God 2. Sinful Lusts and inordinate affections tend to the Soul's ruine and destruction They are the banes the poyson of our immortal Souls 1 Pet. 2.11 Abstain from fleshly Lusts which war against the Soul By fleshly lusts understand all the evil desires and inordinate affections of our corrupt natures And shall we cherish and imbrace that which is and will be the destruction of our Souls 3. VVeigh well the evils and mischiefs that arise from the love and following after strong drink and from excessive drinking which are set down Sect. 4. 3. The way to mortifie inordinate affections to Earthly things is to set our affections on things which be above and to get a well-grounded hope of our enjoying the Glory and Pleasures of the VVorld to come Col. 3.2 4 5. Set your affections on things above When Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall ye appear with him in glory Mortifie therefore your Members which are upon the Earth inordinate affection As it is in case of excessive bleeding by opening a Vein the course of the blood is turned and thereby immoderate bleeding at the Nose is stayed So here when our affections run out inordinately to Earthly things the setting our affections on things above will turn the stream of our affections that they will not as formerly run out after the world VVe shall tast such sweetness in Heavenly things by setting our affections on them that we shall not desire the delights and vanities of the world Psal 63.5 6. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness When I remember thee on my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches The Psalmist found such sweetness and delight in God that he had what he could desire he was satisfied and did not desire the delights and pleasures of the world he was abundantly pleased and satisfied in his enjoyment of God § The right use of eating and drinking a means to prevent drunkenness 8. Learn the right use of eating and drinking for that will be a means to prevent the abusing your selves and abusing God's good creatures by surfetting and drunkenness and to this end observe these Rules 1. Eat and Drink to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God Eat and drink as in God's sight seeking his Blessing and giving him praise being carefull that you do not offend or displease him in eating or drinking 2. Eat and drink for strength to fit you for the service of God and your Generation Eccl. 10.17 Blessed art thou O Land when thy Princes eat in due season for strength and not for drunkenness 3. Eat and drink for the preservation of your health not to the prejudice of your health Act. 27.34 I pray you to take some meat for this is for your health 4. There is a Lawful delight in eating and drinking so it be used with moderation Judg. 19.5 Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread Psal 104.15 Wine that maketh glad the heart of man Eccl. 9.7 Go thy way eat thy bread with joy and drink thy wine with a merry heart for God now accepteth thy work Only here be careful that your delight in eating and drinking do not transport you to excess therein either to the dishonour of God or the unfitting your selves for the service of God or the service of your Generation or the prejudice of health for then it is sinful The observing these Rules will prevent your being overcharged with surfitting and drunkenness § Being filled with the Spirit will prevent drunkenness How we may be filled with the Spirit 9. Seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit that will be a special help to keep you from this sin of drunkenness Eph. 5.18 Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit The Apostle gives this direction to prevent drunkenness to be filled with the Spirit VVhereas he might have said thou bidst us not to be drunk with wine but how shall we help it he adds be ye filled with the Spirit Temperance is a fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22.23 The fruit of the Spirit is Love Meekness Temperance Such as are filled with the spirit the spirit will teach and help them to be very temperate in eating and drinking Intemperance and other sins stick so close to us and have gotten such power over us that they cannot be mortified but by the spirit of God Rom. 8.13 If ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live There is no mortifying any sin but by the help of the spirit and with the help of the spirit we may be able to mortifie all sin Gal. 5.16 This I say then walk in the spirit and ye shall not
A WARNING TO DRUNKARDS Delivered in several SERMONS To a Congregation in COLCHESTER Upon The Occasion of a sad Providence towards a Young Man dying in the Act of Drunkenness By that Reverend Faithful and painful Servant and Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Owen Stockton lately deceased LONDON Printed by J. R. for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and 3 Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside 1682. To the Worshipful Ralph Crâ—â—eild Esq and Nathaniel Lawrence Esq Aldermen of Colchester and Justices of the Peace for the County of Essex Gentlemen YOV may believe it is no pleasure to me to complain of the Immorality of a degenerate age and the vast conquests which prevailing vice like a potent Tyrant hath of late years made I say not over the Religion but the very reason of Humane Nature and the Dependencies thereof Which as it is not to be mentioned by good men without lamentation so cannot be dissembled or excused without participation Prophane swearing unclean whoredom and beastly Drunkenness with other too manifest are not only abounding but as the Prophet speaketh mighty sins amongst us strengthned as well by the quality as the number of the guilty It is a prodigious mode of estimation for men to value themselves or be valued by others according to the measure of their intemperate excess Etiam viri fortis accipit nomen qui tamen tanto nequior quanto sub poculo invictior They are the mighty who can drink most wine and the men of strength who can mingle strong Drink as if they envyed that Royal Heathen Name and were ambitious of the Honour of his Inscription upon his Tomb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have been able to drink abundantly and to bear it strongly In the pride of which strength some will have the confidence to glory even while a paralytick trembling no weak evidence of their great atchievements in their Bacchanalia hath disabled their hands to serve their mouth and monstrous swellings have mishaped their Bodies into such unweldie burdens that some are tempted to ask Homines hi an utres verius aestimandi Whither they be not rather Barrels than Bodies of men Fallen Nature even in Heathens have retained some principles of restraint from impudence and excess of vice The Spartanes thought it an effectual preservative of their Children from intemperate drinking to present to their view their drunken Vassals for as drunk as a Beggar hath been the Proverb that beholding their loathsome vomit and ridiculous behaviour they might the more abhorr such gratifying of inordinate appetite which debaseth the honour of a man into the shame of a beast And the very Turks after a fit of Drunkenness will lie day and night crying and praying to Mahomet for intercession But the very Remnants of Conscience and shame seem utterly extinct among some Christians of this generation Surely the days of the Apostles were modest when they that were drunk were drunk in the night but now St. Peter's argument is too weak to refel the accusation for these men may be drunk at the third hour of the day And some do so declare their sin as Sodom and hide it not Drinking and Singing Roaring and Revelling Reeling and Staggering in the open Sun as if they would confute St. Paul and demonstrate Rioting and Drunkenness to be no works of Darkness Yea such credit and power hath Debauchery obtained that it lifts up it self above controul and is impatient to be touched and ready to turn again and rent the wisest reprover And who so is resolved to possess his Vessel in sobriety and Honour doth tantum non forfit his reputation and is in danger to be written among the suspected by those whose God is Bacchus whose Temple the Tavern whose Altar the Table whose Priest the Vintner whose Offering Wine and strong Drink and whose Heaven is sensual Who have arrived to that degree of Atheism as to fortifie their Lusts against their Conscience with the vainest flattery and self deluding conceit that their great pretences of loyalty and zeal for King and Church shall sanctifie the grossest violations of the Laws of Morality both sacred and civil Nay vice will scarce acknowledge it self to violate but even claims a right and calls it self by the name of Vertue According to the Moralist's Character of the worst times Habebitur ebrietati honor et plurimum meri cepisse victus erit saith Seneca Offering excess of Wine is become an Instance of Noble and Generous Entertainment and a part of answerable civility to accept it Guests are scarce made welcome if not made Drunk Such an obliging bond is courting courtesie and complement such force in great examples such arguments applyed of Honour and Loyalty Such colour motion and sparkling in the glass to provoke that he must be a Nazarite or a Rechabite that hath the courage to withstand the power of so great temptation He that will be sober is uncivil and it is an high affront deserving no less than a stab to boggle at life and Soul-destroying Healths or to refuse to be drowned for Company Thus doth the pride of debauchery magnifie it self Hectoring virtue out of its due honour and arrogating an unjust Glory to its own shame What the issue of this great evil will be is the fear of the Good viz. least for the Vomit and filth whereof all Tables are full the Land also in just retribution spue out her Inhabitants That so many Judgments by which Heaven hath contended with a sinful Nation should not only prove it incorrigible but leave it declining into worse is no weak indication of a desperate disease He that hath denovnced Wo to the Drunkards is faithful to keep and Almighty to execute his word Whereof he hath in his righteous providence made many sad and woful Instances As in too many other places so particularly in your Colchester He hath not left himself without witness by a very quick and remarkable judgment upon a young Drunkard twice dead dying dead drunk The Report whereof at least came not short of your special notice May I have leave to speak it God sometimes blest your Town with the happy Ministry of his laborious and faithful Servant Mr. Owen Stockton whose due Character is elsewhere read whose Head Heart Tongue and Pen constantly travelled for the Salvation of precious yet perishing Souls At this warning and amazing stroke as formerly at the destroying Pestilence among you which exercised the labour of his Pen to a considerable Vo ume which yet never saw the light His Spirit like St. Paul's was stirred in him to improve the advantage of so severe a Providence by joyning to it the Word of God committed to his trust hoping that the Sword of the Spirit being therewith sharpned might be the more effectual and mighty through God against this fleshly Lust which warreth against the Soul and hath made more havock of the Sons of men than ever Saul did of the Saints of God In which honourable and
pious ingagement with this deadly sin He convicts it as the common Enemy of the Bodies and Souls of men declareth open war against it defieth and casteth dirt upon the face of its glory armeth and incourageth the assailing host of Christians to oppose it dischargeth against it the thundering Canon laden with the vengeance of Almighty justice pursueth it to its higher Mountains raiseth batteries against its strongest holds discovereth and defeateth all its subtil stratagems and confuteth all its pretences Having performed his work according to his great ability and delivered his zealous Soul to a particular Congregation viva voce he designed with some enlargement for general use to commit it to the Press But before he had put to it ultimam manum God put to his Life ultimam lineam Which Providence I am not prone to interpret as a voice from Heaven saying to him let the Drunkard alone thou shalt be dumb and shalt not be a reproover He that is filthy let him be filthy still but will rather hope God so ordered that it should be his dying Pen that it might be the more affecting Such as he left it worthy of the Press beyond my commendation is here Published and humbly presented Gentlemen to your hands I am aware how much I presume thus to approach you for which I am concerned to make my Apology I am not ignorant what Honourable Respects the Reverend Author deservedly had for your Worships and what reciprocal Respects obliged him thereunto which I am bound to believe he would gladly have expressed and acknowledged by some more publick Testimony Be pleased then to understand and accept this as a posthumous offering which a lesser hand though not with less Respects humbly maketh to you as in his Name The Relation affection and compassion which he had towards Colchester and the Souls therein alwayes excited the vehemency of his desires sharpened the edge of his just actions directed the aim of his endeavours and intended the fervour of his Prayers on its behalf that some happy fruit of the travail of his Soul and particularly of this might there be found In complyance wherewith considering the Character you bear in your Town I have presumed to prefix your worthy Names to this small Volume which being an Orphan doth more earnestly crave your Patronage and is ambitious of the favour and influence of your recommendation to the concerned Reader The dreadful providence towards the young man who was made an open spectacle of God's Righteous Judgment the occasion of the following sheets speaking more especially to Colchester because in it did naturally prompt me to betake my self to the advantage of some more eminent names among you through which to revive the memory of so loud a warning if happily some at least who have been long instances of Patience might with the greater intention legere exemplum justitiae ne fiant I must not forbear to add that by Royal favour and trust you fill honourable seats of Authority extended to a large Province in the Civil Government Now such is the pride and frowardness the obstinacy and contradiction of the sin complained of so strengthned by corruption within and temptation without that the best instructed Ministry cannot prevail against it but is forced to confess the weakness of its most powerful arguments and passionate perswasions and therefore cryeth to you as the woman in Holy Writ in another case help O Magistrate ye also are the Ministers of God into whose hands God hath put the Sword of Justice not to be born in vain Your own great examples of Sobriety shall strengthen your hands in exerting your just Authority to restrain the intemperance of licentious appetites Wherein you are beyond doubt assured there is no colour of disloyalty to Prince no Non-conformity to Church no violation of Oaths no breach of Trust none to be offended but the guilty who ought not to be pleased God and the King Law Sacred and Civil Conscience and Honour call upon you and warrant you to apply your politick remedies to this Insatiable Dropsie which if Vniversally practised by the State-Physitians would no doubt as effectually cure as the policy of the antient Gaules maintained the moderation of their dayes who were wont to fine those who through intemperance out grew their girdles But here I reform my Pen least I seem to teach you your Office while I only implore your aid and aggravate my presumption while I labour to excuse it As the publication of what the Reverend Author hath so industriously and with the Evidence and Authority of Holy Scripture as well as strength of argument so convincingly written is a Testimony of my full consent with him in representing this unmanly and ungodly excess as matter of just indignation and abhorrence to the reason and ingenuity of men and Religion of Christians So this Dedication and Presenting thereof to your hands desires to be understood as a Testimony of that true Honour and Reverence for your Persons Virtues and Offices the Dignity whereof can never be lessened by disgracing an inglorious vice which he justly hath who is Gentlemen Your Worship 's most humble Servant John Fairfax Barking Feb. 25. 1681. Isa 28.1 Wo to the Crown of Pride to the Drunkards of Ephraim SECT 1 THE occasion of my handling this Text is a sad and dreadfull Providence which lately befell a young man who for some years was very hopefull for Religion a diligent attender upon God's Ordinances and well esteemed of among the people of God but afterwards being led away with temptation he was sometime overtaken with the sin of drunkenness and it seemed good to the Holy and Righteous God to cut him off in the act of sin when he was as is generally reported so far overcome with strong drink that he was not able to go but was led and laid upon a bed and dyed in few hours without coming to himself again When a Malefactour is punished by men all that hear thereof should fear to commit the like sins Deut. 13.11 And all Israel shall hear and fear and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you This is spoken of stoneing to death a person that should entice another to go and serve other Gods God expected that the hearing of such a mans death should make all Israel fear and do no more any such wickedness When a sinner is cut off by the immediate hand of God his death is as much or more to be regarded than when he dyeth by the hands of men and therefore I may say of this judgment that befell this young man Oh that all Colchester would hear and oh that all England might hear and fear and do no more any such wickedness as this is to drink Wine or strong drink till they be drunk I do the rather take this occasion to preach against this sin of drunkenness because this young man on whom God sent this judgment was one that used to