The Christian Governor in the Commonwealth and Private Families, Exposition 1 · Part 24
All the wicked of the Land, that I may, &c.
VVEE hauehave heard of the punishment; now the Prophet speaketh of the persons whom hee vvill punish; namely, all the wicked, without exception, whom by way of exposition, hee calleth workers of iniquitie. And these hee promiseth to cut off by death, and all of these, without respect of kindred or persons, to execute impartially and indifferently, if their sinne so require.
From whence vvee learne, that no sinne ought to bee spared, or sinner fauoured by partiall Iustice. But this point was spoken of before: and the reasons (further) to enforce it, are:
First, God is no accepter of persons, Acts 10.34. and Christian Rulers are forbidden to accept the persons of men.
Secondly, God can see no euill, that is, cannot abide to see it, Habac. 1.13. therefore religious Magistrates (who in the Scripture are called Gods) should not suffer it.
Vse.
Vse.Now, may no sinne bee spared, not offender boren with? then Drunkenner may not, nor Drunkards: neither idlenesse, nor persons that liue idlely and in no honest Trade: or, are these no sins: and they who are guiltie of them no offendors? I name these two, aboue others; because they swar…n… so in Towne and Countrie, and because they doe so much hurt, and because the Magistrates eye i… so seldome vponupon them to punish them. By Drunkennesse and by Drunkards I meane that drinking in excesse, which the Scripture calleth a …itting at the Wine, or a following of strong drinke, Esa. 5.11.22. till Wit goe out, and Grace flie out: or an insatiable desire, in Captaine-drinkers, to change vessell after vessell, Host. 1.7. whose trauels abroad are to Tauernes and Tippling-houses; and exercises at home (if they be men of wealth) are to drinke healths, and to shew their manhood, or rather worse then beast-hood, in subduing their fellowes with the force of the Flagon, and in offering the sacrifice of filthy excesse to Bacchus in their cellars. But so many healths, this way or after this manner, so many damnations without repentance.
These are vngodly challenges, and it is no shame, but prayse to a Christian to refuse them: for if another will drinke sicknes vntounto me, should not I tender mine owne health? and besides, with what comfort can he looke vponupon Iesus Christ, who daily, or at any time, hurts soule and body with the abuse of that creature, that (otherwaies) would be comfortable to many of his thirstie members, who lacke that, which makes him to sp… and cast like a beast? This is Drunkennesse; and they are Drunkards who are mightie to drink… wine, and strong to …owre in strong drinke, though their heads can carry it, and legges carry them. I know the Scripture, and I doubt not but the Statute prouided against Drunkennes, calleth such Drunkards. By Idlenes, the second sinne, I meane such a sin as is contrary to an honest vocation; & by Idle persons such sinners as follow no trade, but the wicked trade of Gaming and Drunkennes, or the Beggers wandering trade. Such persons are Idle persons, and not the members, but the diseases of the Common-wealth. Also, the houses which harbour such are no better then Bawdes to all manner vice and lewdnes. Such houses of vnnecessarie resort, being without number, & in no order, should be shut vp by the Magistrates key, specially such as are kept at Townes ends, or in corners & blinde Lanes, for greater conueniencie of receiuing late, & conuaying away earely persons of most infamous life. God blesseth a mans lawfull trade, & Man in it: but this blessing they cannot hope for who liue in no calling, or (sinfully) in a wicked calling. Moses, keeping sheepe, saw the Lord, Exod. 3.1.2.3.5. This excellent Man of God (whose Psalme this is) was taken from the Sheep-folds to be King Psal. 78.70.71. Lidia, in her honest trade hath the benefit of her conuersion, Act. 16.14. And in Q. Maries time, there was (almost) no trade Mechanicall so base, but some were called out of it, to suffer for Christ. But how many Roysters, Tiplers, Gamelters, good-fellowes e,mbraced the Stake & hot flames of fire in those raging dayes? And for Carding houses, Dicing-houses, Tipling-houses, Brothell-houses, what Chappels are these to serue God in? and of what trade are they who keepe them, that they may say, they liue in a trade with comfort to be saued? Also, these houses, and such trades of life, what doe they but multiply Rogues and Theeues, who though they hauehave nothing to liue vponupon in a lawfull course, yet goe gay, and haunt Alehouses day after day? This cannot be borne out but by some bad dealing. Therefore you who hauehave your Princes Sword and Oath put into your hands for such matters; as you tender the glorie of GOD, the welfare of your Countrey, your Soueraignes glory, and the saluation of your owne soules, be zealous against both Drunkennesse and Idlenesse, and let not those houses stand open, that are open I…nes to one or both. And what I hauehave sayde of these, I would hauehave to be sayd of all other works, and workers of iniquitie. And so I come to that which the Prophet meaneth by the wicked of the Land.