Healths Sickness, Dedication 2
To the Christian Reader,
CHristian Reader, among all the grosse and crying sinnes which hauehave of late defiled and ouerspread our Nation and the world it selfe, there are few more common, few more dangerous, hurtfull, and pernicious, then the vnnaturall, vnthrifty, odious, and swinish sinne of Drunkennesse. A sinne, which if we will beleeue theaAug. Serm. 32 a… Fratres in Fremo. De Temp se…. 231. 23… Basil de letun. & ae Eb…tate, et Luxu serme Clem Alex. Paedag. l. 2, c. 2, 3, 4. Ambr. ae Elia. & leiun. c. 10, to 19 Chrysoft. Hō. 54, 57, 71. & ad Pop. Antioch. Hom. 27, in 1 Cor. Hier. Com l. 15. in Eze. 42. Chrysolog serm. 26. Bern. de Mode Viuēdi, Ser. 26 See Puteani Comus. Opsopaeus de Arte Bib. l. 2. Friseclinus in Ebriet. Mr. Harris his Diunkards Cup. Master Wards Wooe to Diunkards. The Homily against Drunkennesse. And Mr. Iohn Downhams Disswation from Drunkennesse. Fathers, (naybPlat… Symposium. Legum Dial. 1. Plinie Nat. Hist. l. 14, c. 22. Zenophon de Instit. Cyri. l. 8. Memorabilium lib. 7. Seneca Epist. 24… 83. Plutarch. de Sanitate tuenda. De Adulat: & Amicit…a. Horace Ipist. lib. 1. Epist. 5. Tacitus de Moribus German. cap. 7. S…obaeus sermo 18. Ouid. de Arte Amandi, lib. 1 Infidels and Pagans whom Christians should excell) Is but a flattering deuill; a sweet poyson; a voluntarie madnesse; an inuited enemie; a deprauer of honestie; a wronger of modestie; the mother of all sinne and mischiefe; the sister of all ryot; the father of all pride; the author of murthers, quarrels and debates: the nurse of furie: the mistresse of petulancie: the inflamation of the stomacke: the blindnesse of the eyes, the corruption of the breath, the debility of all the members; the accelleration of death: and poyson of the soule. A sinne which crackes mens credites, exhausts their purses, consumes their estates, infatuates their sences, besots their vnderstandings, impaires their healthes, distempers their constitutions, subuerts their bodies, eates out their liues, ruines their families, grieues their friends, brings wrath and iudgements on their Countries, decayes their parts and morrall vertues, disables them for all imployments, indisposeth them to grace and godlinesse, and all the meanes and workes of grace, and without Gods infinite mercy, and their sound repentance,cProu. 23, 32 Nahum. 1, 10. 1 Cor. 6. 10. Gal. 5, 21. Mat 24. 49, 50, 51. damnes their soules. Strange it is, that this most vnnaturall, vnprofitable, vnpleasant, vnseemely, vnreasonable, brutish, base, and shamefull sinne of all others, which makes men odious and ridiculous vntounto themselues, and all that see them: which transformes men into beastes and swine, or carkases of men: which fights against thedLuke 21, 34 Ephes. 5, 18. 1 Pet. 4, 3. Lawes of God, of grace, of nature, sense and reason; whichePro. 23, 29, 30. Isay 5, 11, 22. Hab. 2. 15, 16. 1 Pet. 2, 11. Isay 28, 1, 3. wars against the peace and safety of mens soules; whichf1 Cor. 6, 10. Gal. 5. 21. excludes and shuts out men from heauen, and fromg1 Cor. 5, 11. Pro. 23, 20, 21 the societie and company of Gods Saints, and hSee Master Stubs Anatomy of Abuses, p. 77, 78. Mr. Wards Woe to Drunkards. Mr. Thomas Beard his Theater of Gods Iudgements. l. 2. c. 3.oft-times drawes downe many heauy, fatall, sad and dreadfull indgements on mens heads, (sufficient to amaze, to split, and daunt the hardest and the strongest hearts, and to awake the drowsiest, and most stupified, and cauterized conscienses of all such, who are infatuated, and benummed with this hellish dropsie:) should so farre insinuate it selfe into the affections, practise, and liues of men (especially in these radiant, blessed, and resplendent dayes of grace, iTit. 2, 12, 13. Rom. 13, 12, 13which teach vsus to denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts, and to liue, soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for the glorious and blessed appearance and comming of the great God, and our blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ) as to inthrall and captiuate whole Nations to its base and slauish bondage, who professe themselues not onelyonly to be men and reasonable creatures; but likewise temperate, sober, graue, deuout, religigious, and holy Christians. I confesse it seemes a mystery and wonder vntounto me, that naturall and reasonable men (much more that such as beare the name and face of Christians) should so farre degenerate from the very principles of nature, and the rules of common reason, as to be intoxicated, inamored, bewitched, and insnared with such an kEbriet atem qui habet, se non habet: hāc qui habet, home non est: hane qui habet, non p…ecatum facit, sed ipse est peccatum. Chry sologus Serm 26inhumane, absurde, and Swinish sinne as this, which hath no good, no honour, profit, pleasure, beauty, nor aduantage in it, to winne, allure, or ingage men to it: yea, so sarre to be affected and delighted with it; as to reioyce and glory in it; to magnifie, honour, and applaud, all those who are deuoted and inthralled to it; andlEst in contēptu frugalis vita: libid… potands eunctos prodigiosa tenet. Nemo bonus nunc est, nec strenu…s esse videtur Plurima ni poterit perdere vina bibax. Nullus eris si sint ignauae ad pocula vires, Plurima ni sieces pocula, nullus eris. Obsopaeus De Arte Bibendi, l. 2. to vilifie, contemne, reproach, and vnderualue such, who hate and loath it in their Iudgements, or abandon and renounce it in their practise. Certainely, if I did not knowe the truth and probate of it, by ocular and experimentall demonstrations from day to day; I could hardly bring my vnderstanding to beleeue; that men, that Christians should so farre affect, admire, or odore, so foule, so filthy, so base, so vnamiable, so vnfruitfull, vnprofitable and vnpleasant a sinne; so vnnaturall and brutish a vice, as this Drunkennes in most mens iudgement and experience is. The reasons (as I conceiue) why men are now so much infatuated with this so odious, execrable, and vnpleasant sinne, are briefly these.
The first, is that very inbred corruption, and prauitie of humane nature: whichmRom. 8, 7, 8. being a lawlesse and vnruely euill, that nether is, nor can be subiect to the law of God, till it be mortified and subdued by the power of grace; doth beare downe all the bounds and rules of nature, reason, religion, temperance, and fobriety, andnIsay. 15. 11, 12, 22, 1 Pet. 4, 3, 4. Ad deteriora faciles sumus: nō pronum tantum iterest ad vitia, sed etiam praecep…: Seneca. Epist. 97. carry men headlong vntounto Drunkennesse, riot, excesse of wine, and all vnreasonable, vnnaturall and beastly finnes and lusts, euen with a full carere.
The second, is theoEphes. 2. 2, 3 power of the Prince of the ayre, the spirit who now worketh in the children of disobedience, intending the lusts, & desires of their flesh & mind; and carrying them captiue vntounto finne. Who hath lately gotten such high praedominancie in the soules of vitious and carnall men, and added such impudencie and vnbridelednesse vntounto their sinnes and lusts: that they doe not onelyonlypPhil. 3. 19. glory in their drunkennesse and grosse intemperance,qEsay 3. 9. proclayming it oft times vntounto the world with Cornets, Drummes, and Trumpets (the common ornaments, melodie, solace, or incrediaries of their licentious, *Hoe non est gaudere, sed insanire bibones, Obsepaeus, de Arte Bib. l. 2mad, deboist, bacchanalian, prophane and heathenish Healthes, and ebrious pot-battels) but euen purposely bend and set themselues against the God of heauen: trampling his word, his lawes, and all his precepts vnderunder foote: violating the very lawes of nature, and rules of reason: breaking all the cords and ligaments of nature, modesty, temperance, and sobriety, as if they had no Lord, no God, nor Ruler ouer them: felling themselues wholly vntounto all excesse, and wallowing like so many base and filthie swine, in the mire and puddle of drunkennesse, and vomite; as if they were borne for no other purpose, but with that infamous, and drink-deuouring rBonosus non vt viuat natus est, sed vt bibat. Lypsius Centur. Miscell. Epist. 51. Theatrum vitae humanae.Bonosus for to swill and drinke.
The third reason of the encrease and growth of drunkennesse, are those many specious, beautifull, popular, amiable, and bewitching names and titles where with this vgly, odious and filthy sinne, together with the Practisers, Patrons and Abettors of it, are beautified, guilded, and adorned; and those common termes and mottoes of ignominie, scorne, and reproach, which Satan and his ebrious crue, hauehave cast vponupon the graces of temperance and sobrietie, and on the persons of all such temperate, holy, and abstemious Christians, who doe in truth pursue them in their liues & practise. As allsQuicquid vitium erat, virtutis nomen induit. Puteani Comus. Probitatis inertia nomen, Iustitiae formido subit. Claud. in Eutrop. l. 2. Nequitiae classes candida velae ferunt. Petronius pag. 154. Vitia pro virtutibus hodie habentur. Diō. Cass. Roman. Hist. l. 58. Non solum vitiosa, sed & vitia laudantur. Seneca Epist. 114. other sins and vices: so Drunkennes is now shrowded tDucitur ebrietas nunc virtus maxima: nemo. Carpentē bane sicco rebitur ore loqus: Quaeritur hac celebris nunc cunctis gloria: cunctis, Quaeritur hac nomen, gratia, fama, fauor, Obsopaeus de Arte bibendi. lib. 2.(nay countenanced, defended, iustified and applauded,) vnderunder the popular and louely titles of hospitality, good-fellowship, courtesie, entertainement, iouiality, mirth, generosity, liberality, open house keeping, the liberall use of Gods good creatures, friendship, louelove, kindnesse, good neighbour hood, company-keeping, and the like: and Drunkards are likewise magnified, and extolled, vnderunder the amiable, reuerenced, and applauded termes of good-fellowes, wits; Poets; courteous… sociable uHaec tamen illi omniae cum faciant hilares nitidique vocantur. Iuuenal. Satyr. 11.merrie, …ouiall, and boone-companions: generous, liberall, free-hearted, valiant, and heroick Sparkes and Spirits: sociable, pleasant, and good-natured Gentlemen: open, liberall and free house-keepers; merry xHence came the phrase pergracari; or Graco modo bibere: Caelius Rhod. Antiq. Lect. l. 28. c. 6. Alex. ab. Alex. l. 5. c. 21 Francis Irenicus: Germaniae Exegeseos Tom. 1. l. 2. c. 1 ….Greekes, and such like stiles and titles: which set such a laudible, specious, beautifull, amiable, and comly glosse and varnish on Drunkennesse and Drunkards, which are full od…ous, loathsome, and deformed in themselues: that they doe eueny…allit enim vitium specis virtutis & vmbra. Iu…en. Satyr. 1. vitta non decipiunt, nisi sub spec…e vmbraque virtutum. Hier. Tom. 1. Epist. 7. c. 4. secretly & zQuoedam vitia species virtutum praeferunt, ideoque pernitiosius su…s sectatores decipiunt, quia se sub velamine virtutum tegunt. Isidor. Hispal. de Sum. Bono. l. 2, c. 35. Nullum vitium est tetrius aut pestilentius, eo quod in virtutis specie latet. Osorius de Gloria. l. 1. Sect. 7.dangerously insinuate, incorporate, and instill this beastly and pernicious vice, into the affections liues and practise, of carnall, gracelesse, and vngodly men, whiles they present it to them, as an honest, laudable, and necessarie vertue, without which there can be no louelove, no fellowship, no true society, nor hospitality, mirth, nor entertainment in the world: whereas they could not but abhorre it, together with all those whose liues are tainted and defiled with it, did they but suruay or view it in its proper colours. Now as Drunkennes, excesse, and Drunkards, are thus magnified, countenanced, & applauded vnderunder these popular, goodly, flattering, and insinuating titles; so Temperance and Sobriety are deformed, vilified, derided, sentenced, condemned, and scoffed at, vnderunder the approbrious and disdainfull names, of puritanisme, precisenesse, stoicisme, singularity, vnsociablenesse, clownishnesse, rudenesse, basenesse, melancholly, discourtesie, pride, surlinesse, disdaine, coynesse, and what not;aDat veniam cornis, vexat censora columbas. Iuuenal. Sat. 2. and temperate, sober, gracious, abstemious, and religious Christians, who make a conscience of excesse vnderunder the ignominious and reproachfull stiles, of aInsani sapi ent, nomen fert equus iniqui, Vltrae quam satis est virtutem si petat ipsam Horrace Epist. l. 1. Epist. 6.Puritanes, Praecisians, Stoicks; vnsociable, clownish, rustick, peruerse, peeuish, humorous, singular, discourteous niggardly, pragmaticall, proud, unmannerly, degenerous, base, scrupulous, melancholly, sad or discontented persons. He that is nowbAnnon hoc ita fit in omni populo? nonne omnem exuperantiam virtutis oderunt? quid? Aristides nonne ob eam ipsam causam pulsus est paetria, quod praeter modum iustus effet? Cicero Tusc. quaest. lib. 5. more holy, temperate, gracious, and sober in his life and carriage then the ordinarie sort of men. hee that is reclaimed from his ebrious and drunken company and courses, and will not drinke, rore, carowse, health, play the good-fellow, c1 Pet. 4. 3. 4.or runne into the same excesse of Drunkennesse and intemperance that others doe, and as himselfe did heretofore, out of conscience, louelove, obedience, and true deuotion towards God: is forthwith hated, taxed, and branded for a Puritan, an Hypocrite, a Praecisian, and I know not what besides: euen by such who deemed him an honest man, a sociable, boone, and good companion heretofore, when as he would swill and drinke, and health, as well as others: (as if his temperance and sobriety did depraue, disparage, vilifie & disgrace him:) an infallible argument, that Puritans and Praecisians (as the world now takes them) are the most religious, holy, temperate, sober, and obstemious men of all others; because they are generally hated, stiled, and reputed Puritans and Praeisians for this very cause; that they are quite reclaimed and estranged from Drunkennesse, healthing, good-fellowship, and excesse of wine: & become more temperate, sober, holy, and religious in their liues then other men, whose ebrious, riotous and luxurious courses they vtterly abandon and dislike,dSunt aliqui intempestiuè boni. qui corruptis moribus publicis conuicium benê viuendo faciunt. Erg… tanquam scelerum & malitiae suae testes extirpaere funditus nituntur, & …ollere: grauesque sibi putant sanquam vita eorum coarguatur. Idcirco auferantur, quibus coram viuere pudet, qui peccaxtium frontem et si non verbis, quia tacent, tanien ips… vita genere dissimili feriunt & verberant: Castigare enim videtur. quicunque dissentit. Lactantius de Iustitia, lib. 5. c. 9. yea censure and condemne, by their practicall and holy liues. This magnifying, then of Drunkennesse and Drunkards vnderunder these popular, glorious, louely, and applauded titles, which sound full sweete and pleasant in the eares of most: and this depressing and vilifying of Temperance, sobriety, and abstemious Christians, vnderunder such ignominious, scornefull, odious, base, and vndervaluing termes, (which make an harsh, an vncouth, preiudicate, and vnpleasant noyse, among the carnall, vulgar, and looser sort of men;) is one of the maine and chiefest causes why Drunkennes doth now so much diffuse and spread it selfe.
The fourth cause of the increase and growth of Drunkennesse, is the negligence and coldenesse of Iustices, Magistrates, and inferiour Officers, in the due and faithfull execution of those laudable and pious Lawes ande1 Iacob. c. 9. 4 Iacob. c. 5. 7 Iacob. c. 10. 21 Iacob. c. 7. Statutes, enacted by our King, and State against this odious, swinish, vnthrifty, and State-desturbing sinne: which if they were as duly executed, as they are generally neglected, (and sofLex noua vsu non recepta viribus caret, & desuitudine tollitur. Gaillius Pract. Obser. lib. 2. Obser. 110. abrogated, frustrated, and euacuated for want of execution) this noxious dropsie and disease of Drunkennesse would soone be cured, and dryed vp. If Iustices and Magistrates, were as diligent to suppresse and pull downe Drunkennesse and Alehouses, as they are industrious and forwards to Patronize and set them vp,gSee 4 Iacob. c. 5. 1 Iacob. c. 9. to the great disturbance, hurt and preiudice of our Christian Common-wealth; the wings of Drunkennesse would soone bee clipt, whereas now theyhLeges optitima si negliguntur, diss… lutionem pariunt. Cafe. Pol. l. 5. c. 7. spread and grow from day to day, because the sword of execution clipse them not.
The fift cause, why this gangrene or leprosie of Drunkennesse doth so dilate, inlarge, and propalate it selfe, is either the ill example of some great men, Gentlemen, Clergie men, and others, who insteed of being patternes of temperance and sobriety vntounto inferiour and meaner persons, are oft times made their presidents & plot-formes of Drunkennes and excesse;iQuantum pracellunt c… teris magnitud…ne, tantis praestant impuritate. Salu. de Gub. Dei. l. 7. p. 277. transcending them in ebrious, riotous, deboist, intemperate, and licentious courses, as farre as they exceede them in their place and dignity. When Gentlemen,kVelocius & citius was corrumpunt vitiorum domestica exempla, … subeāt animos magnis a…teribus. Iuuen. Satyr. 14. great men, Magistrates and Ministers, who should bee guides and curbes to others, shall take delight and pleasure in Drunkennesse and excesse: either approuing them by their owne personall practise; or else by tollerating, and allowing them in their owne irregular and misgouerned Families, (which are oft times made the very Theaters of Bacchus, and the very seminaries, sinkes, and puddles of Drunkennesse, vomit, ryot, and intemperance; vnderunder pretence of hospitality and free house-keeping:) lNon amplius mirabor c… ̄ … peceant qui genere ignobiles sunt, quand… bi qui summ… l… lo nati sunt, peccant. So phocles Aiax Flag. NG. 1165.no meruaile if Inferiours (who commonly adore Superiours chiefe and greatest mCum surpia placent iis qui habentur boni, ceric valde honesta videntur esse malis. Euripid. Hyppolitus Cor. Sect. 410.vices, as so many glorious and resplendant vertues:) doe euen plunge themselues, into the very dregges and boggs of surfetting, Drunkennesse, and grosse intemperance, with greedinesse and delight, being animated, and fleshed by those great examples, AsnNemo sibi tantum errat, sed aliis …rroris causa & auctor est. Nem… ita cadit vt nē alium in so attrahat. Seneca de Vita Beata cap. 1. all men, so Magistrates, Ministers, Gentlemen, and great men, especially, doe seldome erre alone; If these would but reforme themselues, and rectifie their vnruly and disordered Families, (which is oDemum s… am coercer… plerisque ha…d minus … est, quam preuinciam … … re. Tac…us Agricolus vita. cap. 7.as difficult a taske to many, as to rule a Prouince.) This sinne of Drunkennesse would soone growe drie and out of vse; where as now their ill examples feede and nourish it.
The last, though not the least occasion, why Drunkennesse doth so much encrease and superabound among vsus; are those common Ceremonies, wiles, and Stratagems, which the deuill and his drunken rowt hauehave plotted and inuented, of purpose to allure, force, and draw men on to Drunkennesse, ryot, and excesse of wine. Not to diue into the depthes and misteries of the black, the heat henish, execrable, and InfernallpSee Obsepaeus, de Arte Bibend. Art of drinking, in which IqMelius est aliquid neseire secure, quam cum periculo discere. Hier. Tom. 1. Epist. 22. c. 13. was nouer learned nor experienced: nor yet to mentionrSee Master Iohn Downam his Disswasiō from drunkennesse: and Mr. Harris his. Drunkenis Cup the Table of Drunkennesse, & …us potandi. the drinking by the Die, by the dozen, by the yard, or such like hellish and vnchristian pollicies and aloctiues, which Drunkards vse, to force, to draw, or lead men on to Drunkennes and excesse; in which eueryevery Alewife and Mault sucker are farre more learned and skilfull then my selfe: I dare auouch it for an approued truth: that there is no such common bayte or stratagem, to winne, to force, intice, and lead men on to Drunkennes and intemperance, as this idle, foolish, heathenish, prophane, and hellish Ceremonie, of beginning, seconding, and pledging Healthes; which is nothing else in truth and verity but a Bawde and Pander vntounto Drunkennes, and a praeludium, in-let, way, and passage vntounto all excesse. If Health drinking (which is the very mother and nurse of Drunkennes) were but once suppressed and banished the world, as an abominable, heathenish, vnchristian, and vnlawfull Rite,sSee Argument 14. which had its birth and pedigree from hell it selfe: the sinne of temulencie and Drunkennesse would quickly vanish and growe out of vse: And this hath caused me to propalate this short and rude discourse against these Healthes, vntounto the publique view, that so I might at least asswage, if not expell the dangerous dropsie and disease of Drunkennesse, tHosea 4. 3.which makes our Land, if not the world it selfe, to mourne and languish; in drying vp these noxious humours and vnhealthy Healthes, which feed and nourish it. A Treatise (I suppose) which though it may seeme harsh and vncouth at the first, to many habituated, infatuated, incorrigible, or cauterized Drunkards, resolued for to liue and die in this their sinne, though they fri… in hell for euer after; or to praeiudicate, uI shall say to these. L… gant prius. & postea despiciant: ne videantur, ne… …u iudicic, sed au odi… prasumptione ignorata dānare. Hier. aduer. Ruffin… l. 2. c. 9. Tom. 2. pag. 251.forest alled, and prepossessed affections, (who would rather maliciously fore iudge, and rashly censure this Discourse and me before they reade it, then take the paines for to peruse it; because they presume, that none but factious, nouellizing, precise, or ouerzealous Puritans condemne these Healthes, and that not out of iudgement, but of pe…uish frowardnes.) Yet questionlesse it will be acceptable and pleasing vntounto many: not only for thexNaturale …st potius non… quam magna mirari. It … enim comp…siti sumus, vt nes quotidiana si admiratione digna sunt, tr… seant; contra minimarum que que rerum s… ins…lita prodi…runt, spectaculum dulce fiat. Sen. Nat. Quaest. l. 7. c. 1. Aertor est cupiditas ignota cognoscendi, quam nota repetendie ad neua omnes concurrant, ad neua tēuentunt. Sen. cōtrouers. l. 4. Proaem. Nouitas auditoribus lenocinatur. Plin. Epist. l. 2. Epist. 19. Noua, & non in promptu posita, admirationem suiexcitant auditerem que allicinnt. Plutarch de Homero. Est qu… que cunctarum nouitas gratissimarerum. Ouid…de Ponto, lib. 3. Elig 4. no…alty & strangenesse of it, which addes delight and acceptation to it: as treating of a Theame or Subiect, wherein few hauehave lately, purposely, or largely trauelled, especially in our English tongue: but likewise in regard of the benefit and vsefulnesse of it: as being very seasonable, sutable, and needfull for these intemperate, dissolute, and bacchanalian times of ours: where in Healthes and Drunkennesse doe so much abound (especially in those festiuall and blessed times of ioy and thankfulnesse, wherein our temperance, sobriety and holinesse should most excell:) that wee may iustly feare, they will drowne vsus in some great and generall deluge of Gods iudgements ere it be long, and cause the Lord to curse and crosse vsus in all our enterprises and designes (as he hath done for sundry yeares, thoughyIsay 42. 24. 25. Prou. 23. 34. 35. we consider and lay it not to heart, in that penitent and soule-affecting manner as wee ought) vnlesse we speedily repent vsus of them: For alas, how can we possibly expect or hope, that God should auocate or withdraw his iudgements from vsus: that he should blesse and prosper vsus in any kind; that he should pleade our cause, or fight our battels for vsus: that he should guide, direct, or blesse our King, our Queene, our Counsellours, our Nobles, or our Rulers, zReges quand… boni sunt muneris est Dei quando vero mali, seeleris est populi: Secundum meritum plebeiū, disponitur vit… rect…rurn. Irascent… enim Deo, talem rectorem populi suseipiunt. qualem pro peecat… merē tur. Nannunquam etiam pro malitia populi reges mutantur… & qui ante videbantur esse beni, accepto regno fiunt iniqui. Isiodor. Hispal. de Sum. Bono l. 3. c. 48. Concil. Parisiense sub Ludouico & Lothorio: 829. lib. 2. cap. 1.(whom God doth oft times curse and alter for the peoples sinnes:) that he should speed our Generalls, our Captaines, our Nauies, or our Armies, aNon ignauissiumorem hostium fortitudine obruimur, sed s…lum vitiorum nostrorum impuritate superamur. Nemo sibi aliud persuadeat, nem… aliud arbitretur: solum nos m…rum nostrorum vitiae vicerunt. Salu. de Gub. Dei. l. 7. p. 238. 278.which the Troopes and Armies of our sinnes, and not the force and prowesse of our enemies, hauehave vanquished and put to flight:) when as our Healthes are farre more dense and frequent, then our Prayers for them? when as wee ouerwhelme and drowne our soules and spirits, and quitebHabet h… temulentia, vt & molliat & resoluat corda temulent…rum Ambr. de Elia & Ieiun c. 12. Basil. de Ebrictate & Luxu. Serm. Obsopoeus De Arte Bibendi, l. 2. ener…ate, weaken, and dissolue our bodies (which are, or should be c1 Cor. 3. 16. & 6. 15. 19.Temples for the holy Ghost to dwell in) with Drunkennesse, ryot, and excesse of Wine; and cause the Lord of Hoasts himselfe to be our enemy,dIsay 8. 7. to 15. (whose force and power no creatures can resist) by our intemperate, ebrious, and luxurious sinnes? When as we put away farre from vsus the euill day, and cause the seate of violence to come neere: stretching our selues vponupon our couches and beds of Iuorie: eating the Lambes out of the stockes, and the Calues out of the stall: chaunting to the sound of the Viole, and inuenting to our selues instruments of musicke (in these dangerous,eAmos 6. 1. to 7. Isay 5. 11. 12. sad, and dolefull times, when as teares should bee our mirth and chiefest solace,) which doe so farre infatuate and stupifie our hearts and iudgements; that wee regard not the workes nor iudgements of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands; (which we may iustly feare are working of our ruine:) drinking Wine in bowles; rising vp early in the morning, that wee may follow strong drinke, and continuing at it vntill night, till wine enflame vsus; as if we were free frō feare of euill, or as if there were no God in heauen for to punish vsus: and yet not grieuing for the afflictions of Ioseph, nor for our manifold and great rebellions against our good and gracious God: whosefRom. a. 4. patient goodnesse, and long-continued mercies, doe now call; and dreadfull iudgements, force & summon vsus to repentance? Certainly, though I dare not antedate the sorrowes of our Syon, or raise a feare or iealousie without a ground; yet when I doe but seriously and cordially suruay, that intollerablegEzech. 16. 49 pride; that aboundance of idlenesse; that fulnesse of bread; that lusting after strange flesh (the sinnes that drew downe fire and brimstone vponupon Sodome long agoe;) those monstrous habites, fashions and attires: that excessiue vanity, Atheisme and prophanenesse: that execrable and hPlures inuenia… qui saepius peiurent, quam qui omnine non turent. Salu. de Gub. Dei. l. 3. p. 79.frequent banning, swearing, cursing and blaspheming: that greedie couetousnesse, extortion and oppression; that fearefull murther and bloudshed; that scurrility, effaeminacie, wantonnesse, fornication, whoredome, adulterie and vncleanenesse: that generall neglect, contempt and hatred of God, of grace, of goodnesse, and the Gospell: thatiNihil amentius est, quam in malis esse, & malorum intelligentiam non habere. Salu. de Gub. Dei. l. 6. p. 216. 217. stupified and sencelesse security, and hardnesse of heart, in the middest of feares and dangers: that degenerating and growing worse and worse, not withstanding all Gods iudgements,kNon mirum est si quotidie deteriora patimur, qui quoeidiè deteriores sumus. Salu. de Gub. Dei. l. 4. p. 111. which still encrease vponupon vsus, because our sinnes encrease: that dissolutenesse, that drunkennesse, deboistnesse, and excesse of Healthes; together with those other troopes of sundry sinnes, which walke so bold and thick among vsus, in despite of all those meanes which GOD hath vsed to reclaime vsus from them: I cannot but conclude as others doe: that these abominations and sinnes of ours (especially in these times of feare and danger, lIsay 22. 12. Ier. 4. 8. & 6. 26.which cry and call for true repentance) prognosticate no victory, no good, no blessing, nor successe: but vndoubted ruine and destruction to vsus, vnlesse we speedily repent vsus of them. Wherefore (Christian Readers) if you hauehave any compassion of your owne poore soules (which Healthes andmNahum. 1. 10 1 Cor. 6. 10. Gal. 5. 21. Drunkennesse will damne to hell without recouerie, if you proceede on in them:) If you hauehave any louelove to God and Christ; or any filiall feare of God, or of his wrath and iudgements left within you: If you hauehave any humanity or bowells of compassions in you, towards the publicke good and safety of this your deare & mother Church, and Country; which hauehave so long supported you in peace and plenty, euen beyond your hopes: If you hauehave any commiseration of the poore distressed Saints & Church of God in forraigne parts, who are almost swallowed vp of bloudie persecutors, whiles wee are wallowing in carnall pleasures, and delights of sin; in luxutie, ryot, Drunkennes, and all excesse, without any cordiall pitty or simpathizing compassion of, or any sound humiliation for, their low estates: If you expect or long for any prosperity, peace, or plenty: any abatement, diuertion or extinguishment of Gods iudgements at home; or any successe or victory abroad: let mee now entreat, and thorowly perswade you allnRom. 12. 1 by the very mercies of God and Christ (the most flexanimous, perswasiue, and preuailing motiue of all others:) by the louelove you beare vntounto the Church of God in generall; to this your mother Church and Country; and to your owne saluation: by that most sacred oath and solemne rouenant which you hauehave made to God in Baptisme, and oft renued in the bloud of Christ, in the sight of many witnesses; and by that strict, that terrible, and ineuitable account, which you must shortlyoDan. 7. 10. Math. 25. 32. 33 2 Cor. 5. 10. make before the barre of Christs tribunall, in the open view of all the world: that you wouldpPsal 95. 7. 8. 2 Cor. 6 2. now, euen now I say, whiles the acceptable dayes and times of grace and mercy last; whiles the bowels and armes of Christ lye open to receiue you, if you will come in: andqDeut 22. 41 42. Psal. 7. 11 12. 13. Qui volunt atem Dei spreuerunt inustantem, voluntatem Dei sentient vindicantem. Prosper. Aquit. Respons. ad Obiect. 16. Vincent. the arme and sword of God are brandished and stretched out against you, to your iust confusion, if you still stand out: abandon, abiure, renounce, and quite cast off for euer, those cursed and pernicious sinnes, in which you are all inuolued, without any more pretences or delayes. Aboue all, resist, oppose, shake off, and quite roote out, the vnnaturall, vnreasonable, vnpleasant,rVno die bibunt multerum dierum labores. Ambr. de Elia & Ieiun. c. 12. vnthrifty, prodigall, wastfull, beastly, and shamefull sin of Drunkennes,sEbrietas multorum malorum metropolis. Athen. Dipnos. l. 10. c. 1…. (the metropolis of many mischiefes) which dothtQui luxuriatur, viuens mortuns est: Ergo qui inebriatur, & mortuus & sepultus est. Hierom. Tom. 2. Epist. 63. c. 4 not onelyonly slay, but quite interre the soules of liuing men, and indispose them vntounto all imployments; and so make them a burthen, a trouble, and incumbrance both to Church and State: together with all heathenish, hellish, idolatrous, prophane, luxurious, and excessiue Healthes, which are but Panders, Bawdes, Attendants, and Vshers to intemperance: for feare you bring your selues, your soules, your bodies, yea and your dearest deare, your Country vntounto ruine; Let Great men, Gentlemen, Iustices, Magistrates, and those of better and superiour ranke, as they tender Gods glory or their Countries good, exile them from their houses, and banish them for euer from their Tables; Halls and Butteries: as at all times and seasons, so especially in the Festiuall time of Christs Natiuitie: wherein vSub Christino nomine Gentilem vitam agunt, & aliud professione, aliud conuersatione testantur. Hier. Tom. 1. Epist. 14. c. 2.Christians oft times act the parts of Pagans, and turne incarnate deuils for the present, laying aside all reason, temperance, grace, and goodnesse, as vnseasonable and vnseemely ornaments for so good a season; giuing themselues wholly ouer to gluttony, ryot, luxurie, Drunkennes, Epicurisme, Health-drinking, idlenesse, chambering, wantonnesse, vnlawfull pleasures, games, and carnall mer, riments, and all excesse of sinne and wickednesse, which may praecipitate and post them on to hell; as if they were celebrating the ancient Bacchanalia, or the deuils birth-day, and not the birth of Christ: who came to redeeme and free vsus from these infernall, heathenish, prodigious, gracelesse, prophane, and godlesse practises, which Turkes and Pagans would abhorre: and not to set hell loose; or to giuegive men liberty and exemption to sinne without controle or mealure, vnderunder pretence of giuing honour to his birth-day: Certainly Christ wil not be fed nor honoured with the Deuils broth; with the Deuils sacrifices and Drinke-offerings: with such odious, shamefull, vile, and loathsome things, as Drunkennesse, vomite, Healthes, and ryot are: Let Christians therefore quite renounce them, and leaue them vntounto Bacchus, and his heathenish, Pagan, and infernall Crue: Let Magistrates suppresse & curbe them, by executing all those lawes that are in force against them, euen with care and conscience: Let Ministers who arexApost. Canones Can. 53. Deerete … P…p…. Can. 10. C…ne. …dicenum. Can. 24. Carthaginense 3. Can. 27. Aphricanum. Can. 7. Constā tinop 6. Can. 9 Turonense. 3. Can. 21. Cabilon: 2. Cā. 44 Rhemense. 823 Can. 26. Aquisgranense An. 816. Can. 60. 90. Reformatio Cleri German…ae R… tisponae. 1524 Can. 3. 8. Conc. Colon: 1636. part. 2. cap. 25. part 5. c. 6. Augustense, 1541. cap. 10. 19. Moguntin. 1549. Can. 74. See Gratian, Distinct. 44. Bochellius Decret. Eccl. Gallica. lib. 6. Tit. 19. enioyned by sundry Councels not so much as to enter into any …nne or victualing house (much less into a sauerne, Alehouse, or Tobacco-shop, where too too many of them place their chiefest residencie) vnlesse it were in case of necessity when they trauell;) yIsay 58. 1.Lift vp their voyce and cry aloud against them; not only by their doctrine but by their practise too:zIudg. 5. 23. Let all who beare a louing heart to God, to Christ, to Church, to Country, or themselues, come forth to helpe the Lord, and this our Zion, against these mightie, generall, praeualent, and pernicious enemies, which threaten a Catastrophe and deluge of Gods iudgements to vsus: for feare they in…ur that bitier curse of Meroz, which no heart can beare. I for my owne part can but blow the Trumpet, and giuegive the on-set; it is others that must giuegive the foyle, and ouerthrow to these hostile powers: If these my weake and meane endeuours shall so farre preuaile with any, as to cause them to take vp Armes against these sinnes, that so they may suppresse or bridle them; or to diuert, reclaime, and winne such from them, who hauehave beene formerly enamored with them, or held captiue by them; I shall thinke my labour highly recompenced, and happily rewarded: But if they proue vnfruitfull or ineffectuall vntounto all, or bring mee nothing but reproach and scorne, among the looser and deboister sort; whose blacke and filthy mouthes, or burthened and distempered stomackes, may chance to vomite vp some crapulous, noysome, and superfluous crudities of aNunquid aeger laudauit medicum secantem? Senec. Epist. 53.scandalls scornes, hatred, & reproach against me, because I offer violence to their best beloued Dalilaes and bosome lusts,bNulls gratae repr…hensio est… imo quod niulto peius est, quamlibet malus, quamlibet perditus mauult mendaciter praedicari, quam iure reprehendi: & falsarum laudum irrisionibus decipi, quā saluberrima admonitione seruari, Salu. de Gub. Dei. l. 8. p. 279. whose iust reproofe they cannot brooke: yet this shal be my ioy and comfort: that as Drunkards scornful, rash, & vndeserued censures (which cMagna dementia est, verert ne infameris ab infamibus. Seneca Epist. 91.I deeme but folly for to feare)dRegium est male audire cum bene feceris. Plutarch Apotheg. Graec. are crownes and honors, not blemishes and debasements; especially to such as seek mens spirituall good and welfare,eQui laudem non appetit, nec centumeliam sentit. Bern. de Inter. Demo. c. 42. not their praise: So God himselfe, how euer men requite me, will yet reward and fMens boni studii ae pii voti, etiamsi effectum non inuenerit capts operis, habet tamen pramium voluntatis. Salu. Praesat. in l. 1. de Gub. Dei.recompence me for this my poore endeauour (being all that I could do or promise) though he denie successe vntounto it: which is not mine, but his to giuegive. Thus leauing this poore Treatise to thy charitable and pious censure (Christian Reader; from whom I shall request this fauour onelyonly; to read and know before thou iudge:) I commend both it and thee to Gods owne blessing. Farewell.
The vnfained well-wisher of thy spirituall and corporall, though the oppugner of thy pocular and Pot-emptying Health. WILLIAM PRYNNE.