The Drunkards Character, Section 114 – Section 116
§ 114.
WHen once a man is got out of the snare of the Divell, he will doe what he can,Good men draw all they can … heaven, wicked all they can to …ell. to pluck others after him. As by his sinnes and bad example, hee hath drawn others from God: so now he will, all hee can, draw others with himselfe to God; Saul converted, will build up, as fast as ever he plucked downe; and preach, as zealously, as ever he persecuted.
But take a view of each case in severall persons, and first of the godly. We read that Noah and Lot, hazarded their own peace and safety, (such was their charity, to preserve theirs that afflicted them) they did admonish others, like Prophets; and advise them, like Fathers; but both in vaine; these holy men seemed to them as one that mocked, and they did more then seeme to mocke them againe. We read likewise, how Andrew was no sooner converted, and become Christ's Disciple; but instantly hee seeketh out his brother Simon, to gaine him also to the same faith, Iohn, 1. 41. And of Philip, that he did the like to Nathaniel, verse 45. And of the woman of Samaria, that she did the like to many of her neighbours, Iohn 4. 28. to 41. And of the twelve Apostles, that so soone as they were endued with the Holy Ghost, they spread the Gospell throughout the whole world, and with so good successe, that wee reade of three thousand soules converted, by one of them, at one time, namely, by Peter; so well did he obey Christ's command, who said unto him, when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren, Luk. 22. 32.
Yea, Moses so thirsted after the salvation of Israel, that rather then hee would bee saved without them, hee desired the Lord, to blot him out of the Booke of Life, Exodus 32. 32. and Paul to this purpose saith, I could wish my selfe to be separated from Christ, for my brethren, that age my kinsmen, according to the flesh, meaning the Iewes, Rom. 9. 3. Their charity, and spirituall thirst after salvation, was much like the naturall thirst of Alexander, who being with his troopes in the Field, and in extremity of thirst, when one presentted him an Helmet of water, he refused it, saying, si solus bibero, hos maeror occupabit: or that of Rodolphus the Emperour, who in his warres against Octocarus, King of Bohemia, being offered drink by a rusticke that attended his harnesse, when both he, and his whole Army were ready to perish with thirst; refused it, saying, that his thirst was for all his Army, and not alone for himselfe.
There is a greate dearth of reason and charity in that man, who would bee happy alone; much more doe they desire the blessednesse of others, that are of the communion of Saints: all heavenly hearts are charitable, and it is a great presumption, that hee will never finde the way to heaven, who desires to go thither single: yea, a desire to win others, is an inseparable adjunct, or relative to grace; for it is impossible, that a man should be converted, but having got himselfe out of Sathans clutches, he will seeke to draw others after him; yea, where the heart is thankfull, and inflamed with the love of God and our neighbour, this shall be the principall aime: as that vertuous Lady, which Camden speakes of, having beene a Leper her selfe, bestowed the greatest part of her portion, to build an Hospitall for other Lepers.
Neither can enlightened soules choose but disperse their rayes: we are no whit thankfull for our owne illumination, if we doe not looke with charity and pity, upon the grosse misse-opinions and misprisions of our brethren. It is a duty commanded by God, Iud. 22. 23. 2 Tim. 2. 25. 26. Heb. 3. 13. And every good mans meat and drink, is to doe the will of him that sent him; and though he cannot do, what he would; yet he will labour to do, what he can, to win others; not to deserve by it, but to expresse his thanks.
§ 115.
ANd as Gods people would not bee saved alone,They shall answer for soule-murther. but winne all they can, knowing, society no small part of the very joyes of heaven: no more would wicked men be damned alone, but mislead all they can, thinking it some ease and comfort in misery, to have companions. As for example. What made the Scribes and Pharisies compasse Sea and Land, to make one of their profession, but that they might make him twofold more the child of hell, then themselves? as out Saviour expresly witnesseth, Matth. 23. 15. Yea, they shut up the kingdome of heaven (so farre forth as they could) and would neither goe in themselves, nor suffer others, that would have entred, to come in, v. 13. And what else, but this love of community, made Baalam (being a cured reprobate himselfe) so willing; first, to curse all Israel, and after, when that would not fadge, to give such divellish counsell against them? Nnmb. 22.Reve. 2. 14 Or what is the reason thinke you, of all their practises against the just now of their, tempting them, and attempting what they can against them, but this, they would discourage us in the way to heaven, beat us off from our holy profession, or being religious, and draw us backe to the world, that so they might have our company here in sinne, and hereafter in torment? as if this were not to carry brimstone to their own fire, and to make their own bed in hell.
And let such know, that how many Novices, or Apprentises of Religion soever, have beene beaten off, by meanes of their scoffs, slanders, reproaches, or other their malicious practises against the godly; how many soever they have forestalled with prejudice against the religious, by making their favour to stinke before their neighbours, and acquaintance, through their lies and forgeries; so putting a sword into their hand, to slay them, as the children of Israel unjustly charged Moses and Aaron, touching Pharaoh, and his servants, Ex. 5. 21. or how many soever are drawn to do and commit the like sinnes, by their example; even so many of Christs band▪ they have (as much as in them lyeth) diminished, and shall one day be arraigned and condemned, not only for high treason, against our Soveraign Lord Christ, but also for slaying so many soules with death eternall; which sin, having a reward of torment answerable, (as I shall shew anon) must of necessity, bring upon them more then double damnation. Wherefore let them, more wisely then Dives, looke to it in time, take heed of powring water upon the fire of the Spirit, which had more need of kendling, then of quenching; and beating down the weake hands and knees, which should rather bee listed up for God, and against Sathan.
And thus you see that drunkards, and all wicked men, (whose meat and drink it is, to doe the will of their Father) ayme at our eternall ruine, as the divell did at the ruine of our first Parents, and their off-spring; and how could they doe so, if they did not partake of the divells nature yea, if they were not quite changed from men into divels?
§ 116.
BUt see other two reasons, why they desire community in the burning lake, Other reasons why they would have our company in the burning lake.and why they make no bones of soulemurther, the first is this, they know themselves irrecoverably lost, and therefore they are desperate, because they cannot rise themselves,1 Being out of hope themselves they are loth others should fare better then they. they would ruine all; they know, they have so grievously offended God, and so despited the Spirit of grace, so …inned against knowledg, and conscience, and so often reiterated theirabominations, that they are become so incurable, and past hope of remedy, that no medicine, can helpe them, as God speaks, touching the sorrowes of the Iewes by Ieremiah, Chap. 30. 12. 13. 15. as sometimes it fares with a sicke patient, who while he hath hope of cure, is willing to abstaine from such meats as are dangerous▪ and hurtfull for him; but knowing his disease incurable, forbeareth nothing that he likes, and likes onelyonly those things which are most forbidden him; so the Proverb is verified in them, Over Shoes, over Bootes, yea, which is desperate, over shoulders.
As a man sinking into the deepe water, catcheth hold of him that is next him: so men diving into the bottome of iniquity, pull downe their adherents: and how can they more lively prove themselves the Divells children, whose ayme it hath ever beene, seeing hee must of necessity bee wretched, not to bee wretched alone?
It is little content to them to bee reprobates, except they have company. Wherefore as falling Lucifer drew numerous Angells with him: so all his agents and adherents, as firebrands, in burning themselves, burne others; the Divell out of malice misleades them, and they others: what wretched companiouns then are these men! the Lord grant wee may know no more of them, then by hearesay.