The Drunkards Character, Section 23
§ 23.
6 SIxtly, as the drunkard consumes his Drunkennesse defames a man.estate; so hee looseth his credit and good name, for drunkennes defames a man, and takes away his reputation. What saith the world of him? such a man is a drunkard, a swillboule, a tospot, a sot, a swaggering companion, a spend good, an unthrift, an Epicure, a belly-god, a filthy beast, &c. Yea what sinne is so disgracefull? what can discredit a man more, then to be counted a common drunkard? yea, this sinne bringeth such an ill name upon a man, that it will never bee done away; at least so long as he lives in this sin without repentance.
Wherein could Noah (that was but once drunke) have so much shamed and dishonoured himselfe? how could hee have made himselfe so contemptible, even to his owne children, as he did by being drunk? so, what greater shame to any man, then to make himselfe a beast, yea, worse then a beast, in his gesture, behaviour, nonsense, and abominable spewing? besides his communication, his cogitations, his lusts, and affections, are all most beastly and shamefull: so that nothing disguiseth or disgraceth a man more.
Neither need others defame him: for he either spues himselfe out, or gives occasion to be spurned out of all civill company.
In briefe, all that are sober minded account drunkards but the very scumme of the Nation, and good for nought but to stand in the middest of a breach, when the Ordnance play, and bullets flie thick about their eares. And certainly there is nothing in the world more pitifull, an Ape-carrier is honourable, compared with a drunkard; and heare but their wives speak, you will grant that his, of the two, is farre more happy in her choyse.
Yea, it is such a sinne, for which a man shall bee disgraced even of his drunken companions themselves; who murther him behind his backe, by taking away his good name; howsoever they seeme to applaud him before his face.
And no man thinkes him sit or worthy to beare the meanest office either in Church or common-wealth; nay, he is not able to subject himself to, or be ruled by, either civill or ecclesiasticall Governours, (indeed he often disturbes the officers of both) nay, hee is so farre from all respect, that he either is, or should be, separated from all Christian society, and thrown out of the Church by excommunication, 1 Cor. 5. 11.
Indeed, he thinks to get credit and popular applause by his drinking, to have others commend him, forsooth, for a good fellow, and joviall, and so purchase a name: but indeed hee gets the name of a common drunkard, which will sticke by him to his dying day, and perhaps afterward; yea, let him be commended by one for a notable good fellow, (which is the height of his ambition) another that is wiser, will reply, the better the worse.
Again, who will trust a drunkard with either money or commodity? A frugall man that is worth but little, shall be trusted with more, then a drunkard which hath tenne times his estate: and good reason, for the one his diligent hand maketh him rich, while the drunkards belly makes him go in rags.
Indeed, to borrow of every man hee is very importunate; but to pay he never useth, except it be his Hostesse for superfluous liquor, that when money failes, hee may drinke upon credit; as hee is alwayes indebted to my Hostesse, and his belly to him, but he never to that, so long as his purse, credit, or shame, can make even with it.
Yea, in many cases they will acknowledge themselves unworthy to be trusted; for they have an order amongst themselves (which you may see set up in Gurmionds hall) that all promises, Oaths, Bils, Bonds, Indentures, or any other conveyances whatsoever, made or caused to bee made in the afternoone, bee utterly void, and of none effect.
And in case they commit a villany; there needs no better plea, (fo… their excuse) then this; alas! what would you have… I was not my selfe, or, I was in drinke, it was the wine, and not I
Yea Marcus Antonius, faith Plutarch, set forth a book of his drunkennes; wherein he proved those pranks which he played (when he was overcome with wine) to be good and lawfull: though in all reason he that doth evill in his drinke, should bee twice punished; first, for being drunke, then, for the fact he committed in drinke, as Pittacus in his statute-law enacted.
And as hee disgraceth and shameth himselfe; so he shameth his parents, Pro. 28. 7. kinsfolks, friends, and all his acquaintance; and maketh them so ashamed of him, that they are afraid and ashamed to owne him.
Yea, drunkennesse disgraceth and discrediteth the Gospell, unto which it is cleane contrary; for whereas the Apostle would have our conversation such as becommeth the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST phil. 1. 27. both the Gospel and the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles, through such ill livers, Rom. 2. 24.
Yea, it bringeth a scandall upon all that professe the same Religion with him, Revel. 2. 9.
Yea, the Apostle tells us that their workes of darknesse which are done of of them in secret, are so shamefull, that it is a shame even to speak of them, or once name them, Ephes. 5, 11. 12. Wherefore the drunkard shall bee filled with shame, and shamefull spewing shall be all his glory, Hab. 2. 15, 16. untill he be trodden under feet, as the Lord threatens, Isa. 28. 3.
Thus drunkards by their drinking receive much hurt; some, in their bodies; some, in their braines; some, intheir estates, whilst they are called from their callings; some, in their names, whiles bucking with drinke, they are laid out to bee sunned and scorn'd; some, in their chastity, whilst they are used as Lots daughters did their father, &c. Which may serve to have beene spoken of his outward parts. Now of his inwards, and more odious qualities; for although the drunkards sorrow, strife, shame, poverty, and diseases, together with his untimely death, as one would thinke, were enough to make this sin odious: yet looke we further into him, as namely, into his more inward parts, his secret abominations, which follow and are occasioned through drunkennes; that will make it hidious, and fearefull, at least if I had the skill to cut him up, and paint him to the life.