The Drunkards Character, Section 47
§ 47.
A Gaine secondly, for the drunkard doth nothing amisse,2. Their alleadging the examples of some …oly men. though the Divell himself would scarse wish him to do worse: some will excuse themselves, yea, beare and bolster out themselves in their drunkennesse, or at least lessen their sin, by pleading presidents and examples; many holy men, say they, some whereof are mentioned in the Scriptures, have beene drunk; as namely Noah and Lot; and therfore it is not so heynous a sinne, as you would make faire for.
But let such know, that drunkennes ventured on, by the example of a Saints frailty, is of a more malicious nature in them, then it was in him they alledge. Any transgression thus derived, is the argument of a more ungracious soule, then that it seekes to imitate. Yea, this is so grosse a delusion, that what indeed is an argument of feare, they make an argument of presumption in sinning; and what they hope shall excuse them, doth but more properly condemne them, because they had that warning before them; and is so farre from being an evidence to acquit them; that nothing can more aggravate their guilt: for certainly hee is more guilty of his owne death, who eates Mercury, and knows such and such were poysoned with it; or who goeth into an infected house, seeing Lord have mercy upon us, over the doore, then another, that should do the same things ignorantly and unadvisedly.
What Pilot, that were in his right wits when hee seeth Sea-marks, purposely set to give warning of Rocks, Sands, and Shelves, whereon others have made shipwracke, will take occasion thereby to run his Ship upon them? yea, will he not employ all his care and skill, that by avoyding them, he may escape the danger? yes, except hee be starke mad, or extreamely desperate.
The Holy Ghost compares the examples of holy men, to the cloud in the wildernes, Heb. 12. 1. which was partly light, partly dark, now if any with the Israelites, that follow the light part of this cloud (the vertues and graces of these Saints and holy men) it will safely conduct and carry them thorow the red Sea of this troublesome world; but contrariwise, if any, with those Egyptians, Exod. 14. shall follow the black part, (their frailties and infirmities) he is like to be drowned in the sea of eternal destruction, as the Egyptians were in those waters.
Wherefore imitate their vertues, but beware and take heed of their vices. Evill was never made to bee imitated, but goodnesse: yet alasse! Lots faith and obedience is not such a sinners object, but his drunkennes: as if Iacobs modest looke, liberall hand, truth-speaking tongue, devout knee, and humble heart, were not worth the noting; but only his lamenesse, and haulting. Yea, their weaknesse is seen tears are seene in our eyes.
Oh▪ sottish men, that mark none of the graces of godly men, but their skars! But if any tender the safety of his own soule, when he seeth these examples, which are recorded for our learning, for our warning, let them bee as so many monitors, to warne him to take heed: yea, if they being so godly, had their slips and falls, let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed least he fall: let them not make us goe on more securely in our sinfull courses, but rather move us, to worke out our salvation with feare and trembling, as the Apostle exhorts, Phil. 2. 12.
Againe the Saints falls should serve to raise us up, when wee are downe; not to cast us down, when we are up; and should serve for our consolation afterward, not for our presumption before.
Lastly, Lots and Noahs falling into this sin were nothing in comparison of thine, for, as for Noah, hee was ignorant of the nature of wine, and knew not the strength of the Grape: for as it was his first planting of Vines there, so it was in all probability, the first time hee had tryed and experimented the operation of wine.
And as for Lot, he drank liberally, with intent only to comfort himselfe, and his daughters, in regard of the losse of their mother, and many other crosses lately sustained, and was overtaken unawares. Neither did any of these drinke with an intent to exceed measure, and to bee drunke, neither did they use it often; the one, only once; the other, but twice; and that by the instigation of his ungracious daughters: and so makes nothing, or very little, for the excuse of common drunkkards, who, like so many flyes, live wholly by sucking.3 They are not drunke with wine. But thou art not drunke with Wine: no, peradventure thou hast, no wine to be drunk with; yet if thou be overcome with strong drinke of what kinde soever it be, thou wilt be found a trespasser against sobriety, and consequently, against God himself. It is notwhat you call the thing that doth the hurt, but what hurt it doth, if it maketh either the head heauy, or the heart outragious, or the eyes to stare, or the tongue to stammer, or the feete to stagger, or the stomacke to worke like yeast in a barrell, thou canst not excuse it. Indeed I have heard of a mad fellow, that excused his taking of a purse; who when one seeing him goe towards the place of execution, said, how now neighbour, whether goe you, what's the matter? answered, nothing, but mistaking a word; I should have said to such an one, good morrow, & I said, deliver; but as this would not save him from the Gallowes; so no more will these poore excuses save thee from Gods heauy displeasure.