The Drunkards Character, Section 48
§ 48.
But thou hast yet to say,4 That it is the usuall custome of the place and common practise of the people with who they are couversant and by whom they live. for thou wilt excuse thy excessive drinking by others example, and alledge, that it is the usuall custome of the place, and the common practice of the people among whom thou livest, yea, whom thou livest by, and art daily conversant withall; (as for the most part, that which is patronized by usualnesse, slips into the opinion of lawfulnesse) and hereupon thou art (as thou supposest) the rather to be borne withall, if thou doe like other men, seeing singularity would make thee odious, and cause thee to be scorned and derided of all.
I answere, indeed custome and example of the greatest number sayes much for it; but that much is nothing, for it is God's expresse charge, Exod. 23. 2. thou shalt not follow a multitude to doe evill, and St. Paul's everlasting rule, Rom. 12. 2. fashion not your selves like unto this world,
Besides, if custome of place, or multitude of people could authorize any sinne, then every sinne might stand upon it's justification; yea, no fancy so mad can fall into humane imagination, that meets not with the example of some publique custome, as I could easily prove, if it were needefull: yea, I can hardly forbeare to make a list of their severalls, for there is no countrey without some customes, as strange to others, as pleasing to themselves; and use brings the fight of our judgements asleepe; the barbarous Heathen are not more strange to us, then wee are to them; subjects have divers lustres, whence the diversity of opinions is chiefly ingendred; one nation vieweth a thing with one visage, and thereon it stayes; another with another. To bee briefe, if custome and example could authorize drunkennesse, why could it not as well authorize that abominable sinne of Sodomy? for Sodomy it selfe was once the common practice of a whole City; and so for Turcisme, Iud…isine, paganisine, and Popery, for these take up nine parts of the world.
But tell me, were it a good plea, to commit a felony, and say that others doe so? or if never so many should leape into the Sea, or cast themselves into the fire, or breake their owne necks, would this encourage any that are wise to do the like? why then wilt thou leape into Hell, and cast away thy soule, because others do so?
Alasse! although custome and community commendeth that which is good, yet it mightily aggravateth that which is evill: a good thing the more common it is, the better it is; but an evill thing, the more Common, the worser: yea, custome grounded neither upon reason, nor Religion, is the worst and most barbarous kinde of Tyranny: a common fashion dissonant from Gods word, is but a common sinne, which often bringeth common and universall judgment; and therefore thou canst not joyne with them in their sinnes, and be disjoyned from them in their punishments.
But seeing there is no such authority given to sinne, as by example, and that this excuse is so common in every offenders mouth, Others, or every one doth so and so, therefore why not I? or, every one is of this or that judgment, and are you wiser then al? & considering that this is made a generall plea almost in all cases, Do not such and such the like, who are wiser, and greater, and better men then your selfe? (for I have ever noted, that this one artlesse perswasion of Others doe so, prevailes more with the world, then all the places of reason) I will answer it the more largely and fully, and prove, that example either of the greatest number, or the greatest men, or the greatest schollers, yea, the best and holiest men, let custome and reason, (as it is now depraved) together with good intentions, be added thereunto, are but uncertaine, yea, deceitfull guides to follow, and that the best, or all these, will prove but a poore plea another day, God having given us his Word, which is a certaine and infallible guide to direct us, and rule to walke by, and square all our actions, together with a strait command, not to swerve therfrom either to the right or left hand.That wee ought not to follow the example either
First, we ought not to follow the example of the greatest number, 1 of the greatest number, orfor the greatest number goe the broad way to destruction, and but a few the narrow way which leadeth unto life, as our Saviour witnesseth, Mat. 7. 13. 14. yea, saith St. Iohn, the whole world lieth in wickednesse, the 1 …oh. 5. 19. whereas they whom Christ hath chosen out of it, are but a little flocke, Luk. 12. 32. the number of those whom Sa than shall deceive is as the sand of the Sea, Rev. 20. 8. whereas they that beleeve the Gospell are few in number, Isai. 53. 1. Rom. 10. 16. the one may be compared to a little flocke of Kids; but the other, like the Arromites, fill the country: for besides Turkes, Iewes, and Infidells, Herefie hath one part, Hypocrisie another, Prophanesse a third, Lukewarmnesse a a fourth, &c. 2 Cor. 4. 4. so that God hath the least part, that owes all, Lord thou hast but a few names in Sardy, Re. 3. 4.
And this the Scripture verifies of all ages: there could not be found eight righteous persons in the old world, for one was an impious Cham; all Sodom afforded not ten; Eliah, speaking of the outward visible Church in his time, saith, I onelyonly remaine a Prophet of the Lord, but Baals Prophets are 450. 1 King. 18. 22. and Micha complaines of the multitude of the wicked in his time, and small number of the faithfull, Micha. 7. 2. Behold (saith Isai.) I, and the children whom the Lord hath given me, are for signes, and for wonders in Israell, Esai. 8. 18. so few and rare, that they were gazed on as monsters, And though the number of the children of Israell be as the sand of the Sea, yet but a remnant shall be saved, saith the Lord himselfe, Esai. 10. 22. Rom. 9. 27.
Neither hath it beene otherwise since the Gospell; the whole City went out to send Christ packing; not a Gadarean was found, that either dehorted his fellowes, or opposed the motion, Mat. 8. 34. when Pilate asked, what shall be done with Iesus? all, with one consent, cryed, crucifie him, Math. 27. 22. there was a generall shout for Diana for two howers together, great is Diana, of the Ephesians, not one man tooke Paul's part; yea, the Iewes tell Paul, that his Sect is every where spoken against, Acts, 28. 22. so that Vox populi is not alwayes Vox Dei, yea, for the most part, it is Vox Diaboli, for all bothsmall and great, rich and poore, free and bond, receive the marke of the beast in their foreheads, Revel. 13. 16.
Neither is this the vote of Scripture alone, for the very Heathens could see the same to be a truth, even by the light of reason. Diogenes thought he should doe best, when he did least what the common people did. And Socrates ever suspected that, which past with the most and generall commendations. Yea, of all the 288. severall opinions which Philosophers held, touching the chief good, reckoned up by S. Augustin. de civitate Dei, Lib, 19. Cap. 1. never any was so mad, as to thinke the way to attaine to it was by doing as the most doe; wherefore saith Seneca, regard not what the multitude do, for number is but an ill signe of a good cause, yea, it is the best note of the worst way.
Yea, this is so cleare a truth, that even common sense may see it: for look we upon the whole frame of nature, and every creature in the Universe, even from the Angels to the least moats or atomes, and from substances to accidents, this rule holds good, that the basest things are ever most plentifull.
Then like no vice, though followed with a throng:
for
Who measures truth by voyces, doth it wrong.
Follow the best, not the most, and what the example bates of multitude, will bee supplyed with magnitude.
Truth may not bee measured by the pole; it is not number but weight that must carry it with God; a solid verity in one mouth, is worthy to preponderate light falshood in a thousand: yea, therefore be more temperate and sober, that so thou mayest not imitate, but rather reprove them; and bee more holy, because in the midst of a perverse generation so shining as lights in a dark place; and follow not the worlds fashion, especially in this, for this is a fashion that will one day bee wash'd off with fire and brimstone.