The Drunkards Character, Section 118
§ 118.
VVEe have got through the greatest part,The Devil beholding to whores, but farre more to drunkards for none helpe to people hi… inferanall kingdome like them. and are past by the principall stages of the drunkards progresse; there is but one mile further, of about eight short furlongs, to goe, and we have overcome it; yea, to speake truth▪ I am now at the top of the hill, and shall, after a short pause, goe downe faster then I went up. But let us make a stand here, and looke backe upon what we have past, since Section (75.) from which stage hitherto, I have shown how drunkards imitate that old Serpent the Devill.
In
Tempting
Enforceing
to sinne, and in
drawing to perdition. After a review taken, let any stander by (for being no wayes a party, I referre it to him) say, whether Sathan be so much beholding to any men alive as to them; whether he hath any servants, that doe him such faithfull service; any factors, that make him a better returne of soules; any Generall, that subdues so many souldiers to him; any Advocates, which pleade so hard for him, as the true drunkard; I presume he cannot nominate, or thinke of one▪
I consesse, a beautifull whorish woman (another of the Devills lime-twigs) who hath a flattering tongue, Pro. 6. 24. smooth and enticeing words, Pro. 7. 5. lips which drop like an hony combe, and a mouth … soft then oyle, Pro. 5. 3. as Salomon speaks▪ doth the Devill singular good service in the businesse of tempting; for infinite are the soules, which these artificial Paradises have beguiled; yea, it cannot be denied, but Sathan is more beholding to the face, then to all the body besides. For as through an Hell upon earth, God brings many to Heaven: so through an Heaven upon earth, many bring themselves to Hell. And she hath one priviledge above other tempters, for, Cockatrice-like, she killeth with her very …ight; yea, she is able to take a man, with her very eye-lids, Pro. 6. 25. which makes the wise man say, that many have perished by the beauty of women, Ecclus. 9. 8. yet neverthelesse, let her have as many lovers, as Toringa once had (who attempting to count them upon her fingers, was forc't to call for a bushell of Pease, before she could number them all) and strength like Rotorus, who contracted with a notable Pirate, to serve the turne of him and him hundred souldiers: and … will as free as Dunkerke, which bids … to all commers, so that any … Fellow may ride her post to the Devill, with a golden bit; she shal never be able to fil Hel (her body wil not hold out) nor help to people that infernall Kingdom; as some drunkards doe, that are gifted thereafter.
The which considered, together with his other sinnes of idlenesse, epicurisme, adultery, murther, his vaine babling, scurrilous jesting, wicked talking, impious swearing, atheisme, &c. (for he hath treble heads to Cerberus, that ugly Porter of Hell) proves him the King, or chiefe of sinners, as the Basiliske is called the King of Serpents; and not onelyonly shewes them to be children of the Devill, as they were long since, but to be really metamorphosed into Devills, as lots wife was really metamorphosed into a pillar of Salt, and Vlysses companions into Hogs and Dogs, and Cadmus, with his wife, into Serpents: yea; certainely, if the Devill would change his properties, he would put himselfe into the person, and appropriate to himself the very qualities of some drunkard; how ever, he chooseth drunkards to be his instruments, to t…mpt, rather then other sinners, because they are more fit for it, then any other; as of all the creatures which God made, he chose the Serpent, an instrument, to tempt Eve, because it was more subtile then any beast of the field. Gen. 3. 1.
As also for the naturall affection which they bare to him, above other men; for the drunkard loves Sathan so extreamely, that, for the most part, he either swims to him in blood, or sailes to him in a vessell of wine, before nature summons him to depart, and will needs be tormented before the time.
All which their zeale,VVe should be as zealous and industrious to win soules to God. industry, and fervent affection, to doe the will of their Father, should teach and stirre up Go…s people to the like zeale, industry, and fervent affection, to doe the will of their Father. Their voluntary lewdnesse, calls for our dutifull and more zealous obedience; that our God may have as faithfull …ervants, as he hath unfaithfull enemies. Shall wicked men be at more cost and paines, to please an ill master; then we can afford to please so good a God, so gracious, so loving a Father? Shall they labour so hard, for that which shall confound them; and shall we thinke any paines too much, for that which shall … us? Is it their meate and drinke to doe mischiefe; and shall good duties downe as a Potion with us? This were to acknowledge more venome in the seede of the Serpent, then there is health in the seede of the woman.
Indeed, the world could not stand before us, if our truth might be but as hotly followed as their falsehood. O that our God, whose cause we maintaine, would inkendle our hearts, with the fire of holy zeale, but so much as Sathan hath inflamed theirs, with the fire of fury and faction O Saviour, it was thy meate and drinke to doe the will of thy Father, how doe we follow thee, if we suffer either pleasures, or profits to take the wall of thy services? But of this elsewhere.