The Drunkards Character, Section 154
§ 154.
BUt thou wilt say unto me;Objection, that most men are of a contrary judgement and practics. if this be so, that all the promises are conditionall; that mercy is entayled onelyonly to such as love God, and keepe his Commandements; that none are reall Christians, but such as imitate Christ, and square their lives according to the rule of Gods word; that of necessity we must leave sinne, before sinne leaves us; and that God will not heare us another day when we call to him for mercy, if we will not heare him now, when he calls to us for repentance; how is it, that so few are reformed, that most men minde nothing but their profits, and pleasures, yea, count them fooles, that doe otherwise?
I answer,VVhere of a double reason. there be two maine reasons of it, though one be the cause of the other.
1 Ignorance.
2 Vnbeleife.
First,First few men beleeve the whole written word. few men beleive what is written of God in the Scripture, especially, touching his justice and severity in punishing sinne, with eternall destruction of body and soule: for, did they really and indeed beleive God, when he saith, that his curse shall never depart from the house of the swearer, Zack. 5. they durst not sweare, as they doe. Did they beleive, that neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Theeves, nor Murtherers, nor Drunkards, nor Swearers, nor Raylers, nor Lyers, nor Covetous persons, nor Extortioners, nor Vnbeleivers, nor no Vnrighteous men shall inherit the Kingdome of Heaven; but shall have their part in the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. Rev. 21. 8. they durst not continue in the practise of these sinnes, without feare, or remorse, or care of amendment. Did they beleive, that except their righteousnesse doe exceede the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees, they shall in no case enter into the Kingdome of Heaven, Matth. 5. 20. and that without holinesse no man shall see the Lord, Heb. 12. 14. with many the like, it were impossible they should live as they doe. Yea, if they did in good earnest beleive that there is either God or Devill, Heaven or Hell, or that they have immortall soules, which shall everlastingly live in blisse or woe, and receive according to that they have done in their bodies, whether it be good or evill, 2 Cor. 5. 10. they could not but live thereafter, and make it their principall care, how to be saved.
But alas! they are so farre from beleiving what God threateneth, in his Word against their sinnes; that they blesse themselves, in their heart, saying, we shall have peace; we shall speede as well as the best, although we walke according to the stub…ornnesse of our owne wills, so adding drunkennesse to th…rst, Deut. 29. 19. yea, they preferre their condition before other mens, who are so abstemious, and make conscience of their wayes, even thinking that their God deceiveth them with needlesse feares, and scruples, as once Rabshek…h would have perswaded the Iewes, touching their trust and confidence. 2 King. 18. 22. 25 30. 32. 33. 35.
The beleive what they see, and feele, and Know; they beleeve the lawes of the Land, that there be places and kinds of punishment here below, and that they have bodies to suffer temporall smart, if they transgresse; and this makes them abstaine from Murther, Fellony, and the like: but they beleeve not things invisible, and to come; for if they did, they would as well, yea, much more, feare him that hath power to cast both body and soule into Hell, as they doe the temporall Magistrate, that hath onelyonly power to kill the body: they would thinke it a very hard bargaine, to winne the whole world, and lose their owne soules, Luk. 9. 25. but enough of this, having proved the Drunkard an Atheist, Sect. the (146.)