The Drunkards Character, Section 31
§ 31
SEcondly,Because they infect almost all that come neere them whom but themselves could they blame, when they infect almost al that come neere them: as, have not little boyes in the streets learned of them to wrap out oathes almost as frequently as themselves? yea, through their frequent and accustomary swearing, our children learn to speak English, and oaths together; and so to blaspheme God almost as soone as he hath made them. Now the good husbandman weeds his field of hurtful plants that they may not spoyle the good corne: and when fire hath taken a house, wee use to pull it down, least it should fire also the neighbours houses: yea, the good Chirurgion cuts off a rotten member betimes, that the sound may not bee endangered.
Thirdly,Because the whole land fares the wo…se for their sakes. when for their sakes, the land doth mourne because of oathes; yea, when, if the Scriptures be true, God hath a controversie with all the inhabitants thereof, and will turne our glory into shame for swearing, Hosea 4. 1, 2, 7. And wee may well wonder that the land siinketh not because of oaths: for if God were not a God of infinite patience, he could not indure his most sacred and glorious name to bee so many thousand times blasphemed in one day, and that by such miserable wretches as we be.
Fourthly,To make them looke into themselves. when solong as they are christned and go to Church as others do, receive the Sacraments, and, without any difference, are reputed members of the visible Church, they thinke themselves as good Christians as the best, yea, better then the precisest: for what is their boast? they are noe Puritans, they make not such a shew of religion, nor are such hypocrites, nor dissemblers, as a great many others are &c.
Neither indeed are they, for their words are sutable to their thoughts, their actions to their words, all naught. And yet it is a great question (for all they think no vertue comparable to this kinde of plaine dealing, I meane boldnesse, and impudency in evill; for they thinke it no fault to live viciously, so their profession bee answerable, so they are the same in shew that they are in deed, all one in mouth and in mind) whether they, or hypocrites are most superlative sinners, for both are humane divels, well met; an hypocrite is a masked divell, an Athiest (as these are no better) is a divell unmasked. Whether of the two shall, without repentance, bee deeper in hell, they shall once feele, I determine not; onelyonly let me assure them; if the infernall Tophet be not for them, it can challenge no guests.
5, Fiftly,5 Because they contemne all admonition when they contemn all admo…ition, be it private, or in the publike congregation: if it be in private, these deafe Adders (Abner like) will either stop the eare with the tongue, by engrossing all the talke, or else they will returne blowes for words: yea, a Christian-like admonition will worke like yeast in their braines, until they have requited their admonisher with a mischiefe; admonition may move them to choller, never to amendment.
Or, suppose the Preacher declares unto them the heynousnesse of this sin, and what a fearefull reckoning of vengeance will come in the end: it is to no more purpose, then if he should speake unto liveles stones, or senselesse plants, or witlesse beasts; for they wil never feare anything, till they be in hell fire, when it will be too late to repent. Wherefore God leaves them to bee confuted by fire and brimstone; because nothing else will do it.
Yea, look to it, and think of it you cursing swearers, whom nothing can perswade to be civill, to be men, I say not, to be true Christians; you sweare away your salvation, curse away your blessing, and the divell, who now sets you on worke, will hereafter pay you your wages; and God, whose name now serves you but onelyonly for swearing, shall then make you serve his justice, in gnashing and weeping, howling and cursing shall be your chiefe ease in hell, to whom blasphemy was an especiall recreation on earth.