The Drunkards Character, Section 207
§ 207.
1. TO summe up all in a word,2 Vse of the former reasons. or l…y all these grounds and motives together. If we endanger our selves, our lives, our estates, loose our credit, our peace, our time, by frequent associating wit… ungodly men, and can no way expect their love and friendship; be sure you come not (or at least stay not) in their company. It is not safe venturing among them, in confidence of our owne strength; no more then it is to consort with cheaters, in hope that they will not cozen us. Dead fire, we know, being stird up, will burne a fresh: and corruption, like a candle new put out, is soone kindled againe; If Sathan but blow upon it, the owne heate is enough to enflame it.
No, venture not thy selfe, though thou hast once, or twise come off cleare from them; Sampson could withstand his wives temptation seven dayes, but at length, by her importunity, she prevailed with him, Iudg. 14. Over many in this case are like to sicke men, who when they have had a good day, or two, thinke themselves presently well againe; so they make bold to put off their Kerchifes, to put on thinner garments, and to venture into the fresh ayre; whereupon follow unrecoverable relapses. Wherefore take heede, or if thou dost keepe them company, it is an argument, that thou art sicke of their disease, idlenesse. And of this Vse so much.
2 If wicked company are so infectious, that they will worke a consumption in any mans vertues,2 Vse. that is daily conversant with them, and waste them from an ounce, to a dram; from a dram; to a scruple, to a graine, to nothing, so that he may say with Christ in the croud, who hath touched me, for I feele vertue gone out of me? Let us be (as Seneca adviseth) more circumspect, with whom we eate and drinke, then what we eate and drinke. He that hath money, will beware of theeves: if you have any grace, venture it not among these riflers: for, art thou inclined to pray? they will tempt thee to play: wouldest thou goe to a Sermon? by their perswasion, the Taverne or Theater stands in the way. But alasse! if others tempt thee not▪ thou wilt tempt others: temptation needs not stand, like a Taverne-bush, in thy way, for thou wilt invite thy selfe, hunt after temptation.
3 Is every man busie in dispending that quality,3 Vse. which is predominant in him? And can we converse with none but will worke upon us, and by the unperceived stealth of time, assimilate us to their owne customes? will tvvo friends, like tvvo brands set each other on fire vvith good, or ill, vvhen one alone vvill goe out? vvill a streight tvvig, if it be tied to a crooked bough, become crooked; or a crooked tvvig, become streight, if it be tied to a streight rule: as Peter denied his Master amongst the Iewes, vvhom he confest amongst the Apostles? Then keepe company, but let it be vvith such as may make thee better; flie evill society, least their kind vvords so vvorke upon thy yeelding nature, that thou knovvest not hovv to deny: they are such as have taken the Devills oath of Allegiance; and thou hast small hope to prevaile vvith them to good.
A certaine King (as St. Augustin reports) being hard favoured, and fearing least his Queene should bring forth children like himselfe; got many faire and beautifull pictures, vvhichwhich he caused her steadfastly to behold every day: goe thou and do likewise, be conversant with good men, and in good things, and thou shalt doe that unbidden, which others can scarce doe compelled by the Law, as Aristotle speakes of the study of Philosophy. O what an happy thing it is to converse with the vertuous! their gracious words, or holy examples, will be sure to stirre up the gifts of God in us; they will either adde something to our zeale, or something to our knowledge: the society of Prophets, is able to make even a Saul prophesie. The sight of others falling heartily to their meate, brings on our stomacks: yea, if we have no gifts to stirre up, their communion cannot but leave some tincture behind it; if not of Piety, yet, at least, of a good profession, and some inclinablenesse. If Saul had not had a good and discreet companion, when he went to seeke his Fathers Asses, he had returned backe as wise as he came: but now he is dravvne into counsell with the Man of God, and heares more then he hoped for, 1 Sam. 9. 6. The messengers of the same Saul, vvhen they lived in the Court, vvere (as is likely) caried avvay vvith the svvinge of the times, and did apply themselves to their Masters ungodly practises, as appeareth in their going to apprehend David, that Saul might kill him: yet were they no sooner in company with the Prophets, in Nayoth, but their minds were changed, and they likewise prophesied, 1 Sam. 19. 20.
Ob. But say some of Bacchus his fooles. I keepe company with brave fellowes, that are generous, free, bountifull &c.
Answ. Alasse! thou dost but slander him with these titles. He is a proud,2 Excuses taken away. ignorant, inconsiderate Asse, that feares he is not loved, unlesse he be lose and scattering; that strives so to be like a god in bounty, that he throwes himselfe into the lowest estate of man. He that gives to, and spends upon all abundantly (which is for none to doe, but him that hath all) he that had rather keepe company with the dregs of men, then not be the best man: he that ravells out a spacious fortune upon flatterers; he that out of vaine glory will be worship't and kneed, to the spending of a faire inheritance, and then ends his dayes in lewdnesse and contempt (as what is it, that ambition will not practise, rather then let her port decline) he is a foolish Steward, that thus showers away in one yeare, what his ancestors have beene gathering twenty: yea, he is a mad man, that makes his kindnesse to others, prove cruelty to himselfe, and all his posterity.
Ob. Againe, others are all for mirth, they keepe company at the Taverne, with none but curious and quaint wits, eloquent Poets and Orators; now aske them, as Manoah did Sampson, Is there never a companion for thee among thy Brethren, the people of God, that thou must associate thy selfe with these of uncircumcised hearts and tongues? They will answer. Give me only these for my companions, for they please me.
Answ. Can none please thee, but such as displease God? dost thou not know, that who so will be a friend to such, makes himselfe the enemy of God? Iames, 4. 4. or art thou ignorant, that pleasant wits viciated in accustomed lewdnesse, with sweete tunes entise men to destruction; as is morald in that fiction of the Sirens, they delight the sense, but slay the soule: and will any man poyson his body, to please his taste? or goe into an infected house, to fetch out a rich suite? or put his finger into a firie Crusible, to take out gold It's true, like Iugglers and such as play trickes of Legerdimaine, they will deceive us with a kinde of pleasure and delight: but is it any priviledge for a man to be tickled to death, that so he may dye laughing? Their discourse may be resembled to the fruite that undid us all, which was faire in sight, smooth, in handling, sweet in taste, but deadly in effect: or to the Clarian water, which made men eloquent, but withall short liv'd: or the gifts, which those Elfes called Lamiae, used to present unto children which made so many as accepted of them loose their comlinesse for ever after. And he that much affects their company (being an honest man) is just like that free Citizen, that so doted on a female slave, that he would needs marry her; though by that match, he were sure, by the Law, to become a slave with her. He overvalues the drunken and reeling love of these men, that buyes it with the ruine of himselfe, his estate, and family. Wherfore, as in Meates, we doe not only stand upon pleasantnesse, but wholesomenesse: so let us regard wholesomenesse as well as pleasantnesse, in our discourse and company. A good man can lend nothing to the increase of mirth in wicked company: and he that will not lend, let him take heede of borrowing.
And so much for defence against what they doe, which may be avoided.
If you would have as much against what they say, which must be endured,
Reade a late Treatise, called, THE VICTORY OF PATIENCE. In the meane time, thinke what account you shall give of that you have read.
FINIS.