The Drunkards Character, Section 175
§ 175
3 NOw if thou intendest to hold out in thy good purposes,5 Shame not to confess…t by dislike of it in thy selfe and others. and meanest to bring thy thoughts to the birth; thou must not be ashamed to confesse, with that honest theife upon the crosse, even before thy companions and fellow drunkards, that thou art not now the same man thou wast, both thy mind and judgement is ch…nged, and so shall thy practise, God assisting thee; nay, thou wi… not only forsake thy sin, but their company too, except they will forsake their old customes of drinking, and scoffing, and jeering at sobriety and goodnesse.
And so doing, thou mayst perchance winne thy Brother, even as that penitent wanton, in St. Ambrosse, did his old love; who when she courted him, according to her accustomed manner, and wondred at his overmuch strangnesse, saying, why doe you not know who I am? answered, yes, I know you are still the same woman, but I am become another man, I am not I now, neither would You be You any longer, if yee knew so much as I doe.
4 But if yet they persist,6 Fly evill company. and seeme incorrigible, flye their company for feare of infection, least it happen with thee, as once it did with a chast person among Penelopes suters, who went so often with his friend, till in the end he was caught himselfe: for if thou keepest them company, there is no possibility of thy holding out to the end, though thou shouldest for a time: as a man may make some progresse in a good way, and yet returne before he is halfe at his journeys end, as Saul kept himselfe well for two yeares, Iudas for three yeares, and (as it is storied) Nero for five yeares, yet all fell into damnable wickednesse, scarce three worse in the world. But of this more in it's proper place.
Besides, how hard a thing is it for thee, a coward, to shew thy dislike of this sin in some companies, where thou shalt be scoff't at thy selfe, if thou dislike their drinking, and scoffing at others?
Fiftly, another thing which I had need to advise thee of,7 Take heede of delayes. is, to take heede of delayes; for to leave sinne, when sin leaves us, will never passe for true repentance: besides, if the evill spirit can but perswade thee to deferre it untill hereafter, he knowes it is all one, as if thou hadst never purposed to leave thy sinne at all; as you have it largely proved, Sections, 151. 152. 153.
Sixtly,8 Omit not to pray for divine assistance. omit not to pray for the assistance of God's spirit, to strengthen thee in thy resolution of leaving this sinne. St. Ambrosse calls prayer, the key of Heaven; yet prayer, without answerable endeavour, is but as if a wounded man did desire helpe, yet refuseth to have the sword puld out of his wound.
Seventhly, be diligent in hearing God's Word,9 Be diligent in hearing. which is the sword of the Spirit, that killeth our corruptions, and that unresistable cannon-shot, which battereth and beateth downe the strong holds of sinne.
Eighthly,10 frequent in the use of the Lords-Supper. be frequent in the use of the Lord's Supper, wherein we dayly renew our covenant with God, that we will forsake the Devill, and all his workes of darkenesse.
Ninthly,11 Meditate what God hath done for thee. ponder and meditate on Gods inestimable love towards us, who hath not spared to give his Sonne to death for us, and the innumerable benefits, which, together with him, he hath plentifully bestowed upon us, both in temporall and spirituall things; say unto the Lord, what shall I render unto thee for all thy benefits, but love my Creator, and become a new creature.
Tenthly,12 Meditate on that union we have with Christ, &c meditate on that union, which is betweene Christ and us, whereby wee become members of his glorious body, and so shall we stand upon our spirituall reputation, and be ashamed to dishonour our Head, by drawing him, as much as in us lyeth, into the communication of this swinish sinne: consider that our bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost, the which we shall exceedingly dishonour, if, by drinking and swilling, we make them to become like wine vessells.
Eleventhly,13 Consider that the Lord be…oldeth thee whersoever thou art. consider that the Lord beholdeth thee in all places, and in every thing thou doest; as the eyes of a well drawne picture, are fastned on thee, which way soever thou turnest; much more, while in a brutish manner thou liest wallowing in this sinne; and consider him as a just judge, who will not let such grosse vices goe unpunished.
Twelftly, beever,14 often thinke of the day of judgment. or at least often thinking of the last and terrible day of Iudgment when we shall all be called to a reckoning, not only for this sinne, but for all other our sinnes, which this shall occasion, to our very words and thoughts.
And lastly, if thou receivest any power against this great evill, forget not to be thankfull; and when God hath the fruite of his mercies, he will not spare to sow much, where he reapes much.