Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 118
§ 118.
The Devil beholding to whores, but farre more to drunkards for none helpe to people his infernall kingdome like them.VVEe have got through the greateſt part, 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 the (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 confeſſe, 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 more 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 artificiall 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 ſight; 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 his hundred ſouldiers: and a will as free as Dunkerke, which bids welcome to all commers, ſo that any baſe 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 himſelfe the very qualities of ſome drunkard; how ever, he chooſeth drunkards to be his inſtruments, to tempt, 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, induſtry, VVe ſhould be as zealous and induſtrious to win ſoules to God.and fervent affection, to doe the will of their Father, ſhould teach and ſtirre up Gods 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 ſervants, 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 ſave 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.