Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 171
§ 171.
NOw why have I unmasked their faces? Written rather to keepe men from drunkenneſſe, then in hope to reclaime any from it.is it in hope to humble them? no, for I have acknowledged, yea proved, that all the water in the Sea will not waſh one of theſe Black-mores white: and therefore to expect this, were to make my ſelfe ridiculous, like him that carried his ſaddle, to ſhame his horſe. Alaſſe! the fleſh, unto them that ſhall periſh, will be ſtronger then all my reaſons. But I have done it for their ſakes, who are not yet infected with this drunken good-fellowſhip, and that the others purpoſe may be infatuated; for vices true picture makes us vice deteſt.
I have done my beſt to increaſe your detestation of evill company, that you may the rather love and make choice of good company: the end why I declame againſt drunkenneſſe, is, but (as the Orator once ſaid) to keepe men ſober.
And what though ſome will mocke a theſe threatnings, with thoſe Sodomites? Gen. 19.9.14. haply ſome one Lot, or other, will follow my counſell. A reproofe, ſaith Solomon, enters more into him that hath underſtanding, then an hundred ſtripes into a foole, Pre. 17.10. And what though every plant that is watered, proveth not fruitfull? yet if God (who it may be hath bidden me ſpeake) but accompany his word to the hearts of ſome, if but a few, if but one, even thy ſelfe, be perſwaded inſteed of loving this vice, to hate it, the labour is not in vaine; the gaine of one ſoule is greater then the Indies.
Yea, it ſhall comfort me, that I have done my beſt to plucke up this infectious deadly weed; that I have hopefully and adminiſtred unto hem, whom I cannot cure; and that I have brought water enough to waſh theſe Ethiopians white, if it were in the power of water to doe it.
Phyſicians ſay, if the diſeaſe be once knowne, the cure is halfe done: ſo if we could ſee corruption in the true forme, we would loath it. But as the conjured Devill appeares not to the Necromancer in hidious and frightfull ſhapes, but in ſome familiar repreſentation: ſo vice ever ſhrouds and ſhewes it ſelfe, in formes moſt delectable to fleſh and blood: whereas here you have drunkenneſſe (in part) diſapparelled of her robes, at leaſt her face is unvailed, to the end, the ſight of it may cauſe a loathing; and that loathing, a forſaking; that thou maiſt know, abhorre, and beware their allurements, ſtrive againe the ſinne, ſhun all occaſions of it, bewaile their caſes, that are led captive to it, &c.
And nothing (as Anacharſis holds) will ſooner reclaime a man from drunkenneſſe, then the ſeeing and remembring of a drunkards odious condition, and beaſtly behaviour: which made the Spartans ever bring their Slaves (when drunk) before their children, that by beholding them, they might learne to deteſt the vice.
Yea, the Perſians, and Parthians, to this end kept; one, the picture of an Epicure; the other, the picture of a Strumpet, alwayes in their houſes; and found by experience, that nothing was ſo opperative againſt ebriety and whoredome, as the continuall ſeeing of thoſe ugly and deformed deſcriptions; which yet were amiable to this monſter, in the judgement of an underſtanding clarified.
Quest: But thou wilt aske, He the ſobereſt and honeſteſt man, which reſembles this drunkard leaſt.how thou ſhalt uſe and apply this ſo ſoveraigne, a remedy, for thy beſt advantage.
Anſw: VponUpon every occaſion examine what the drunkard (here ſet forth) does, and doe thou the contrary: as Domitian was anſwered, demanding, how he might rule? to be no leſſe loved of the people, then his Predeceſſors in the Empire were hated: for he is the moſt ſober and honeſt man, that reſembles this Drunkard leaſt: as Demaratus replied to an ill liver, that demanded of him, who was the honeſteſt man in Sparta? he that is moſt unlike thee.
Doe but conne this leſſon, t'is enough. Nevertheleſſe, leaſt I ſhould imitate thoſe, who kindle a fire under greene wood, and leave it ſo ſoone as it but begins to flame; turne over the leafe, you have compleate Armour againſt evill Society. For conſidering a viſion of the ſinne, without a proviſion againſt it; a diſcovery how they tempt, without directions how to avoid their temptations, is not enough: as in the former Treatiſe, I have ſhewed what drunkards doe; ſo in that which followes, I will ſhew them and others what they ſhould doe.
FINIS.
COMPLEAT ARMOUR AGAINST EƲILL SOCIETY.
By R. Iunius.
IN DOMINO CONFIDO
1 COR. 5.11. If any man that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with ſuch an one eate not.
LONDON, Printed by R. Badger, for George Latham at the Biſhops-head in S. Pauls Churchyard. 1638.