Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 29
§ 29.
3 FRom wicked talking hee proceeds to curſed and impious ſwearing, blaſpheming, &c. His curſed and impious ſwearing, blaſpheming &c.as you ſeldome ſee a Drunkard but hee is a great ſwearer, and not of petty oathes, but thoſe prodigious and fearefull ones, of Wounds and Blood, the damned language of ruffians, and monſters of the earth, together with, God damne me; which words many of them uſe ſuperficially, if they repent not.
Yea, the Drunkards and deſperate ruffians of our dayes, ſweare and curſe, as if Heaven were deafe to their noyſe; yea, they have ſo ſworne away all grace, that they count it a grace to ſweare: and that not onelyonly when they are diſpleaſed with others, will they tare the name of their Maker in peeces, which is no better then frenzie; but in their very beſt moodes. Prophane Drunkards ſweare, even as dogs barke, not ever for curſtneſſe, but moſtly out of cuſtome: neither know they that they ſweare, though they nothing but ſweare; as you ſhall heare a man, when reproved for ſwearing, preſently rap out oathes, that he ſwore not, like men deſperately diſeaſed, their excrements and filth comes from them at unawares. And as by much labour the hand is ſo hardened, that it hath no ſenſe of labour: ſo their much ſwearing cauſeth ſuch a brawny skin of ſenſeleſſeneſſe to overſpread the heart, memory, and conſcience, that the ſwearer ſweareth unwittingly; and having ſworne hath no remembrance of his oath, much leſſe, repentance for his ſinne.
O the numberleſſe number of oathes and blaſphemies that one blacke mouthed Drunkard ſpits out in defiance, as it were, of God, and all prohibitions to the contrary! Yea, I dare affirme it, had ſome one of them three thouſand pounds per Annum, his meanes would hardly pay thoſe ſmall twelve penny multes, which our Statute impoſes upon ſwearers, were it duly executed. And if ſo, to what number wil the oathes amount, which are ſworne throughout the whole land, yea, in ſome one Alehouſe, or Taverne? where they ſit all day in troopes, doing that in earneſt, which wee have ſeene boyes doe in ſport, ſtand on their heads, and ſhake their heeles againſt Heaven: where even to heare how the name of the Lord Ieſus is pierced, would make a dumbe man ſpeake, a dead man almoſt to quake. Did you never heare how Caeſar was uſed in the Senate houſe? if not, yet you know how a kennell of Hounds will fall upon the poore Hare; one, catcheth the head; another, the leg; a third, the throate; and amongſt them ſhee is torne in peeces: even ſo theſe helliſh miſcreants, theſe bodily and viſible Devills, having their tongues fired and edged from Hell, fall upon the Lord Ieſus; one cryes, Wounds; another, Blood; a third, Heart; a fourth, Body; a fifth, Soule; and never leave ſtabbing and tearing him with their ſtinges, till no whole place be left.
Thus they pierce his ſide with oathes, and teare all his wounds open againe; whereas the Iewes did but crucifie him below on the earth, when hee came to ſuffer; theſe crucifie him above in Heaven, where hee ſits on his throne.
And (which I feare to thinke) it may bee a queſtion, whether there bee more oathes broken or kept: for woe is mee; one, ſells an oath for a bribe; another, lends an oath for favour; another, caſts it away for malice &c. but the Drunkard, without any incitement, tumbleth out oathes at adventure, and is as laviſh of them, as of ill language. O miſery! O wickedneſſe! What ſhall I ſay, that ever any who weares Chriſts badge, and beares his name, ſhould thus riſe up againſt him! that ever thoſe tongues, which dare call God Father, ſhould ſuffer themſelves thus to be moved, and poſſeſſed by that uncleane Spirit! that ever thoſe mouthes, which have received the ſacred Body and Blood of the Lord of life, ſhould endure to ſwallow theſe odious morſells of the Devills carving!