Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 47
§ 47.
AGaine ſecondly, for the drunkard doth nothing amiſſe, 2. Their alleadging the examples of ſome holy men.though the Divell himſelf would ſcarſe wiſh him to do worſe: ſome will excuſe themſelves, yea, beare and bolſter out themſelves in their drunkenneſſe, or at leaſt leſſen their ſin, by pleading preſidents and examples; many holy men, ſay they, ſome whereof are mentioned in the Scriptures, have beene drunk; as namely Noah and Lot; and therfore it is not ſo heynous a ſinne, as you would make faire for.
But let ſuch know, that drunkennes ventured on, by the example of a Saints frailty, is of a more malicious nature in them, then it was in him they alledge. Any tranſgreſſion thus derived, is the argument of a more ungracious ſoule, then that it ſeekes to imitate. Yea, this is ſo groſſe a deluſion, that what indeed is an argument of feare, they make an argument of preſumption in ſinning; and what they hope ſhall excuſe them, doth but more properly condemne them, becauſe they had that warning before them; and is ſo farre from being an evidence to acquit them; that nothing can more aggravate their guilt: for certainly hee is more guilty of his owne death, who eates Mercury, and knows ſuch and ſuch were poyſoned with it; or who goeth into an infected houſe, ſeeing Lord have mercy upon us, over the doore, then another, that ſhould do the ſame things ignorantly and unadviſedly.
What Pilot, that were in his right wits when hee ſeeth Sea-marks, purpoſely ſet …o give warning of Rocks, Sands, and Shelves, whereon others have made ſhipwracke, will take occaſion thereby to run his Ship upon them? yea, will he not employ all his care and skill, that by avoyding them, he may eſcape the danger? yes, except hee be ſtarke mad, or extreamely deſperate.
The Holy Ghoſt compares the examples of holy men, to the cloud in the wildernes, Heb. 12.1. which was partly light, partly dark, now if any with the Iſrael…tes, ſhal follow the light part of this cloud (the vertues and graces of theſe Saints and holy men) it will ſafely conduct and carry them thorow the red Sea of this troubleſome world; but contrariwiſe, if any, with thoſe Egyptians, Exod. 14. ſhall follow the black part, (their frailties and infirmities) he is like to be drowned in the ſea of eternal deſtruction, as the Egyptians were in thoſe waters.
Wherefore imitate their vertues, but beware and take heed of their vices. Evill was never made to bee imitated, but goodneſſe: yet alaſſe! Lots faith and obedience is not ſuch a ſinners object, but his drunkennes: as if Iacobs modeſt looke, liberall hand, truth-ſpeaking tongue, devout knee, and humble heart, were not worth the noting; but only his lameneſſe, and haulting. Yea, their weakneſſe is ſeen in our hands, but not ſo much as their tears are ſeene in our eyes.
Oh ſottiſh men, that mark none of the graces of godly men, but their skars! But if any tender the ſafety of his own ſoule, when he ſeeth theſe examples, which are recorded for our learning, for our warning, let them bee as ſo many monitors, to warne him to take heed: yea, if they being ſo godly, had their ſlips and falls, let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed leaſt he fall: let them not make us goe on more ſecurely in our ſinfull courſes, but rather move us, to worke out our ſalvation with feare and trembling, as the Apoſtle exhorts, Phil. 2.12.
Againe the Saints falls ſhould ſerve to raiſe us up, when wee are downe; not to caſt us down, when we are up; and ſhould ſerve for our conſolation afterward, not for our preſumption before.
Laſtly, Lots and Noahs falling into this ſin were nothing in compariſon of thine, for, as for Noah, hee was ignorant of the nature of wine, and knew not the ſtrength of the Grape: for as it was his firſt planting of Vines there, ſo it was in all probability, the firſt time hee had tryed and experimented the operation of wine.
And as for Lot, he drank liberally, with intent only to comfort himſelfe, and his daughters, in regard of the loſſe of their mother, and many other croſſes lately ſuſtained, and was overtaken unawares. Neither did any of theſe drinke with an intent to exceed meaſure, and to bee drunke, neither did they uſe it often; the one, only once; the other, but twice; and that by the inſtigation of his ungracious daughters: and ſo makes nothing, or very little, for the excuſe of common drunkkards, who, like ſo many flyes, live wholly by ſucking. 3 They are not drunke with wine.But thou art not drunke with Wine: no, peradventure thou haſt no wine to be drunk with; yet if thou be overcome with ſtrong drinke of what kinde ſoever it be, thou wilt be found a treſpaſſer againſt ſobriety, and conſequently, againſt God himſelf. It is notwhat you call the thing that doth the hurt, but what hurt it doth, if it maketh either the head heauy, or the heart outragious, or the eyes to ſtare, or the tongue to ſtammer, or the feete to ſtagger, or the ſtomacke to worke like yeaſt in a barrell, thou canſt not excuſe it. Indeed I have heard of a mad fellow, that excuſed his taking of a purſe; who when one ſeeing him goe towards the place of execution, ſaid, how now neighbour, whether goe you, what's the matter? anſwered, nothing, but miſtaking a word; I ſhould have ſaid to ſuch an one, good morrow, & I ſaid, deliver; but as this would not ſave him from the Gallowes; ſo no more will theſe poore excuſes ſave thee from Gods heauy diſpleaſure.