Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 73 – Section 77
§ 73.
The Devil ſpeakes in and works by them … once be did by the Serpent.THat Sathan the Prince of darkneſſe, which ruleth in the ayre (even that falſe Spirit) ſpeaketh and worketh by all the children of diſobedience, as by his Agents and inſtruments; partly, as a workman worketh with his tooles; partly, as a Client ſpeakes by his Advocate; and partly, as a Generall fighteth by his Army, we have plainely ſet downe, Epheſ. 2.2.3. yea, looke but, 2 Cor. 4.4. and there he is ſtiled their god; and being their god, they muſt uſe all poſſible meanes whereby to gaine ſoules to him, by tempting and ſeducing others: to which end, and that they may be the better gifted to doe the ſame exactly, this great temper helpeth their infirmitie, by infuſeing of his owne nature into them; as when hee put it into the heart of Iudas Iſcariot, to betray Chriſt, Iohn, 13.2. and when he moved David to number the people, 1 Chro. 21.1. and ſpake to our Saviour by Peter, as through a trunke, and infuſed his ſubtilty into Herod to deſtroy all the Males; for though Herod be called a Fox, yet this old Fox taught him all his ſubtilty.
And this he can eaſily doe. For as the Load-ſtone, by a ſecret in nature, not only draweth the Iron unto it, as Iet and Amber doth Straw, but iufuſeth alſo a faculty into the Iron, whereby one peece of Iron is made apt to draw another peece after it; yea, the Loadeſtone being put neere a chaine of Iron, doth not onelyonly draw the link that is next it unto it, but alſo cauſeth that link to draw it's fellow, and the next to it it's fellow, and ſo the reſt, until all be drawn: ſo Sathan, by infuſing into ſome men his ſerpentine nature, maketh them as apt to tempt others, and they their aſſociates; as when by the infuſion of this diveliſh nature hee had tempted Eve, and made her his vaſſall, ſhe proved an apt, exquiſite, and ready inſtrument to ſeduce Adam to eate the forbidden fruit, at the price of death eternal: and ever ſince the divell might uſe the words of God, and ſay, behold, man is become as one of us.
And for number, Sathan more men on earth to fight for him then the Trinity which made us.Sathan hath more ſervants then any Emperour of the world, yea, more men (I feare me) to fight for him, then the Trinity which made us: for whereas few have the courage to ſpeake for God, and his worſhip, (even amongſt us Chriſtians) Sathan hath his tempters and ſeducers in every country, and place, yea, in every corner of each country, like continuall Leigers, to follow his buſines; who both can do it neere as well, even as Witches can doe almoſt as much as the divel himſelfe; and will do it as faithfully as if he did it in his own perſon.
What Gideon and Abimelech once ſpake to their troopes, Iudg. 7.17. and 9.48. looke on me, and ſee what you ſee me do, make haſt, and do you likewiſe, and they did it: the ſame ſpeaks Sathan to his followers, and they imitate and reſemble the divell, as truly as Apes and Monkies will imitate and reſemble men; which though they cannot ſpeake and underſtand, with ſuch reaſon as men do; yet they will counterfeit men in any thing that poſſible they can compaſſe.
And theſe his ſervants are ſo at his beck, that he needs no more, but hold up his finger; as the maſter of a Galley, when he perceives a good gale of winde, that is faire for his voyage, doth with once whiſling, make all the Galley-ſlaves fall to their Oares. So that Sathan hath diverſe and ſundry wayes to aſſault us, many ſtrings to his Bow, that if ſome break, the reſt may hold; many traines of powder, ſome likely to take fire; yea, he is like ſome cunning Enginere, that can invent new inſtruments, according to the preſent occaſion; and he inventeth all he can, and puts in practiſe all that he inventeth. Yea, if men have ſo many ſlights to compaſſe their matters, how can the compaſſer himſelfe hold his fingers? If the Serpents ſeed bee ſo ſubtile, what doe you thinke of this old Serpent? Yea ſo many ſnares and engines are laid, by the profeſſed enemy of man, to intrap our ſoules, that wee may with reverence and love wonder at the mercy of God in our delivery; for wee fall, O God, we fall to the loweſt hell if thou prevent us not, if thou ſuſtaine us not; all our weakneſſe is in our ſelves, all our ſtrength is in thee.
Nevertheleſſe, wee can thanke none, but our ſelves if wee yeeld; The minde of man not capeable of a violation either from man or Sathan.for though that old Saba blowes many an intiſeing blaſt, to carry us away from our true alleagiance to Christ Ieſus, our King; yet the minde of man is not capeable of a violation, either from man, or Sathan: and who then can I tax for mine owne yeelding, but my ſelfe?
§ 74.
NOw to ſpeake of, As impoſſible to reckon up all ſorts of ſeducers as to tell the moates in the Sun.or nominate all ſorts of ſeducers; much more to ſhew the ſeveral ſlights which wicked men uſe, that they may make us aſſociate them in their lewdneſſe, is impoſſible; yea, I may as well weigh the fire, or meaſure the winde; as well reckon up the moates in the Sun, paint Eccho to the life, make the Moone a new coate, and aſſoone finde out the motion of a bird in the aire, the way of a Serpent upon a ſtone; and the way of a Ship in the midst of the Sea, which are all too wonderfull for me, Prov. 30.18.19. yea, had I the gift of prophecy, and knew all ſecrets touching the ſame, I ſhould need two hundred tongues, and ſix hundred pens, and a mouth of ſteele, with an Iron voyce; if I ſhould declare their ſeverall diverſities. For the foure and twenty letters in the Alphabet make not more variety of words in divers languages: then the Serpents ſubtilty produceth diverſity of ſtratagems, in ſeverall perſons; and I could eaſilier tell you what good they omit, then what evill they doe.
O the many waies that Sathan (through mens help) hath to ſeduce us! and the many tempters he hath, in every corner, Of drunkards who are ſathant principall agents in this buſinesto ſet upon us! where ſhall a man come and not find a ſeducer? and a drunkard of all other tempters, as he never ceaſeth to ſeduce; ſo hee ſeldome miſſes of prevailing. But though the Springs and Wards of temptation are ſo infinite, that it is impoſſible to decypher them all, yet according to the meaſure of the line, whereof God hath diſtributed unto me, I will diſcover how the drunkard ſeduceth; and ſo goe a middle way betweene ſaying all and nothing; and by looking upon him, you may more then gueſſe at the reſt.
Neither will I undertake to tell all, for that the time would bee too ſhort, or this Treatiſe too long, if I ſhould ſtand upon every ſeverall ſlight which drunkards have to ſeduce; yea, talking Fabius would be tyred, before hee can relate halfe of what were requiſite to be ſpoken of them it would require whole volumes; for not a fewlines, nor leaves, would containe the ſame. Beſides, notions when they exceede, are wont, as nayles to drive out one another; and theſe which I have purpoſely ſelected out, are the principall, moſt behovefull, and beſt deſerving our diſcovery, and the worlds notice.
§ 75.
THat none are either affected, or addicted to ſeduce like drunkards; let their deeds (which come now to bee diſcovered) manifeſt.Drunkards to turne others, into beaſts, will make them ſelves divells.
The drunkards chiefe delight is to infect others, the Serpents ſpeciall venome (as I ſaid before) wherewith theſe his elfes bee intoxicated, is to make others more beaſts then themſelves: yea, drunkards being the divels deputies, to turne others into beaſts, will make themſelves divels, wherein they have a notable dexterity; making the Ale-houſe or Tavern, their ſtudie; their circle, the pot; themſelves, the conjurers; mens ſoules the hire; reputation of good fellowſhip, the charme; the characters, healths; the goblin raiſed, is the ſpirit of the buttery; and to drink God, out of their hearts; health, out of their bodies; wit, out of their heads; ſtrength out of their joynts; all the money, out of their purſes; allth e drink, out of the Brewers barrels; wife and children, out of doores: the land, out of quiet; plenty, out of the Kingdome; is all thier buſineſſe.
Theſe agents for the Divell (drunkards) practiſe nothing but the art of debauching men; They practiſe nothing but the art of debauching men.for they will take no pains, unleſſe the Divel ſet them on work; though in this caſe, being ſet like beaſts to draw in the divels teame, they will leade captive unſtable ſoules to ſinne with cords of vanity, and as it were with a cartrope, Iſaiah 5.18. for to ſinne, theſe pernicious ſeduſers, divels in the ſhape of men, are no niggards of their paines. Oh how much is hell beholding to them! yea, ſeldome ever doe wee finde goodneſſe ſo induſtrious, the children of light are not alwaies the forwardeſt in their generation.
Beſides, they have many obſtacles, 1 Theſ. 2.18. we would have come unto you once, and again, ſaith Pavl to his converts, but Sathan hindred us. Our way is like Cuſhie's, full of rubs: but they, like Ahimaaz, take the plaine and beaten path; miſchiefe is nimble, and he that intends evill, will breake his ſleepe to do it. Iudas, and that bench of gray-headed Prieſts and Elders, will be awake, when Peter and his fellow Diſciples (notwithſtanding Chriſt charged them to watch with him but one houre) are faſt aſleepe, Matth. 26.40. to 51. the Tare ſower is in the field, when the husbandman is in his bed, Mat. 13.25 yea, they that worſhip the beaſt, and his Image, never reſt day nor night, Revel. 14.11.
But never did opportunity meet with any, that made more uſe of it, then doe theſe ſeducers, they will husband it to proofe, and like ſome cunning Antagoniſt, looſe not an inch of their advantage, their diligence is admirable; the Phariſies would take grea paines, compaſse ſea and land to make one like themſelves, Matth. 23.15. and Seminary Prieſts will come from Rome, to draw one from the true religion: ſo what will not ſome drunkards do, or ſpend, to make a ſober man a drunkard, or to drinke another drunkard under the Table; which may caſt a bluſh upon our cheekes, who are nothing ſo induſtrious to winne ſoules to God.
§ 76.
Drinking and forceing of healths their principall ſtratageme.NOw for the effecting of this (though theſe Milo's (be they never ſo ſtrong) oftentimes meet with ſome Titormus or other, ſtronger then they, who throwes them under the Table) what comparable to drinking of healths? (which Antisthenes cals the only occaſion and meanes of ſurfeiting and diſorder; another very fit ly, the pulley or ſhooing-horn to al drunkennes and exceſſe) for their drinking and beginning of healths, is purpoſely, and ſerves to no other end, but to draw men on to drinke more liberally, then elſe they would, or ſhould doe, but to allure and force ſuch as they finde otherwiſe unwilling; yea, their owne hearts and conſciences can teſtifie unto them in the ſight of of God that they uſe theſe healths, but as ſo many baites, occaſions, or pretenſes to allure and provoke their gueſts, and friends to pledge them, even unto ſurfeit: neither muſt any refuſe their healths, though it be againſt their natures, judgments, hearts and conſciences, which doe ſecretly abhorre and utterly condemne them.
O how they will wind a man in, by drinking, firſt, a health to ſuch a man; then, to ſuch a woman my Miſtreſſe, then to every ones miſtris; then, to ſuch a great perſon; naming ſome Lord, or Lady or ſome neere friend
Now by this meanes of drinking their Lords, their Ladies, their Maſters, their Miſtreſſes (and ſhee for the moſt part a common ſtrumpet) their Magiſtrates, their Captains, Commanders, Kindreds, Parents, friends, or companions healths; they will wind men in to drinke, even till their braines, their wits, their tongues, their eyes, their feet, their ſenſes, and all their members faile them.
For commonly when theſe friends fal to drinking of healths, it is as enemies fall to fighting with weapons, to ſhew their valour, and to get the maſtery; and their weapons are full charged cups, which who ſo carrieth moſt away cleere, is conquerour, and leades the reſt about the towne (if they can goe) in Triumph; though he gets the greateſt honour, that can drinke the reſt off their leggs.
Hereupon their healths muſt either bee great in meaſure, Their bealths either great in meaſure or many in number.or many in number. Touching the firſt, you have ſome like Tricong us Novellus, who dranke three Gallons of wine at once; or Proteas who gave valiant Alexander a quaffe of two Gallons, 1 Of great bealtht.which ſet him into a diſeaſe hee dyed of. Is not Steventon a Towne within two miles of Abindon, famous for his ſake, that dranke a Peck at a draught? And did not a Dyer, of Barkhamſted in Hartford-ſhire, doe the like? as for a drunkard to diſrobe the greateſt goblet of his liquor, though it be of ſuch weight, that (as Virgil ſaid once) the left hand is faine to helpe her ſiſter, he makes nothing of it.
§ 77
TOuching the ſecond, 2 If their healths be ſmaler the liquor is stronger or the number moreIf they drinke but indifferent healths, then the leſſe the healthes are, the more strong the wine; for the ſmalneſſe of the cup, or glaſſe, is commonly made up with the ſtrength, vigor, and deareneſſe of the wine, or other liquor; ſo that theſe ſmall healthes, will ſooner intoxicate and inebriate men, then greater healthes, in cheaper and ſmaler drinke; and yet theſe little healthes, as well as little wedges, make but way for great ones of the ſame nature. For many of them, hating the mixture of Malt and water, will, by their good wills, let nothing come within them but the purity of the Grape, if they can get it, and that's as naturall to them (through cuſtome) as ſmall beere is to other men: and no wonder, for if phyſicke be taken too oft, it will not worke like phyſicke; yea, poyſon by familiar uſe, becomes naturall foode; as Ariſtotle (in an example of a maid, which would picke Spiders off the wall, and eate them (ſhewes. Whence we may learne, that if Tobacco were as wholſome a weede or hearb, as is pretended; yet being uſed too commonly, nature entertaines it as a friend, not as a Phyſitian.
Or ſecondly, when the healthes are ſmall and little in quantity or meaſure; they are commonly made up and recompenced with the multitude, number, and frequencie of them; and this they have learned of the Lombards, of whom we reade this ſtory.
When foure auncient men of them met together, they dranke an health round, to each others yeares; in the end, one challenged the reſt to drinke ſeverally, ſo many times, as they had lived yeares, and likewiſe his companions pledged him: the one was fifty eight; the ſecond, ſixty three; the third, eighty ſeven; the laſt, ninety two yeares old; ſo he which dranke leaſt, dranke fifty eight cups of wine, as Diaconus relates it.
O the audacious, horrible, and fearefull drunkenneſſe (which would cauſe any Chriſtian heart to bleed and tremble) that is too often cauſed by theſe healthes in every place and corner, eſpecially in the ſolemne time of Chriſt's Nativity!