Sin Stigmatized, Part 2 · Section 176
§ 176.
MOre eſpecially, 15 Morceſpecially conſider the heinouſneſſe of thi… ſin, and the evills which accompany itthat thou maiſt maſter and ſubdue this abominable ſin, doe but ſet before thee in a generall view, the heinouſneſſe thereof, and the manifold evills and miſchiefes, which doe accompany it, of which I have already ſpoken, as, that it is a vice condemned by God and men, Chriſtians and infidells; that thereby we grievouſſy offend God, by making our bellies our god, by unfiting and diſabling our ſelves for his ſervice, by abuſing his good creatures, which with a plentifull hand he hath beſtowed upon us, the neceſſary uſe whereof, many better then we want; that thereby we ſinne in a high degree againſt our neighbours generally, and particularly againſt the whole Church, and common wealth, ſtrangers, and familiar acquaintance, and moſt of all againſt our owne family; that hereby we moſt grievouſly ſinne againſt our ſelves, by making us unfit for our callings, and for the performance of all good duties, by diſgracing our profeſſion, and bringing our ſelves into contempt, by making our ſelves the voluntary ſlaves of this vice, by impoveriſhing our eſtate, and bringing upon us want and beggery, by infatuating our underſtandings, and corrupting our wills, and affections, by deforming, diſabling, weakning, and deſtroying our bodies, and bringing our ſelves to untimely death, by excluding our ſelves out of the number of Chriſts members, by quenching the gifts of the Spirit, and ſtrengthening the fleſh and luſts thereof, by cauſing our ſoules to be poſſeſſed with finall impenitency, which is inſeparably accompanied with eternall damnation.
Alſo remember, that as in it ſelfe it is moſt ſinfull, ſo it is alſo the cauſe of, almoſt, all other ſinnes; as of the manifold and horrible abuſes of the tongue, of many wicked and outragious actions, and particularly, of thoſe fearefull ſinnes of murther and adultery.
Alſo, call to mind that as it is the cauſe of ſinne, ſo alſo of many heauy and grievous puniſhments, as making a man lyable to a fearefull woe, and Gods heauy curſe, ſubjecting his name to infamy, his ſtate to beggery, his body to diſeaſes, infirmities, deformities, and immature death, his ſoule to ſenſeleſſe ſottiſhneſſe, and depriving the whole man of the joyes of Heaven, entereth him into the poſſeſſion of eternall helliſh torments: and this will be a good meanes, to make thee moderate thy greedy deſires, mortifie thy carnall affections, and curbe thy unruly appetite, by putting a knife to thy throate, as Salomon adviſeth, ſaying, I could, but I will not take more then is good, or fit.
Yea, the conſideration of theſe things, and of the wofull condition that drunkards are in, will provoke thee to hate their opinions, to ſtrive againſt their practiſe, to pity their miſguiding, to neglect their cenſures, to labour their recovery, and to pray for their ſalvation. For, O how ugly doth this monſter appeare to the eye of that ſoule, which hath forſaken it! how doth ſhe hate her ſelfe, for loving ſo foule, ſo filthy a fiend! for to an underſtanding rectified.
The Drunkard is a ſtrange Chimaera, more prodigious then any Monſter being.
in
Ʋiſage a man, but a Brotheus.
Heart, a Swine.
Head, a Cephalus.
Tongue, an Aſpe.
Belly, a Lumpe.
Appetite, a Leech.
Sloth, an Ignavus.
a
Ierffe. for Exceſſive devouring.
Goate. for Luſt.
Siren. for Flattery.
Hyaena. for Subtilty.
Panther. for Cruelty.
in
Envying, a Baſiliske.
Antipathy to all good, a Lexus.
H…ndering others from good, a Remora.
Life, a Salamander.
Conſcience, an Oſtrich.
Spirit a Devil
1 in ſurpaſſing others in Sinne.
2 in tempting others to Sinne.
3 in drawing others to Perdition.
even the moſt deſpicable peece of all humanity, and not worthy to be reckoned among the Creatures which God made.