The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 70
Labour in Callings Meanes of Blessings.
AQuila, Lydia, and the Gaoler, living in a Calling were converted.Act. 18. & 16.
Apollo, mightie in the Scriptures, was in the perfect way of God instructed.Act. 18. 26.
Cornelius a Centurion praying, was willed to send for Peter by an Angell.Act. 10.
David following the great ones with yong, was called to be King of Israel.1 Chron. 17.
Daniel ruling well, was by King Darius and Cyrus greatly advanced.Dan. 6. 28. 1 Kin. 19. Act. 8. Iudg. 6. Gen. 31. Exod. 3. Matth. 9. Ruth 2. Matth. 4. 1 Sam. 10. 1 Sam. 3. Luk. 2. 26. Luke 2. Matth. 2. Luke 1. 5. Mark 13. 35.
Elisha plowing, was called by Elijah to be Prophet of the Lord.
The Eunuch reading, was by God sending an Angel who sent Philip instructed.
Gideon threshing, was made the deliverer of the Israelites from Midian.
Iacob, being faithfull in service, was by God willed to depart from Laban.
Moses, keeping sheep, was sent by God to deliver Israel from the Egyptians.
Matthew, sitting at the receipt of Custome, was called to be an Apostle.
Ruth, gleaning of corn, was married to Boaz a man of Israel.
Peter, and others fishing, were called to be Fishers of men.
Saul, seeking Asses, was chosen to be of all Israel the first king.
Samuel, ministring unto God, was called by him three times, Samuel, Samuel.
Simeon, looking for the Consolation of Israel, embraced Christ in the Temple.
Shepherds, keeping sheep, were made witnesses of Christs birth at Bethlehem.
Wise men, enquiring after Christ, were by a Starre directed unto him.
Zacharias, executing his office, was told by an Angel that he should have a Son. Watch therefore, for ye know not what houre the master will come.
A Catalogue of men commended in their Calling.
Abraham In the Book of God is commended for Faith.Heb. 11. 7. 2 Sam. 8. Dan. 6. 10. Gen. 5. 21. 2 Sam. 2. Gē. 24. 63. Gen. 39. Iob 1. 22. Iosh. 1. Luk. 3. 10. Mar. 3. 17. Nū. 12. 3. Nū. …5. 6. Mat. 26. 62. Rom. 1. &c. 1 Sam. 25. Iudg. 16. Gen 19. 2. 1 King. 3. Matth. 2.
David In the Book of God is commended for Prowesse.
Daniel In the Book of God is commended for Devotion.
Henoch In the Book of God is commended for Pietre.
Hazael In the Book of God is commended for Swiftnesse
Isaac In the Book of God is commended for Meditation.
Ioseph In the Book of God is commended for Chastitie.
Iob In the Book of God is commended for Patience.
Ioshua In the Book of God is commended for Courage.
Iohn In the Book of God is commended for Vehemencie.
Iames In the Book of God is commended for Loftinesse.
Moses In the Book of God is commended for Meeknesse.
Phinehas In the Book of God is commended for Zeale.
Peter In the Book of God is commended for Boldnesse.
Paul In the Book of God is commended for Profoundness
Samuel In the Book of God is commended for Uprightnesse.
Samson In the Book of God is commended for Strength.
Lot In the Book of God is commended for Courteousnes
Salomon In the Book of God is commended for Wisdome.
Wise men In the Book of God is commended for Paint-taking.
Among the Romans Among Ecclesiasticall Writers
Tertulian Is commended for Weightinesse of matter.
Lactantius Is commended for Well-mattered words.
Cyprian Is commended for Flowing Speech.
Chrysostome Is commended for Statelinesse of Stile.
Bernard Is commended for Conscionable delightfulness.
Augustine Is commended for Profunditie of Religion.
Luther Is commended for Powerfulnesse.
Calvin Is commended for Compendiousnesse.
Martyr Is commended for Copious Judicialnesse.
Zanchie Is commended for Judiciall Copiousnesse.
Achilles Is commended for Couragiousnesse.
Aprican Is commended for Gravitie.
Corbe Is commended for Copiousnesse.
Eschines Is commended for Shrilnesse.
Hipeudes Is commended for Sharpnesse.
Lisias Is commended for Subtiltie.
Laelius Is commended for Smoothnesse.
Demosthenes Is commended for Powerfulnesse.
Socrates Is commended for Sweetnesse.
Tullie Is commended for Eloquence.
Gods Justice Drunkennesse punished.
Ebrietas est blandus Daemon, dulce venenum, & suave peccatum….
August.DRunkennesse is a flattering Devil, a sweet poison, and a delightsome sinne, which who so hath in himselfe, hath not himselfe, and he that useth it is not himselfe in the Concrete, but sinfulnesse it selfe in the abstract, being a voluntarie Devil, the common shame of Nature, and the prodigious disgrace of mankinde, staggering in the robes of good-fellowship, shrouding it selfe under the wings of Merriment, being like the man that sleepeth in the middest of sea, and upon thePro. 23. 24, 29. top of a Mast; as also the foolish Marriners which needlesly let in the water to their ship, whereby they are forced to labour hard to pumpe it out again.
1. Drunkennesse is when men drink either in wine or strong drinke beyond measure, so as there followes an intoxication of the powers of the soule: and is a sinne that procures plagues both to body and soule, in that it inflames the bloud with an unnaturall heat, ingenders unnaturall thirst, which ingenders immoderate drinking, whence comes Dropsies, Consumptions, and cold diseases with untimely deaths: so that many by drinking healths to others leave no health to themselves.
2. Drunkennesse confounds the Memory, duls the understanding, distempers the bodie, defaceth beauty, and hurts the minde: for the spirits of the heart and brain, being the mediate instruments of the soule are by drinking distempered and inflamed, and thereupon …riseth wicked imaginations, disordered affections, and and such like; whence also cometh stinke of breath, rednesse of eyes, diminishing of strength, woes, sorrowes, contentions, wounds without cause, and such like;Prov. 23. 21, 29. Ecclus. 9. 2. &c. Chap. 31. 27. being the fruits thereof.
3. Drunkennesse corrupteth the bloud, drowneth the spirits, beggers the purse, enricheth the Carcase with surfets, turnes bloud into water, bread to drinke, reason to poison, and the very Soule to Froth, by an intollerable iniquitte; Swinishly disanimating the understanding power of the same, and in a word corrupteth the whole world, it being the capitall cause of many and unspeakable diseases, besides of other sinnes, which as handmaides are attendants on it, ad daily experience sheweth.
4. Drunkennesse causeth vomiting and filthinesse, of which the Lord himselfe complaineth by the Prophet Isaiah against the priests and others, and thereby theyIsai. 28. went astray, so that they failed in prophesying, stumbled in Judgement, and became ignorant.
Through Drunkennesse
Amalekites lay scattered on the earth, so that David slew all of them.1 Sam. 30. 2 Sam. 13. 1 King. 20. Da… 5. 2 Sā …. 1 Ki. 16. Corinth…ans, 1 Cot 11. 21 Iudg. 9. Matth. 14. Isai. 5. 12. Gen. 1…. Gen. 9. 1 Sam. 25. Iudg. 16. Isai. 28. 7. Isai. 5. 11.
Amnons heart was merry, so that Absaloms servants slew him.
Benhadad with fiftie two other kings were by Israel overcome.
Belshazzars Countenance fell down, and the Medes took his Kingdome.
David used meanes to move Ʋriah to cover his sinne committed.
Elah was by his servant, conspiring against him, murthered.
Gaal with his brethren against Ahimelech conspired.
Herod in his drunken banquet caused Iohn to be beheaded.
The Israelites dranke till they were thirstie: Hell was prepared for them.
Lots daughters lay with their Father: two cursed Nations came of them.
Noah was uncovered in his tent, and discovered by his sonne.
Nabals heart was merry: and suddenly dyed within him.
Philistines sporting with Samson, were by the fall of an house slain.
Priests and Prophets stumbled in Judgement, and failed in Vision.
Woe Ʋnto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink, that continue untill night, that the wine inflame them, they shall be trodden under foot, and their beautie shall fade.
Woe Ʋnto them that are mightie to drink wine, and to men of strength, mingling Isai. 5. 2…. Chap. 28. 7, 8, &c.strong drinke, which causeth men to erre, and to goe out of the way, being swallowed up with wine and strong drink; the Lord will cause them to fall backward, and into their enemies hand.
Awake ye drunkards, weep and howle, because of the new wine, for it is cut off from Ioel 1. 5. &c.your mouth, &c. and for your sinne, The field is wasted, the land mourneth, the corne withered, the new wine dried, the oyle languisheth, and the trees are spoiled.
Howle ye ministers of the Altars, for the meat-offering, and the drink-offering is Prov. 23. 21. Syr.3…. 25. Ʋse.with-holden from the house of God: The beasts groane, the herds of cattell are perplexed, Ioel 1. 10.because they have no pasture, yea the flocks of the sheep are male desolate:
Use.
1. Remember Christs Admonition, Take heed of Drunkennesse: forget not Pauls Luk 21. 34. 1 Cor. 5. 11. Prov. 23. 10. Esther 1. 8.and Salomons, Company not with drunkards, &c.
2. Call to minde Calistines who would not pledge Alexander to have need of Esculapius, or the king to have need of the Phisitian.
3. Learne example of the bruit beasts, who in eating and drinking keep measure, taking no more then will suffice nature, therefore the Horse and Asse may be Schoole-masters to many men given to this sin.
4. Know that no drunkard shall inherite the Kingdome of Heaven: then meditate in thy future judgement of God by repentance for the same.1 Cor. 6. 11.
Be not drunken with wine wherein is excesse, but be filled with the Spirit.
Reade Micah 6. 15. Prov. 10. 1. Ecclus. 19. 2. Chap. 31. 29. Chap. 37. 29. & 31. 4, 5. Hos. 4. 11.Ephes. 5. 18.