Englands Bane, Title page – To the reader
ENGLAND'S BANE, OR The Deadly Danger OF Drunkennels Deſcribed in a Letter to a FRIEND: WHEREIN Are many convincing Arguments againſt it, and many aggravations of it, in Profeſſors of Religion; and many other things tending to a Reformation of that Beaſtly Sin.
BY EDWARD BƲRY, late Miniſter of Great-Bolas in Shropſhire.
Iſa. XXVIII. 1. Wo to the Crown of pride to the Drunkards of Ephraaim, &c.
Hab. II. 15. Wo to him that gives his neighbour Drink, that putteſt thy Bottle to him, and makeſt him Drunk alſo, &c.
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt at the Bible and three Growns in Cheapſide near Mercers-Chappel. 1677.
Licenced and Entred according to Order.
TO THE READER.
Courteous Reader,
THough theſe following lines were at firſt deſigned for a private Perſon, and ſo adapted to his condition, yet ſeeing there are many, Oh too many ſick of the ſame diſeaſe! and Drunkenneſs is become a publick diſtemper in poor and rich; I thought it not amiſs to make my Receipt publick alſo. This diſeaſe is become epidemical, and all the Phyſicians in England know not how to ſet a ſtop to it, 'tis like a mighty torrent that bears down all before it, ſo that Drunkenneſs and Adultery ſeem to ſtrive for the Preheminence. Now though I cannot imagine that my little Dam can ſet a ſtop to this fierce Flood, which doubtleſs will ſoon mount over it, and bear it down, yet being made in ſome ſmall Stream it may poſſibly do ſome good, or however, when I have done my duty, and witneſſed for my God againſt this debauchery, My reward will be with my God, and though Iſrael be not gathered my labour will not be in vain, Iſa. 49. 4 &c. and I ſhall ſtand up at laſt in my lot to witneſs againſt thoſe that now ſhut their eyes againſt the light: If theſe Lines meet with any that are not guilty, let them bleſs God that hath made them to differ, and let them be preventing Phyſick againſt future temptations, and let him that ſtandeth take heed leaſt he fall. But Reader, If thou art guilty, conſider well the ſtrength of Reaſon, and the ſorce of Scripture arguments here brought, for thy Conviction, and ſhut not thine eyes againſt either, for the time will come God will open them, and if thou canſt not ſpeak as much Reaſon and Scripture for Drunkenneſs, as bere thou findeſt againſt it, take heed of reſiſting God, and the Meſſage he hath ſent thee, for I am ſure thou canſt not reſiſt his judgments, which he hath threatned againſt ſuch wilful offenders, and 'tis hard to kick againſt the pricks. I know this diſcourſe runs croſs to the humours of the Time, and the ſinful inclination of corrupt nature, yet though the Phyſick ſeem ſharp 'tis ſafe, old Diſeaſes are not uſually cured with Cordial Syrups, nor old feaſtered Sores with lenitive Plaſters, a gentle reproof will not work upon an incorrigible Perſon, or gray Headed Sinner; ſome happly may quarrel the Language, as well as the matter, becauſe the Pills are not Sugared, but when there is Fire in the Town, men ſtand not to make an eloquent Oration, but cry Fire, Fire, I write to thoſe that many times can neither ſpeak Sence nor underſtand Reaſon, to thoſe who had rather be accounted Good-fellows, than either good livers or good Chriſtians; and my deſign is to make them better Livers, rather than better Rhetoricians, and ſeeing they ſin in Engliſh why ſhould they be reproved in Latine, they had need have one ſpeak loud enough, leſt they are aſleep, or amidſt the crowd of their Drunken Companions; for then 'tis hard to make them hear or regard. All the Plagues of Egypt could not awaken Pharaoh till the red Sea convinced him; neither could all the Miracles of Chriſt convince the Jews till Titus Veſpatian ſwept them away: the Sodomites when ſtruck with Blindneſs, yet were not cured of their madneſs, till Fire, and Brimſtone convinc'd them of their folly, and 'tis to be feared, that nothing but Fire and Brimſtone will awake many of our drowſy Drunkards; this will make them ſee God ſpake in earneſt what they took in jeaſt. If any pretend they make no profeſſion of Religion, and therefore are not concerned with part of the Book, it being adapted only to ſuch, this will prove but a bad excuſe, they never pretended to ſerve God, and therefore may the more freely break his Laws, but I conceive all thoſe that own that there is a God, make ſome profeſſion to ſerve him, but let their profeſſion be what it will, without Holineſs they ſhall never enjoy Happineſs, and truly till a man break off from wicked Company there is little hopes of a Reſormation. When Peter was in Caiphas's Hall, he ſoon learnt to deny his Maſter, when Joſeph was in Egypt he learnt to ſwear by the life of Pharaoh; If Solomon will have Pharaoh's Daughter to Wife, he ſhall have her Idols alſo. The Fuller in the Fable, would not dwell with the Collier for fear of a Smut, and whoever would avoid Drunkenneſs muſt avoid Drunken companions: he that would avoid Infection muſt beware of Infected Perſons, and Infected Places; a man that would be Chaſt muſt not live in a Brothel-houſe, and he that would be ſober muſt not haunt Alehouſes and Taverns. I ſhall add no more at preſent, but wiſh that what I have written may be beneficial to that end for which it is written. I now reſt,
Thy unfeigned Welwiſher Edward Bury. Eaton, Jan. 1. 1676.