A Warning to Drunkards, Sermon · Section 2
Sect. 2. The Text opened. What's meant by the Crown of Pride, what by the drunkards of Ephraim, what by the wo denounced againſt them.
The Prophet in this Text denounceth God's judgments againſt two great ſins, Pride and Drunkenneſs, for opening whereof let us conſider.
1. What is meant by the Crown of Pride?
2. What is meant by the Drunkards of Ephraim.
3. What by the wo denounced againſt Pride and Drunkenneſs.
What is meant by the Crown of Pride?
A. 1. By the Prophets crying wo to the Crown of Pride, we may underſtand that Pride is odious to God in all ſorts of perſons, though they be Kings and Princes, ſuch as wear Crowns, if great men; If the greateſt Kings be lifted up with Pride they are an abomination to the Lord. Prov. 16.5. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. Nebuchadnezzar was the greateſt Monarch in the World; All People, Nations and Languages trembled and feared before him, whom he would he ſlew, and whom he would he ſaved alive. Dan. 5.19. Yet when this great King was lifted up with Pride, God did no ſpare him, but depoſed him from his Kingly Throne, and made him lower than the loweſt of men: For he was driven from among men, and had his dwelling among the beaſts, and did eat graſs as the Oxen. Dan. 5.20. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardned in Pride, he was depoſed from his Kingly Throne. Dan. 4.31, 32. O King Nebuchadnezzar the Kingdom is departed from thee, and they ſhall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling ſhall be with the beaſts of the field, they ſhall make thee to eat graſs as Oxen.
2. By wo to the Crown of Pride, we may underſtand, wo to thoſe in whom Pride is a reigning ſin. Crowns are worn by thoſe that reign, in token of their regal dignity. We muſt not ſuffer Pride or any other ſin to reign in us. Rom. 6.12. Let not ſin reign in your mortal body, that ye ſhould obey it in the luſts thereof. Good men may be overtaken with Pride as well as other ſins, but it doth not reign over them, but they reſiſt and oppoſe it, and humble themſelves for it, as we may ſee in the caſe of Hezekiah. 2 Chron. 32.25, 26.— His heart was lifted up — Notwithſtanding Hezekiah humbled himſelf for the Pride of his heart. Now the wo denounced againſt Pride, is againſt the Crown of Pride, that is, where Pride is a reigning ſin.
3. By the Crown of pride may be underſtood thoſe Crowns or Garlands made of Roſes or other Flowers, which drunkards uſe to wear at their drunken meetings. Ebrii ſolebant ſibi coronas imponere; As Grotius obſerveth. It was an Heatheniſh cuſtom for drunkards to put Crowns on their heads, which cuſtom was imitated by many of the Iſraelites, againſt ſuch as theſe the Prophet denounceth Gods judgments, wo to the Crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, as if he ſhould have ſaid, wo to thoſe drunkards in Ephraim, that take a pride in drunkenneſs, that glory in their ſhame, that ſtrive to excell and get the maſtery of each of other in drunkenneſs.
What is meant by the Drunkards of Ephraim.
A. A drunkard is one that is given, addicted, accuſtomed to the ſin of drunkenneſs, one that is frequently drunk, Noah was once overtaken with drunkenneſs, but he was no drunkard, he was not addicted and accuſtomed to this ſin.
Ephraim was a Tribe in Iſrael. Numb. 1.33. Of the Tribe of Ephraim were 40500. Sometimes by Ephraim is underſtood the Ten Tribes of Iſrael which revolted from the houſe of David in the days of Jeroboam, As Iſa. 7.2. It was told the houſe of David, Syria is confederate with Ephraim, that is, with the Ten Tribes of Iſrael, vvhichwhich vvere called by the name of Ephraim, becauſe Jeroboam vvho vvas the firſt King that the ten Tribes ſet up, after their defection from the houſe of David vvas of the Tribe of Ephraim. 1 King. 11.26, 31. And alſo becauſe Ephraim vvas the chiefeſt of the ten Tribes: ſo that vvo to the drunkards of Ephraim is as much as vvo to the drunkards in Iſrael. Iſrael vvas a people that had God's Word and Prophets, a people for vvhom God had done greater things than for any Nation under Heaven. Pſal. 147.19, 20. Iſrael profeſſed themſelves to be the people of the Lord; And therefore to be a drunkard in Iſrael was far worſe than to be a drunkard in Egypt or Moab, or any other Heatheniſh Land.
What is meant by that wo which the Prophet denounceth againſt the Crovvn of pride, and the drunkards of Ephraim.
A. It implyes that pride and drunkenneſs are vvofull ſins, and that all proud perſons, and all drunkards are in a vvofull condition. This little vvord wo, is a comprehenſive vvord, it comprehends all ſorts of miſeries, both in this Life and the Life to come. VVhen the Scripture ſaith vvo to drunkards, it implyes that the curſe of God is upon them in this Life, and vvill vvithout Repentance remain upon them to Eternity. But ſee more particularly what is included in the wo denounced in the Scripture.
1. The wo denounced in Scripture implyeth all ſorts of miſery and calamity on the outward man, even to our utter ruine and deſtruction. Numb. 21.29. Wo to thee Moab, thou art undone.
2. The wo denounced in Scripture implyeth Spiritual judgments, that God will ſend his plagues on thoſe mens ſouls, to whom his word ſaith wo. Iſa. 3.9. Wo unto their Soul, for they have rewarded evil againſt themſelves.
3. When the Scripture denounceth wo againſt ſinners, this wo includeth in it the certain and unavoidable damnation of Hell. Mat. 23.28, 33. Wo unto you Scribes and Phariſees, Hypocrites — How can ye eſcape the damnation of Hell. So that this wo comprehends all ſorts of judgments, internal, external, and eternal judgments.