A Warning to Drunkards, Sermon · Section 3
Sect. 3. Drunkenneſs is a wofull ſin. VVhat drunkenneſs is, when a man is, in Scripture account, a drunken man.
The text being explained, I ſhall not at preſent treat of the wo denounced againſt the ſin of pride, though that be an abominable ſin, but of the wo denounced againſt the drunkards of Ephraim, which concerneth all other drunkards as well as thoſe of Ephraim, though more eſpecially ſuch drunkards as live under the means of grace, and are profeſſors of the Chriſtian Religion. And the Doctrine which I ſhall inſiſt on is this.
Doct. Drunkenneſs is a wofull ſin, and all drunkards are in a wofull condition, eſpecially ſuch as live under the means of grace, and make a profeſſion of Religion.
VVo to the drunkards of Ephraim: It is not to be underſtood excluſive, as if other drunkards were not in a wofull condition, as well as thoſe of Ephraim, but eminenter, the drunkards of Ephraim above others were in a wofull condition, becauſe they ſinned againſt more light and more means of grace than the drunkards in Heatheniſh Countries. Before I ſhew what a wofull ſin drunkenneſs is, it will be expedient to enquire what drunkenneſs is.
Drunkenneſs is ſometimes taken figuratively, as when it is applyed to ſin, Rev. 17.2, 6. or affliction; Iſa. 51.21. Or properly for being drunk with wine or other ſtrong drink. Eph. 5.18. Be not drunk with wine. And in this ſenſe I ſhall handle it in this diſcourſe. Drunkenneſs is a vice ſo well known that there is little need of any definition to be given of it, yet for a fuller opening of the nature of this ſin, I ſhall give this deſcription of it.
Drunkenneſs is a ſin whereby a man is inclined to exceſs in drinking, to the depriving of himſelf of the uſe of his reaſon. For the explaining of this deſcription of drunkenneſs, there are three things to be conſidered in the ſin of drunkenneſs.
1. The inordinate love and deſire of wine or other ſtrong drink. This is ſinfull when the heart is inordinately enclined to the love and deſire of wine or ſtrong drink. It is noted as a vice in the children of Iſrael that they loved flagons of wine. Hoſ. 3.1. The children of Iſrael who look to other Gods, and love flagons of wine. It is mentioned as a requiſite in the Miniſter of the Goſpel, that he muſt be one not given to wines. 1 Tim. 3.3. His heart, his affections muſt not run after wine. As the going out of the heart after Idols is ſinfull, as well as the bowing the body to Idols. Ezek. 20.16. Their heart goeth after their Idols. So the going out of the heart to wine or ſtrong drink in an inordinate manner is ſinfull as well as exceſſive drinking; For inordinate affections to things, in themſelves lawfull, become ſinfull. A man may be guilty of drunkenneſs by his inordinate deſire, as well as the immoderate uſe of wine. Ebrietas eſt inordinata vini concupiſcentia, vel uſus. Tho. Aquinas. 22 ae. q. 150.
2. Exceſs in drinking wine or ſtrong drink. Drunkenneſs is ſometime called by this name, exceſs of wine. 1 Pet. 4.3. The time paſt of our life may ſuffice us, to have wrought the will of the Gentiles when we walked in laſciviouſneſs, luſts, exceſs of wines— There is a lawfull uſe of wine and ſtrong drink, eſpecially for ſuch as have weakly ſtomachs, and ſuch as are oppreſſed with grief, but then it muſt be with moderation. 1 Tim. 5.23. Ʋſe a little wine for thy stomach's ſake, and thine often infirmities. Prov. 31.6. Give ſtrong drink unto him that is ready to periſh, and wine to thoſe that be of heavy hearts. But it muſt be temperately and with moderation; All exceſs in drinking is ſinfull, and a degree of drunkenneſs. If any ſay what is exceſs in drinking, when may men be counted exceſſive in drinking.
(A. 1.) When they drink more than conduceth to their health. The end of our eating and drinking is the preſervation of our health. Act. 27.34. Take ſome meat, for this is for your health.
(2.) VVhen a man is ſo overcharged with drink that he is unfitted either for the ſervice of God, or the works of his calling. Luk 21.34. Take heed to your ſelves leſt at any time your hearts be overcharged with ſurfetting and drunkenneſs. &c. The end of eating and drinking is for ſtrength, that we may be enabled for the duties of our general and particular callings. Eccl. 10.17. Bleſſed art thou O Land, when thy Princes eat in due ſeaſon, for ſtrength and not for drunkenneſs. VVhen we are rendred unfit for our callings by wine or ſtrong drink, that is exceſſive and ſinfull drinking. Prov. 31.4, 5.
3. The deprivation of the uſe of our reaſon and underſtanding. It is ordinary for ſome men to drink ſo much, that they loſe the uſe of their underſtanding, they know not what they ſay, or what they do; And when men have drunk ſo much, that they know not what they ſay or do, this is drunkenneſs in an high degree.
For the further convincing of men when they are guilty of this ſin of drunkenneſs, I ſhall ſhew when a man is in the account of the Scripture, eſteemed and called a drunken man.
1. VVhen a man hath drunk ſo much that he can't go upright, but reels and ſtaggers as he goes in the ſtreets, not through bodily weakneſs, but through abundance of drink, ſuch a man is a drunken man. Pſal. 107.27. They reel to and fro, and ſtagger like a drunken man. Job 12.25. He maketh them to ſtagger like a drunken man. Iſa. 24.20. The earth ſhall reel to and fro like a drunkard.
2. VVhen a man hath drunk ſo much as that he vomits and ſpues up what he hath drunk, and that not from the weakneſs of his ſtomach, but from abundance of drink, this ſhews a man to be a drunken man. Jer. 25.27. Drink ye, and be drunken, and ſpue. Iſa. 28.7, 8. They have erred through wine, and through ſtrong drink are out of the way — For all Tables are full of vomit and filthineſs, ſo that there is no place clean. He proves them guilty of drunkenneſs by their filthy vomiting on the Tables and Places, where they ſat drinking together.
3. VVhen a man hath drunk ſo much that wine hath overcome him, and taken from him the uſe of his underſtanding, that he is like a man at his wits end, he knoweth not what he ſaith, or what he doth, that man is guilty of drunkenneſs in an high degree. Jer. 23.9. I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome. Pſal. 107.27. They reel to and fro, and ſtagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits end.
4. Such as are frequently at Taverns and Ale-houſes, and ſet tipling there a long time together, though through the ſtrength of their brain, they do not come away diſguiſed and ſtaggering as others do, yet theſe are ranked amongſt drunkards, Joel. 1.5. Awake ye drunkards, and weep and howl all ye drinkers of wine. And have a wo denounced againſt them, as well as thoſe that are common and notorious drunkards. Prov. 23.30, 31. Who hath wo? They that tarry long at the wine, they that go to ſeek mixt wine. Iſa. 5.11. Wo unto them that riſe up early in the morning, that they may follow ſtrong drink, that continue untill night, till wine inflame them. Such as ſet bibbing and tipling wine or ſtrong drink, are noted as a deteſtable generation of men, whoſe company is to be ſhunned, avoided by ſober men. Prov. 23.20. Be not amongſt wine bibbers.