The Woeful Effects of Drunkenness, Sermon

The Woeful Effects of Drunkenness · Sermon

p. 1The Woful Effects OF Drunkenneſs.

ISAIAH XXVIII. 1.

Wo to the crown of Pride, to the Drunkards of Ephraim, whoſe glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the ſat valleys of them that are overcome with Wine.

IT is a Solemn Occaſion, which we now meet together upon▪ Two Perſons ſtand here before us, who are Condemned to ſuffer Death for that horrid Crime of Murder, which they have been Convicted of. The Lord p. 2will have Execution done on Murderers, Lev. 24. 17. No Satisfaction is to be taken for the Life of a Murderer; He is guilty of Death; He ſhall ſurely be put to death: For the Land cannot be cleanſed of the blood that is ſhed therein, but by the Blood of him that ſhed it, Numb. 35. 31, 33, 34. Now in order to the Retaining the gracious Preſence of our holy God among us, the Land which we inhabit, ought to be cleanſed from that defilement, which the Voluntary and Unjuſt taking away the Lives of men doth bring upon it.

The Honourable Judges of Her Majeſties Superiour Court of Judicature, have ſeen cauſe to direct me to Preach againſt the Sin of Drunkenneſs on this Occaſion; becauſe both the Murderers, and the Perſons by them Murdered, were overtaken with Drink, when the acts of Murder were perpetrated. The effect p. 3leads us to reflect upon the immediate cauſe and occaſion thereof: and did we carefully avoid the leading occaſions unto the Commiſſion of Sin; there would not be ſuch Abounding of groſs Iniquities in the Land, as there is.

That it is no new thing for the Sin of Drunkenneſs to be followed with Murder; or at leaſt with the Ruin and Deſtruction of the Drunkards themſelves, and of others alſo by their means, may be plainly inferred from the Text we have read unto you: Wherein we have an occoun… by way of Prediction and Denunciation, of the Ruin of Ephraim, (the Kingdom of the Ten Tribes) procured by the Abounding of this Sin of Drunkenneſs among them. That the Kingdom of Iſrael, as well as Judah, were addicted to this Vice of Drunkenneſs, is evident from ſuch Scriptures which charge them with p. 4it▪ As Hoſ. …. 5. In the day of our … the Princes have made him ſick … B…tties of Wine; He ſtretched … his hand with Scorners. Amos 6. 6. They drink wine in Bowls. And in this Chapter, Iſa. 28. 7. But they alſo have erred through Wine, & through ſtrong Drink are out of the way, &c. They befotted themſelves with ſtrong Drink, and thereby fell into many Errors and Miſcarriages, both in things Civil and Religious. Ignorance, Errors & Stupidity were the Companions and Conſequents of that Sin. When a People are given up to Drunkenneſs, they become liable and prone to imbrace Superſtition, Idolatry & Errors. A falſe Religion will ſerve a Drunkards turn beſt; eſpecially ſuch a Profeſſion, wherein he hopes he ſhall not be made uneaſy, while he is wallowing in this Sin; by ſharp Reproofs, ſevere Diſcipline, or by the frowns of p. 5thoſe who are his Mates & Fellows in the ſame Profeſſion.

Now the Verſe read, with the two following Verſes, declare that the Ruin of that Kingdom of the Ten Tribes, was partly and very conſiderably occaſioned by the Prevailing of this Vice of Intemperance in Drinking among that People: This procured, that the glorious Beauty & Greatneſs of this Crown (or Kingdom) of Pride, ſhould be a fading flower: That is, ſhould ſuddenly wither & periſh. Theſe Drunkards who dwelt in Samaria (the Head-City of that Kingdom) as they ſuffered themſelves to be overcome, broken, over-thrown and knock down with Wine: So God prepared a mighty ſtrong one, the King of Aſſyria, which as a Tempeſt of Hail, and as a deſtroying Storm, and as an over flowing Flood of mighty Waters, ſhould caſt down and tread under foot, that glorious State & Kingdom.

p. 6See here an inſtance of a Whole kingdom deſtroyed by Drink. The prevailing & abounding of the Vice of Drunkenneſs, did pull down Judgments from Heaven upon them: God was thereby provoked to deſtroy them by the hand of the Aſſyrian:

DOCTRINE.

The Abounding of the Vice of Drunkenneſs among any People (eſpecially among ſuch a People as are the viſible People of God, and do profeſs the true Religion) doth bring down from Heaven, dreadful Woes, and deſolating Judgments upon them, as a Nation or Body of People, as well as Signal Puniſhment on Some particular Drunkards among them.

Here is in the Text, and Verſes following, not only a Wo denounced againſt the Drunkards of Ephraim, p. 7as a particular Rank and Sect of Sinners in Ephraim, that were appointed to deſtruction; but alſo for their ſakes, and on their account a Wo is denounced againſt the Crown; that is, the whole Kingdom of Ephraim; and againſt the Head; that is, the Metropolis of the Kingdom, in the Ruin whereof all other leſſer Towns & Villages circumjacent muſt needs ſuffer. The Vice of Drunkenneſs when it prevails and ſpreads among a People, brings down a deſtroying Tempeſt, a Storm, a mighty overflowing Flood of Divine Wrath and Vengeance, on a Profeſſing People.

The Sixth Commandment, Thou ſhalt not Kill; Or, Thou ſhalt do no Murder; not only forbids the groſs act of Murder, that is, The taking away our Own or our Neighbours Life unjuſtly, but alſo forbids whatſoever tendeth thereunto: Therefore Drunkenneſs may properly be p. 8reckoned among the Sins forbidden in and by the Sixth Commandment; for it is a Tranſgreſſion of that Command, in that it tends to the Taking away both of our preſent Welfare, Outward and Inward; and to the depriving us of happineſs in a Future State; and that both Morally, as by the Sinfulneſs of it God is provoked to inflict puniſhment upon us, and Naturally and Phyſically alſo; as may be briefly hinted at in a few particulars.

I. In reſpect of our preſent Condition in this World, both Outward and Inward.

1. The External Welfare of Men is injured, and oftentimes wholly ruined by their addicting themſelves to this Vice. Particularly,

1. The Health of Men is much impaired, and Death haſtned on many by their Exceſſive Drinking. The greateſt part of the Sickneſſes among p. 9Men may be aſcribed to Intemperance of Body, and the inordinate Paſſions of the Mind, which are Concomitants & Conſequents of Intemperance. How many Diſeaſes do Drunkards bring upon themſelves! How ſoon do they come to have their Natural force and ſtrength abated? to have a Pale, Lean and unhealthy Countenance? Some of them to be conſtantly attended with a Cough; others with gouty Pains about them; or elſe with a conſtant gnawing at their Stomachs, which nothing can remove but Strong Drink! Some in a few years do ſo Extinguiſh the Natural Heat of their Blood, by adding an adventitious Heat thereto, that unleſs they often take down a Dr…, they can…t keep themſelves Warm, but labour under ſuch a Chillyneſs and Coldneſs, as unfits them for all buſineſs, and renders them dull and unactive. Some p. 10looſe the uſe of their Hands and Limbs, and come to be beholding to others to lift the Cup to their Mouths for them, having procured a penal Weakneſs upon themſelves, for their Sinful & Inordinate putting the Cup to their own Mouths. Have we not ſeen that Text verifyed upon this ſort of wicked men, in Prov. 2. 22. They are ſoon cut off, and rooted out of the Earth. Some Drunkards are made ſignal Inſtances of Divine Vengeance, for the Warning of others. Nabal, the day after he had been Drunk, dyed by Gods own immediate hand. Belſhazzar in the midſt of his quaffing, was diſquieted by the Appearance of an Hand Writing on the Wall; and that Night was he ſlain, Dan. 5. Drunkenneſs hath occaſioned ſome Indians to be burnt to Death in their little Houſes; other Indians by their being drowned firſt in Drink, have been expoſed to p. 11a ſecond drowning in the Water. Nor are theſe the firſt (who now ſtand in the midſt of this great Aſſembly) who have committed Murder, when overcome with Drink, and have been Executed for it.

2. Men by Drunkenneſs often deprive themſelves of that ſafety, liberty, peace and quietneſs, which otherwiſe they might enjoy. Oh! Wha… … Multitude of dangers and miſchief … a D…unken Creature expoſed unt… And a Perſon in Drink is not capable for want of the common and ordinary exerciſe of Reaſon, to … void, ſhun or defend himſelf … dangers. A Man in Drink is … to be knockt on the Head … Murdered by any that … ſault him, being in no capacity … himſelf or get out of … way. So it was with the … … rives, Murdered by theſe Malefa… now in our ſight. We read … p. 12A…nons Adverſaries choſe to ſmite him when his heart was merry with Wine, 2 Sam. 13. 28. becauſe then he was likely to make leaſt reſiſtance▪ Again, What needleſs and fooliſh Contentitions are men inguged in, who give themſelves to Exceſſive Drinking? They meet with ſuch Brawls, Bablings and Wounds, which when they are Sober, they are aſhamed to own how they come to be expoſed unto them. Oh! the unquiet and uneaſy Lives which ſuch Perſons lead, both at home and abroad? Eſpecially when under the height of Intoxication: neither Wife, Children nor Servants, can then pleaſe them, though they endeavour it to the utmoſt. The Family Jangles & …omeſtick Bowels & Quarrels occaſioned by Intemperance in Drink, are … And the conſequents o… ſuch … with neareſt and … and Relations, are p. 13doleful and diſmal: Then the Husband is Expoſed to Murder the Wife of his Boſom; and the Neighbour left to riſe up and kill his Friend or Neighbour in the Field: So it was as to the caſes of theſe Perſons now condemned to dy. Theſe Effects of following after ſtrong Drink were ſpoken of by Solomon, in Proverbs 23. 29.—35. which you may read at your leiſure.

3. By giving themſelves over to Exceſſive Drinking multitudes do waſte their Eſtates, & bring wants, ſtreights, and diſtreſſing Poverty on themſelves, and their Families. Thoſe who live in this Sinful courſe of Life, can't expect to be bleſſed in their Stores, in their labours, and in that which they ſet their hands unto; and without Gods bleſſing we may not expect to be rich, Prov. 3. 16. Yea, Wine-bibbers & Drunkards are under a peculiar Threatning, Prov. 23. 20, 21. The God of Truth hath ſaid it, That the p. 14Drunkard ſhall come to Poverty. The viſible Blaſt upon many Orchards of late years, ſhould lead us to conſider, Whether the viſible Abuſe of the Liquor preſſed forth from the fruit of the Trees in thoſe Orchards, have not procured this Blaſt, as a judicial Stroke of Divine Diſpleaſure inflicted upon us.

Moreover, Drunkenneſs hath a Natural tendency to Poverty. Thoſe that follow after Strong Drink, have not the Art of getting or keeping Eſtates lawfully. They cannot be diligent in their Callings, nor careful to improve all fitting Opportunities of providing for themſelves, and for their Families: Nor are they prudent in Saving what Eſtates they have in their Poſſeſſion; they keep not their Expences within the bounds of their Income, but run themſelves into debt, to ſatisfy their innordinate Appetites: thus their Idleneſs and Prodigality bring them to a Morſel of p. 15Bread, & do cloath them with Rags. Such are indiſpoſed for the Exerciſe of diligence or diſcretion in managing their affayrs, being inclined to ſlothfulneſs, and all manner of Imprudencies.

Let me add, Such Perſons do not properly enjoy what they have in their Poſſeſſion: in that, they take not ſuch Contentment (as they might) in their Outward Comforts: They are Envyous at the Proſperity of Others; the little which they have is not attended with that bleſſing, of a ſatisfyed and contented Mind. Alſo ſuch Perſons having given over the lawful Methods of gaining Eſtates, and maintaining themſelves, & their Families, by induſtry & prudence, are tempted to uſe ſhifting, ſharking, fraudulent ways of dealing, by which diſhoneſt courſes they bring a further Guilt on themſelves, & ripen themſelves for Ruin, and mean time become p. 16odious, diſtaſtful, burdenſome, vexatious and troubleſome to their Neighbours. This conſideration leads us to another particular:

Namely,

4. Drunkenneſs deprives Men of all Honour and Eſteem among good Men; Whereby they might become acceptable and uſeful to others in their Generation. Such can't be numbred among the Excellent in the Earth, Pſal. 10. 3. Nor can they be eſteemed more Excellent than their Neighbours. Shame is the utmoſt promotion which ſuch Fools deſerve, Prov. 3. 35. A wicked man (ſuch an one is a Drunkard) is loathſome and cometh to ſhame, Prov. 13. 5. They are nauſeous, noyſome, unſavory Creatures unto all that are Sober Men. Thoſe that know them to be addicted to this Vice, can't inwardly and in their hearts reſpect & honour them; but contemn them as vile Perſons. p. 17Even a whole Nation & body of People looſe their Reputation, when ſuch Sins as this of Drunkenneſs abound among them: Prov. 14. 34. Righteouſneſs exalteth a Nation, but Sin proves a Reproach unto it. Even among Heathens ſuch Perſons have been moſt honoured and eſteemed, who excell'd in the virtues of Temperance and Sobriety. The filthineſs and naſtineſs which exceſſive Drining produceth, doth expoſe men to the height of Contempt, and diſreſpect from others, Iſa. 28. 8. The Law of England made for Suppreſſing this Vice, juſtly terms it, The Loathſome Sin: It makes a Man a Loathſome Spectacle, a grief and ſhame to his Family; a ſcorn to his Enemies, and a Terrour to thoſe about him.

2. The Internal Welfare of Men; the Health and Proſperity of their Souls is obſtructed, and in Multitudes p. 18is totally Ruined by this Vice of Drunkenneſs. Men wound their precious immortal Souls thereby. This is one of thoſe fleſhly Luſts which War againſt the Soul.

1. Such impair, weaken and diſorder the faculties of their Souls. The Inferiour faculties are not kept in due ſubordination to the ſuperiour; but the Will and Paſſions get head above the Reaſon, and Underſtanding, Prov. 20. 21. Hereby the Soul is debaſed, and immerſed into ſenſuality. Hereby an Impotency, Darkneſs & Deformity is brought upon the Mind; ſo that ſuch are indiſpoſed to conceive aright of Spiritual Objects & Myſteries: Holy Meditations cannot dwell in ſuch Minds, though poſſibly ſometimes a good thought may have a tranſient paſſage thorow them, in ſuch invervals of time, when the Brain is free from Intoxication. A Man given over to p. 19this Luſt of the fleſh, loſes his Ingenuity, generoſity and true liberty of Mind; and Paſſions grow violent and impetuous in him; whence proceeds the greateſt Trouble and Diſquietude of Mens Lives: Such become meer ſlaves to their own Anger, Fear, Envy and Malice▪ they can't keep a ſteady Sail in any condition; they are too much lifted up by Proſperity, too much dejected under Adverſity. Drunkenneſs is juſtly termed a bruitiſh Sin, and a voluntary Madneſs; Senſe & Reaſon being laid aſleep thereby, nothing remains in exerciſe, but that part of man wherein he reſembles a Beaſt, which produces beaſtly actions and behaviour. Drink is ſaid therefore to ſwallow a Man up; the effects whereof is erring and ſtumbling, Iſa. 28. 7. And it takes away a Mans heart from Love to ſerious Religion, and the Service of God, Hoſ. 11. 4. p. 20And from any due conſideration of Gods Judgments preſent or impending, Iſa. 5. 11. & 56. 12. And from due conſideration of the laſt Judgment, and of our laſt End, and from a due care of our own future Happineſs, Luk. 21. 34.

2. Such deprive themſelves of true inward Peace, Joy and Confidence. As they live continually under Guilt, ſo alſo under the power of Anxiety, Fears, Self-Will, Malice, Envy, and the like corrupt diſpoſitions. They are like the troubled Sea which cannot reſt, but being toſt too and fro by contrary Winds, doth ſtill caſt forth Mire & Dirt, Iſa. 57. 20. An heavy load of guilt lying on their Conſciences, doth hinder them from all true Peace and Comfort. The gnawing Worm Conſcience (unleſs when it is ſtupifyed by Intoxication, & made unfit, to diſcharge its Office) doth ſecretly moleſt them, and eat p. 21out the comfort which otherwiſe they might find in their Outward comforts. For want of Inward Peace, they have nothing to ſupport them under the Afflictions of this Life, nor have they rational grounds to expect a better condition hereafter. A ſecret Dread doth always accompany guilt, until men are altogether hardned in this ſinful courſe and become paſt feeling of any Remorſe, which yet makes their condition the more remedileſs and deſperate. The horrible miſpence of precious Time, & daily abuſe of Drink, which is a good creature of God; as it wounds their Conſciences here, ſo it will torment them hereafter.

This brings us to the next Head:

II. Drunkenneſs tends to deprive a Man of Happineſs in a future State, in the next World. Such err and wander out of the way of Salvation▪ p. 22Iſa. 28. 7. They cannot find out nor walk in the narrow path which leads to Glory. This Sin lays men open, & inclines them to all manner of other Sins, whereby they quickly fill up the meaſure of their Sins, and ripen themſelves for eternal Damnation. This Sin diſpoſes men to much ungodlineſs, & uſhers in much wickedneſs. It inclines men to filthy Luſts, Prov. 23. 33. To perverſe and unclean diſcourſe, and to become Scorners of all Goodneſs, and good Men, Pſal. 69. 12. Hoſ. 7. 12. Men are hereby let looſe to all thoſe Sins to which they are either by Nature or Cuſtom inclined; or to which Temptations and Opportunities for their Commiſſion, do lead them. Drunkards are threatned expreſsly with Excluſion out of the Kingdom of Heaven, 1 Cor. 6. 9. And they ought to be excluded out of the Societies of the Godly, from the Communion p. 23of Saints on Earth, (which is the Kingdom of Heaven upon Earth) 1 Cor. 3 11. As a Token of their Excluſion out of the Church Triumphant; unleſs they repent and reform. But alas, how rare a thing is it for any to be recovered from this Sin, when once they have been accuſtomed and enſlaved there-unto. And Oh! what inexpreſſible Stings will they have at laſt, who for their indulging themſelves in this Vice are baniſh'd from the gracious preſence of God for ever, Prov. 23. 32.

Nextly, We ſhould proceed to Conſider the Woes and Ruin brought upon Societies of Men, upon Towns, Churches, States and Kingdoms, by the prevailing of Drunkenneſs among them. GOD ſends many ſ…re Judgments on a People that addict themſelves to Intemperance in Drinking. God is provoked hereby ſometimes to ſend p. 24a Famine on a Land, and to cut ſhort the fruits of the Earth, Joel 1. 5. Sometimes God ſends War on a People, to puniſh them for this Sin. The King of Aſſyria was ſent of God to deſtroy the Crown (or Kingdom of Ephraim, becauſe this Vice reigned among them; as appears from our Text, and the following Verſes. Sinful & Exceſſive Drinking ſeems to have been One of the prevailing Sins of the Old World, which brought a Deluge of Waters on the whole World, Mat. 24. 38, 39. They were eating and drinking, until the flood came and took them all away.

When Church-Members and Profeſſors of Religion indulge themſelves in this Vice, it brings a Woful Blemiſh not only upon themſelves, but upon the Chriſtian Society whereto they belong; it proves a ſtumbling-block to others; an obſtruction to the Propagation of Religion; p. 25and keeps many from a Love and likeing of the Chriſtian Religion, and of Church Order and Ordinances.

Again, Drunkenneſs hath a natural Tendency to bring Confuſion and Diſorder into all Societies that are infected with it. Little or nothing of Religion or good Order is, or can be upheld in the Families of Drunkards. The Morning and Evening Sacrifice of Family-Prayer is miſerably neglected in ſuch Families: and where the Heads of Families are Intemperate, Diſorderly and Bruitiſh; there the Children and Servants are brought up in Ignorance and Impudence; in Idleneſs, Lewdneſs and Profaneneſs. When Drunkenneſs becomes a prevailing Sin in a Land, it will ſoon Extinguiſh Religion and Order. When the Drinking party is ſo potent as to prevail over the ſmall Number of p. 26Sober Men, that are the Remnant of Gods People in the Land, then none ſhall be improved in Offices of truſt but ſuch as Wink at, favour and countenance this Vice; and then the common intereſt of a People will ſoon be incommoded & ruined. Nothing doth more unqualify Perſons for Offices of Truſt, than this Vice of Drunkenneſs; no Vice makes men betray their truſt more than this doth. And when ſuch are put upon Service and Employment of any conſiderable concern and moment, they quickly diſgrace themſelves therein, and ſpoil the work they take in hand; and ſo diſgrace the Offices they bear, that thoſe Offices become contemptible and deſpicable, becauſe ſuch men have ſuſtained them; which are juſtly eſteem'd Stations of Honour & Dignity, when Sober Men diſcharge them.

Laſtly, The Martial Spirits of a p. 27Nation or People are abated and enervated by the prevalency of Drunkenneſs; ſo that Courage, Magnamity & Conduct, Vivacity of Mind, and Activity of Body, and Ability to encounter Hardſhips▪ are wanting when they have moſt occaſion for them; which incourages their Enemies to aſſault them as a weak and naked People. Yea, we read of Philip of Macedon, that when he heard the Perſians were great Drinkers, he would not make War upon them: Saying, That alone would Ruin them.

Shall I in the next Place treſpaſs on your Patience ſo ſat, as to … at the Reaſons why God denounceth … and executes ſuch ſevere Judgments on Man-kind, for … Vice perſiſted …

In a Word, God is ang… … nothing but Sin: He never denounceth a Wo againſt … p. 28Vice and Sin which is the abominable thing which his Soul hates. Such is the Holineſs and Purity of the Divine Nature, that he cannot but hate Sin; He is of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity with any delight therein, Hab. 1. 13. Now Drunkenneſs is a Vice which the Lord both in the Law, & in the Goſpel hath ſtrictly prohibited. Luk. 21. 34. Take heed leſt at any time your Hearts be overcharged with Drunkenneſs. Rom. 13. 13. Let us walk honeſtly as in the Day, not in Drunkenneſs and in Strife. Eph. 5. 18. Be not Drunk with Wine, wherein is Exceſs. It is a Paganiſh Sin; Such who practiſe it, walk after the will of the Gentiles, 1 Pet. 4. 3. and not as becomes thoſe who enjoy the daylight of the Goſpel: It is one of the works of Darkneſs. Yea, It is diſhoneſty, Rom. 13. 13. Thoſe who live in it, do not live honeſtly; they deal not juſtly, honeſtly and honourably p. 29by themſelves; they neglect the duties which every Man owes to himſelf; they are juſtly ſtyled their own worſt Enemies; and they ſoon fall into diſhoneſt and unjuſt dealings with others. Drunkenneſs is one of the worſt and vileſt of the works of the Fleſh, and therefore mentioned in the laſt place, in the Enumeration of them, in Gal. 5. 21. It is a Complicated Sin; a breach of all the Ten Commandments, in ſome ſenſe, as ſome have undertaken to demonſtrate. Be ſure, it unfits men to keep any of Gods Laws: and inclines and diſpoſes them to break them all.

But I haſten to the APPLICATION, in a two-fold Uſe.

USE. I. Hence it follows, that it is a great Sin to inebriate others, and to do that which may occaſion or promote Drunkenneſs in others. As therefore p. 30there is a Wo denounced againſt the Drunkards of Ephraim in our Text; ſo there is alſo a Wo denounced unto him, That gives his Neighbour Drink; that puts his Bottle to him & makes him Drunk, Hab. 2. 15.

Indeed it ſeems almoſt in vain to undertake to convince thoſe of the great Evil they are guilty of, in being inſtrumental to the Drunkenneſs of others, by ſupplying them with the Fuel whereby the flame of their craving Appetites is not quenched, but increaſed: who are ready to repel the force of all Arguments uſed for their conviction, with that anſwer, By this craft we gain our Wealth. But whether men will hear or not, we muſt be faithful in bearing a Teſtimony againſt them; who contrary to the wholeſome Laws of this Province, for the ſake of a little gain, ſupply the poor Indians, the Aboriginal Natives of this Land, with ſuch p. 31quantities of Strong Liquors, whereby they are often intoxicated, and thereby expoſed to many dangers and miſchiefs; even to the wounding, bruiſing, killing and deſtroying one of the other. Seeing ſeveral of theſe poor Natives have been Executed in this Country, for Murdo… committed in their Drink: One would think it were a ſufficient Warning to us all, to uſe a more than ordinary Watchfulneſs and Care over our ſelves and others, leſt any of us ſhould be in any remote degree occaſions of their death. We are not ignorant of their natural extraordinary craving Appetite after Strong Drink: We are not ignorant that moſt of them are very unmeet judges to determine when they have drank enough. If a Parent takes care to make a judgment for his Infant, when it has drank enough of any pleaſant Strong Liquor, becauſe the p. 32Child is no competent judge of what is beſt, and moſt convenient for it ſelf: by the ſame reaſon we ſhould watch over grown Perſons, and be as helpful as we can, to prevent them from harming themſelves with Strong Drink; when we know by our obſervation of them from time to time, that their Reaſon hath not the Command of their Appetites. Let's conſider, theſe Indians are of the ſame Race of Mankind with our ſelves; they are our Brethren by Adam our common Father; and by Noah, the Father of the Poſtdiluvian World: yea, they are our Friends and Fellow-Subjects under the ſame Crown. It was language only befitting a Murderous Cain, to ſay, Am I my Brothers Keeper? Who would have imagined that any Man would have made a Doubt or Scruple of that Nature, whether he were bound in duty to endeavour the preſervation p. 33of other men, that were of the ſame kind of Being, and had the ſame humane Nature in common with himſelf?

Were there no Laws made by Civil Authority, to reſtrain us from Selling ſuch Mortal Liquors to the Indians; yet the light of natural … might ſuffice to reſtrain us …erefrom. Oh! Let us not Perſon to break all theſe Bands, and caſt away all theſe Cords from us …, thoſe of Humane Civil Laws, of Natural Reaſon, of Divine … and of Divine Comminations of dreadful Wo, to thoſe who make … Drunk. Let us not … but carefully improve this awful Warning now given us, by the Sentence of Death to be this day … theſe two poor men before … taking away unjuſtly the … two of their own Nation, (… and a Friend) both … p. 34Murdered being over-taken with Drink, at the times when theſe Murders were committed. Wo unto us, if we regard not this Warning now given to us. Wo unto thoſe who inſtead of Mourning before the Lord, for the abounding of this Sin among the Natives, (whereby that Honourable Work of Goſpellizing them is extreamly obſtructed, and the endeavours and pains taken therein very much fruſtrated) and who inſtead of taking utmoſt care to prevent the Intemperance of the Natives, will for the ſake of a little Gain, ſupply them with theſe Strong Liquors, which expoſe them to harm in their Healths, their Lives, their Bodies, and their Souls; yea to do harm and miſchief to thoſe that are about them. Its the work of Satan to tempt others to Sin: Oh! let's be perſwaded to do Satans work no longer! Conſider alſo, p. 35that we our ſelves are partakers in thoſe Sins, which others commit through that Intemperance, which by our means they fall into. This we are caution…d to beware of, 1 Tim. 5 22. Eph. 5. 11. Hereby we are in danger to participate in the Woes, Plagues and Puniſhments, which this Sin of Drunkenneſs, and the other Sins which are occaſioned there by, do pull down from Heaven upon the People we belong unto.

Conſider alſo, what a dreadful account we ſhall have to give unto our Judge, at the great day of Judgment, if we have been guilty of making any of theſe poor Indians …wofold more the Children of Hell, than they were before, by being leading occaſions of their falling into Drunkenneſs; a Vice not heard of among them before the Europeans came into America. Let every Soul of us lament and mourn before God, that p. 36any of the Engliſh ſhould be Acceſſaries, or occaſions, to the growth and prevalency of Drunkenneſs among the Indians; and ſo of the Miſchiefs, and of the Murders, that have been the woful Conſequents of their Intemperance. Perſons guilty hereof may poſſibly ly hid, and remain concealed, ſo as to eſcape puniſhment from Men, which according to the Law of the Land, ſhould be inflicted on them, who illegally Trade away Liquors to the Indians: But God ſees and knows them all, and their Sin will find them out: they muſt not expect to eſcape the righteous Judgments of God, except they timouſly repent, and reform. God hath many Woes to inflict on ſuch Perſons: God can eaſily, and may juſtly ſend a Blaſt on the Eſtates of ſuch Perſons, who try to enrich themſelves by that which occaſions that Intemperance of the p. 37Indians: yea, ſuch are in danger of having a Curſe ſent upon their Souls, ſeeing they ſhew no pity to the Souls of theſe poor Natives. It's not much to be wondred at that ſuch Traders with the Indians, who occaſion their Intemperance, are judicially given up, ſome of them, to Errors, Ignorance and Profaneneſs, ſome of them to become Drunkards themſelves; to the waſting of their own Eſtates, and beggaring their Families: ſome of them to become Scorners and Haters of Godlineſs, and of all good, honeſt, ſober and religious Men. No wonder, if ſome of them, or of their Poſterity, ſhould be ſuffered by God to be carryed into Captivity, among the wild Salvages of America: or that thoſe wild Indians, ſhould be Commiſſioned to deſtroy them & their Eſtates. Even an Heathen did ſay, It is the ſame thing, if thou art acceſſary to the p. 38Sin, as if thou didſt commit it thy ſelf. The Judgments of God do ſeize upon, not only thoſe who do wicked works, but on ſuch alſo who take pleaſure in them that do them, R…m. 1. 22.

USE. II. Of Exhortation.

Let Every one of us in our reſpective Stations and Capacities put to an helping … to prevent and ſtop the Growth and Spreading of this Vice of Drunkenneſs. … we ſhall manifeſt o…r Lor… … and Compaſſion to the Publick to the whole … ſeeing GOD … a Controverſy … the Whole Nation or Body … whom this …

… …ch of as … in … of Temperance … ab…tin…ce; … by on … we may … p. 39and Teſtify againſt this growing Vice. Oh! Let us be careful to avoid the very Appearance of this Evil.

Let us alſo Cry mightily to God with Fervency and Importunity in Prayer, that God would be pleaſed to put a ſtop to this Threatned Flood of Iniquity, both amongſt Engliſh and Indians.

Let us take care to avoid Drinkings, as well as Drunkenneſs; Beware we be not of that Number who ſit and tarry long at the Strong Drink, Iſa. 5. 11. It is a Sin to Eat and Drink with the Drunkards, to accompany them ſo far and ſo much as to countenance encourage, and harden them in their Intemperance, Matth. 24. 49. Yea, for our own good, let us beware of too great Familiarity wi…h thoſe who are Strong to beat Strong Drink, and are greedy after … and love to be p. 40long at it: for ſuch are infectious Perſons. There is little Hope that ſuch will gain good by the Company of good Men: but there is great danger leſt a good Man gain ſome infection from them; yea, ſometimes a blot and a ſpot, that he cannot ſoon wipe off again.

But Wo to thoſe who tempt, allure, entice others into this Sin, or into ſuch Places and Companies, where they may probably expect no other, but to meet with great Temptations to fall into it. Wo to thoſe, who uſe their Wit and Fancy to applaud and commend hard and long, and frequent Drinkings, as being Generoſity and Sociableneſs; and that make a ridicule of thoſe … Endeavour to Excel in Temperance and Sobriety. Conſider, It cannot be true love and friendſhip, to … and betray our Friend into p. 41Temptation, and the ſnare of the Devil.

Laſtly, Let us improve the awful Spectacle; the Inſtances of Divine Vengeance manifeſted againſt this Sin, which are the occaſion of this preſent Solemnity; let us Argue thus, If this be the Fruit of Immoderate Drinking of Strong Liquors▪ to be led thereby and left of GOD to Commit the horrid Sin of Murther, and ſo to come to the Gallows; then, By the Grace of GOD helping us, we will Abhor, Deteſt and Abominate this Sin and Vice for the future, more than ever heretofore; and will be more careful to Avoid it our ſelves, and to Reſtrain and Recover Others from … than ever we have been in the time paſt of our lives. The LORD … us ſo to do!

p. 42I ſhall Conclude with a few Word… directed to the poor Condemned Malefactors, in their own Language.