Serious Address to those who Unnecessarily Frequent the Tavern, Text
A ſerious Addreſs To thoſe who needleſly frequent Taverns & Publick Houſes.
BRETHREN,
IT is an apprehenſion of Duty, with a Love to your Souls, which engages us in the preſent Teſtimony againſt an evil Practice growing among us,—The needleſs reſorting to Taverns, and ſpending much precious Time (particularly the Evening) in Publick Houſes: A Practice, which we can't but think is of dangerous Tendency, of a criminal Aſpect, and of too bad Report for Profeſſors of Religion to indulge themſelves in; and therefore we cannot but in faithfulneſs warn you againſt it. Brethren, We are jealous over you with a godly Jealouſy; and are afraid leſt by any means, as the Serpent beguiled Eve by his Subtilty, ſo your minds ſhould be corrupted from the Simplicity that is in CHRIST; as the Apoſtle ſpake to his Friends at Corinth, not in the Language of Prejudice & Diſaffection, but of his abundant Love and good Will to them. We fear what Miſchiefs & Ruins ſuch a Practice may bring on many, whoſe beſt Intereſts we are very much concern'd for; if there be not a ſeaſonable ſtop put unto it.
Therefore we beſeech you, Friends, ſuffer the Exhortation, which we now bring you, in the name & fear of GOD▪ with no other Aim but at his Glory, and your everlaſting Good. O that our Counſel may be acceptable to you! We wou'd ſpeak the words of Truth & Soberneſs. GOD by his Bleſſing make them words of Power; and make us wiſe Reprovers upon obedient Ears!
Come then & let us reaſon together. Hear now and conſider, while we plead with you. It is an important caſe we are upon, and we intreat you to allow it an impartial & ſerious Trial. Will you give us leave to expoſtulate the matter with a juſt freedom, and with all plainneſs of Speech, under the following particulars.
Firſt, Are you not chargeable with a very faulty Miſpence of TIME, while you go ſo often, and tarry ſo long at the Tavern, or other publick Houſes!
Do you not very often ſpend your long Hours there, without diſpatching any Buſineſs at all; without doing or getting any real Good, whether as to Eſtate, Body, or Soul; without ſerving any of the valuable Ends of the Rational Life, much leſs of the Chriſtian! Hence, Is it not a ſort of more ſolemn Idleneſs you are guilty of! And then, Is it nor an Aggravation, that you ſpend ſo many Hours in your Tavern-Interviews! The Frequency and Length adds not a little to the Guilt & Miſchief of them, by a dreadful Conſumption of precious Time; which is a Talent we muſt all Account for, and being but of ſhort Continuance, we hadn't need be prodigal of it. Brethren, the Time is ſhort, and much of it runs off in Sleep, and in neceſſary Refreſhments, and unavoidable Avocations from Buſineſs. Inſtead therefore of contriving Methods to paſs away the Time which remains, you had need ſtudy all poſſible ways to redeem it, by doing with Might what your hands find to do*Eccl. 9.10.. O then do not laviſh away any more of your ſwift and uncertain and irretrievable Hours in Amuſement & Impertinence. Carefully gather up the fragments of Time, that nothing be loſt. Talk not of ſpare-Hours, — that you can afford the Time, or that you take only the Evenning to refreſh your ſelves after the Labours of a weary Day, &c. — Behold ye truſt in words that cannot profit. They of old imagined a vain thing, who ſaid†Jer. 7.10, We are delivered to do theſe things. Think not to paſs ſuch Accounts with your righteous Judge in the great Day. Is it nothing to ſquander away whole Evenings, almoſt every Day, in mere Sloth & Diverſion! Will not the Reckoning ſwell high at the Year's end! If all your loſt Hours were put together, how great a Sum wou'd they amount to! Surely too great to obtain the Divine Allowance. — And do you conſider (Sirs) that you have much weighty Buſineſs (beſides your ſecular Affairs) lying upon your hands, which beſpeaks the moſt diligent, the moſt vigorous Application of all your Powers; being eno' of it ſelf (had you no other Concern) to fill up the narrow ſpace of this ſhort Life! Can't you think of many things you have to do, which you wou'd not have Death come & find undone? And don't thoſe things therefore loudly call for the precious Hours that you let ſlide away as a Tale that is told?— O Friends, conſider the noble & ſuperior Ends of human Life. Conſider how ſwiftly your important Minutes fly away, and none of them can be recovered: One ſingle Moment, when paſt, can't be recal'd; cannot be purchas'd. What ſhall a Man give in Exchange? It cannot begotten for Gold, neither ſhall Silver be weighed for the price thereof. Verily the Price of it is above Rubies. —So damned Ghoſts think; who doubtleſs wou'd give all the World (were it theirs) for thoſe probational Opportunities, which we are now in the happy Poſſeſſion of, but (alas!) do too fooliſhly idle away.— O let us learn to value our Day of Grace, hitherto prolonged, more than we have done: and let the very Tho't of Paſs-time be as abhor'd, as it is abſurd, and let it not be once named among us, as becometh Saints. Let us look on ourſelves as Pilgrims & Strangers upon Earth, and paſs the time of our ſojourning here in Fear; looking for & haſting unto the coming of the Day of GOD‖I Pet. 1.17—II 3.12..
BUT to proceed,
Secondly, The MONEY that uſually goes to ſupport the Expences of theſe Interviews at the Tavern, Can there any good Account be given of it?
Remember, Sirs, You are but Stewards, and ar accountable for all the Bounties of Divine Providence to you; and the Time is haſtning on, when it will be ſaid to each of you, Give an Account of thy Stewardſhip; for thou ſhalt be no longer Steward *Luke 16.2.. And how dreadful will it be then to be found to have waſted your Lord's Goods! — Think not to ſay within your ſelves, We have Money enough and to ſpare; can allow our ſelves theſe Pocket-Expences, without any Injury to our Eſtates or Families —. Be it ſo: Yet conſider, ſince you are but Stewards, it behoves you to ſee to it that you don't pervert your Eſtates, the Gains of your Callings, or any part of them, to wrong Uſes; as you will anſwer it another Day. Surely you are groſly deceiv'd, if you imagine you have ſuch Superfluities to employ upon unneceſſary and idle Diverſions. Make a Computation (we pray you) of your Tavern-Expences, at the moſt moderate & loweſt Rate; and we are perſuaded it will, by the Year's End, riſe to no inconſiderable Sum: and then think with your ſelves whether it might not be apply'd to purpoſes more excellent & deſirable! Remember, the Poor you have always with you †Mat. 26.11., and theſe Gleanings ſhould be left for the Poor & the Stranger, for the Fatherleſs and the Widow{inverted †}Deut. 24 21.. Have you Bread to the full? It's pity any thing ſhou'd be thrown away, when there's many a poor hungry Lazarus, that would willingly accept the Crumbs which fall from your Tables. Does your Cup run over? 'Tis pity it ſhou'd run waste, when there are ſo many thirſty Souls wou'd be glad of the Overplus —. But then beſides this of Charity, there are other pious Uſes, to which the Filings of your Gold might be conſecrated; and become Sacrifices ‖Heb. 13.16.which GOD is well-pleaſed with, and be found unto Praiſe & Honour and Glory, when the Books of GOD come to be open'd, and you be judged from the things found written there.
After all, It may be many of you that ſpend too much at theſe Interviews, have but little to ſpare, without actually injuring your Families, or defrauding the Poor, or robbing GOD's Altar. Now therefore there is utterly a Fault among you —. We write not theſe things to ſhame you (unleſs it be to ſhame you out of your evil Cuſtom) but as Brethren we warn you *1 Cor. 4, 14.. And above all we warn you againſt throwing away your Money and Time in ſinful Gaming.
Thirdly, Is there not often a faulty Waſte of WORDS, and much vain Converſation, at theſe Tavern-Interviews?
Judge within your ſelves. Did you ſet ſuch a Watch before your Mouths, and keep the Door of your Lips, as you ought; wou'd they not be employed in more profitable & reputable Diſcourſe, than is commonly heard at the Tavern? Is the talk there ſuch, that if our glorious LORD, who verily ſtands at the Door †Jam 5.9., and hearkens and hears, ſhould appear to you, as he did once to two of his Diſciples, while they were Communing together, and audibly demand, ‖Luke 24.17.What manner of Communications are theſe that ye have one with another, as ye ſit & are merry?—Or if one ſhould with his Pen unobſerv'd minute down what paſſes among you, and then repeat all to you; Are your Conferences upon ſuch valuable Subjects, and under that wiſe Management, that upon a ſerious Reflection, you would not find Cauſe to ſay with Ezra {inverted †}Ezra 9.6.O my God, I bluſh and am aſhamed —!
Have you ſuch Diſcourſe ordinarily among you, as hath a Tendency, in any meaſure, to improve you in vital Piety, or in ſolid uſeful Knowledge? Is any of your Time taken up in forming Projections to advance the Kingdom of CHRIST, and to ſerve your Generation according to the Will of GOD? Or rather, are not the Company often ſo diſpoſed, that ſuch kind of Diſcourſe is baniſh'd out of the Converſation, as a diſagreable mixture, and a ſort of Profanity!
Alas! What are the Diſcourſes that ſwallow up your Tavern-Hours! How ſeldom after a long Evenings Talk, can you upon Recollection find many Words paſſed, that you come away the wiſer or the better for? Can't you condemn your ſelves many times for taking too great a Liberty of Speech, and not converting together as becometh Saints! While ſome have affected to appear gay & facetious, have they not many times bewray'd much Vanity & indecent Lightneſs! When ſometimes vain Perſons have dropt into the Company, Tatlers, Buſy-bodies, who bridle not their Tongues, but open wide their Mouths, of deceitful Matters, ſpeaking things which they ought not, againſt their Neighbours; or when Men of corrupt Principles, unruly and vain Talkers, that ſpeak Evil of the way of Truth, and are ready to turn all Religion into Banter; or Men of unclean Lips, addicted to Filthineſs, and fooliſh Talking and Jeſting which is not convenient; when ſuch (we ſay) have fallen into your Company, have you not too oft given an approving Laugh or Smile upon their evil Chat, and many times been inſenſibly drawn in, to bear a part, and keep up the vain Converſation?
How apt is empty, impertinent, trifling Diſcourſe to inſinuate into ſuch Meetings: and how natural, how eaſy the Tranſition from light & airy, to vicious and evil Communication; of an uncharitable Strain, of a factious Tendency, of an obſcene Tincture, or a profane Aſpect, and the like!
But think ye this to be right? Or conſider ye, that a Book of Remembrance is written†Mal 3.16., out of which you muſt one Day be Judged of the Lord? Verily there is not a Word in Your Tongue, but Lo! He knoweth it altogether {inverted †}Pſal. 139.4. O remember the Admonition of your Judge & Saviour; *Matth. 12.35, &c.A good Man out of the good Treaſure of his heart, bringeth forth good Things; and an evil Man our of his evil Treaſure, bringeth forth evil Things. But I ſay unto you, That every idle Word that Men ſhall ſpeak, they ſhall give Account thereof in the Day of Judgment. For by thy words thou ſhalt be Juſtified, and by thy words thou ſhalt be condemned.
Fourthly, Do you not by this unhappy Practice put your ſelves in the way of Temptation, and become expoſed to many Dangers?
It is written ‖1 Cor. 10.9, 12.Let him that thinketh he ſtands, take heed leſt he fall: neither let us tempt chriſt — We ſhou'd beware of Sin, and of every thing that looks like it, or leads to it; ſhould guard againſt all the Occaſions and Incentives of Sin; ſhou'd watch & pray that we enter not into Temptation: and beſure then we ſhou'd be cautious that we don't at any time voluntarily or unneceſſarily put our ſelves in the way of Temptations. This is to lay our ſelves open to the power of Satan, and forfeit the Divine Protection.
Now, Brethren, judge ye, whether Taverns and ſuch like Houſes are not generally Places of Temptation, much Temptation. We appeal to your own Conſciences and impartial Reflections & Experience.
Do you not find your ſelves there in hazard of falling into the Company of ill Perſons; and ſo of contracting a dangerous Acquaintance, of learning their pernicious ways, or at leaſt of ſuffering Sin upon them!
Are you not alſo in danger of making too near Approaches to the Sin of Intemperance, while you ſit ſurrounded with Temptations to it? Don't you run the hazard of being drawn on, before you are aware, from a more tranſient Chat over the Glaſs, to a Tarrying long at the Wine; from taking a Sip, to ſwallowing down a Draught; and from one Draught to another, until at the laſt, it bite like a Serpent and ſting like an Adder!
If any one ſay, I have long been of a Club, and uſed the Tavern for many Years, and found no ſuch ſnare in it: — To ſuch we reply, If ſo in fact, You have abundant Reaſon to adore & magnify the Grace of GOD, by which you have hitherto been with-held; but then remember, you may treſpaſs too far, you may preſume too long, and by grieving the Divine Spirit, may provoke Him to leave you, and ſo you'l become an eaſy Prey to your ſubtil & powerful Tempter. O be not high-minded, but fear. And take heed *Heb. 3.13.leſt any of you be hardned thro' the deceitfulneſs of Sin. Again, How harmleſs ſoever your Diſcourſes may have been hitherto, yet are you not in danger of running into bad Diſcourſe? Is not the Tongue ſaid †James 3.8.to be an unruly Evil? And do you not many times find it to be ſo by unhappy Experience & Obſervation? Had you not need therefore keep up a very careful Watch over it; and fly all Provocations to ill Language; and by conſequence not unneceſſarily go into thoſe Places & Companies, where you will be peculiarly expos'd to Temptation?
Moreover, While you attend this free Converſation at the Tavern, where Men uſe to put themſelves pretty much off their Guard, and allow themſelves a Latitude; Are you not in danger of being impos'd upon by deſigning Perſons, and unwarily carry'd into falſe Notions of Men & Things? Or of leading others into them, by making wrong Repreſentations yourſelves?
In fine, Are you not in danger of contracting an incurable Habit? Cuſtom breeds Delight; 'tis a kind of ſecond Nature: and what's natural, we are eaſily …d to upon every recurring occaſion, and are apt to ma… other things ſtoop, & give way to it. Here then is your danger, very much, leſt by accuſtoming your ſelves to theſe Tavern-Conferences, your Mind & Heart become too cloſely engag'd, ſo that you'l be almoſt irreſiſtibly driven along to them, even when important Buſineſs calls you elſewhere, and will not be able (it may be) ever to break off the delightful Haunt! A captivating Diverſion ſurely muſt needs be very dangerous to a Chriſtian: And a Prudent Man foreſeeing the Evil, hideth himſelf ‖Prov. 22.3.. Wherefore be ye not unwiſe, neither give place to the Devil {inverted †}Eph 4.…7. Break off before you are too far engag'd. Remember that wiſe Concluſion & Reſolve of the Apoſtle's, "All things that are lawful for me, are not expedient; and I will not be brought under the power of any *… Cor. 6 11.. Shun the Place where you find ſo many Snares of the Enemy laid for you. Peter got his Fall by Preſumption†Mark 14.66.. You have to do with an Adverſary that is too vigilant to loſe an Opportunity, or forego any Advantage put into his hands. Be not ignorant of his Devices *2 Cor. 2.11., leſt he get an Advantage againſt you. Endeavour, we beſeech you, to prevent all theſe Evils, which ſo compaſs you round, by a ſpeedy & reſolute Flight from the Tavern.
Fifthly, Have you not already felt the ill Effects of this unhappy Cuſtom, with regard to your ſpiritual and beſt Intereſts; and known others ruin'd by it? O Chriſtians, Don't you ſenſibly find it warring againſt your Souls, and hindring you from a cloſe Walk with GOD? The miſpenſe of precious Time, vain Diſcourſe, preſumptuous venturing among the Occaſions of Sin, &c. are they not ſuch Faults as grieve the holy Spirit of GOD ‖Eph. 4.30.? And Oh! How many have by ſuch things ſinned away divine Reſtraints; been at laſt given over to their own Luſts, and left off to be wiſe & to do Good!
Theſe things indeed have a natural Tendency to corrupt good Manners, to inſpire the Mind with Vanity, and unfit Men for Communion with GOD. Carnal Diverſions too often repeated have a pernicious Influence, to ſenſualiſe the Soul, to diſſolve and weaken it's Powers, to bring a fatal Damp on virtuous Inclinations, and indiſpoſe us to all that's ſolemn and ſerious. The Duties of the Cloſet are like then to be but very poorly perform'd, after an Evening miſpent in idle Chatt, of worſe, at a Tavern. By this means you not only leave but little ſpace for Religious Exerciſes, and ſo are tempted to croud them up in haſte for want of Time; but alſo take a Method to render your ſelves averſe to them; and by conſequence very perfunctory in them, to the diſhonour of GOD, and the wronging of your own Souls; which will never thrive & flouriſh, but muſt needs be lean from day to day, ſo long as ſecret Devotions are either neglected, or but trifled in. Cloſet-Duties (Prayer, Reading the Scriptures, Meditation, &c.) attended as they ought to be, are ſome of the moſt excellent Means of growth in Grace. And they that are ſo wiſe for their Souls, as all ſhould be, will give themſelves to theſe things in their Seaſon, and ſtudy to redeem as much Time as they can for them. And judge ye, whether the Time you ſpend at the Tavern, and in particular the Evening, which is one of the peculiar Seaſons of Devotion, wou'd not be ſpent to much better purpoſe, and turn to far better Account in the Day of Reckoning, if devoted (in part, at leaſt) to ſacred Retirements! Or, if it were employ'd in religious Aſſociations, in reforming Societies, and the like; wou'd not this be abundantly more for your Satisfaction both at preſent and hereafter? Nay, if you employ'd the Time (part of it) in reading of Hiſtory, or ſtudying any pleaſant & uſeful Science, to cultivate your Knowlege, and furniſh you to do greater Services for your Generation: or in friendly Viſits among ſober and good Neighbours, under a wiſe & chriſtian Management, and ſeaſonably concluded; wou'd not this be much more for your preſent Edification, and future Peace & Comfort!
Men & Brethren, We wou'd not be miſunderſtood, as if we meant to inſinuate, that a due Purſuit of Religion is inconſiſtent with all manner of Diverſion: No, We ſuppoſe there are Diverſions undoubtedly innocent, yea profitable & of uſe, to fit us for Service, by enlivening & fortifying our frail Nature, invigorating the Animal Spirits, and brightning the Mind, when tired with a cloſe Application to Buſineſs. — But then conſider, the moſt harmleſs Recreations may become very culpable, and hurtful, for want of obſerving propel Rules, with regard to the Time, Place, Company, Manner, &c. Theſe are weighty Circumſtances, & call for a more careful Obſervation, than is commonly found among Men, in the ordering of their Diverſions. Multitudes take ſuch lawleſs Liberties in this caſe, as if they were left to the uncertain Conduct of mere Humour & Fancy. But alas! Sirs, GOD expects that in every thing you ſhew your ſelves Men, and act under the Government of Reaſon & Virtue; and accordingly that you make Choice of ſuch Diverſions as are moſt convenient; that you be always ſparing of them; that you time them well; regulate them prudently, make them give place to Buſineſs, make them ſubſerve Religion, and ſo miniſter to the great Ends of human Life, the Glory of GOD, and the Good of Men. Happy the Man that has this wiſe Art of ſanctifying his Recreations, and doing theſe common Actions after a godly ſort! But alas! We fear this is a very rare Attainment. Few have the Skill to avoid, or Strength to reſiſt the Temptations that mingle themſelves with their Diverſions. They drink down Poiſon in their pleaſant Cups, and perceive it not. They take Fire into their Boſoms, and hug it there, until at the laſt they mourn, when their Fleſh is conſumed, and their Souls deſtroy'd! Carnal Pleaſures have prov'd ſome of the moſt fatal Impediments to Religion; have carry'd many down headlong to Hell, and exceedingly retarded others in their Progreſs to Heaven. In particular, the Diverſions of the Tavern have been very miſchievous. Multitudes who had begun in the Spirit, & made a fair ſhew, have loſt their Religion there, & ended in the Fleſh. Have you not ſeen in your day, amazing Instances hereof? And have you not known others, that perhaps have not totally fallen away, who yet from their firſt liſting into a Club, have viſibly declined in their Zeal & Watchfulneſs, and become leſs diſpoſed for ſuch religious Exerciſes and Societies as once they bore a figure in! —We beſeech you, make a ſtand, and ſuffer Conſcience to enter into theſe Inquiries, & give a faithful Report. Let every Man prove his own Work; and be not deceived. Fear, leſt any of you ſhou'd ſeem to come ſhort. Fly the Places of Temptation, where ſo many have, 'ere they were aware, been betray'd into Sin & Ruin; conſidering thy ſelf, leſt thou alſo be not only tempted and entangled, but even overcome, and the latter End be worſe with thee than the Beginning!
Sixthly, Is not Family Order & Religion much obſtructed & hurt, by theſe Evening-Interviews at Publick Houſes?
What good Order is there like to be in that Family, where the Maſter or Father is uſually all the Evening abroad at the Tavern, and ſometimes tarries late? Are not the Children and Servants likely to wander from home too, and will not they be tempted to tarry out late, at leaſt ſometimes, if the Heads of the Family do it? And if one Head does it, will not the other be apt to do it alſo? But what Confuſion muſt there needs be in ſuch a Houſe! And how muſt Diſorders grow in a Town, where there are many ſuch Houſes, as 'twere left deſolate! How much more, if it were the univerſal Practice, and almoſt every Family were uſually at Evening in ſuch a Caſe! The Heads abroad! And the Young People abroad! Some here, others there; and all upon their Diverſions! What a melancholy Gloom wou'd this caſt upon the Town! How doleful the Appearance! Can you bear the Tho't of it! But now why may not all run into the Practice, if it be juſtifiable in to many & ſuch Perſons as do allow themſelves in it? And who knows how extenſive the Infection of your ill Example may be? (of which we ſhall ſpeak more particularly under the next Article.) Surely then a Regard to the Welfare & Reputation of the Town, a Reverence for Order, as well as a ſerious View to the Benefit of your Children & Servants ſhou'd conſtrain you to leave off the evil Cuſtom. And indeed a juſt Reſpect for your Conſorts, ſhould influence you to ſpend your Evenings at home as much as neceſſary Buſineſs will allow. May we not in this caſe apply that Admonition of the Apoſtle Peter? *1 Pet. 3 7.Ye Husbands, dwell with your Wives, according to Knowlege, giving Honour unto the Wife as unto the weaker Veſſel, and as being Heirs together of the Grace of Life, that your Prayers be not hindred.
The Apoſtle Paul exhorts Parents & Maſters, to love their Wives & Children, and give unto their Servants that which is juſt & equal; and (therefore) to continue in Prayer, and watch in the ſame with Thanksgiving; withal Praying †Col. 3.3., praying together, or joyntly, as the word in the Original might be rendred. It is a Precept for Joynt Prayer in the Family. And they are Prayers in the Family, Prayers of the Husband with his Wife and Houſehold, that the Apoſtle Peter was deſirous ſhould not be hinder'd; and therefore exhorts Men to dwell with their Wives according to Knowlege, giving Honour to them.
But do not you, our Friends, fail of a due Reſpect to your Conſorts, while you ſo conſtantly prefer the Entertainments of Tavern-Converſation, before the Pleaſure of their Company? —And then do you not take an unhappy Method to hinder your Family-Prayers by this Cuſtom? If it don't breed Contention, yet it ſhou'd ſeem, it muſt needs too often infer Diſorder, and hurt the Devotions of the Houſehold; eſpecially if you tarry out late in the Evening, as we fear the manner of ſome is. Do you not hereby loſe one ſpecial Opportunity for the Inſtruction of your Houſeholds? And do you not take a Courſe to disfit your ſelves too much for the Duties of GOD's Worſhip? When the Evenning hath been conſum'd in Vanity, and the beſt Seaſon in it for Family-Worſhip paſſed away, are not the Duties of it like to be (in part, at leaſt) joſtled out or hurry'd over in a ſlighty drowſy manner; be but lean Sacrifices, & of little Account with the Holy GOD, who has ſaid, I will be ſanctified in them that come nigh me. When the the Strength & Spirits of the Mind have been laid out on the World, in the Day, and waſted on trifling Diverſions in the Evening, what remains but Indifference & Luke warmneſs, for Objects of a religious Concern! As you may obſerve, thoſe Trees that run out into abundance of groſſer Shoots, ſeldom bear much valuable Fruit, becauſe all the beſt Juices go to maintain thoſe uſeleſs Luxuriances.
To conclude this Head, We pray you ſeriouſly to reflect on what you read of David, that Man of GOD, and of the People of Iſrael:—After the Labours of the Day, in removing the Ark*2 Sam. 6.19, 20., All the People departed every one to his Houſe: Then David returned to bleſs his Houſehold. And wou'd it not be well for you, O our Friends, if you wou'd go & do likewiſe? Inſtead of going from the Warehouſe, the Shop (or Field) to the Tavern; from Buſineſs, to inſnaring Diverſions; had you not better return (with David) to bleſs your Houſeholds; even to bleſs them with your Prayers, and Counſils, and good Converſation in CHRIST! It is written †Deut. 6.7., The Commandments of the Lord, Thou ſhalt teach them diligently unto thy Children, and ſhalt talk of them, when thou fitteſt in thy Houſe; when thou lieſt down, & when thou riſeſt up. Hear therefore, O Iſrael, & obſerve to do it. O that there were ſuch an Heart in every Houſeholder, that there might in it's Seaſon be more of a Sitting in the Houſe; that they wou'd keep their Foot, & look better to the ways of their Houſehold; that it might be well with them, and with their Children for ever!
Seventhly, Mayn't the Example you ſet, be of ill Influence, & hurtful to Others?
Example is a very attractive thing; eſpecially bad Example: This is a Root of Bitterneſs, which wherever it ſprings up, is generally fruitful of pernicious Effects, and thereby many are defiled; many deſtroy'd. It is like Leven, which works ſecretly, inſinuates it ſelf inſenſibly, and ſpreads very ſwiftly. It's like the noiſome Peſtilence, which ſilently aſſaults Men, and yet with a mighty Power, & mortally wounds, almoſt before we ſuſpect any Danger. Eſpecially bad Examples ſet by Perſons of Note & in ſuperior Rank, or making a peculiar Profeſſion of Religion, or pretending to be Men of higher Knowlege, &c. do carry with them an extraordinary Contagion. By ill Examples, whole Communities have ſometimes been endanger'd, & Cities bro't into a Snare. By this means often one Offender deſtroys much Good. And the Example of Profeſſors & Superiours, particularly in this matter of needleſs frequenting the Tavern, and ſpending the Evening there, we fear will be & has been of miſchievous Conſequence.
Has it not a Tendency to harden the Wicked, who are apt to juſtify themſelves by the Example of others, eſpecially of their Betters, againſt the known Laws of Virtue & Wiſdom! Do you not in a ſort herd your ſelves with the debaucht Crew, while you ſo conſtantly go to the Place of their Reſort? Do you not too much conform to this Worlds, and in a ſenſe ſit with vain Perſons, by frequenting the ſame Houſes that they haunt; by ſitting ſo often on the Drunkards Bench and in the Seat of the Scorner? And tho' you run not with them to the ſame Exceſs of Riot; yet is there not exceeding hazard, that your ſo far Symbolizing with them, will embolden them in their Wickedneſs? And are you not like to become (in another & worſe ſenſe, than that in which it was ſaid of David) the Song of Drunkards, their Joy & Laughter, tho' the Grief of your ſober thinking Friends! Moreover, Is there not Danger of Others being ſeduced by your Example, into the paths of the Deſtroyer; particularly Young Perſons, Children, Apprentices & Servants? Will not ſuch be apt to (nay do they not already) follow you to the Tavern? And if you tarry late, will not they too? And if you have your free Converſation, will not they have their fooliſh Jeſting, & corrupt Communication? And if you take your Glaſs freely, tho' perhaps never to ſcandalous Beſotment; will not they be in danger of drinking to a vile Exceſs? And ſtill call it but good Fellowſhip, and colour all over with your Example, imagining they have your Patronage! O how ſhocking the Tho't! Dwell upon it, we pray you, till you feel the force of it; & let it be an abiding powerful Reſtraint upon you.
Suppoſe you are either ſtrong to drink Wine; or are really abſtemious, do always keep within the bounds of Temperance, and are able to ſtand in the Hour of Temptation: yet by your Example you may draw others into a Snare, who perhaps think they may with Security follow you; but alas! the Temptation proves too hard for 'em, & often miſerably foils them. — Again, Suppoſe You have your Converſation chiefly with fober Friends, & by that means are not ſo much in danger; yet others that are ſeduced by your Example, may fall into bad Company; of which there's generally no great Scarcity any where, but in places of Diverſion almoſt always a Plenty. And ſome have, it may be, the firſt time they went to a Tavern, met there the Inſtruments of their Ruin.
In a word, Admit your Tavern-meetings to be in themſelves lawful & innocent; yet if they become an occaſion of Sin unto others, & you thereby caſt a ſtumbling Block before the Weak, you muſt certainly allow, you ought to forbear. In matters of ſtrict and abſolute Duty indeed, we know of no Obligation upon Men to forbear, left others ſhould take Offence, and makes an ill Improvement of our Example. Yet in Caſes of Indifference, in matters of Liberty, the Rule will hold. Take heed then leſt by any means this Liberty of yours become a stumbling Block to others. For if any ſee Thee which haſt Knowledge, cuſtomarily fitting at meat or taking your Glaſs in the Tavern; ſhall not the Conſcience of him that is weak, be embolden'd to take the like Liberty, and being too weak to encounter the Temptation, fall into Sin? But when ye ſin ſo against the Brethren, & wound their weak Conſcience, ye ſin againſt CHRIST. Wherefore (faith the Apoſtle*1 Cor. 8.9, &c. Rom. 14.14, &c., whole words, you are ſenſible, we apply in this Caſe) If Meat make my Brother to offend, I will eat no Fleſh while the world standeth, leſt I make my Brother to offend. I know (ſays he) and am perſwaded by the Lord Jeſus, that there is nothing Unclean of it ſelf:—Yet it is forbidden Fruit, and evil to that Man who eateth with Offence. It is good neither to eat Fleſh, nor to drink Wine, nor ſo much as fit in a Tavern, if thereby thy Brother ſtumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. In this Abuſe of our Liberty we ſhall ſin againſt the Lord CHRIST, their Lord & ours: hereby we ſhall gratify & ſerve the Devil, and expoſe our ſelves to the Diſpleaſure of Heaven. Hereby we ſhall become Partakers of other Men's Sins; which (unleſs Repentance prevent) will be ſo many dreadful Items to inflame our future Reckoning, and carry up our laſt Account to an amazing height. WOE to that Man by whom Offences come! O let us dread a ſhare in that Woe †Mat. 18.7, 8.. Wherefore if thy Right Hand cauſe thee to offend, Cut it off, and caſt it from thee; and abſtain from the Appearance of Evil*1 Theſ. 5.22.; that ye may be blameleſs & harmleſs, the Sons of GOD, unrebukable in the midſt of a crooked & perverſe Generation, & ſhining as Lights in the World†Phil. 2.15., that others ſeeing your good Works, & beholding your chaſte Converſation coupled with Fear, may glorify your Father which is in Heaven{inverted †}Matth. 5.16., may be aſhamed of their own evil Deeds, and by your Example be put upon Reformation, & provoked to a virtuous, wiſe, and circumſpect Behaviour.
Eighthly, Should it not be a moving Conſideration with you, That this cuſtomary going to the Tavern is matter of Grief to your Miniſters, who watch for your Souls, and to many ſerious Chriſtian Neighbours about you?
They are not a few preciſe & humorous Perſons, that diſapprove of this Cuſtom; but many of the more ſober and watchful & wiſe Chriſtians among us, behold you and are grieved. Now as Charity requires that we mourn the Sins of others; ſo it requires that we bear on another's burdens ‖Gal. 6.2.. Hence then, if any of your Chriſtian Neighbours (& eſpecially if many of them) are burden'd with Grief & Shame, for your (ſuppoſed) Sin, in needleſs ſitting at a Tavern —, Verily Chriſtian Charity obliges you to forbear the taking ſuch a Liberty. Allow that really, and abſtracting from Circumſtances, it is not a Sin in you: yet there is not in every Man that Knowledge. And the Apoſtle has expreſly determin'd, If thy Brother be grieved with thy Liberty, now walkeſt thou not charitably *Rom. 14.15..
One very juſtly obſerves, It is to be conſider'd that in judging of the Lawfulneſs of a Diverſion, I ought not to be concluded by my ſingle Opinion, contrary to the ſenſe of other pious & good People. Tho' my Judgment is not to be determin'd by theirs, but by the Evidence of the Thing; yet I humbly conceive (ſays our Author) it is but fit their Judgment ſhou'd have ſome Influence on my Practice. Charity obliges me to ſhow to much Regard to the Peace of a Fellow-Chriſtian, as not to grieve him by doing an Action he thinks dipleaſing to GOD, and which might be as well omitted. — And then (he goes on) I wou'd propoſe it to your further Tho'ts, whether it be not a Duty to ſtand more upon your Reputation, than to part with any portion of it, for the ſake of a Diverſion; and whether we ought not to value more the Eſteem of good Chriſtians, than to forfeit it rather than forego the Uſe of our lawful Liberty in a matter of Recreation only.—With all this remember Paul's Exhortation, Phil. 4.8. where among other marks & characters of thoſe things that he recommends to our practice, this is one, That they be of good Report—. Tho' I defer not ſo much to Opinion & Custom, as to think they can alter the intrinſic Nature of Actions; ſo that Vertue ſhall become Vice, or Vice Vertue: yet I can't forbear being of the mind, That an Action in it ſelf indifferent, may become by Accident ſinful, when ſtamp'd with an ill Name by general Suffrage or by a number of Conſcientious Chriſtians.
We pray you now apply this to the Caſe we are upon. And we beſeech you, for others ſake (if you can't be perſuaded for your own) immediately to deſiſt from the culpable Practice, which is an occaſion of ſo much Grief unto many of your ſerious Friends & Neighbors. GOD is our Record, how greatly we long after you all in the Bowels of CHRIST, and that we have heavineſs in our Hearts on your Account. If therefore there be any Bowels & Mercies in you, Fulfil ye our Joy, and relieve us from our Burden, by a ſpeedy Reformation. Thus by the love you bear to us, we perſuade you.
But to proceed,—
In the next place, The Practice we are reproving, isn't it what your pious Fore-fathers were very much Strangers to? Your ſelves know how ye ought to be followers of them, who thro' Faith & Patience inherit he Promiſes; to follow them in the Things that are pure & lovely! But now Judge within your ſelves: Do you not think, in this unhappy Practice, you've widely departed from the Example of New-England's Primitive Times? Do you not ſhew a Spirit very different from that which poſſeſs'd the firſt Generations of GOD's People in this Land? Did They (think you) ſo frequent Drinking-Houſes, and cuſtomarily trifle away their Evenings there, as many now a-days do? Alas! Are we thus quickly turning out of the good Way, which our Fathers walked in! Do we thus early riſe, & corrupt our Doings! Some of you that give into this Cuſtom, have perhaps had eminently pious Anceſtors, in whoſe Lives no ſuch Vanity was to be ſeen. And may you not well bluſh to think how their Example reproaches you, and what a different Figure (in this regard,) you make from them! Return, we beſeech you, and ſee & ask for the Old Paths, the good way, and walk therein, and ye ſhall find reſt for your Souls.
Indeed, (to go on,) We can't but ſuppoſe that your own Minds have ſecretly twitch'd & upbraided you at times before now, for your miſconduct in this; matter. We appeal to you; Has not Conſcience, in ſome moments of ſerious Reflection, and particularly when you have ſometimes heard this Cuſtom borne Teſtimony againſt, by your faithful Reprovers, begun to finite you! And have you not under ſuch Convictions entertain'd ſome thought of leaving off the evil Practice; yea & perhaps forborne for a Seaſon? Yet have you not return'd to the old Wont? But why have ye done this? Were thoſe inward▪ Rebukes (think ye) from above, Fruits of the Holy Spirit, or not? Surely you can't imagine them to be from beneath, Productions of an Evil Spirit. The Devil is unqueſtionably more a Friend to the ſinful Cuſtom (in which ſo many are like to be enſnar'd) than to be the Author of thoſe good Diſpoſitions — And if they were (as they muſt needs be) Motions of the Holy Spirit; then conſider, You muſt give an Account to GOD, of the Slights and Affronts you have put upon Him, by quenching His Spirit, and reſiſting the Checks & Warnings of Conſcience. Oh! Why will you thus ſtruggle with your faithful Monitor, withſtand your bleſſed Sanctifier, and grieve the Comforter, whereby you are ſealed to the Day of Redemption! Beloved, if there be any Fellowship of the Spirit, we beſeech you hearken to his Voice, even to Day, while it is called to day; fall in with his holy ſuggeſtions; ſuffer not your ſelves to continue in that which your own ſolid Thoughts do & cannot but diſallow, left haply ye be found even to fight againſt GOD. We intreat you, do not ſhut your Eyes againſt the Light. Don't reſiſt Conviction, nor ſhift it off by trifling Pretences. It has been well obſerv'd, There is no Sin ſo heinous, ſo odious, but a reſolved Cuſtom in it will do much towards the reconciling of the Judgment to it; ſo as that either it is tho't no Sin at all, or but a little one. And thus if it be not juſtified, yet it is palliated & excus'd; and Conſcience, which ſhou'd be of Council for the Government to detect and proſecute the Sin, is retain'd on the other ſide, and becomes an Advocate for the Sin. We intreat you Don't ſet your ſelves to ſtudy Excuſes, as the manner of ſome is. For verily all the Fig-leaves you can ſew together, will not make a Covering broad or thick enough to hide the Shame.—Some of you may perhaps urge the Power of Cuſtom; that it's what you have long us'd your ſelves to, & can't tell how to leave it off—But alas! That only argues you the more guilty, and that you've the more need to haſten your Repentance, and reſolutely ſtrive to break off the evil Habit. Remember this, & ſhew your ſelves Men.
Some it may be will urge Example & Faſhion; that it's the Cuſtom of the Place, and they wou'd not affect Singularity — To which we reply. Tho' it be indeed growing too much the Mode, yet Thanks be to GOD, there are many ſober & watchful Chriſtians among us ſtill that eſchew the Evil; a number ſufficient to reſcue you from the dreaded Imputation of Singularity. But ſuppoſe the Caſe were otherwiſe, the Commonneſs of the Practice, if it be a Sin, will not excuſe you in it. 'Tis too great a Complement to any Faſhion, to follow it at the expence of a good Conſcience & the Credit of your Profeſſion. Better be ſingular than ſin. 'Tis the Word of GOD that is our Rule; not the Example of Men, however great or good. And that expreſly ſays, {inverted †}Exod. 23.2.Thou ſhalt not follow a multitude to do evil—.
Again, Some it may be will plead, They are led away by enticing Company—. But alas! This will never juſtify you. Are you not ſolemnly caution'd & charg'd in the Word of GOD†Prov. 22 24, 25. Chap. 1.10.—9.6. 2 Theſ. 3.6., Make no friendſhip with a vicious Man, leſt thou learn his ways, & get a Snare to thy Soul.— My Son, if Sinners entice thee, conſent thou not. Forſake the Fooliſh & live. Withdraw your ſelves from every Brother, that walketh diſorderly. Note that Man, and have no Company with him, that he may be aſhamed.—Theſe are the Warnings of GOD. And if thou obeyeſt them, thou ſhalt be wiſe for thy ſelf; but if thou ſcorneſt, thou alone ſhalt bear it. The Sins you are drawn into by others, are your own Tho' Sinners entice, they cannot compel you; but if overcome when tempted, you are really drawn aſide of your own Luſts ‖Jam. 1.14.; and every man ſhall finally bear his own Burden *Gal. 6.5.. 'Tis a vain Plea then, & carrys in it not the leaſt Colour of an Excuſe, to ſay, That you are drawn in by Company.—What tho' they may be your kind Benefactors? Their Gifts ſhou'd not blind your Eyes, and allure you to have fellowſhip with them in any unfruitful Works of Darkneſs. What tho' they are your generous Employers, & your Dependence may be very much upon them for Buſineſs & a Livelihood, and they'l be diſpleas'd if you don't humour 'em in ſuch matters; yet be not ye Partakers with them †Eph. 5.7, 11.. For the Eyes of the LORD are over the Righteous;— and who is he that will harm you, if ye be Followers of that which is Good? But and if ye ſuffer for Righteouſneſs ſake, happy are ye; & be not afraid of their Terror, neither be troubled {inverted †}1 Pet. 3.12, &c.. What tho' they think it strange that you run not with them —, ſpeaking Evil of you, and frowning upon you, and perhaps doing you ſome Diskindneſs: Yet if any Man ſuffer as a Christian *1 Pet. 4.16.let him not be aſhamed nor afraid. The Fear of Man is too often in this Caſe undoubtedly, as well as in others, a Snare, eſpecially to young Beginners in the World. But my Son, fear thou GOD: for he that feareth GOD, ſhall come forth of them all. Ye are bought with a Price: be ye not the Servants of Men ‖1 Cor. 7.23..
In a word, Some it may be will plead Neceſſity, or at leaſt great Conveniency in the Caſe, with regard to the Ends of their Calling & Buſineſs:—Upon which we ſhall obſerve to you, That there are Others among us, Merchants, Shop-keepers, Tradesmen, &c. that have perhaps as much Buſineſs & as good Succeſs as you; who yet don't attend your Evening Converſations at the Tavern, and do but ſeldom, if ever, tranſact any Buſineſs there Now theſe are Witneſſes againſt you, and muſt ſtop your Mouths, as to the Plea of Neceſſity, or any great Expediency in the matter.—Indeed all will allow Publick Houſes to be neceſſary or at leaſt convenient, for Travellers & Strangers. But we think the Caſe is vaſtly different, as to Town-Inhabitants, who are at home, and have Houſes of their own, which are ſufficient in ordinary Caſes—. However, we will readily allow, that Town-Dwellers may ſometimes find a Conveniency in having a publick Houſe at hand to ſtep into upon Occaſion. Nevertheleſs, it do's not follow, that you may go thither, when Neceſſity do'sn't compel, nor any great & manifeſt Accommodation or Advantage invite you. For what may be innocent & lawful, when done occaſionally & tranſiently, upon ſome particular & extraordinary Emergence; which becomes criminal & ſcandalous, when it grows to a Cuſtom, and is done unneceſſarily —. But then we fear concerning many, It is not Buſineſs, that carries 'em to the Tavern, eſpecially in the Evenings which they ſo often ſpend there; but they go for the ſake of free Converſation & Paſtime, as they call it; if not driven by more ſordid Appetites. Alas! How egregiouſly are public Houſes generally perverted from the true Deſign of them! For, as we fear, Taverns are multiply'd among us, beyond the bounds of real Neceſſity, and even to a Fault, if not a Scandal; ſo likewiſe that too many of them prove Nurſeries of Vice, being proſtituted by Multitudes to an ill uſe, even the ſerving of divers Luſts and Pleaſures, which war againſt the Soul, or at beſt the waſting away of many precious Hours in unprofitable Amuſements!
However, Let what Good or Advantage you will, be pretended, by theſe Evening-Interviews at Publick Houſes, we apprehend if matters be duely weighed, that the Evils & Inconveniences & Temptations that attend them, will vaſtly preponderate & more than countervail. And let us tell you, If you will immediately Reform, we are perſuaded This will be no Grief nor Offence of Heart unto you, as Abigail in another caſe ſaid to David. And O that we may have the ſame Succeſs that ſhe had in her Reproof! We hope that ſome of you at leaſt, will give an affectionate & thankful Reception to us, as David to his Reprover, ſaying, "Bleſſed be the Lord GOD of Iſrael, which ſent thee this Day to meet me: and bleſſed be thy Advice, & bleſſed be thou which haſt kept me back from ſinning!
But, to conclude, Whatever your Apprehenſions are now, or have been, we are perſuaded that a Dying Hour will bring with it very melancholy Reflections upon your Conduct in this matter, if you don't ſeaſonably recover your ſelves.
O for the Tho'ts of dying Men, in this important Caſe!
Realiſe it, Sirs, that you are haſtning to the Grave, and ſtand upon the amazing Brink of ETERNITY. Conſider the Uncertainty of Life; and think ſeriouſly with your ſelves, What if Death ſhou'd lay it's awful Arreſts upon you the next Time you are at a Tavern-Interview! Is the Tavern a Place you would be willing to meet Death in? How dare you run the Riſque, that That ſhall be the laſt place you'l be at, before the dreadful Summons be ſerv'd upon you, to ſet your Houſe in order & DIE! — What is the Language of your evil Cuſtom? Is it not that, Soul! take thine Eaſe; eat, drink, & be merry! But O Man, what if one Evening or other GOD ſhould ſay to you, This Night ſhall thy Soul be required of thee! *Luke 12.20.Oh! How wou'd your Thoughts (like Belſhazzar's†Dan 5.6., when he ſaw the hand-writing on the Wall) trouble you, and your Knees ſmite one againſt another!
We beſeech you think what are like to be your Reflections upon miſpent Time, and particularly on your Tavern-Hours, when you are got into the near View of a future State, & have the King of Terrors ſtaring you in the face; when your Lives are hovering over the Mouth of the Pit, & your Souls are juſt upon taking wing to make their appearance before the dread Tribunal of a Righteous GOD; whoſe all-ſeeing Eye is now continually upon you; compaſſing your Path and your Lying down {inverted †}Pſal. 139.3.—, and who will bring every Work into Judgment, with every ſecret thing, whether good or evil ‖Eccl. 12.14.— When Death & Judgment are come near, and ſeem to have taken hold of you; Do you think you ſhall retain the Reliſh of your Tavern-Converſation, or have a pleaſing Memory of the Time devour'd by it? Verily we believe this evil Cuſtom will then appear to your enlightened eyes in it's true & baſe Colours, and in dreadful Shapes: and the Remembrance of it will be as a piercing Arrow to your guilty Breaſts.
You may perhaps baffle Conſcience for the preſent with one Excuſe and another; (and it may be ſome will paſs off this our Addreſs with a vain Laugh, and treat it with Neglect or vent their angry Reſentments:) but when you come to lie upon a Death bed, if Conſcience be awake, we are perſuaded this will read loud Leſſons of Reproof & Terror to you, ſilence all the frivolous Pleas you now indulge to, and make you wiſh you had inclined your Ear to the voice of your Teachers †Prov. 5.13.. Then the Sin you now make light of, will ſit heavy upon your Tho'ts, and be a grievous Burden to you. Tho' now it be ſweet to your Mouths, and roll'd under your Tongues as a pleaſant Morſel, yet 'twill be Bitterneſs in the latter end, even as the Gall of Aſps, yea more bitter than Death And when your Hearts are pricked within you, will not the Pſalmiſt's Reflection {inverted †}Pſal. 73, 22.be yours, — So fooliſh was I & ignorant, yea even as a Beaſt before God! With you not be ready to confeſs with Saul ‖1 Sam. 26.21.— I have played the Fool and erred exceedingly! — Have you not heard of ſome that have gone out of the World in the midſt of thoſe bitter Exclamations, Ale houſes are Hell-houſes! Ale-houſes are Hell-houſes! And of others that have made that doleful Outcry, — Call back Time, Oh! Call back Time: but alas! found it too late to redeem the precious Hours they had ſo profuſely thrown away!
O think, we beſeech you, think what will be the Fruit of this Courſe you are in. Verily the Beſt Iſſue you can expect is that you will ſooner or later Repent of it. And will you act ſo fooliſh a part as wilfully to make your ſelves work for Repentance! Do but conſider the Nature of Repentance; what Anxiety, and Shame, and Grief, and Fear it implies: and it ſhould ſeem you can't be willing to purchaſe a little Pleaſure at ſo dear a rate.— Knowing the Terror of the Lord, we perſwade you —. O be wiſe in time: Seeing the Error of your way, inſtantly reſolve upon Reformation.
Now take up thoſe wiſe and good Purpoſes, which you can't but think you'l be ready to make on a Sick Bed. Be peremptory and ſolemn in your Reſolutions: and immediately put them in practice. Be ſtedfaſt & immovable. Watch & Pray, that ye enter not into Temptation. Carefully guard againſt every thing that will tend to inſnare you: and in particular, take heed that a falſe Modeſty, an eaſy Humour, and Complaiſance to Company don't betray you. Fortify your ſelves againſt all Inticements, by carrying proper ſerious Tho'ts about with you continually; by frequently renewing your ſolemn Vows, and daily committing your ſelves to the Keeping of Divine Grace.
Thus we have ſhew'd our Opinion, and given you our faithful Advice. We now commend you to GOD who has all Hearts in his Hand; and beſeech Him to crown this our Endeavour with the deſired Succeſs, by his effectual Bleſſing.
However, we humbly truſt it will turn to us for a Teſtimony. AMEN!