The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

But when they passed the bonds that God had appointed them, as unworthy of Gods benefits they are expelled and driven out of paradise, they may no longer eat the fruits of that garden, which by excess they had so much abused: As transgressors of Gods commandment, they and their posterity are brought to a perpetual shame and confusion, and as accursed of God they must now sweat for their living, which before had abundance at their pleasure. Even so, if we in eating and drinking exceed, when God of his large liberality sendeth plenty, he will soon change plenty into scarceness: And where as we gloried in fullness, he will make us empty, and confound us with penury, yea we shall be compelled to labour and travail with pains, in seeking for that which we sometime enjoyed at ease. Thus the Lord will not leave them unpunished, which not regarding his works, follow the lusts and appetites of their own ¹hearts. The patriarch Noah, whom the Apostle calleth the preacher of righteousness, a man exceedingly in Gods favour, is in holy scripture ⟨p. 202⟩made an example, whereby we may learn to avoid drunkenness. For when he had poured in wine more then was convenient, in filthy manner he lay naked in his tent, his privities discovered: And whereas sometime he was so much esteemed, he is now become a laughing stock to his wicked son Ham, no small grief to Shem and Japheth his other two sons, which were ashamed of their fathers beastly behaviour. Here we may note that drunkenness bringeth with it shame and derision, so that it never escapeth unpunished. Lot in like manner being overcome with wine, committeth abominable incest with his own daughters. So will almighty God give over drunkards, to the shameful lusts of their own hearts. Here is Lot by drinking fallen so far beside him ²self, that he knoweth not his own daughters. Who would have thought that an old man in that heavy case, having lost his wife and all that he had, which had seen even now Gods vengeance in fearful manner declared on the five Cities for their vicious living, should be so far past the remembrance of his duty? But men overcome with drink, are altogether mad as Seneca saith. He was deceived by his daughters: but now many deceive themselves, ³never thinking that GOD by his terrible punishments will be avenged on them that offend by excess.