A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

1. For Magistrates: Prov. 31.4, 5. It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink Wine, nor for Princes strong Drink. Give strong Drink to him that is ready to perish. It is an Allusion to the Custom among the Jews, if a Man were condemned to die, it was their Courtesy to give him spiced Wine to attenuate and thin the Blood that it might sooner pass out of the Body; and to inebriate the Senses, that he might be less sensible of his Pa•n. Now it is not for Kings to drink Wine, not for the Judg, but for the condemned Person. So Eccles. 10.16, 17. Woe unto thee, O Land, when thy Princes eat in the Morning. Blessed art thou, O Land, when thy Princes eat in due season, for Strength and not for Drunkenness. Magistrates cannot be good or bad alone; when they are given to sensual Delights, •t is more odious in them, for it unfits and diverts them from public Business: when they spend their time in Excess, they are totally indisposed for Counsel and wise Debates, and weighty Affairs; therefore the Carthaginians forbade Wine to Magistrates, during the time of their Magistracy. And by Solon's Law, a drunken Prince was to be slain.

1. For Magistrates: Prov. 31.4, 5. It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink Wine, nor for Princes strong Drink. Give strong Drink to him that is ready to perish. It is an Allusion to the Custom among the Iews, if a Man were condemned to die, it was their Courtesy to give him spiced Wine to attenuate and thin the Blood that it might sooner pass out of the Body; and to inebriate the Senses, that he might be less sensible of his Pa•n. Now it is not for Kings to drink Wine, not for the Judg, but for the condemned Person. So Eccles. 10.16, 17. Wo unto thee, O Land, when thy Princes eat in the Morning. Blessed art thou, O Land, when thy Princes eat in due season, for Strength and not for Drunkenness. Magistrates cannot be good or bad alone; when they are given to sensual Delights, •t is more odious in them, for it unfits and diverts them from publick Business: when they spend their time in Excess, they are totally indisposed for Counsel and wise Debates, and weighty Affairs; therefore the Carthaginians forbad Wine to Magistrates, during the time of their Magistracy. And by Solon's Law, a drunken Prince was to be slain.