3. A Drunkard is an universal Transgressor of the Whole Law of God. James faith, Chap. 2. ver. 10. Whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. We cannot say concerning the Drunkard, that he keeps the whole Law, or that he offends in one point only, but we must say, that he is guilty of all, even guilty of the breach of all the Commandments: and that not only as he that breaketh one link in a Chain may be said to break the whole Chain, but he hath broken every link, that is, every Precept of that Divine Chain of the Royal Law. If the question be, Which of the Commandments is Drunkenness a transgression of? The Answer must be, Not of one alone, but it is a general violation of the whole Law, and of every Precept therein. The Drunkard is an Idolater, for he loveth drink as he should love God, that is, above all, even above Wife and Children, and Name and Estate, and every thing that he hath in this world. And there is Robbery, Adultery, ⟨p. 6⟩nay Murder enwrapped in the bowels of this sin, as afterwards will appear. The Drunkard is a Transgressor against the first Table of the Moral Law, in as much as by this sin he is rendered unfit to Worship God in any Religious duty: for, Wine taketh away the heart, Hos. 4. 11. but the heart must be given to God in every duty: if he Pray, it must be with understanding; and therefore when that is taken away by drink, what work will be make of it? should a vile sinner dare to appear before God when he is in drink, he would but take the Lords Name in vain, and bring wrath and a curse upon his own Soul. Some (d)think that Nadah and Abihu were distempered with drink when they offered strange fire before the Lord, and conceive that to be the reason of their so miscarrying, because presently after the story of their sin and death, the Lord faith, Do not drink wine or strong drink when ye go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, left ye die, Lev. 109. But though that conjecture be uncertain, yet it is from that Scripture evident, that excess in Wine will unfit for any Religious service: and he that shall venture to Worship God when it is so with him, will offer strange fire, and hath more cause to fear that he shall die before the Lord, then to expect any merciful answer to those polluted Prayers, which are but as corrupt breath, enough to stain the Heavens.
3. A Drunkard is an universal Transgressor of the Whole Law of God. James faith, Chap. 2. ver. 10. Whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. We cannot say concerning the Drunkard, that he keeps the whole Law, or that he offends in one point onely, but we must say, that he is guilty of all, even guilty of the breach of all the Commandments: and that not onely as he that breaketh one link in a Chain may be said to break the whole Chain, but he hath broken every link, that is, every Precept of that Divine Chain of the Royal Law. If the question be, Which of the Commandments is Drunkenness a transgression of? The Answer must be, Not of one alone, but it is a general violation of the whole Law, and of every Precept therein. The Drunkard is an Idolater, for he loveth drink as he should love God, that is, above all, even above Wife and Children, and Name and Estate, and every thing that he hath in this world. And there is Robbery, Adultery, ⟨p. 6⟩nay Murther enwrapped in the bowels of this sin, as afterwards will appear. The Drunkard is a Transgressor against the first Table of the Moral Law, in as much as by this sin he is rendred unfit to Worship God in any Religious duty: for, Wine taketh away the heart, Hos. 4. 11. but the heart must be given to God in every duty: if he Pray, it must be with understanding; and therefore when that is taken away by drink, what work will be make of it? should a vile sinner dare to appear before God when he is in drink, he would but take the Lords Name in vain, and bring weath and a curse upon his own Soul. Some (d)think that Nadah and Abihu were distempered with drink when they offered strange fire before the Lord, and conceive that to be the reason of their so miscarrying, because presently after the story of their sin and death, the Lord faith, Do not drink wine or strong drink when ye go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, left ye die, Lev. 109. But though that conjecture be uncertain, yet it is from that Scripture evident, that excess in Wine will unfit for any Religious service: and he that shall venture to Worship God when it is so with him, will offer strange fire, and hath more cause to fear that he shall die before the Lord, then to expect any merciful answer to those polluted Prayers, which are but as corrupt breath, enough to stain the Heavens.
- (d)Sic Hebraei in locam. Mero•hius, Christ •••• wright English A•••••
