Woe to drunkards. Two sermons testifying against the sin of drunkennessWo to drunkards. Two sermons testifying against the sin of drunkenness

1. In that it darkeneth the Light of Reason. That noble Faculty of the Soul is as it were over whelmed and drowned by this Vice: Hence in the 7th Verse of this Chapter it is said, concerning those wicked and shameless Ministers that would be drunk sometimes, They are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink, they err in vision, they stumble in judgement. Whilst a man is under the actual power of this Evil, he is like a Reasonless Creature, devoid of all judgement and understanding: therefore the Prophet speaking concerning Drunkards, faith, They have no knowledge, Isa. 5. 13. g. d. they are like a company of brutes. Nay, Drunkenness is worse then a brutish sin; for a Beast will drink no more then shall do him good, and therefore a Drunkard is worse then a Beast. Reason is that whereby a man excels a Beast, but this sin depriveth him of ⟨p. 11⟩his excellency. How woeful is that Evil which shall deprive a man of the Image of God, and debase him below a Beast? It maketh one more like a Mad man (that is bereaved of his Reason) then any thing else. ^(h)One being asked What is Drunkenness? Answered well and truly, It is a voluntary Madness. And to the same purpose doth the Scripture speak, Jer. 51. 7. The Nations have drunken of her wine, therefore the Nations are mad. If Drunkards were not mad, they would never do as they do. Was it not madness in Esau, when he sold his Birthright for a mess of Pottage? How much more madness is it to part with all good for a draught of Beer? The Drunkard will lose his Friends, and lose his Estate, and lose his Name, and lose Heaven, and lose his Soul for ever, and all for a little drink. Oh! what horrible madness is this! Drunkenness is a besotting sin, we say commonly, A drunken Sot; it turns men into mere Sots. Some that have been of excellent Parts, by means of excessive drinking have lost their Parts; and although they were before that of rare understandings, have been besotted so as that they have been beneath the ordinary sort of men.

1. In that it darkeneth the Light of Reason. That noble Faculty of the Soul is as it were over whelmed and drowned by this Vice: Hence in the 7th Verse of this Chapter it is said, concerning those wicked and shameless Ministers that would be drunk sometimes, They are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink, they erre in vision, they stumble in judgement. Whilest a man is under the actual power of this Evil, he is like a Reasonless Creature, devoid of all judgement and understanding: therefore the Prophet speaking concerning Drunkards, faith, They have no knowledge,