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

Drunkenness is like the ^(t)Basilisk, of whom they say, that ⟨p. 31⟩if a man do but look upon it, he is thereby infected, and mortally poisoned. Therefore it will be your wisdom to keep out of the sight of this Evil, and far away from whatever shall tend, and tempt unto it. One thing more I shall mention, as a great occasion and cause of this sin, which therefore you ought to avoid, namely, that Heathenish Custom of Health-drinking. O 'tis an ^(v)Heathenish, nay an Idolatrous Rice, witness those Ceremonies of putting off the Hat, yea of Kneeling, (a gesture of Adoration) which are Customary amongst profane Health drinkers. But the Word of God faith, Learn not the way of the Heathen, for the oustome of the [Heathen] people, are vain, Jer. 10.2,3. and that Christians are redeemed from their vain conversation received by tradition from fore-fathers, 1 Pet. 1.18. What should Christians do with the Mysteries ^(w)and Ceremonies of Bacchus? Do not think that only a few Puritans or Precisians, have been against this Custom of drinking Healths: for though ^(x)Papists indeed plead for the lawfulness of it, yet ^(y)Protestants generally condemn it. And the ^(z)Ancient Doctors in the Church have thundered against this practice, and that because it is (as they were wont to express it) A shoeing born to draw on Drunkenness; it is a Bacchean Artifice, which Satan hath devised for that end. The Scripture likewise doth plainly enough reprove it, when Banquetings are condemned, 1 Pet. 4.3