Addresses to old men, and young men, and little children. In three discourses ...…

Thirdly, Overcome the De`vil, when he tempts ⟨p. 74⟩you to the youthful sin of Drunkenness. 'Tis a sharp Irony in the Speech of the Wiseman to the young man, Eccl. 11. 9. Rejoice, O young man in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth. And the Devil persuades many a foolish young man, to think or act, as if this were a liberty in good earnest allowed unto him. Alas, how common is it for young persons to be at merry Bouts, and there to disguise themselves by a sin so much worse than Beastly, that the very Bruits themselves cannot be frequently or easily compelled into it! But I beseech all young people to beware of this pernicious vice, from which I had almost said, None returns to take hold on the path of life. The careful Father that heard his young Son was given to Gaming and Whoring, and some such things, yet encouraged himself with hopes that Age would Cure him: but when he heard he was become addicted unto Drunkenness, with despair he cried out, Nay then, I have no hope concerning him. Diligent Enquires have been able to find but one or two Notorious Drunkards in an Age, made sober men; Drunkenness is Vitium maximo adheventia; it is rare that any leave it off; see deut. 21. 18, 19, 20, 21. The devil gains and keeps a strange hold of men, by this Iniquity; and hence those Barbarous Nations which have not our liquid ways of Intoxication, yet have other modes of drunkenness; by which the devil retains his possession of them. But O Remember ⟨p. 75⟩the Reckoning that is to come at the last! Of Drunkenness we are told in Prov. 23. 32. At the last, it bites, it stings; and indeed how should it otherwise? for it breaks not one, but all of the Commandments; Ebrietas in se culpas complectitur omnes. Hence, how many Drunkards have at the last roared out, Ale-houses are Hell-houses! Know it, that at the last, you shall for every cup of pleasure here (as one expresses it) receive a gallon of Wo. Let all young people take up a just prejudice against this youthful, but woeful vice; and bear in mind that word of God in Isa 28. 1. Woe to Drunkards. Young men, 'twill bring a woe upon your Names; your Credit irreparably falls and breaks every time you Reel with Drink. 'Twill bring a woe upon your Estates; they'll be quickly melted at the Tavern, and you must be left without both Friends to assist you and Clothes to cover you. 'Twill bring a woe upon your Bodies;