N01322:25
Woe to drunkards. Two sermons testifying against the sin of drunkennessWo to drunkards. Two sermons testifying against the sin of drunkenness
Woe to drunkards. Two sermons testifying against the sin of drunkenness: wherein the woefulness of that evil, and the misery of all that are addicted to it, is discovered from the word of God. / By Increase Mather, D.D.Wo to drunkards. Two sermons testifying against the sin of drunkenness: wherein the wofulness of that evil, and the misery of all that are addicted to it, is discovered from the word of God. / By Increase Mather, D.D.
Boston: printed by Timothy Green, 1712
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now if there be any Excess in the use thereof, that's Drunkenness; if there be an inordinate affection or love to strong drink, that's Drunkenness in the sight of Him that trieth the R•ins and searcheth the Hearts. Hence the Apostle speaketh of the excess of wine, 1 Pet. 4.3. The Greek word (Dinophlogia,) there used noteth an inordinate affection and desi•e after Wine. And Solomon's description of a Drunkard, is, that he is a lover of wine, Prov. 21.17. Such an one is an habitual Drunkard, and he whose practice is according to that inordinate Affection, is actually so: Yea, if a man doth but drink a cup of Wine more than is good for him, he is guilty of this woeful Evil. As he that eateth more than is ⟨p. 6⟩good for him, is guilty of the sin of Gluttony; so he that drinketh to any excess is justly charged with Drunkenness. 2. There is Drunkenness in the sight of Men. Sometimes this Evil is so gross and notorious, as that the wholesome Laws of men take hold of it and Punish it; Namely, when a man is so overcome with wine, as that he c•n neither speak nor act like a rational Creature, when Reason is disturbed thereby, & Sense & Speech & Motion fail, when neither the Head nor Hand can do their Offices aright: Prov. 16.9. A thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard. Had he his wits about him, he would not suffer thorns to be thrust into his hands. Psal. 107.27. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits end: This is palpable Drunkenness. We must know that a man may be deeply and damnably guilty of this Evil in the sight of God, though it should never proceed to those outrageous out-breakings, whereby men cannot but observe it. We come then unto the Second thing propounded for the clearing of the Truth before us; viz.
Now if there be any Excess in the use thereof, that's Drunkenness; if there be an inordinate affection or love to strong drink, that's Drunkenness in the sight of Him that trieth the Rins and searcheth the Hearts. Hence the Apostle speaketh of the excess of wine,