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

Many have been cast down Wounded, many have been Slain by it, yea Millions of Millions that have been Slain, and cast ⟨p. 17⟩down into the Pit for ever, by the hands of this one Woeful Evil. (3.) It is injurious to the Souls of men. How woeful is that Evil, which will bring not only Temporal Woe upon the Bodies, but Everlasting Woe upon the immortal Souls of all that shall die under the Guilt of it? And that Drunkenness is injurious and woefully Prejudicial as to the Soul, is Evident; [1.] In that it darkeneth the Light of Reason. That Noble Faculty of the Soul is as it were overwhelmed & drowned by this Vice: Hence in ver. 7. of this Chapter it is said, concerning those wicked & 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 judgment. Whilst a man is under the actual power of this Evil, he is like a Reasonless Creature, devoid of all Judgment and Understanding: Therefore the Prophet speaking concerning Drunkards, saith, they have no knowledge, Isa. 5.13. Q.D. They are like a Company of Bruits. Nay, Drunkenness is worse than a Brutish Sin; for a Beast will drink no more than shall do him good; and therefore a Drunkard is worse than a Beast. Reason is that whereby a man Excels a Beast; but this Sin depriveth him of his Excellency. How woeful is that Evil which shall deprive a man of the Image of God, and debase him below a Beast? ⟨p. 18⟩It maketh one more like a Mad-man (that is bereaved of his Reason) than any thing else. A Philosopher being asked, What is Drunkenness? Answered well & 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 strong Drink? 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;