N01322:44
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.
Wherefore it was that the Holy Martyr Bradford, when he heard of any one that was Guilty of Drunkenness, Uncleanness, or the vilest Wickedness, would smite upon his Breast, and say, In this Heart of mine is that which would have made me commit the same Evil, if the Grace of God had not prevented. Oh! Therefore be humbly Thankful to the God of all Grace. But much more have they cause to be for ever Thankful, who are Mortified unto this Sin: For a man may possibly never Commit this Evil outwardly, and yet the Sin not Mortified in him; it may be he may not have an Opportunity to practise this Iniquity; or fear of Punishment, or Shame may deter him, & yet he is not Mortified to it. This Sin is Mortified, when a man doth forsake and abhor it more than Death or Hell, because God is thereby Offended, & Dishonoured; they that do so shall not Dye, but Live; Rom. 8.13. If ye live after the Flesh, ye shall a•e: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Drunkenness is one of the deeds of the Body & of the Flesh; I do not say that he that doth not Commit that Sin shall Live, but he that doth Mortify it shall Live: For as he that Repenteth truly of One Sin, Repents of All; so he that indeed is Mortified to One Sin, is so to All: Such then shall Live, & therefore have abundant cause of Rejoicing & Thankfulness before the Lord.
Wherefore it was that the Holy Martyr Bradford, when he heard of any one that was Guilty of Drunkenness, Uncleanness, or the vilest Wickedness, would smite upon his Breast, and say, In this Heart of mine is that which would have made me commit the same Evil, if the Grace of God had not prevented. Oh! Therefore be humbly Thankful to the God of all Grace. But much more have they cause to be for ever Thankful, who are Mortified unto this Sin: For a man may possibly never Commit this Evil outwardly, and yet the Sin not Mortified in him; it may be he may not have an Opportunity to practise this Iniquity; or fear of Punishment, or Shame may deter him, & yet he is not Mortified to it. This Sin is Mortified, when a man doth forsake and abhor it more than Death or Hell, because God is thereby Offended, & Dishonoured; they that do so shall not Dye, but Live; Rom. 8.13. If ye live after the Flesh, ye shall a•e: but if you through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Drunkenness is one of the deeds of the Body & of the Flesh; I do not say that he that doth not Commit that Sin shall Live, but he that doth Mortify it shall Live: For as he that Repenteth truly of One Sin, Repents of All; so he that indeed is Mortified to One Sin, is so to All: Such then shall Live, & therefore have abundant cause of Rejoycing & Thankfulness before the Lord.