N01322:50
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.
Nay, come yet nearer Home, & look upon this great Town, How hath God Threatened us for This, as well as Other Sins? Remember the sad Fire that was here in this Part of the Town about Three Years ago▪ And where did that Fire break forth? Began it not at the Ale-house? As if the Lord should from Heaven Point with the Finger, and say, Behold, I am Displeased with you, because of your misspending your Precious Time in such Houses. Boston! Boston! Take heed of this Sin, lest thou become Desolate.
Nay, come yet nearer Home, & look upon this great Town, How hath God Threatned us for This, as well as Other Sins? Remember the sad Fire that was here in this Part of the Town about Three Years ago▪ And where did that Fire break forth? Began it not at the Ale-house? As if the Lord should from Heaven Point with the Finger, and say, Behold, I am Displeased with you, because of your mispending your Precious Time in such Houses. Boston! Boston! Take heed of this Sin, lest thou become Desolate.
2. Know, that this Sin will certainly be Bitterness in the Latter End. Suppose the best that can be supposed; Suppose the Lord should give you Repentance, ⟨p. 40⟩& so forgive this Iniquity, yet then it will cost you much Bitterness of Soul. Extraordinary cases must always be excepted; but otherwise, God is not wont to Pardon great Sins, without bringing first to great Sorrows, & heavy Breakings of Heart for them. Now, Drunkenness is a great Sin, and therefore conclude thou mayest, that if ever the Lord Pardon it to thee, He will first break all thy Bones & Heart for it: Or if the Sin be not Mourned for, and Turned from, then bitter Destruction will be the End of it. The Scripture saith of those whose God is their Belly, that their End will be Destruction, Phil. 3.19. Now, the Drunkards Belly is his God, unto which he offers a Drink-offering. What bitter & lamentable Ends have many Drunkards come to? Hath not the Lord been wont to make such Persons awful Examples of Divine Vengeance at last? What a sad End did Nabal come to, after he had been very Drunken?