N01322:56
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.
But if there be any Drunkards in the Congregation so desperate, as to go on still in the Commission of this Trespass against the Lord, be it known to you, That your Blood shall be upon your own Heads. I remember what God said to His Prophet Ezekiel, Chap. 33. ver. 7, 8. Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak, to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand. O Lord, I Tremble to think of that! That the Blood of any Poor Soul shall be Required of me: I trust in Christ that it shall not be so. I trust that none amongst you shall ⟨p. 47⟩be able to say to me, when we shall all appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ, Had you that Taught us the word of God, told us the evil of our ways, had you faithfully warned us of our danger, we would not have gone on therein. I remember also what the Lord further saith, Ver. 9. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way, to turn from it: if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul. Now then, I call Heaven and Earth to Record against you this Day, that I have Warned you of this Sin to turn from it: Let Men & Angels that are here present, bear me witness at the Last Day, that I have not shunned nor spared to declare unto you the Woes that will certainly follow upon continuance in this Evil. Therefore if there be any Drunkard that will be a Drunkard still, he shall die in his Iniquity; but I have delivered my Soul.
USE, IV. Let it be of EXHORTATION; and that in Three words.
1. Let every one Endeavour the Suppression and Extirpation of this Evil. This we should do, by Labouring to Pray it down. When we are taught to Pray that the Name of God may be Hallowed, therein is implied, That we must Pray that this and such like other Evils, whereby His Glorious Name is much dishonoured, may be