N01322:59
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.
The•• are sundry of you that stand in some Public Capacity, Townsmen, Constables, Grand-Jury-men, &c. Behold the Word of the Lord is unto you in Particular this Day; I lay the Solemn Charge of GOD upon you, that you do your Utmost towards the Suppression of this Abounding Iniquity: Kill this Serpent before it be grown too Big for you. And therefore take heed that there be not through' your Means, or through' your Neglect, that which is the Fountain of this Evil; I mean, that there be not a Multiplication of Taverns, and Ale houses, or the like, more than there is Need for. I know, that in such a great Town as this, there is Need of such Houses, and no Sober Minister will speak against the Licensing of them; but I wish there be not more of them than there is any Need of▪ Especially, see that you keep a Vigilant Eye over these Private, Dark Houses, where wicked ⟨p. 49⟩Persons Sell Drink and Destroy Souls to get a little Money; and which do more Mischief, than all the Public Houses do Good, as being the very Sinks of Sin, whereby Youth is woefully Corrupted among• us. And if you find out any that have made a Trade of this Iniquity, and that have got part of their Living by the Blood and Destruction of Precious Souls, see that you bring them forth to Condign Punishment; and as they have been Exemplary in Sinning, so let them be brought under Exemplary Punishment, that All Israel may Hear, and Fear, and do no more so Wickedly.
The•• are sundry of you that stand in some Publick Capacity, Townsmen, Constables, Grand-Iury-men, &c. Behold the Word of the Lord is unto you in Particular this Day; I lay the Solemn Charge of GOD upon you, that you do your Utmost towards the Suppression of this Abounding Iniquity: Kill this Serpent before it be grown too Big for you. And therefore take heed that there be not thro' your Means, or thro' your Neglect, that which is the Fountain of this Evil; I mean, that there be not a Multiplication of Taverns, and Ale houses, or the like, more than there is Need for. I know, that in such a great Town as this, there is Need of such Houses, and no Sober Minister will speak against the Licensing of them; but I wish there be not more of them than there is any Need of▪ Especially, see that you keep a Vigilant Eye over these Private, Dark Houses, where wicked