That drunkenness is a vice condemned by God and man.That drunkennesse is a vice condemned by God and man.

CHAP. II. That drunkenness is a vice condemned by God and man.

CHAP. II. That drunkennesse is a vice condemned by God and man.

And thus much for the lawful use of these creatures:¹ whereby it appeareth that howsoever the abuse is hateful, yet their lawful use is not to be rejected; neither are we to approve Lycurgus practise, who because the people were addicted to drunkenness, caused all the vines in the country to be cut down and spoiled: for he should have done better (as Plutarch saith) if he had digged a well near unto every vineyard,² that the hot fury of Bacchus might be tempered and corrected with the mild coolness of the watery Nymphs. Now contrariwise they are abused when as they are spent in drunkenness, intemperance and excess. For men sin in the abuse of these creatures two ways: first by drunkenness, when by immoderate swilling and tippling they are deprived of the use of their reason, understanding, and memory; so as for the time, they become like unto beasts. Secondly by excess, when as they addict themselves to much drinking, and make it their usual practise to sit at the wine or strong drink; neither are they alone to be esteemed as drunkards who deprive themselves of the use of reason, and become brutish; but those who take their chief pleasure in drinking and carousing, though their brain will bear it without any great alteration; as afterwards shall appear.

ANd thus much for the lawfull vse of these creatures:¹ whereby it appeareth that howsoeuer the abuse is hatefull, yet their lawfull vse is not to be reiected; neither are we to approue Lycurgus practise, who because the people were addicted to drunkennesse, caused all the vines in the countrie to bee cut downe and spoiled: for hee should haue done better (as Plutarch saith) if hee had digged a well neere vnto euery vineyard,²