This sin may be considered either as to the act or habit.
(1st.) As to the act of drunkenness. It is possible a good man may fall into it by surprise ; as Noah, Gen. ix. 21, ' And he drank of the wine, and was drunken.'
(2d.) As to the habit. It is said, ' Drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God,' 1 Cor. vi. 10. Nothing good and honest can be presumed of them.
[2.] The heinousness of this sin of drinking excessively, beyond that measure which fitteth men both in soul and body for the service of God and the duties of their callings. That is set forth in the word aaoiTia ; it is prodigality and wasteful profusion.
(1.) Of the blessings of God's providence, or the good things given us to sweeten our pilgrimage and encourage our service ; they are perverted to God's dishonour, which is foul ingratitude. How many waste their estates hereby ! for it is said, Prov. xxiii. 21, ' The drunkard and glutton shall come to poverty ; ' Prov. xxi. 17, ' He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.' Which is said not only because of the costly expense which is necessary to feed and supply these vices, but because they divert the mind from more serious employments, whereby as instruments of God's providence we may provide for ourselves and those that belong to us.
(2.) Of our fame, because it exposeth us to ridiculous things, and so to the contempt of others: Prov. xx. 1, 'Wine is a mocker, sti'ong drink is raging : and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.' So it is said, Hab. ii. 16, ' Thou art filled with shame for glory ; drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered.' It forfeits a man's credit and reputation, because it uncovereth a man's nakedness, and so maketh him contemptible.
(3.) Of their bodies, as it destroyeth their health, and filleth them with diseases : Prov. xxiii. 29, 30, ' Who hath woe ? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions ? who hath babblings ? who hath wounds without cause ? who hath redness of eyes ? They that tarry long at the wine, they that go to seek mixed wine.' He reckoneth up six evils that come of drunkenness : First, One in general, that is woe, meaning thereby all kinds of hurt and damage ; he hath woe, he cannot sn{)press it in his bosom, but must needs cry out, 0 woe is me ! Secondly,, * Who hath sorrow ? ' meaning thereby trouble of conscience, or a bitter and sad reflection upon the inconveniences of drunkenness, as poverty, beggary, an ill fame, and a diseased body. Thirdly, ' Who
394 SERMONS UPON EPHESTANS V. [SeR. XXII.
hatli contentions ? ' that is, quarrels which arise upon a h'ght occasion, and ni.iiiy times have a bloody issue. Fourthly, ' Who hath babblings ?' that is. scurrilous talk, for men are ready to pour out all kind of froth and folly in their distemper. Fifthly, 'Who hath wounds without cause r^ ' this is the fruit of the contentions spoken of before ; he hath stripes or wounds given him by those whom he abuseth, or by danger- ous fiills fi-om stairs, precipices, &c. Sixthly, The last evil is 'redness of eyes,' meaning thereby the weakening and deforming the most noble sense we have by too great an effusion of humours, and the plenty of fiery f'unies thence exhaling, which causeth the soreness and redness of eyes. This is the lot of them that drink too plentifully, or frequently, or deliciitely. Therefore afterwards it is said, ver. 32, 'At the last it biteth like a ser])ent, and stingeth like an adder.' Whilst men are pouring down their throats plenty of choice liquor, they dream of nothing but pleasure, but at length they are bitten with many and sore diseases.
(4 ) Of tlieir souls, which may be considered with respect to their natuial, spiritual, or eternal estate. As to their natural estate, it taketh away the wit and judgment: Hosea iv. 11, 'Whoredom, and wine, and new wine, take away the heart.' Brisk wits have been dulled by intemperance. As to their spiritual estate, it disposeth to all sins, especially to uncleanness. Venter mero cestuans facile despumat in libidinem, saith Jei'ome ; Whilst men overflow, they easily cast over the foam and froth of lust. And Solomon telleth us, Prov. xxiii. 33, ' Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.' Men's lusts are inflamed, and then they grow impudent, and their wantonness lays them open to shame. Lot, that was chaste in Sodom, yet committed incest with his own daughters in the mountains, being first made drunk by them. And besides, it bringeth on slavery and security upon the soul. Slavery, for this inordinancy is im])erious and tyrannous; it is hard to reduce men from this brutish excess, and their very distemper becometh another nature to them : Deut. xxix. 19, ' They add drunkenness to thirst.' It is spoken there proverbially for continuance in sin ; you ■cannot reclaim them. Solomon representeth the drunkard as resolved to seek after the wine again when he hath felt the inconveniency of it: Prov. xxiii. 35, ' They have stiicken me, shaft thou say, and I was not sick ; they have beaten me, and I felt it not : when shall I awake ? I will seek it yet again.' So for security ; it bringeth on such a stupid- ness upon the conscience that nothing will awaken them : Prov. xxiii 34, 'Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.' And as to their eternal estate, the soul is lost for ever without repentance.