Behold then I have told you before; remember, that you this day were informed what the end of drunkenness would be. And I summon you, in the name of that GOD whom I serve, to meet me at the judgment-seat of CHRIST, that you may acquit both my Master and me; and confess, with your own mouths, that your damnation was of yourselves, and that we are free from the blood of you all.
But, LORD, has no one believed our report? Wilt thou suffer so many words to be spoken in vain, if it be yet in vain? No, methinks I see some pricked to the heart, and ready to cry out, in the language of _David_ to _Abigail_, “Blessed be the LORD GOD of _Israel_, which sent thee this day to speak unto us.” For surely, unless he had sent thee, this sin of drunkenness had been our ruin: but now, since we find whither it will lead us, we are resolved to drink no liquor to excess while the world stands, lest we should be tormented in the flames of hell.
But alas! how shall we be delivered from the power of this sin? Can the _Ethiopian_ change his skin, or the leopard his spots? So hard, almost, will it be for you who have been accustomed to be intemperate, to learn to live sober.
But do not despair; for what is impossible with man, is possible with GOD. Of whom then should you seek for succour, but of him your LORD? Who, though for this sin of drunkenness, he might justly turn away his face from you; yet observe,
_First_, If you pour out your hearts before him in _daily prayer_, and ask assistance from above, it may be GOD will endue you with power from on high, and make you more than conquerors through JESUS CHRIST. Had you kept up communion with him in prayer, you would not so long, by drunkenness, have had communion with devils. But, like the Prodigal, you have desired to be your own masters; you have lived without prayer, depended on your own strength; and now see, alas! on what a broken reed you have leaned. How soon have you made yourselves like the beasts that have no understanding? But turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways. Come to him with the repenting Prodigal, saying, “Father we have sinned;” we beseech thee, let not this sin of drunkenness have any longer dominion over us. Lay hold on CHRIST by faith, and lo! it shall happen to you even as you will. A
_Second_ means I would recommend to you, in order to get the better of drunkenness, is to _avoid evil company_: For it is the evil communication of wicked men, that has drawn many thousands into this sin, and so corrupted their good manners.
But you may say, If I leave my companions, I must expect contempt: for they will certainly despise me for being singular. And thinkest thou, O man, ever to enter in at the strait gate by a true conversion, without being had in derision of them that are round about thee? No; though thou mayst be despised, and not go to heaven, yet thou canst not go to heaven without being despised: “For the friendship of the world is enmity with GOD.” And they that are born after the flesh, will persecute those that are born after the Spirit. Let not, therefore, a servile fear of being despised by a man that shall die, hinder thy turning unto the living GOD. For what is a little contempt? It is but a vapour which vanisheth away, and cometh not again. Better be derided by a few companions here, than be made ashamed before men and angels hereafter. Better be the song of a few drunkards on earth, than dwell with them, where they will be eternally reproaching and cursing each other in hell. Yet a little while, and they themselves shall praise thy doings; and shall say, We, fools, counted his leaving us to be folly, and his end to be without honour: but now is he numbered among the sons ♦of GOD, and his lot among the saints!
♦ duplicate word “of” removed
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_Third_ means for those who would overcome the sin of drunkenness, to enter upon a life of _strict self-denial_ and mortification: for this kind of sin goeth not forth but by prayer and fasting. It is true, this may seem a difficult task; but then, we must thank ourselves for it; for had we begun sooner, our work would have been the easier. And even now, if you will but strive, the yoke of mortification will grow lighter and lighter every day.