cleannesse of lyfe ; commanding us to abstaine from Drunkennesse , which bringeth us forwarde unto Whoredome : and when wee haue once embraced these , they leade us captiue , unto the breach of Gods Sabbath : to bee disobedient unto our Parents , Magistrates , and Pastors : to steale : to murder : to sweare , and forsweare : yea , to become Idolaters , and blasphemers of Gods Name , &c. as shall bee showne hereafter , God willing , by sufficient Testimonies , as well out of Gods worde , as also from the Wrytings of holie and learned Authors : together with manifest Examples ; of the which some haue happened even in our dayes . But first of all , let us come along the Borders of the Byble , and take a view how the Plague of Drunkennesse hath miserablie infected some even of GODS dearest Saincts , from the beginning .

Then to begin with Noah ▪ who first after the Flood planted a Vineyarde , was first drunken , and cursed his sonne Cham , because hee mocked him , when he saw him lye sleeping uncovered . Genes. 9.21 .

What excuse can our Drunkards now adayes , drawe from Noah ? he knew not the qualitie of the Grape , but was beg●●led with the juyce thereof ; and that after his wearisome busines no doubt : and yet for his fault he escapeth not , but is punished with the derision of his owne sonne , his sonne is accursed , and the whole generation of the Canaanites also accursed of God for his sake : beholde , Noahs indigent drunkennesse is the originall hereof : And shall we then be blamelesse , who wilfully , wittinglie , & of set purpose , drinke our selues drunken ? giving it the name of Merrinesse , Good-fellowship , &c. No , surelie , except wee forsake and detest our vylde Drunkennesse , not onelie shall our flesh and blood ( and all godly Men ) hold us in derision ; but God Himselfe will laugh us to scorne , the Earth shall bee accursed for our sakes , and at the Great Day of the Lord we shall descende downward , & receiue a portion in the Lake which is alreadie prepared with fire and brimstone , for the Devill , who shall bee accompanied with the impenitent Drunkardes , Harlots , Sabbath-breakers Swearers , &c. Therefore , in the Name of God , let us joyn hands with the holy Ghost ( leaving off all Vncleannesse ) and sanctifie the Lords Sabbath here ; so shall we possesse those glorious Mansions hereafter which Hee hath prepared for us from the beginning of the worlde .

Lots two Daughters beguiled their Father : they made him drunken : and there-upon hee committed moste abhominable Incest , & begot his own daughters with childe : and , though hee knew not of it , yet was hee punished in that his untimelie seede : ( the seede of Drunkennesse we may call it ) for the eldest daughter bare the father of the Moabites , and the younger the father of the Ammonites ; who as they were begotten in drunken incestuous whoredome , so were they , and their posteritie , vylde and wicked . Genes. 19. Vers. 32.33.34.35 . &c.

The Lord Himselfe maketh Drunkennesse a marke , whereby the unholie are known from the holie , and the unclean from the cleane . Leviticus , Chap. 10. Vers. 9.10 .

And what hapned unto Nabal , I pray you , after his drunkennesse ? The Scripture saith , that he was verie drunken : and he never rose againe : for within ten dayes after , the Lord smote that drunken gluttonous churle that he died . 1. Sam. 38.

When David had committed adulterie with Vriahs wife , hee sent for her husband from the Campe , and made him drunken : thinking that drunkennes would provoke him to Lust , to goe downe to his house , & lye with his wife , &c. But because drunkennes prevailed not to cover adulterie , murder proceeded : yea , murder after murder : so that the sworde never departed from Davids house . 2. Sam. Vers. 10.

It is to bee marked , that the wise king Salomon often joyneth Whoredome , with Drunkennesse ; strong drink , with strange women , &c. as unseparable companions : and saieth , that those are the wayes which destroy even kinges , and causeth them to forget Gods decree , & to change the judgement of the children of affliction . Prov. 23. Vers. 27.28.29.30.31.32.33 . And Chap. 31. Vers. 3.4.5 .

And Iesus Syrach , in his booke called Ecclesiasticus , rayleth out moste bitterlie against the vyces of Drun●ennesse , Gluttonie , Leacherie , &c. saying , that they bring men to povertie , make them impudent , to forget God , & all goo● manners , plenisheth men full of ●glie diseases in this life : and in the ende bringeth both bodie and soule into Hell fire . Syrach 19.3 . and 23.6 . and 31.12 .

The Prophet Isaiah thundering out the threatnings of the Lord against His people , upbraydeth them especiallie with Drunkennesse , and maketh it the verie roote of all Mischiefe , even amongst men of every vocation : for hee spareth neyther King nor Bishop , Prophet nor Puritane , Priest nor Laicke , Master nor Servant : but saith , they all goe astraye through strong Drinke , and are even swallowed up with Drunkennesse . If any should be offended hereat , I trust hee will blame the Prophet for his downe-setting , and excuse mee for my repetition : for it is not mine intention to cavill with any , nor to moue them to wrath : but rather to make my selfe , and others , abhorre Drunkennesse . Loe , reade the places : Isaiah , Chap. 5. vers. 11.12.22.23 . And Chap. 22. vers. 13.14 . And Chap. 28. vers. 7.8 . And Chap. 56. vers. 10.11.12 .

Now take but a slender view what the prophet Ezekiel says of Drunkennes , Gluttonie , Pryde , and Ydlenesse , together with Whoredome , those fiue sisters ; in the 16. chapt . of his Prophesie : and so let us goe on , and see what Daniel sayth of Drunkennesse , and the rest of the holie Prophets .

It is then manifest by Daniel , that God , even our owne God , is a mercifull Lord , slow to anger , and readie to forgiue : yea , in His wrath He thinketh on mercie . But if His mercies , loving kindnesse , and wonderfull great benefits , which Hee bestoweth upon us , from time to time , prevayle not with us ; then wee must understand that He is righteous , and is forced ( thorow our ingratitude ) to enter into judgement with us . As we see by the example of many here & there thorow the whole Byble : and in this place by Belshazzar , king of Babylon , who succeeded to the kingdome when Nebuchadnezar was driven from Babel , & from the fellowship of men , and was faine to eate grasse with beastes , and abide heate , colde , and wet , till his haire grewe like Eagles feathers , and his nayles like the clawes of Fowles ? this miserie came unto him , no doubt , thorow Wantonnesse , Drunkendesse , Gluttonie , and Whoredome : for those are the Chaines where-with Satan bindeth the worlde , and draweth us from the true service of our God , and maketh us abjectes , and slaues unto sinne , & at last to become like himselfe , even damned for ever . Thus much concerning Nebuchadnezar .

Now let us goe on , unto Belshazzar , of whom wee spake before : and let us beholde what kinde of Ryot , Gluttonie , and Drunkennesse he used , & what was the successe thereof . The Scripture sayth , he made a Feast unto no lesse than a thousande Princes : and that hee drunke much wine in their companie : yea , till hee became drunken . And then forsooth no Vessels could serue him to drinke in , but those of Golde and Silver , which his Grandfather Nebuchadnezar had taken out of the Temple of the Lord in Hierusalem : those , I say , he caused bring before him , filled them with strong Drinke , and he , his princes , wiues , concubines , and harlots dranke , and were beastlie drunken : then thought they no more on the God of Heaven : but rather in contempt of Him , with wide throats they praysed the gods which were made with mens hands , of Golde , Silver , Brasse , Yron , Wood , and of Stone . But what followed upon this Drunkennesse ? As I take it , the drinke was not yet digested when the king was slaine , his house divided , and a miserable ende hapned on the whole drunken rout , I warrand you . Daniel , Chap. 4. vers. 30. And Chap. 5. vers. 1.2.3.4.30.31 .

Hosea prophesieth , that there shall be like people , like priest : they shall eate , but not bee satisfied : they shall commit Adulterie , but not increase : Whoredome & wine taketh away their heart : the spirit of Fornication causeth them to erre : they still goe a whoring : therefore their daughters shall be Harlots , and their spouses Whores : & their Drunkennesse stinketh . But I hope there are no such priestes in this Age : if there bee , I dare say they are amongst the Papists , but not amongst us . But I pray you reade the 4.5 . and 6. Chapters of Hosea , for in them is so much sayd of Priests , that I thinke a Iesuit will 〈◊〉 enough adoe to expound them .

The Prophet Ioel biddeth the Drunkardes to awake , and in steade of their drunken pastyme and laughter , to howle , and lament : for , sayth hee , yee haue made sale of Gods people : and the price which ye get , yee bestow it on Harlots , and on Wine , that ye may drinke , and bee drunken : but woe bee unto you , for the drinke shall be pulled from your mouth , & a sudden destruction shall come upon you . Ioel , Chap. 1. Vers. 5. And Chap. 3. vers. 3.4 .

Micah , in his 2. Chapt. threatneth the wanton Drunkardes , and