Now we will speake of the Father , and after of his Children . Then ( saith Moses ) Noah began to be a husbandman , This is the first name which is giuen to Noah after the floud , hee is called an husbandman , & the first worke which is mencioned ▪ was the plantinge of a vineyard : one would think , when all men were drowned with the floud , & none left aliue to possesse the earth but Noah and his sonnes , that he should haue founde him selfe some thinge else to doo , then to plante vineyardes : and that the Holye Ghost should haue intituled him King of the worlde , and not an husbandman of the earth , seing there be no such men as Noah was , which had more in his hand , then anie King hath in the world or shall haue to the worldes end : but heerby the holy Ghost would show that God doth not respect Kings for their tytles , nor men for their riches as we do , and therfore he nameth Noah after the work which he did , not after the possessions which he had , an husbandman . It seemeth that there was greate diuersitie betweene their age and ours . For if wee should see now a King goe to plough , a noble man driue the teame , a gentleman keepe sheepe , he should be scorned for his labour more then Noah was for his drunkennes : yet when we read how this Monarche of the Worlde thought no scorne to play the husbandman , we consider not his princely calling , nor his ancient yeers , nor his large possessions to commend his industrie , or modestie , or lowlye minde therein . Which may teach vs humilitie , though we learne to disdaine husbandrye : of whome will we learne to be humble , if Kings giue examples , and the sonne of God humbleth himselfe from heauen to earth , and yet we contenine the example of the Kings of the earth ; and the example of the King of heauen .

The time was when Adam digged and delued ▪ when Dauid kept Sheep , and all the house of Jacob were called men occupied aboute Cattell : but as they for this were abhominable to the Egiptians ( as Moses saith in the same verse ) so they which doo like them , are abhorred of their bretheren : and they which liue by them , scorne them for their work , which would be chastned them selues , because they worke not : There was no arte nor science which was so much set by in former times , & is now profitable to the Commonwelth , bringing lesse profite vnto it selfe , that may so iustly complain of her fall without cause , and her despite from them which liue by her , as this painefull science of husbandry : that it is maruell that any man wil take paine for the rest to be contemned for his labor , and be a scorne for the rest , which might hunger and starue , if he did not labor for them more then they do them selues . No maruell then though many in the poore Countries , murmure and complaine that other cannot liue by them , and they cannot liue themselues : but it is maruell if their complainte do not growe in time to rebellion , and pull other as lowe as them selues : for why should the greatest paine yeelde the least profite ? yet this is their case , for if you marke , you shall see that the husband man dooth bate the prise of his fruites so soone as the dearth is past , though he raiseth it a little while the dearth lasteth : but they which raise the price of their wares with him , seldome fall againe , but make men paye as deere when the dearth is past , as if it were a dearth still . Thus a plentifull yeer doth damage him , and a hard yeer doth vantage them . So this painefull man , is faine to liue poorely , fare meanely , goe barely , house homely , rise early , labour dayly , sell cheape and buye deere , that I may truely say , that no man deserueth his liuing better , no man fulfilleth the law neerer : that is , thou shalt get thy liuing in the sweat of thy browes : Then this poore sonne of Adam , which picks his crummes out of the earth , therefore he should not be mocked for his labor , which hath vexation inough though all men spake well of him , and in my opinion , if anye deserue to be loued for his innocencie , or for his trueth , or his paine , or the good which he bringes to the Common wealth : this Realme is not so much beholding to any sorte of men ( but those that feed the soule ) as those which feed the body , that is , thos that labour the earth : yet you see how they liue , like drudges , as though they were your seruants to prouide food for you , and after to bring it to your dores : as the beastes serue them , so they serue you : as though you were an other kind of men . I can not think vpon their miserie , but my thought tells me , that it is a greate parte of our vnthankfulnes , that we neuer consider what an easie life and liuing God hath giuen vnto vs in respect of them If the Apostles rule were kept , they which doo not worke should not eate : but now , they which do not worke , eate most : and the husbandmen which worke , eate not but are like Bees , which prepare foode for other & pinch them selues . Let vs consider this , for they had not one law and wean other : but the same cursse which was denounced vppon Adam , was denounced vppon all his Children that euery man should get his liuinge in the sweate of his browes . Although I knowe there be diuers workes and diuers giftes and diuers callings to worke in , yet alwaies prouided : they which do not worke should not eate , for in the sweat of thy browes , that is , in labour and trauell , thou King and thou iudge and thou prelate , & thou landlord , and thou gentleman , shalt get thy liuing as Adam thy father did , or else thou doest auoide the cursse and a greater cursse shall follow : that is , they which will not sweate in earth , shall sweat in hell .

Adam had foode as well as thou , and so had Noah and more then thou , vnlesse thou hadst all , for they had all , and yet they might not be idle , because their handes were not giuen them for nothing : Some worke with their pen , some with their tungs , some with their fingers : as nature hath made nothing idle , so God would haue no man idle , but that hee which is a Magistrate , should do the worke of a Magistrate : hee which is a Iudge , should doo the worke of a Iudge : hee which is a Captaine , shold do the worke of a Captain : he which is a Minister , should doo the worke of a Minister : as when Noah was called an husband man , he did the worke of an husband man : This contempt of the Countrey , doth threaten danger to the land as much as any thing else in our dayes , vnlesse their burden be eased and their estimation qualified in some part to their paines . Thinking that you haue not heard of this Theme before , seeing the wordes of my Text did lye for it , thus much I haue spoken to put you in minde how easilye you liue in respect of them : and to certifie our mindes towardes our poore bretheren which in deede seeme too base in our eyes , and are scorned for their laboures , as much as we should be for our idlenes .

Then ( saith Moses ) Noah began to be an husband man , In that it is here saide that Noah began , it doth not disproue that he gaue not himselfe to husbandry before , but it importeth that Noah began to set vp husbandry again after the floud before anye other : so this good man recomforted with the experience of Gods fauour ( which had exempted him and his seed out of all the worlde ) and reioycing to see the face of the earth again after the waters were-gone , though an olde man , and weake then he was , yet he returneth to his labour a fresh , and scorned not to till and plant for all his possessions , as though he were as an husband man : such a lowlines is alwayes ioyned with the feare of God , that they that are humbled with religion , do not thinke themselues too good to do any good thing . Here note by the way , that none of Noahs sonnes are said to begin this worke , but Noah himselfe , the olde man , the hoarie head and carefull Father begins to teach the rest , and showes his sonnes the waye how they should prouide for their sonnes : and how all the worlde after should liue by labour and trauell , till they returne to dust : so the olde man whome age dispenceth withall to take his ease , is more willing to prouide for the wantes of his Children , then they are which are bounde to labour for them selues and their Parentes too , as the Storke doth feed the dam when she is olde , because the dam fed her when she was yong . What a shame is this to Shem and Iapheth , that is to vs which are young & strong , that the father should be called a labourer when the sonnes stand by . Now , the ground was barren because of the floud , and could not bring foorth s●ute of it selfe , because of the cursse : therfore it pitied Noah to see desolation and barrennes , and slime vpon the face of the earth , which he had seene so glorious and sweete , and fertill , with all manner of herbes and fruits and flowers before . Therfore he setteth him selfe to manure it , which wayted for nothing now , but a painefull labourer to till and dresse it , that it might bring foorth delightes and profites for sinfull man , as it did before . By this we may learne to vse all meanes for the obtaining of Gods blessings , and not to loose any thing which we might haue or saue for want of paines , for that is sinne . As Salomon noteth in the 24 ▪ Prouerbes , when he reproueth the stouthfull husbandman , because his fielde brought foorth Nettles and Thistles in steede of Grapes ▪ not because the grounde would not beare grapes , but because the slothfull man would not set them . Shall God commaund the earth and all his creatures to increase for vs , and shall not we further their increase , for our selues ? as we increase and multiply our selues , so wee are bound to ioyne hand and help , that all creatures may increase and multiply too , or else the Fathers should eate the Childrens portion , and in time there should be nothing lefte for them that come after : this regard Noah seemeth to haue vnto his posteritie , and therfore he gaue himselfe vnto husbandry , which is commended in him vnto this day , and shall bee recorded of him so longe as this booke is read : wherby we are warned that he which liueth onely to himselfe , is not to be remembred of them which liue after : But as Dauid cared how the Realme should be gouerned after his death , as well as he did during his life : so though we dye & depart this world , yet we should leaue that example , or those bookes or those workes behind vs which may profite the Church and Common wealth when we are dead and buried , as much as we did when we liued among them . Euen as Noah planted a vineyard , not for him self but for the ages to come after .

Some doo think that Noah planted the first vineyard , and drunke the first wine , and that there was no vse of grapes before : which opinion they are led vnto that they might excuse Noah and mittigate his faulte ; If he did sup too deep of that cuppe , the strength and operation wherof was not known vnto him nor vnto anye man before : but it is not like , that the excellent liquour & wholsome mice of the grape did lye hid from the world so manie hundreth yeers , and no dout but there was vines from the beginning , created with other trees : for how could Noah plant a vineyard , vnles he had slippes of other vines or grapes that grew before , seeing he did not create frutes but plant frutes as we do ? for this is principally to be noted , that so soone as he had oportunitie to doo good , he omitted no time , but presentlye after the floud was gone , and that earth began to drye , hee plyed it with seedes and wrought it till he saw the frutes of his labour . By this we learne , to omit no occasion to do good , but when so euer we may do good , to count it sinne if we do it not . But if we be so excercised , them all our works shall prosper like the vineyarde of Noah , because the frute of the vine doth cheare the countenance and glad the hart of man . Therefore some haue gathered vpon the planting of this vineyard , a signification of gladnes and thankfulnes in Noah for this late deliuerance , as the Iewes by their solemne feastes did celebrate the memoriall of some great benefit : but I rather iudge , that God would haue vs see in this example , what men did in those daies , and how we are degenerate from our parents , that we maye prepare against the fire as Noah prepared against the water . This is worthie to be noted too , that God did not so regard his . husbandrye , but that he had an eye to his drunkennes , and speakes of his fault aswell as his vertue : whereby we are warned , that though god blesse vs now while we remember him , yet he will chasten vs so soone as we forget him : Though we be in a good name now , infamie will rise in an hower : though we be rich at this present , pouerty may come sodainlye : though wee be well while we are here , yet we may fall sick before night , euen as Noah is praised in one verse and dispraised in an other : euen now God commends him for his lowlines , and now discommendes him for his drunkennes : as though he had forgot all his righteousnes so soone as he sinned , and would call in his praise againe . This was to shewe that Noah was not saued from the floud , because he deserued to be saued , but because God had a fauour vnto him : for hee which was not drowned with water , was drowned after with wine . As the Pharises when they had doone well were proud of it and lost their reward : so when Noah had doone a good work he spotted it with sinne , and was dispraise where he was praised , as though God repented him that he commenmended him . He planted well , but he drunke not well : therefore that which was good did him hurt , that seeing he was trapped with a good worke , what so euer we do , we may remember how easie it is to sinne , if we misse in the matter or in the manner or time , or the place , or the measure , as Noah did . He which planteth the vineyard is worthy to tast of the grape , but if thou haue found hony ( saith Salomon ) eate not too much least thou surfet . So if thou hast found wine , drink not to much lest thou surfet . A litle wine is better than a great deale , and if thou wilt follow the Apostles counsell , thou must drinke it but for thy stomachs sake , least that happen to thee , which thou shalt heare of this noble patriarch . Though he was neuer so righteous before God and men , though hee escaped the destruction , which lighted vppon all the worlde , though he had all the soules of the aier and beastes of the land at his commaund , though he passed the pilgrimage of man nine hundreth yeres , yet Noah was but a man : so auncient , so righteous , so mightie , so happie : Noah showed him selfe but a man , for drinking the wine which him selfe had planted : he was drunken . This is Noahs fault , he was drunken with his owne wine , as Lot was defiled with his owne daughters . If Cain his sonne had taken to much and stript himself as his father did , the holy ghost would scarce haue spoken of it because he was a man of no note : but when the father forgate him selfe and gaue this offence , marke the manner of the holy Ghost , as though he would showe you a wonder : he displayeth Noahs drunkennes , as Cain displayed his nakednes : as if he would saye , come and see the the strength of man ? hee which was counted so righteous , he which beleeued the threatning like Lot when the rest mocked , he to whom all the foules of the ayer and the beastes of the earth flocked in couples as they came to Adam . Hee which was reserued to declare the iudgementes of God , and to beginne the worlde againe , Noah the example of sobrietie , the example of moderation is ouer-come with drink ; as if he had neuer been the man . How easilie , how quickly the iust , the wise , the prudent , hath lost his sence , his memorye , his reason , as though he had neuer been the man . And how hard it is to auoide sinne , when occasion is at hand , and pleasant oportunity tempteth to sinne ? it is easier for the bird to goe by the net then to breake the net : so it is easier for a man to auoid temptations than to ouercome temptations : therfore God forbad Baalam , not onely to cursse the people as Balack would haue him , but he forbad him to goe with Balackes seruantes , knowing that if he went with them & saw the pomp of the Court , and heard the King him selfe speak vnto him , and felt the tikeling rewarde , it would straine his conscience , and make him doubt whether he should cursse or blesse . Peter but warming him selfe at Cayphas fier , was ouercome by a silye Damsel to do that which he neuer thought , euen to forsweare his Lord God : therefore Daniel would not eat of the Kings meat , least he should be tempted to the Kings will , showing vs that there is no way to escape sinne , but to auoid occasion . Therfore Dauid prayeth , Turne away mine eyes from vanitie : as though his eyes would draw his hart as the baite tilleth on the hooke . Noah thought to drink he thought not to be drunk : but as he which commeth to the feild to sound the Trumpet , is slaine as soone as he which commeth to fight : so the same wine distempereth Noah which hath distempered so manie since . Where he thought to take his reward and tast the fruite of his owne handes , God set an euerlasting blot vppon him , which stickes fast till this day , like a barre in his armes , so long as the name of Noah is spoken of , that we can not reade of his vertue but we must reade of his sinne , whereby euerie man is warned to receaue the gifts of God reuerently , to vse them soberly , and to sanctifie him selfe , before he reache foorth his hand vnto them , that they may comfort and profit vs , with that secret blessing which God hath hid in them , or else euerie thing the best giftes of God may hurt vs : as this pleasant wine , stained and confounded the great Patriarch , when he delighted too much in it which he might haue drunke as Christ did at his last Supper , and this disgrace had neuer ben written in his storie , but god would haue a fearful example like the Pillar of salt , to stand before those beasts whos only strife is to make trial , who can quaff deepest , & she wall their valiantnesse in wine . Because there is such warning before vs , now we haue the drunkard in schooling , I will spend the time that is left to shewe you the deformity of this sinne , if any heare me which haue ben ouer taken with it , let them not maruell why he cannot loue his enemies , which loueth such an enemie as this : which leadeth till he reeleth : dulles him till he be a foole , & stealeth away his sence , his wit , his memorie , his health , his credit , his freends : and when she hath stripped him as bare as Noah , then shee exposeth him like Noah to Cham , and all that see him do mocke him : it is a wonder almost that anye man should be drunke that hath seene a drunkard before , swelling and puffing , and soming , and spuing , and groueling like a beast : for who would be like a beast for all the world ? Looke vdon the drunkard when his eyes stares , his mouth driuels , his toung falters , his face flames , his handes tremble , his feet reele : how vglye , how monstrous , how loathsom dooth he seeme to thee ? so loathsom doest thou seem to others when thou art in the like taking . And how loathsom then doost thou seeme to God ? Therfore the first law which Adam receiued of god was abstinence , which if he had kept , he had kept all vertues beside , but intemperancie lost all . In abstinence the law came to Moses , and he falled when he receiued it , to showe that they which receiue the woorde of God , receiues it soberly : A temperate man seldom sinneth , because the flesh which dooth tempte is mortified leaste it should tempt : but when the handmaid is aboue the mistres , and a man hath lost the image of God , and scarce retayneth the image of man : all his thoughtes , and speeches , & actions must needes be sinne , and nothing but sinne , because the bond of vertue is broken sobriety , which kept altogither : when didst thou wante discretion to consider ? when didst thou wante pacience to forgiue ? when didst thou wante continencie to refraine ? when didst thou wante hart to praye , but when sobriety was fled away , & intemperancie filled her roome ? if shame let to sinne , it casteth out sinne : if feare let to sinne it casteth out feare : if loue let to sinne , it expulseth loue : if knowledge let to sinne , it expulseth knowledge , like a couetous Landlord , which would haue all to him selfe and dwell alone .

There is no sinne , but hath some showe of vertue , onelye the sinne of drunkennes is like nothing but sinne : there is no sinne but although it hurte the soule , it beautifyeth the bodie or promiseth profite , or pleasure , or glorie , or something to his seruantes : onely drunkennes is so impudent , that it discryeth it selfe : so vnthankfull that it maketh no recompence : so noysom that it consumeth the bodye , which many sinns spare , least they should appere to be sinnes . Euery sinne defileth a man , but drunkennes makes him like a beast : euery sinne defaceth a man , but drunkennes taketh awaye the image of a man : euery sinne robbeth a man of some vertue , but drunkennes stealeth away all vertues at once : euery sinne deserueth punishment , but drunkennes vpbraids a man , while the wine is in his stomack and though he would desemble his drunkennes , yet he is not able to set a countenance of it , but the child discrieth him , the foole knowes that he is drunke , because his face bewrayeth him , like the leprosie which brast out of the forhead : so woorthily hath he lost the opinion of sobrietie , which hath lost it selfe . His sonne thinks himself more master now then his father : his seruant makes him a foole : his children leades him like a child : his wife vseth him like a seruant : and although his drunkennes leaueth him when he hath slept , yet no man seekes to him for counsel after , no man regards his word ; no man reckens of his iudgement , no man is perswaded by his counsell , no man accounts of his learning , no man hath any glorye to accompany with him , but so soon as drunkennes hath made him like a beast , euerye man abhorreth him like a beaste as they did Nebuchadnezer : the spirit flyeth from him least he should greeue it , his freendes goe away leaste he should shame them , and no vertues dare come neere least he should defile them . How many thinges flye out when wine goes in ? how is it then that he which loueth himselfe , can be so cruell to himselfe , that he should loue his life and shorten his life ? that he should loue his health and destroye his health ? that he should loue his strength & weaken his strength that he should loue his wealth and consume his welth ? that he should loue his credite and cracke his credite ? that he should loue his vnderstanding and ouerturne his vnderstanding ? that he should loue his beautie & deforme his bis beautie ? The Poets need fayning no more that men are transformed into beasts for if they were liuing now , they should see men like beasts : some like lyons , some like wolues , some like foxes , some like bears , some like swine : who is the beast when the beastes satisfie nature and man satisfieth appetite ? when the beasts keep measure and man exceeds measure ? when the beastes are found labouring and man found surfeting ? who is the beast ? I haue read of a bird which hath the face of a man , but is so cruell of nature , that somtime for hunger she will set vpon a man & slaie him : after when she comes for thirste vnto the water to drinke , seing the face in the water like the face of him whome she deuowred : for greefe that she hath killed one like her selfe , takes such sorrow , that she neuer eateth nor drinketh after , but beates and frettes and pines her selfe to death . What wilt thou do then which hast not slaine one like thy selfe , but thy selfe , thy very selfe with a cup of wine , and murderest so manie vertues and graces in one hower ?

As Esaw solde his land and liuing for a messe of potage , so the drunkard selleth his fence , and wit , and memory , and credite for a cup of wine . Thou hast not murthered thy brother like Cain , but thou hast murthered thy selfe like Iudas : as the Rechabites abstaine from wine as Ionadab bad them , obtained the blessing which God had apointed to the Israelites : so let vs take heed least they which we account idolaters , whilste they fast and watche , obtaine the blessing which God hath apointed for vs ( get away the blessing ) while we sit down to eate and rise to play . Therfore as Christ saide remember Lots wife , so I say remember Lot : one hower of drunkennes did him more hurt then al his enemies in Sodom : remember Noah one hower of drunkennes discouered that which was hid six hundred yeres . Ten times more might be said against this vice : but if I haue said enough to make you abhor it , I haue said as much as I would . Some goe about to excuse Noah because he was an olde man , and therfore might soon be taken cupshort : some because the wines were hotter in those Countryes then they are with vs : some because of his change of drinks which had not wonted himselfe to wine before : some because as moste men delight in that which by great labour they haue brought to passe of them selues . So no maruell though Noah had a longing to his owne grapes ? folowing heerin the example of a curious Cook , which dooth sup and sup his broth , to taste whether it be well seasoned , that he may mende it if he can , or mende the next : but as the flye by often dallying with the candle , at last scorcheth her winges with the flame : so taking , he was taken , and at last was drunke : yet this is imputed to him for his fault , that he was drunk , as the punishment which followes dooth witnes : Such is the prouidence of God , that his mercie might be glorified in all , he hath concluded all vnder sinne , & suffered the best to fall , that no man might trust in his owne strength , and that we seing their repentaunce , may learne to rise againe how greeuous soeuer our sinnes be . If wee haue beene idolaters , if adulterers , if persecutors , if murmurers , if murderers if blasphemers , if drunkards : Aron and Moses and Lot and Abraham and Dauid and Solomon & Peter and Paule & Noah haue beene the like : who raigne now in the kingdome of Christ with his angelles , and so may we if we repent like them . These examples saith Paule are not written for our imitation but for our admonition .

Thus you haue seene Noah sober and Noah drunken . Whereby we may see that a man may be drunke with his owne wine , he may surfet with his owne meates , he may lust with his owne wife , he may offende with his owne gifts , his owne honor may make him proud , his owne riches may make him couetous , his owne strength may make him venturous , his owne wit may make him contentious : therefore as the childe pluckes out the sting before he takes the honie , so let euerie man before he receaues the giftes of God , sit downe and looke what baites , what snares , what temptations Sathan hath hid in them , & when he hath taken out the sting , then eate the hony and he shall vse the blessinges of Christ as Christ did him selfe .