Christian ethics -- Fiction; Christian fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction
Wise. It is a Swinish vanity indeed. I will tell you another Story.
{48f} [Picture: Take note symbol] There was a Gentleman that had a
Drunkard to be his Groom, and coming home one night very much abused
with Beer, his Master saw it. Well (quoth his Master within himself,)
I will let thee alone to night, but to morrow morning I will convince
thee that thou art worse than a Beast, by the behaviour of my Horse.
So when morning was come, he bids his man goe and water his Horse,
and so he did; but coming up to his Master, he commands him to water
him again; so the fellow rid into the water the second time, but his
masters horse would now drink no more, so the fellow came up and told
his Master. Then said his Master, Thou drunken sot, thou art far worse
than my Horse, he will drink but to satisfie nature, but thou wilt
drink to the abuse of nature; he will drink but to refresh himself,
but thou to thy hurt and dammage; He will drink, that he may be more
serviceable to his Master, but thou, till thou art uncapable of serving
either God or Man. O thou Beast, how much art thou worse than the horse
that thou ridest on.
Atten. Truly I think that his Master served him right; for in doing
as he did, he shewed him plainly, as he said, that he had not so much
government of himself as his horse had of himself, and consequently
that his beast did live more according to the Law of his nature by far,
than did his man. But pray go on with what you have further to say.
Wise. Why, I say, that there are {49a} four things, which if they were
well considered, would make drunkenness to be abhorred in the thoughts
of the Children of men.
1. It greatly tendeth to impoverish and beggar a man. The Drunkard,
says Solomon, shall come to poverty. {49b} Many that have begun the
world with Plenty, have gone out of it in Rags; through drunkenness.
Yea, many Children that have been born to good Estates, have yet been
brought to a Flail & a Rake, through this beastly sin of their Parents.
2. This sin of Drunkenness, it bringeth upon the Body, many, great, and
incurable Diseases, by which Men do in little time come to their end,
and none can help them. So, because they are overmuch wicked, therefore
they dye before their time. {49c}
3. Drunkenness, is a sin that is often times attended with abundance of
other evils. Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contention? Who
hath babblings? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of the
eyes? They that tarry long at the Wine, they that go to seek mixt wine.
{49d} That is, the Drunkard.
4. By Drunkenness, Men do often times shorten their dayes; goe out
of the Ale-house drunk, and break their Necks before they come home.
Instances not a few might be given of this, but this is so manifest, a
man need say nothing.
Atten. But {50a} {50b} that which is worse than all is, it also
prepares men for everlasting burnings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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