4. Now what should hinder the same thing from befalling you, which befel him, who was asked, which was the greatest sin, adultery, drunkenness, or murder? And which of the three he had rather commit? He said drunkenness was the least. Soon after, he got drunk. He then met with another man’s wife, and ravished her. The husband coming to help her, he murdered him. So drunkenness, adultery and murder went together. 5. I have heard a story of a poor, wild _Indian_, far wiser than either him or you. The _English_ gave him a cask of strong liquor. The next morning he called his friends together, and setting it in the midst of them, said, “These _white men_ have given us _poison_. This man (calling him by his name) was a wise man, and would hurt none but his enemies. But as soon as he had drunk of this, he was mad, and would have killed his own brother. We will not be _poisoned_.” He then broke the cask, and poured the liquor upon the sand. 6. On what motive do _you_ thus _poison_ yourself? Only for the _pleasure_ of doing it? What! will you make yourself a beast, or rather a devil? Will you run the hazard of ♦committing all manner of villainies; and this only for the poor _pleasure_ of a few moments, while the _poison_ is running down your throat? O never call yourself a Christian! Never call yourself a man! You are sunk beneath the greater part of the beasts that perish. ♦ “commiting” replaced with “committing” 7. Do you not rather drink, for the sake of _company_? Do you not do it, to oblige your _friends_? For _company_, do you say? How is this? Will you take a dose of _ratsbane_ for _company_? If twenty men were to do so before you, would not you desire to be excused? How much more may you desire to be excused, from going to hell for _company_? But, “to oblige your _friends_”――What manner of _friends_ are they, who would be _obliged_ by your destroying yourself? Who would suffer, nay entice you so to do? They are villains. They are your worst enemies. They are just such _friends_, as a man that would smile in your face, and stab you to the heart. 8. O do not aim at any excuse. Say not, as many do, “I am no one’s _enemy_ but _my own_.” If it were so, what a poor saying is this, “I give none but _my own_ soul to the devil.” Alas! is not that too much? Why shouldst thou give him _thy own_ soul? Do it not. Rather give it to God. But it is not so. You are an _enemy_ to your _king_, whom you rob hereby of an useful subject. You are an _enemy_ to your _country_, which you defraud of the service you might do, either as a man or as a Christian. You are an _enemy_ to _every man_ that sees you in your sin; for your example may move him to do the same. A drunkard is a _public enemy_. I should not wonder at all, if you was (like _Cain_ of old) afraid that _every man who meeteth you should slay you_.