A Christian library, or, A pleasant and plentiful paradise of practical divinity in 37 treatises of sundry and select subjects ... / by R. Younge ...

1. BRANCH of the Charge.

THat as the Basiliske is chief of Serpents: so of sinners the Drunkard is chief. That Drunkennesse is of sins the Queen: as the Gowt is of diseases: even the root of all evill, the rot of all good. A sin which turns a man wholly into sin. That all sins, all beast-like, all serpentine qualities meet in a Drun∣kard, as rivers in the sea: and that it were far better be a Toad, or a Serpent, then a Drunkard. That the Drunkard is like Ahab, who sold himself to work wickednesse. That he wholly dedicates, resignes, surrenders, and gives himself up to serve sin and Satan. That his one∣ly imploiment is to drink, drab, quarrel, swear, curse, scoffe, slander and se∣ducet as if to sin were his trade, and he could do nothing else; like the Di∣vel, who was a sinner from the beginning, a sinner to the end. That these sons of Belial, are all for the belly: for to drink God out of their hearts, health out of their bodies, wit out of their heads, strength out of their joints, all the money out of their purses, all the drink out of the Brewers barrels, wife and children out of doors, the house out at windowes, the Land out of quiet, plen∣tie out of the Nation, is all their businesse. In which their swinish swilling, they resemble so many frogs in a puddle, or water-snakes in a pond: for their whole exercise, yea, religion, is to drink; they even drown them∣selves on the d••••e••••nd. That they drink more spirits in one night, then their flesh and brains be worth. That more is thrown out of one swines nose, and mouth, and guts, then would maintein five sufficient families.

2. Br. That it is not to be imagined what all the Drunkards in one shire or County do devour, & worse then throw away in one yeare: when it hath been known (if we may give credit to Authors, and the oaths of others) that two and thirtie in one cluster have made themselves drunk; that six and thirty have drank themselves dead in the place with carowsing of healths; that at one supper, one and fourtie have killed themselves, with striving for the con∣quest: that two have drank each of them a peck at a draught: that four men have drank four gallons of wine at a sitting: that one man hath drank two gal∣lons of wine; and two more, three gallons of wine a piece at a time: that one Drunkard in a few hours, drank four gallons of wine: that four ancient men 〈…〉〈…〉

all, three hundred cups of wine amongst four men: and lastly that three women came into a Tavern in Fleetstreet (when I was a boy take it upon Clap∣tons Oath and credit, who drew the Wine) and drank fourtie nine quarts of Sack; two of them sixteen a piece, and the third to get the victorie, seventeen quarts of Sack. Which being so, what may the many millions of these ding-thristy dearth-makers co••sume in a year in all the three Nations.

Nor need it seem incredible, that common drunkards should drink thus: for they can disgorge themselves at pleasure, by onely putting their finger to their throat. And they will vomit, as if they were so many live Whales spuing up the Ocean; which done, they can drink afresh.

Or if not so, yet custome hath made it to passe through them, as through a tunnel, or streiner; whereby it comes out again as sheer wine as it went in, as hath been observed.

Nor hath the richest Sherrie, or old Canarie any more operation with them, then a cup of six hath with me. And no marvel! for if physick be taken too oft, it will not work like physick: but nature entertains it as a friend, not as a Physitian: yea poison by a familiar use becomes natural food. As Aristotle (in an example of a Maid, who used to pick spiders off the walls and eat them,) makes plain.

3. Br. That as Drunkards have lost the prerogative of their creation, and are changed (with Nebuchadnezar, Dan. 4.16.) from men into beasts, so they turn the sanctuarie of life into the shambles of death: yea thousands (when they have made up the measure of their wickednesse) are taken away in God's just wrath in their drink; (as it were with the weapon in their bellies) it fa∣ring with them as it did with that Pope, whom the Divel is said to have slain in the very instant of his Adulterie, and carrie him quick to hell; being sud∣denly struck with death, as if the execution were no lesse intended to the soul, then to the bodie.

That by the Law of God in both Testaments; He that will not labour, should not eat. Gen. 3.19. Prov. 20.4. 2 Thes. 3.10. because he robs the Common∣wealth of that which is altogether as profitable as land, or treasure. But Drunkards are not onely lazie get-nothings, but they are also riotous spend∣alls; and yet these drunken drones, these gut-mongers, these Quagmirists, like vagrants and vermine, do nothing all their life-long that may tend to any good, as is storied of Margites, and yet devour more of the fat of the Land, then would plentifully maintein those millions of poor in the Nation, that are ready to famish. A thing not fit to be suffered in any Christian Common∣wealth; yea far fitter they were stoned to death, as by the Law of God they ought, Deut. 21.20, 21. since this might bring them to repentance; where∣as now they spend their daies in mirth: and suddenly they go down into hell, Iob 21.13. Drunkards being those swine, whom the legion carries headlong into the Sea, or pit of perdition.

4. Br. That every hour seems a day, and every day a month to a drunkard, that is not spent in a Tap-house; yea, they seem to have nailed their ears to the door of some Taverne, or Tap-hous, and to have agreed with Satan, Master▪ it is good being here. That where ever the Drunkards house is, his dwelling is at the A••e-house, except all his money be spent, and then if his wife will fetch him home with a lanthorne, and his men with a barrow, he comes with 〈…〉〈…〉

That the pot is no sooner from their lips, but they are melancholy, and their hearts as heavie, as if a milstone lay upon it. Or rather they are vexed like Saul with an evil-spirit, which nothing will drive away but drink and Tobacco. They so wound their consciences with all kinde of prodigious wickednesse, and so exceedingly provoke God, that they are rackt in conscience, and tor∣tured with the very flashes of hell-fire. That they drink to the end onely, that they may forget God, his threats and judgments; that they may drown consci∣ence, and put off all thoughts of death, & hell; and to hearten and harden them∣selves against all the messages of God, and threats of the Law: which is no o∣ther in mitigating the pangs of conscience, then as a saddle of gold to a galled-horse, or a draught of poison to quench a man's thirst. That if they might have their wills, none should refuse to be drunk unpunished, or be drunk un∣rewarded at the common charge. As how will they boast what they drank, and how many they conquer'd at such a meeting, making it their onely glory. That the utmost of a Drunkards honestie is good-fellowship: that temperance and sobrietie with them is nothing but humour and singularitie; and that they drink not for strength, or need, but for lust and pride; to shew how full of Satan they are, and how near to swine.

That though these swinish swill-bouls make their gullet their god, and sa∣crifice more to their god-bellie, then those Babylonians did to their god Bell, Bell & the Dragon, ver. 3. yet they will say, yea swear, that they drink not for love of drink; though they love it above health, wealth, credit, childe, wief, life, heaven, salvation, all. They no more care for wine, then Esau did for his pottage, for which he sold his birth-right, Isa. 56.12.

5. Br. That Drunkards are the Divels captives, at his command, and ready to do his will; and that he rules over, and workes in them his pleasure, 2 Tim. 2.26. Eph. 2.2. that he enters into them, and puts it into their hearts what he will have them to do, Iohn 13.2. Acts 5.3. 1 Chron. 21.1. opens their mouths, speaks in and by them, Gen. 3.1, to 6. stretcheth out their hands, and they act as he will have them, Acts 12, 1, 2. Rev. 2.10. he being their father, Gen. 3.15. Iohn 8.44. their king, Iohn 12.31. & 14.30. and their god, 2 Cor 4.4. Eph. 2.2. And which is worst of all, that drunken∣nesse not onely dulls and dams up the head and spirits with mud, but it bea∣stiates the heart, and (being worse then the sting of an Aspe) poisoneth the very soul and reason of a man, whereby the faculties and organs of repen∣tance and resolution are so corrupted and captivated, that it makes men ut∣terly uncapable of returning, unlesse God should work a greater miracle up∣on them, then was the creating of the whole world. Whence Austin com∣pares it to the very pit of hell, out of which (when a man is once ••allen into) there is no hope of redemption.

That Drunkennesse is like some desperate plague, which knowes no cure. As what saies Basil, Shall we speak to drunkards? we had as good speak to livelesse-stones, or sencelesse plants, or witlesse beasts, as to them; for they no more believe the threats of Gods Word, then if some Imposter had spoken them. They will fear nothing, till they be in hell-fire; resembling the So∣domites, who would take no warning, though they were all struck blinde; but persisted in their course, untill they felt fire and brimstone about their ears▪ 〈…〉〈…〉

That there is no washing these Blackmores white, no charming these deafe Adders; blind men never blush, fools are never troubled in conscience, neither are beasts ever ashamed of their deeds.

That a man shall never hear of an habituated, in••atuated, incorrigible, cau∣terized Drunkard, that is reclaimed with age.

6. Br. That as at first, and before custome in sin hath hardened these Drun∣kards, they suffer themselves to be transformed from men into swine; as El∣pe••or was transformed by Circos into a hogge; so by degrees they are of swine transformed again into Divels, as Cadmus and his wife were into ser∣pents, as palpably appears by their tempting to sin, and drawing to perdition.

That these Agents for the Divel, Drunkards, practise nothing but the Art of debauching men; that to turne others into beasts, they will make them∣selves divels, wherein they have a notable dexteritie, as it is admirable how they will winde men in, and draw men on by drinking first a health to such a man, then to such a woman my mistris, then to every ones mistris; then to some, Lord or Ladie; their master, their magistrate, their Captain, Commander, &c. and never cease, until their brains, their wits, their tongues, their cies, their feet, their sences & all their members fail them: that they will drink until they vomit up their shame again, like a filthie dog, or lie wallowing in their beastli∣nesse like a bruitish swine. That they think nothing too much either to do or spend, that they may make a sober man a drunkard, or to drink another drun∣kard under the table; which is to brag how far they are become the divels children: that in case they can make a sober and religious man exceed his bounds, they will sing and rejoice as in the division of a spoil; and boast that they have drenched sobrietie, and blinded the light; and ever after be a snuffing of this taper, Psal. 13.4. But what a barharous, gracelesse, and un∣christian-like practice is this, to make it their glory, pastime and delight, to see God dishonored, his Spirit grieved, his Name blasphemed, his creatures a∣bused, themselves and their friends souls damned. Doubtlesse such men have climbed the highest step of the ladder of wickednesse; as thinking their own sins will not presse them deep enough into hell, except they load themselvs with other mens; which is Divel-like indeed! whose aime it hath ever been, seeing he must of necessitie be wretched, not to be wretched alone.

That as they make these healths serve as a pulley, or shooing-horn to draw men on to drinke more, then else they would or should do: so a health be∣ing once begun, they will be sure that every one present shall pledge the same, in the same manner and measure, be they thirstie, or not thirstie, wil∣ling, or not willing, able, or unable: be it against their stomachs, healths, na∣tures, judgments, hearts and consciences, which do utterly abhor, and secret∣ly condemne the same. That in case a man will not for company, griev••us∣ly sin against God, wrong his own bodie, destroy his soul, and wilfully leap into hell-fire with them; they will hate him worse then the hangman: and will sooner adventure their blood in the field, upon refusing, or crossing their healths, then in the cause and quarrel of their Countrie.

7. Br. How they are so pernicious, that to damne their own souls is the least part of their mischief; and that they draw vengeance upon thousands, by seducing some, and giving ill example to others. That one Drunkard ma•••• 〈…〉〈…〉

a multitude; being like the Bramble, Iudg. 9.15. which first set it self on fire, and then fired all the Wood. Or like a malicious man, sick of the plague, that runs into the throng to disperse his infection; whose mischief out weigh's all penaltie. And this shews, that they not onely partake of the Divels na∣ture, but that they are very divels in the likenesse of men: and that the very wickednesse of one that feareth God, is far better then the good intreaty of a Drunkard.

That which sweet words they will tole men on to destruction, as we tole beasts with sodder to the slaughter-house; And that to take away all suspiti∣on, they will so molsifie the stiffnesse of a man's prejudice, so temper and fit him to their own mould, that once to suspect them; requires the spirit of discerning. And that withall they so confirme the profession of their love with oaths, protestations and promises, that you would think Iona∣than's love to David nothing to it. That these pernicious seducers, divels in the shape of men, have learned to handle a man so sweetly, that one would think it a pleasure to bee seduced.

But little do they think! how they advance their own damnations: when the blood of so many souls as they have drawn away, will be required at their hands. For know this thou tempter, that thou doest not more in∣crease other mens wickednesse on earth, (whether by perswasion, or provocation, or example) then their wickedness shall increase they damuation in hell, Luk. 16. 27.28. Non fratres dilexit, sed seipsum respexit. And this let me say to the horror of their consciences, that make merchandise of souls; that it is a question when such an one coms to hell, whether Iudas himself would change torments with him.

8. Br. That the Drunkard is so pleasing murtherer, that he tickles a man to death, and makes him (like Solomons sool) die laughing. Whence it is, that many who hate their other enemies (yea, and their friends too) imbrace this enemy, because he kisseth when he betraieth. And indeed what fence•• for a pistol charged with the bullet of friendship. Hence it is also, that thou∣sands have confest at the Gallowes, I had never come to this but for such and such a Drunkard. For commonly the Drunkards progresse is, from luxiory to beggerie, from beggerie to thieverie, from the Taverne to Tyborne, from the Ale-house to the Gallows. Briefly; That these Bawds and Panders of vice breath nothing but infection, and studie nothing but their own, and other mens destruction. That the Drunkard is like Iulian, who never did a man a good turn, but it was to damne his soul. That his proffers are like the ••ow∣lers shrape, when he casts meat to birds, which is not out of pitie to relieve, but out of treacherie to insnare them. Or like traps we set for vermine, seem∣ing charitable, when they intend to kill, Ier. 5.26. And thou maist answer these cursed tempters, who delight in the murther of souls, as the woman of Endor did Saul, 1 Sam. 28. Wherefore seekst thou to take me in a snare, to cause me to die, Vers. 9.

That he is another Absalom, who made a feast for Amnon whom he meant to kill. And there is no subtlety like that which deceives a man, and hath thanks for the labour. For as our Saviour saith, Blessed is the man that is not offended at their scoffs, Mat. 11.6. So blessed is the man that is not taken 〈…〉〈…〉

with their wiles. For herein alone consists the difference, He whom the Lord loves, shall be delivered from their meretricious allurements. Eccles. 7.26. And he whom the Lord abhors, shall ••all into their snares, Prov. 22.14.

9. Br. That Tave••ns and Tap-houses are the drinking schools where they learne this their skill, and are trained up in this trade of t••mpting. For Satan does not work them to this heighth of impietie all at once, but by degrees: When custome of sin hath deaded all remorse for sin; as it is admirable how the soul that takes delight in ••ewdnesse, is gained upon by custome. They grow up in sin, as worldlings grow in wealth and honour. They waxe worse and worse, saies the Apostle, 2 Tim. 3.13. they go first over shoo's, then over boots, then over shoulders; and at length over head and ears in sin, as some do in debt. Now these Tap-houses are their meeting-places, where they hear the Divels lectures read; the shops and markets where Satan drives his trade; the schools where they take their degrees: these are the Guild-halls where all sorts of sinners gather together, as the humours do into the stomach before an Ague fit, and where is projected all the wickednesse that breaks sorth in the Nation, as our reverend Iudges do finde in their several Circuits.

That these Taverns and Ale-houses (or rather hell-houses) are the ••oun∣tains and well-heads from whence spring all our miseries and mischiefs: these are the Nurseries af all riot, excesse and idlenesse, making our Land another Sodom, and furnishing yearly our Iayls and Gallowses. Here they sit all day in troops, doing that in earnest which we have seen boies do in sport; stand on their heads, and shake their heels against heaven; where, even to hear how the Name of the Lord Iesus is pearced, and God's Name blasphemed, would make a dumbe-man speak, a dead-man almost to quake.

10. Br. That it were endless to repea•• their vain babling, scurrilous jesting, wicked talking, impious swearing and cursing: that when the drink hath once bit them, and set their tongues at libertie, their hearts come up as easily as some of their drink; yea, their limitlesse tongues do then clatter like so ma∣ny windows loose in the winde, and you may assoon perswade a stone to speak, as them to be silent; it faring with their clappers as with a sick-mans pulse, which alwaies beats, but ever out of order. That one Drunkard hath tongue enough for twentie men; for let but three of them be in a room, they will make a noise; as if all the thirtie bells in Antwerpe stee••le were rung at once: or do but passe by the door, you would think your self in the Land of Parrats. That it is the propertie of a drunkard to disgorge his bosome with his stomach, to emptie his minde with his maw: His tongue resembles Bac∣chus his Liber pater, and goes like the sayle of a Winde-mill: For as a great gale of winde whirleth the sayls about, so abundance of drink whirleth his tongue about, and keeps it in continual motion. Now he rayls, now he scoffs now he lies, now he slanders, now he seduces, talks bawdy, swears, bans, soams, and cannot be quiet, till his tongue be wormed. So that from the be∣ginning to the end, he belcheth forth nothing, but what is as far from truth, pietie, reason, modestie▪ as that the Moon came down from heaven to visit Mahomet: As oh! the beastlinesse which burns in their unchaste and im∣pure mindes, that smokes out at their polluted mouthes! A man would think, that even the Divel himself should blush, to hear his childe so talk. How doth 〈…〉〈…〉

his mouth run over with falshoods against both Magistrates, Ministers, and Christians: what speaks he lesse then whoredoms, adulteries, incests at every word; yea, hear two or three of them talke, you would change the Lycaoni∣ans language, and say, Divels are come up in the likenesse of Men.

11. Br. That at these places men learn to contemne Authority, as boies grown tall and stubborn, contemne the rod: Here it is that they utter swelling and proud words against such as are in Dignitie, as Saint Peter, and Saint Iude have it. They set their mouthes against heaven, and their tongues walk through the earth, Psal. 73.9. So that many a good Minister and Christian may say with holy David, I became a song of the drunkards, Psal 69.12. And in case any of them have wit, here they will shew it in scoffing at Religion, and flowting at holinesse. From whence it is, that we have so many Atheists, and so sew Christians amongst us (notwithstanding our so much means of grace); and that the Magistracie & Ministrie are so wofully contemned by all sorts of people.

That these tippling Tap-houses are the common Quagmires of all filthinesse, where too many drawing their patrimonies through their throats, exhaust and lavish ont their substance, and lay plots and devices how to get more. For hence they fall, either to open courses of violence, or secret mischief, till at last the Iayle prepares them for the Gibbet; for lightly they sing through a red Lattise, before they crie through a Grate.

12 Br. I speak not of all, I know the calling to be good, and that there are good of that calling, (and these will thank me, because what I have said, makes for their honour and profit too) but sure I am, too many of these drinking-houses are the very dens and shops, yea the thrones of Satan; very sinks of sin, which like so many Common-shores, refuse not to welcome and incourage any, in the most loathsome pollutions they are able to invent, and put in practice. As did you but hear, and see, and smell, and know what is done in these Taverns and Ale-houses, you would wonder that the earth could bear the howses, or the Sun indure to look upon them. That least they should not in all this do homage enough to Satan, they not seldom drink their healths upon their knees, as the Heathen Witches and Sorcerers (of whom these have learned it) used to do, when they offered drink-offerings to Be∣elzebub the prince of Divels, and other their Devil-gods.

That these godlesse Ale-drapers, and other sellers of drink, in entertain∣ing into their houses, and complying with those traiters against God, and in suffering so much impietie to rest within their walls, do make themselves guiltie of all, by suffering the same; and that a fearful curse hangs over their heads, so long as they remain such. For if one sin of thest, or perjurie is enough to rot the rafters, to grinde the stones, to level the walls and roof of any house with the ground; as it is Zech. 5.4. What are the oathes, the lies, the thefts, the whoredoms, the murthers, the damnable drunkennesse, the numberlesse, and namelesse abominations that are committed there. For these Ale-house kee∣pers are accessarie to the drunkards sin, and have a fearful account to give for their tollerating such, since they might, and ought to redresse it: so that their gain is most unjust, and all they have is by the sins of the people; as Diogenes said of the strumpet Phrine.

13 Br. That of all seducing drunkards these Drink-sellers are the chief; their whole

life being nought else but a vicissitude of devouring and venting, and their whole studie how to toule in customers, and then egg them on to drink; for as if drinking and tempting were their trade: they are alwaies guzling with∣in doors, or else tempting at the door, where they spend their vacant hours, watching for a companion, as a spider would watch for a poor flie; or as the whorish woman in the Proverbs laid wait for the young novice, untill with her great craft, and fla••tering lips, she had caused him to yeeld, Prov. 7.6, to 24. Though when he sees a drunkard, if hee but hold up his finger, the other follows him into his burrough, just like a fool to the stocks, and as an Oxe to the slaughter-house, having no power to withstand the temptation. So in hee goes, and there continues as one bewitch'd, or conjur'd with a spell; out of which hee returns not, untill he hath emptied his purse of money, and his head of reason: while in the mean time his poor wise, children and servants want bread.

That did sellers of drink aime at the glory of God, & good of others, as they ought, 1 Cor. 10.31. the••e would not bee an hundreth part of the drun∣kards, beggars, brawls, and famished-families there are: whereas now thou∣sands do in sheer drink, spend all the cloathes on their beds and backs. As be they poor labouring men, that must dearly earne it before they have it, these Al••-house keepers, these vice-breeders, these soul-murtherers will make them drink away as much in a day, as they can get in a week; spend twelve pence, sooner then earne two-pence, as S. Ambrose observs.

That thousands of these Labouring men may be found in the very Sub∣urbs of this Citie, that drink the very blood of their wives and children, who are near famished, to satisfie the drunkards throat, or gut, wherein they are worse then Insidels, or Cannibals, 1 Tim. 5.8. who again are justly met with∣all: For as if God would pay them in their own coyn, how eft shall yee see ver∣m••ne sucking the drunkards blood, as fast as he the others.

14. Br. That these Drnnkards & Ale-drapers are alwaies laying their heads together, plotting and consul••ing how to charme and tame their poor wives (for the Drunkard and his wife agree like the harpe and the harrow) which if maids did but hear, they would rather make choise of an Ape-carrier, or a Iakes-farmers-servant, then of one who will be drawn to the Ale house. For let them take this for a rule, he that is a tame Divel abroad, will bee a roaring Divel at home; and hee that hath begun to be a Drunkard, will ever be a Drunkard. True, they will promise a maid fair, and binde themselves by an hundred oaths and protestations; and shee (when love hath blinded and besotted her) will believe them; yea, promise her self the victorie, not doubting but she shall reclaim him from his evil company; but not one of a thousand, scarce one of ten thousand that ever findes it so, but the contrary. For let Drunkards promise, yea and purpose what they will; experience shews, that they mend as sowre Ale does in Summer; or as a dead hedge, which the longer it stands is the rottener. And how should it be other, when they cannot go the length of a street, but they must pass•• by, perhaps an hundred Alehouses, where they shall be called in. And all the while they are in the drinking school, they are bound by their law of good fellowship to be powring in at their mouths, or whiffing out at their noses: one serving as a shooing∣horn

to the other; which makes them like ratsban'd Rats, drink and vent, vent and drink, Sellengers round, and the same again. Oh that a maids sore∣wit were but so good as her after-wit! then the drunkard should never bave wise more to make a slave of, nor wives such cause to curse Ale-house keepers, as now they have. And indeed if I may speak my thoughts, or what reason propounds to me; drunkards, are such children and fools (to what go∣vernors of families ought to be) that a rod is f••ter for them then a wife. But of this by the way onely, that maids may not so miserably cast away themselves: for they had better bee buried alive, then so married, as most poor men's wives can inform them.

15. Br. That to speak to these Demeoriuses, that get their wealth by drinking; yea, by helping to consume their drink, & that live onely by sin, and the sins of the people, were to speed as Paul did at Ephesus, after some one of them had told the rest of their occupation. Yea to expect amendment from such, in a manner were to expect amendment from a Witch, who hath already given her soul to the Divel. That to what hath been spoken of drunkards and drink-sellers, in the particular cases of drinking and tempting, might be added seventie times seven more of the like abominations. For the drunkard is like some putrid grave, the deeper you digg, the fuller you shall finde him both of stench and horrour: Or like Hercules's monster, wherein were fresh heads still ari∣sing one after the cntting off of another. But there needs no more then this taste, to make any wise man (or any that love their own souls) to detest and beware these Bawds and Pandors of vice, that breath nothing but infecti∣on, and studie nothing but their own, and other mens destruction. These Bro∣••ers of villany, whose very acquaintance is destruction: as how can they be other then dangerously infectious▪ and desperately wicked? whose very mer∣cies are crueltie.

16. Br. That I have unmasked their faces, is to insatuate their purpose: that I have inveighed and declaimed against drunkennesse, is to keep men sober; For vices true picture, makes us vice detest.

O that I had dehortation answerable to my detestation of it! Only here is a discovery how drunkards tempt: if you will see directions how to avoid their temptations, read my Sovereign Antidote against the contagion of evil company. Onely take notice for the present, that the best way to avoid evill, is to shun the occasions: Do not onely shun drunkennesse, but the means to come to it: and to avoid hurt, keep thy self out of shot; come not in drunken company, nor to drinking places: As for their love and friendship, consider but whose Factors they are, and thou wilt surely hate them. Consider what I say, and the Lord give you understanding in all things.