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Vers. 9. The shall not drinke wine with* 1.1 mirth: strong drinke shall be bitter to them that drinke it.
IT is not a thing euill in it selfe to drinke wine; for God hath ordained it for mans vse: but the Prophet here describes the banquets of drunkards, in which nothing is to be seene but excesse, dissolutions, and dishonest songs. Moreouer,* 1.2 because they had abused their abundance, hee threatens them with want; which men draw into their houses, when they abuse Gods bountie by their riot. He addes further, that if they shall drinke strong drinke, it shall be bitter vnto them:* 1.3 for sorrow makes vs feele no taste either in meate or drinke. The summe is, that God will depriue them of the vse of wine, notwithstanding they haue plen∣tie; because the sorrow wherewith they shall be ouerwhelmed, will cause them to lose all taste and sauour therein. Strong drinke shall be bitter: that is to say, you shall not inioy there pleasures and delights, in which you haue soaked your selues, any longer.