SERM. Drunkenness likewise injures the morals; besides its being a heinous vice in itself, it usually betrays us into many others, as it both heightens our passions, and, by depriving us of the guardianship of reason, unfits us to contend with them. The swearer, when under the influence of this temporary madness, is doubly profane, the sensualist doubly sensual, and the contententious man doubly contentious. Excess of drink has a tendency, in like manner, to increase all our other evil propensities. Supposing, therefore, that it had not in itself that great criminality which it undoubtedly has, yet, as it inflames and incapacitates us from combating every other vicious passion, all approaches to it ought to be avoided with the most scrupulous caution. This vice is likewise extremely prejudicial to the family of the person who is guilty XI. guilty of it, both as it unfits him for the SERM. exercise of his calling with that ability which he might otherwise exert, and deprives him of the confidence of his neighbours, and as it leads him into habits of expence, which in most cases he can ill afford. It is an observation of Solomon's, which general experience confirms to us, that the glutton and the drunkard shall come to poverty. Added likewise to this ill consequence, it is the property of this vice to create moroseness of manners and brutality of behaviour, which imbitters and corrodes all domestic intercourse. Drunkenness shortens life, and renders, in most cases, death lingering and painful, while, from the weakness both of body and mind, which it never fails to bring on, it indisposes us to meet it with a decent fortitude. These, I think, are the chief arguments which can be brought against this disgraceful XI. SERM. ful vice, and surely none can possibly be stronger; let us bring them into one view: if we habitually practise it, we may be certain that we shall not go to heaven, and ip the mean time it renders our abode on earth as disagreeable as possible; it deprives us of the confidence of our fellowcreatures; it subjects us to their contempt; it heightens our bad passions; it destroys our virtues; it unfits us for gaining a livelihood, and supporting ourselves and our families as we ought, and it makes us a disgrace instead of being an ornament, and a terror instead of a comfort, to our relations and friends; it besides destroys health, shortens life, and renders death in most instances dreadfully painful. There are many who are convinced of all this, but who having early entangled themselves in the habit of drinking, have not hitherto (notwithstanding their desires and endeavours) been able to free them XI. themselves from it. To such may be use- SERM. ful, in addition to setting before them all the above dreadful consequences of their vice, an exhortation to avoid those situations, and to forsake those companions, where and with whom they have been accustomed to offend; if they will not do this, whatever they may pretend or think, they are not earnest in their wish of reforming; for the probability of their arriving at it, if they reflect a moment, they cannot but perceive to be very slender. As the arguments of those who endeavour to prove too much are little attended to, I must observe, that it is one thing to have been unintentionally betrayed in a few single instances into this vice, and another to be an habitual drunkard, and that these dreadful consequences which I have mentioned belong particularly to the latter, nor are they to be understood as extending to him who may occasionally and without pre SERM. premeditation have deviated from sobriety; XI. but yet every instance is a sin, every instance is unworthy of a man, much more of a Christian, and if these instances are frequently repeated, they soon degenerate into a habit, and end finally in the ruin both of soul and body. Let us beware of the most remote advances to it; if we do not, we may, with no bad intentions and with the utmost detestation of the character, become subject to it before we are aware, and then it will require all our resolution to extricate ourselves; and so great is the weakness of mind which it brings on, that, if we may judge from the experience of what has been the case with others, there is too much reason to dread that all our resolution will be in vain. SERMON |
