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The Scriptures tell Us that the Drunkards shall Come to
Poverty. If therefore the Drunkeness of one Man (as doubt-
less it will) shall bring himself and family to ruine why then
shall not Drunkeness, when it becomes the publick Sin of the
People bring the whole Nation to Destruction as indeed it
often doth, many Instances whereof I could produce of Divers
Kingdoms and Nations that for Drunkeness have been pun-
ished of God and given as a prey to their Enemies. There
has (Gentlemen) been Severall good Statutes made in Eng-
land against this Sin of Drunkeness but they have failed of
their End the Reason whereof in my Opinion is because the
Penalties inflicted by these Laws were not laid Severe enough
Wherefore I hope it will become the Prudence of this Assem-
bly so to Consider this so great an Evil as for the future no
such disorders may be Committed to the End you may with
Joel say Awake ye Drunkards and weep and howle &c.
In like manner I recommend to your Care the utter Sup-
pression of that most horrid and Damnable Sin of Adultry
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Lib. W. H.
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which in these days is grown to that height that with the
Prophet we may Justly say the Land is full of Adulterers.
This Sin (Gentlemen) in the old Law was (as I wish it were by
Law now) made punishable by Death for it was Decreed that
he that Committeth Adultery with his Neighbours Wife the
Adulterer and the Adulteress shall surely be put to Death,
and with reason for it not only brings Our Estates to Ruine
as it is said that by means of a whorish Woman a Man is
brought to a piece of bread but it also brings both body and
Soul to Eternal Death for as to Drunkards it is said, That
Adulterers shall not Inherit the Kingdom of God So abomin-
able and Shamefull it is for Men Especially Married Men to
keep whores as I hear some do not only abroad but even at
home under their Wives Noses where the Strumpets rule and
the Wives obey to the Scandall of all honest and good men
wherefore I pray it may be taken into such Consideration as
for the future such Villains may be Excluded from all humane
or at least Christian Societys.
As also I pray you may Consider duely of that most
Abominable sin of Swearing which Doubtless Occasions many
Judgments from heaven to light upon us for that because of
Swearing the Land Mourneth. But fearing I may be mis-
understood by Some I will before I proceed further Dis-
tinguish between Lawfull and unlawfull Swearing, I say Law-
full for that God himself hath sworn the oath which he sware
to Our Father Abraham &c. By myself have I sworn saith
the Lord, every one that Sweareth by him shall Glory, thou
shalt fear the Lord thy God and shah serve him and Swear
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p. 548
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