CHAP.23. 330 Eph,ç. ICa 284. r.Cor.6. Dnmkennea in old women moli hateful!. ltcaCons. z ).Pet.t.4. In vino vet itas . Prou.:;. 2 c r1 Con1'nentarie vpon the theheart to wine,Now the frnne is difgracefull in euery inan:for the com- mandement is generall,Be not drunkewithwine,wherein a excele And the l woe is as general! againfl all fuch as are ouercome with wine ; and no drunkards.J7'41enter into the knmcofhc4lieu.But in Women, nd olde women it is betides the fnne,mofl filthy and fhamefull. The very Hea- then accounted wine and fir-tang drinks difagreeable from the nature of women,aud therefore enaCted!awes againfl their vfe ofit :but the word of God isnot fo rigorous,whichgiueth them as well as men, kaue to vfc wine for their weaknes and often snf:rmiiie;yea fotnerimes for honedde- light as well as for necefficie;buc alwaies moderately , for firength, and not for drunkennes,ncuer tying their delight or delre unto ic,nor fuffe- ring themfelues to be ouercome by it:for efwhatfoeuer any is intercom( ,to that he ú in bondage. And the reafons why the Apoille direcied this pre- cept veto old women,feeme to be thefe. t. It is not vnlike but that the women ofchofe times,as they had like meetings vpon their neceffarie and womanly occafions : fo had they the like pradlifes as now are in requeft in them: as much idle and bufe chat, not a ewe needles drinkings and goffepings,wherein they much excee- ded that to which their condition,or nature and much leffe grace, called them vnto. The which meetings although force of them are neceffarie, yet for women to be addié&ed vnco them, or exceffrue in them in vnwar- rantable (peaches, drinkings, meriments, &c. fauourethof darkener, of the flefh, and is farre from befeeming women that profeffe the feare of God, andobedience or fubieó'cion to the word ofGod , which condem- neth drinkings as well as drunkennes, which are fruits oían vnregenerace efface. And thus the Apoi le by this precept backeth the former:the due obferuanceofwhich would cut offmuch falleaccufng in Inchmeetings; and in theneglect of ic, it is impo1Ible but that the tongue will be wal- kingwithout his owne hedge, and wandring beyond the pale ofit. The prouerbe is true : what euer is in,mufl out in the cups.Agreeable to that holy prouerh ofSalomon : towhom are contentions ? to whomeare firoakes, andwounds without cattle ? euem to chofe that flay long at the wine: teaching vs,that the hands and tongues anoffuck lath) on, firike & (pare not; no not their dearefi friends. z.The moderation of theelder women Ihould bean example to the younger,as the next words import, & anhedge tocontaine them in compaffe,fromwhom otherwife in fuch meetings formelightoeffe might breakeour. 3. For a matron to make fhipwracke offhamfaflnes, modeiiy, fobriety, gravity, and whatfoe- uer elk maybe the grace of that fexe, and age, by giuing place to this one inordinatedelire , what agreiuous fume were it ? how many fumes attend it ? euen fo manyas there be fearefull fruits and cffe&s of Bran- kennes:
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