Here is, 1. The mischief of drunkenness: Wine is a mocker; strong drink
is raging. It is so to the sinner himself; it mocks him, makes a fool
of him, promises him that satisfaction which it can never give him. It
smiles upon him at first, but at the last it bites. In reflection upon
it, it rages in his conscience. It is raging in the body, puts the
humours into a ferment. When the wine is in the wit is out, and then
the man, according as his natural temper is, either mocks like a fool
or rages like a madman. Drunkenness, which pretends to be a sociable
thing, renders men unfit for society, for it makes them abusive with
their tongues and outrageous in their passions, ch. xxiii. 29. 2. The
folly of drunkards is easily inferred thence. He that is deceived
thereby, that suffers himself to be drawn into this sin when he is so
plainly warned of the consequences of it, is not wise; he shows that he
has no right sense or consideration of things; and not only so, but he
renders himself incapable of getting wisdom; for it is a sin that
infatuates and besots men, and takes away their heart. A drunkard is a
fool, and a fool he is likely to be.