A PERSUASIVE to 



of the pernicious effefts and confequents 

 of it. 



i. Fir/}, Then this Vice hath a very ill 

 influence upon the Spirit and Soul of Man, 

 degrading it, and fubjeding it to the Body. 

 The generality of Heathen Philofophers 

 (as Bifliop Wilkins obferves) agree in this, 

 That Sin is the Natural Caufe of debafing 

 the Soul, immerfing it into a ftate of fenfu- 

 ality and darknefs , deriving fuch an impo- 

 tency and deformity upon the mind, as the 

 mofl loathfome Difeafes do upon the Body. 

 I fhall add, but efpecially Intemperance, 

 which Clouds the underftanding, difabling 

 it to any Studies of fublime and fubtile Spe- 

 culation ; the grofs fumes of itrong and 

 inebriating Liquors, having a like effeft 

 upon the Underftanding, as thick Foggs 

 and Milts upon our bodily Eyes, hindring 

 them from feeing things at a diitance, or 

 difcerning clearly Objects that are near. 

 Neither doth it only darken the Under- 

 ftanding, but mightily weaken the Memo- 

 ry, dulling alfo and impairing all the Parts 

 and Faculties of the Soul ; deprefling and 

 faftning down to the earth that Particle of 

 the divine Breath : 



Atque 



