THE PREFACE

To the Tenth Edition of this Letter to a Friend.

Temperate Reader,

E longer we live in the world, the more we see the danger Į many mischiefs, miseries and inconveniencies, intemperance asions to mankind, not only in eating, clothing, buying, and ing, &c. but particularly in that great sin of drinking to ex

S.

And though a risk is run of incurring the displeasure of ne ill natured over-lovers of strong liquors, the which hath n experienced by the author, through some of the former pressions; yet they having found such general acceptance in ny parts of the world, and being serviceable to people of all suasions, I, for the further service of poor mortals, adventure put forth this tenth edition, with this additional preface, in ler (if possible) to persuade all rational souls to forsake so structive and vile an evil: which gross sin hath these bad ects attending it (with many more that might be set down) ich affects both the aged and the youth; for whose sakes z. the youth) it was at first chiefly intended, in order to stir em up to the love of pure religion, and pious and virtuous ing.

1st. Then, In the aged it hath those bad effects, viz. they are d examples to the youth, who when reproved, may reply, My her before me loved strong liquors, as well as I: he loved a ass of wine; he loved a bowl of punch; he loved good cider d good ale, and would be merry with it, and why may not I, well as he? he was a wise, good man, when he was sober; d pray where is the harm of loving good liquor, and being erry?

I answer; The harm is in the immoderate and extravagant se of it. It is only the excess which this letter detects, and is tended to discourage. I have known some who have quarreld with public preaching, because they have been guilty of the ults spoke against: and the author expects to be buffeted for is publication, by some of these mighty sons to drink wine, nd to mingle strong drink (i. e. punch, setterena, tiff, flip, &c.) had like to have forgotten Sampson, (as I have several others) hich so overcomes those men of might, as to get from them heir precious time, (which cannot be bought with money) and

their

money, besides health and credit, understanding and reason, and all.' And pray where is the difference then between the man and the beast, though the man be full of days!

What can we say to the youth of such parents (that will avail) while their parents shew them such evil examples? And as it is in that, so it is in all other evils, parents' examples are very hurtful in evil things, though very helpful in that which is good. If a man sees a youth to be out of order, and reproves him for being in drink, evil speaking, pride, covetousness, &c. and he guilty of the same, his child may answer, why, father, I had not done so, if I had not seen thee (or you) do it? And it being an incumbent duty in a father, mother, master, or mistress, to reprove their youth for evil; if we are not clear in ourselves of what we reprove in our children or servants, and our children or servants miscarry through our bad example, what a melancholy reflection will that be to us, if rightly considered! which indeed would be this, I have been instrumental to my poor child's ruin and destruction! A melancholy reflection to any sober christian.

Also, except there is a large income, instead of taking care to put the youth in a reputable way to live in the world, it brings them to poverty and if there is a large estate, it puts them in the way to spend it. And, Oh! how many are spending their precious time in taverns, and ordinaries, and at the same time their wives and children suffering and weeping at home? And some sober, modest women (for the men are mostly addicted to drinking to excess) would suffer unspeakable hardships before they would expose their husbands; and indeed they that do it in such a modest way, being forced to it by such ill practices, are much more to be pitied than blamed.

2d. Concerning the youth, it mightily hurts them (as doth it the aged also) as to their religion, reputation, health, and estate, &c.

1st. As to their religion, it not only clouds their understanding, and darkens the nobility thereof, but it unfits them for all and every religious duty.

2d. Some who value a good name, had rather lose their lives, than lose their reputation through immoderate drinking. For if the youth be single, and addicted to immoderate drinking, no wise and virtuous person will tie themselves to them for life, by marriage; which state of life, to a wise and virtuous pair, is far exceeding in happiness all other company or conversation whatsoever. It is better to be one of these than to enjoy a kingdom: and, on the other hand, it is better to be a slave, in Turkey, than to be married to an intemperate person.

3d. Intemperance destroys the health of the body, which we generally esteem before wealth. And if a man were a king,

ace, or duke, if he did not enjoy his health, what good would his honour, power, and wealth, do him? Oh! what abunce of young people have destroyed themselves by this sin? it is written: "The wicked do not live out half their days :' where this sin is growing general in a country, that country rowing to its ruin and destruction. It wastes the people, ays trade, and is very destructive to religion, and an inlet to ism. Good people are afraid to live in such a country, people flock to it, and often make their exit in it.

th. And many a fair estate hath been embezzled and spent ugh intemperance, which honest parents, with great labour, , and industry, have got together, and left to their sons and ghters, who have extravagantly spent it upon their lusts; thereby have brought infamy on themselves, their fathers, their posterity, whenever it has pleased God that they have 'any behind them; besides (which is worst of all) dishonng God, and bringing a scandal on the christian religion. ome of our wise kings and queens in Great-Britain, being Powfully affected with the heinousness of this great sin, have le strict laws against intemperance: and where the legislaauthority makes little or no provision against it, or when do make any, do not take care to put it in practice, such a e or colony must needs be in a declining condition. And particular families and persons, we may see too much of this in our neighbourhoods, almost in all parts of the world ch causeth solid, sober, pious, virtuous, and truly religious stians to mourn, and humbly to bow before the most high 1, begging of him, for Christ's sake, that he, by his mighty er, would be pleased to reform the unregenerate world. This is the prayer and fervent desire of an entire lover of akind, both body and soul, and who desires their welfare in , and in the world to come.

T. CHALKLEY.

LETTER TO A FRIEND.

Barbadoes, 7th of 1st Mo. 1718-19.

My dear Friend,

is long since I had a line from thee: but not long e I thought of thee, and thine, with friends of your ion; where I know that the Lord hath a seed, who e him, and do desire to serve him, and are accounted im for a chosen generation; and that this generation y spread and prosper in the earth, is my earnest travail spirit both night and day, at times and seasons. ere is also an exercise upon my mind for the offspring his seed, the children of those men and women, who e confessed the name of Christ before men, in a holy denying life, and sober conversation: and I do cer ly know, that many pious souls join with me in this rcise, bowing the knee to the Lord of sabbaths, the peace, prosperity, and eternal welfare of the pres , rising generation. Oh! how exercising it is to good n and women to see their youth take those ways which 1 to destruction, and go in company with the wickwhose ways lead to the utter ruining of both body I soul, and whose steps take hold on hell.

It is a great evil, to which many are prone, i. e. keep of vain and idle company, which has brought many ing men, and young women to their utter ruin and truction, both body and soul. How many fair estates e been wasted! How many fine youths have been troyed by keeping evil company, and by excess in nking, it is really lamentable to consider! It keeps poor in poverty: it makes the rich many times poor; 1 brings both rich and poor into disgrace: it breaks 1 destroys the health and natural good constitution of

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