Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-03-01

man in it temperate, virtuous and good
in NOM nt, il he saw proper so to do /;
but this is not bis way.
Man has been active in producing bis
own disgrace and ruin; and it is fit he
should be active in rescuinghimself from
bis ruined situation. 1t is a duty which
every man owes 10 himself, his country,
and his God, to do all the good he can !;
no man can be innocent while he is re-
fusing, or neglecting, thus to discharge
his duty. Man can aim at no geater
good than to honor and glori.y his Ma
other way than by tenaciously adhering
to bis commandments God has given
US his word for our guide, in faith and
practice; from it we learn what sin is,
aud the consequences OF it. Sin is a
transgression OF Gods law, and exposes
the transgression to his wrath and curse.
To love and practice iniquity is our fol-
ly and ruin; but life and peace are in
the ways of holiness.
l. is our duty 10 love ourselves and
seek our own good; and we ought 10
love our neighbor as ourselves; and
always to-act SO as to promote our own,
and our neighbours real good. Our
own weli-being is, in itself, as important
as the well-being OF others and the
common father of men, regards the well
fare of all with equal care, so far as the
nature OF his government will admit: his
views are perfect, and so far as our view
are ceDformed to his, they will be per-
feet also; consequently GU? own rights,
and the rights of others, will be measur.
ed by the same degree of justice" We
cannot IL al! respects, seek the good ot
others 10 the same extent as we may our
own, because we cannot know it, but so
far as whatever will be for the good of
Others is known to us, it ought to be-
come an object of equal desire.
The sole object OF his society, is the
suppression of intemperence, or rather,
tic prevention of it for if much good be
done, il will be by preventing the young
and the sober, from contracting habit
of drunkenness. 1t is very rare tina,
confirmed drunk ards are reclaimed
but as this perhaps is sometimes the
case, it is our duty 10 do what we car
Tor them; they are objects of charity,
and demand our prudent eXertions for
their reformation. But with the young
and rising generation there is hope
much may be done here, by early i'm
planting correct principles, and setting
before them corresponding example.
Il is said by good writer that i" a
drunken man is greater monster than
any hat has been found among the crea-
lures that God has made as indeed
there is no character, which appears
more despicable, aud d.Iormed, than
that of drunkar E4chines, COM
mending Philip, King Of Macedon, FOR a
! loylai man, that would drink freely, De
mos'henes replied, that Ibis is good
| quality in sponge, but not in a King"
Drunkenness exposes its gotaries TO all
the evils of this life, and the life to
come; shame, disgrace, poverty, sick
ness ard death, are its attendants here
and after death, everlasting banshmen,
from all good, to habtation in hell,
where the worm dielh not, and the fire
is not quenched." The word of God
says, a /" drunkard shallfnot inherit the
Kingdom Of Heaven" That must be a
great evil, which excludes man from
heaven, and subjects hin to the eternal
wrath of an angry God. He must be a
fool, indeed, who for a few moments, oil
worse than beastly Indulgence, will en-
pose himself to everlasting torment.
But let us view the subject as natu
raj evil. Who haiti woe who bath
sorrow who hath contentious who
hath babbGng who hath wounds with
out cause! who haiti redncss Of ryes
they who iarry long at the wine. Wine
is mocker, strong d'ink is raging, and
whatsoever is deceived thereby, is no,
wise"
The annual expense of ardent spirits
in the United States, in the year 1910,
was computed at more than $4,000 900
Of dollars and it is computed that the
inhabitants OF our own state, expsnd an
nually, about $4,000 dollars for ardent
spirits. Now what is gained by all this
waste Of money?Nothbg SO 600 dollars
spent In Illinois ior.no hing. o that we
could in truth say, tina it is for nothing !;
but this we cannot say ;much peace and
happiness, property and intellect, bodies
and souls, Of men. have been the sacri
fee. Drunkenness "thc great destroy.
er, has been steadily gaining ground !;
not contented with extending its ravages,