The northern star and freemen's advocate., 1843-01-02
From the Christian Herald.
Bible temperance.

In the temperance cause we are happy to
| find nearly the entire community agreed that
it is good thing, and that it ought be encou-
ragged in proper manner.
! Now if we can fix upon the standard by
which to regulate and fix the proper bounds,
in the use of intoxicating liquors, that we
should be as we'll agreed TO as we are, that
temperance has just claims upon those who
would act consistently in the use of things, it
would be important.
| In Christian community that standard can
be none other than the Bible. While that
book is admitted to contain the information
which will thoroughly furnish us unto every
good word and work; we cannot consistently
| look any farther than to its design for the
grand regulating standard of temperance. 1t
will not do for us as members of the christian
community to contend for any other views of
temperance than those which are found to har-
monise with the design of the word of truth.
We might as we'll look for something more
definite to regulate our moral conduct, in any
other as we'll In this. And we should be
just as consistent to excuse ourselves for not
complying with what is the manifest design
of the scriptures in any other respect as in the
use of intoxicating drinks.
In respect to the use of intoxicating drinks,
God has given us a perfect rule and pattern,
one that is perfectly safe, and that will bear
the light of that day, and need no alteration,
when the tabernacle of God shall be with
men, and he shall dwell with them, and
they shall be his people, and God himself
shall be with them, and be their God. This
rule we find distinctly given in Rom, IA
chap, 21st verse: &c 1t is good neither to eat
| flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing where
| by thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is
made weak.
Now it is not good for us to drink wine nor
any thing whereby we set an unsafe example
for our brother. Then it is bad; and can we
| be good Christians and do bad?
To aim at the moderate use of intoxicating
stimuants in health, is not safe; for the same
strength of intoxicating drink that in one
state of the system might not be very percep-
tibly seen in the exercise of either body or
mind, yet under other circumstances would
throw both from their equilibrium; and who
is prepared at all times to judge of the power
| to intoxicate from the quantity of liquor?- p
This Intoxicating use will appear more unsafe,
| imprudent as we'll as unscrptural, when we
consider the natural temperament of many
which exposes them to love the pleasure of
excitement, especially that produced by ine-
briation, and that the frequent repetition Of it
destroys the power, in some instances TO resist
the repeated application; though the danger
is foreseen. How many, even of well intend
ing Christians can say, | have thrown my
pearl of untarnished reputation before swine,
and cast away my confidence, and felt unpre-
pared for the duty of prayer, or to plead with
sinners to turn from their sins, or TO JOIN al
the communion of the saints in the holy So
emnities? All from taking what is called one
innocent glass. Now, all this kind of mischief
may be prevented by taking good heed to the
18th and 2lst of Romans And how can we
claim to be carrying out in practice this pre-
cept of the gospel, when we are willing toput
on this yoke of self-denial, and lay down our
glass for the benefit of others when the gos-
pei requires, not only that we abstain from all
/ annearance Of evil but that we lay down even