The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-12-12

much about it as | do. You are not wan
ing In works, you think. WE'LL hav
I no doubt some of you have no occasion 70
these structures. But | am sure there i
much deficiency among you. To preacI
as often as some of you do, and to stud,
your sermons so closely, is hard work O
the kind. But it does not follow that il il
the right kink of work--or the only kint
required at your hands.
You are concerned for the extreme e
wills of the world around you" l wish
you to reflect ifthere is any evil in society
as great as the use of strong drink. 1t i.
not only a great evil in itself, but the pa.
rent of numerous evils. 1t has a wonder.
fal tendency to deprave the heart and tc
destroy the love of truth. Men who learn
to drink, learn to lie. Look at yourselves
dear brethren. Some of YOU are in the
habit OF drinking wine. Idon't mean that
you get drunk, but that you drink occa>
Islonly, as all drinkers do. If one of YOU
were questioned as to the number of glas-
ses ne drinks in a year. his answer would
be within the limits of truth. Not that he
would intend to speak falsely, either, but
have always found it so with men who
drink wine or strong drink. They are
always willing to think they drink less
than they do. BY and by. if every body
should getto know that they take 800
much" they will tell you they take it as
a medicine, and they will persuade them
selves to believe this too.
Why is this, brethren? The reason is
plain. Every man of sensibility has a
lurking idea of wrong attached to the wine
cup, however moderately he uses it. Be-
SIDES, the natural effect Of alcohol is 10 en-.
gender talsehood. Its influence is very
peculiar in this respect. A man who has
a little of it in his stomach, and consequ>
emily in his brain. can tell a lie, and if he
is hard pushed, he will tell a lie. 1t NAV
be a delicate little one, a sort of a "white
lie," but it is a lie, af:er all. Even if he
be a clergyman, he can't be trusted. He
is still a man, and liable, like others to the
physical influence of the poison. Cold
and heat and rain have the same effect on
clergyman as on any other man, and so
have rum and wine.
appeal TO your observation to bear me
out In this position. How rarely do you
find men who will tell you candidly and
.ruly how much liquor they have been
thinking! The disposition to conceal and
grows stronger and stronger, and
when The drinker has becomea drunkard
he habit of flying is so firmly rooted, that
will in most instances DENY that he
al all!
Is it any wonder then, that most of the
'rlmes that curse our land have their ori>
5In in the use of alcohol! When men
ave lost their regard for truth, they are
prepared for almost any thing. Step after
tep, they press on in the downward ca
'eer of vice, Till they reach the nethermost
hell.
Brethren, l beseech you, turn your al
entlon, n and all, TO this mons,rous vice:
inquire ii the 'extreme evils in the world
round" you are not more dependant on
his than any other cause. Bear u faith.
al and fearless testimony against the hiG.
Gus vice, not only in its palpable and ma.
ure form. but in its small and insidious
eglnnings. Look at your own hearts,
erchance they are contaminated with the
olson! Look a: your own hands-per.
APPS the blood of others is on them Pu.
lily yourselves Is there no danger?-
Jan you sip, and sip, and sip again, and i
We and die soberl Be it so. You may r
e stronger than the strong men who have Q
one before you. You may possess more O
than that poor brother who S
as just been dragged down from the high.
st position in one of your churches, and C.
in the eyes ofthe world. But if il
are proof against the operation of or a
anic and natural laws, if you can defy d
he force of habit. and say 10 the raging c
"a OF appetite, "Thus far and no farther" ia
remember that others around you are p
't equally strong. Remember that your Il
is watched by many who may 81
't be able to restrain themselves within Il
e bounds of moderation. For the sake lc
others, abandon the indulgence. OBJ to
rye the counsel of Paul. not to eat mea. b
drink win or enjoy any needless in b
which is the means of causing h
brother to offend. b,
| perceive, dear brethren, that some Of to
~ are growing impatient, and | will not h
erefore task you too heavily in this in m
You have heard me say but lit. il
, about my text. The application of it, NJ
have left 10 your own ingenuity. The d
ost important part of my sermon, how> a,
cry e remains, and | will therefore EN-, et
ace another opportunity to conclude it.
hope those brethren with the black ia
WINS will be especially careful to give g
e their attention on the next evening" e,
Ieanwhiie, may the blessing of God rest a,
! you all. Amen. h
~ Doctor said a gentleman who Al
as notorious fer l~aziness in general, and il